Chapter 509

"Xu Zi Jin is also at the frontline battlefield, and has already returned safely." Given the tense relationship between the Xu Family and Xu Zi Jin, if Xu Zi Jin is safe and sound, then Xu Chengguang and Xu Chengyao are most likely in trouble.

Who told Xu Chengguang and Xu Chengyao to be young in years but large in temper.

The Xu Family is famous for not looking at personality when choosing candidates to cultivate, only looking at talent.

Xu Zi Jin previously had a falling out with the Xu Family; the engagement ceremony even slapped the Xu Family in the face. After the Xu Family severed ties with Xu Zi Jin, they even wanted to recover their past investment from Xu Zi Jin.

This can only be said to be a problem that needs to be resolved between the Xu Family and Xu Zi Jin, and has nothing to do with Xu Chengguang and Xu Cheng Yu.

Helplessly, the two people viewed themselves as too important, already regarding everything of the Xu Family as their own bowl; the investment once spent on Xu Zi Jin was seen by them as their own side's loss.

Xu Chengguang and Xu Cheng Yu began targeting Xu Zi Jin, just like those vicious villains in novels; whenever there was an opportunity, they would find trouble for Xu Zi Jin.

Xu Zi Qing has been paying attention to the Xu Family's situation these years, so she naturally understands the grievances and entanglements among the three.

The most famous is that Xu Chengguang and Xu Chengyao used the Xu Family to enter the military; Xu Zi Jin lost the Xu Family's backing but had the backing provided by Tang Mian Mian. The two factions were at daggers drawn in the military, and whenever there was a chance they would strike to kill.

Over time, the three people have long since reached a situation of undying enmity.

"Once Xu Chengguang and Xu Chengyao meet with mishap, then the conflict between the Xu Family and Xu Zi Jin will become completely irreconcilable." Does Xu Zi Jin need to be so absolute? It's really too unyielding.

Xu Zi Qing tapped her wristband and let out a cold laugh, "These are the fine candidates cultivated by the Xu Family elders." Each one acting like the eldest brother is heaven and the second brother is earth — simply too much.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao could already imagine the Xu Family elders' frantic appearance; tsk tsk tsk, the Xu Family really can disregard Xu Chengguang and Xu Chengyao whose life and death are unknown, turn around, and continue selecting candidates to cultivate.

Before heading to Planet N25, Shen Yao and Xu Zi Qing sent Xu Cheng Yu and Xu Cheng Yi to the exploration planet where Xu Father and Xu Mother were staying one step ahead.

Xu Cheng Yu and Xu Cheng Yi thought they were going to play; the whole journey they were very happy. Seeing Xu Father and Xu Mother, they were so delighted they let loose their limbs, wishing they could directly say goodbye to Dad and Mom.

Shen Yao finally understood why Xu Zi Qing liked to nag that the two children were carefree; they really were. She helplessly shook her head, revealing a bitter smile.

Xu Father and Xu Mother also knew the Xu Family's situation; they were glad their work helped block the trouble. They didn't need to toil hard and rush back like Shen Yao and Xu Zi Qing.

Came in a hurry, left in a hurry.

The two people only stayed briefly at Xu Father and Xu Mother's place, then boarded the spaceship and left again.

Because of the time restriction, they couldn't set foot on Fruit Star.

On the spaceship, Shen Yao and Xu Zi Qing chatted idly.

"The two of us can't provide any help." Why does the Xu Family have to put on this act.

"What the Xu Family wants is merely the posture of controlling everyone." Not really letting them go do anything.

Just like shouting freedom and democracy, but the final result was already predetermined long ago; they were merely actors summoned back to cooperate in a performance.

"The Xu Family has gone downhill for several years; this time we definitely won't return empty-handed."

Shen Yao simply switched to another angle to analyze: this colossus of the Xu Family, wanting it to suddenly collapse is somewhat difficult, but slowly disintegrating and splitting it up is not difficult.

Today cede one city, tomorrow cede two cities; there will always be a day when it's all ceded away.

Isn't the Xu Family like this? Back then, to send Xu Zi Jin into the military, they expended resources.

Later they sent Xu Chengguang and Xu Chengyao into the military, ceding benefits.

Right now the Xu Family is cultivating newcomers again; it's still invest resources first then get returns, but these few people made the Xu Family's investment return ratio not very high (almost lost their shirts).

"Not just us, there are other forces too." Xu Zi Qing rested her hand on the tabletop and spoke with a smile those unwritten rules acknowledged by default, "If the Xu Family lacks successors, it won't be able to hold onto the resources it already occupies."

Seizing the empire is easy, guarding the empire is hard. The colossus the Xu Family accumulated over several generations will ultimately be returned because there's no one capable to use.

This has a certain similarity to the continuation of a dynasty; prosperity must decline is an objective law.

Shen Yao opened her wristband, tapped away, and didn't forget to push it to Xu Zi Qing, "How can one's own things benefit outsiders? If possible, we'll prioritize internal digestion."

Xu Zi Qing: ……

Xu Zi Qing sent the list of items she had her eye on to Shen Yao with a straight face, "Indeed, that is the logic."

Shen Yao: ……

Good grief, turns out this husband and wife are scheming the exact same idea.

Hmph, then the Xu Family having them is truly a blessing; these good things definitely won't be cheap for outsiders.

…………

"Compared to a few years ago, the Xu Family has declined, huh." Upon returning again, the System couldn't help but nag Shen Yao.

Shen Yao's expression didn't change, looking at the residence that hadn't changed much from before, "The old generation is aged and rotten; the young generation can't stand up."

Such an Xu Family not declining would be unjustifiable; moreover the Xu Family likes to mess around, which intensified the original speed of decline.

"The time the elders set is three days from now." Xu Zi Qing glanced at her wristband, "Tomorrow I have to go out; want to go take a look together?"

Shen Yao looked at Xu Zi Qing, "Reliable?" Letting the Xu Family know, they'd inevitably be pressured with filial piety.

"They're all partners who once cooperated; some things aren't convenient to show face for, it all relies on them." Of course, the benefits Xu Zi Qing distributed were not few.

After all, they bore the corresponding pressure; Xu Zi Qing wouldn't shortchange her own people.

"Together then; who knows, future opportunities for cooperation between both sides might be even more." Not just the Xu Family; other families won't always stay in high positions either.

Just like today, there are many people looking up waiting for the Xu Family's benefits; waiting until some future day, there will again be many people looking up waiting for other families' benefits.

Shen Yao and Xu Zi Qing don't go easy even when digging their own family's corner; digging other families' corners would be even less polite.

Simply rested a night at the residence; early the next morning, Shen Yao and Xu Zi Qing both went out.

For safety's sake, the meeting location agreed upon by both sides was set inside the house Xu Zi Qing bought.

The last time Shen Yao came over here was when she gave birth to Cheng Yu and Cheng Yi.

In a flash, Cheng Yu and Cheng Yi are both five years old; their bodies are extremely robust, they eat fragrantly, can run and jump, can play and make noise — lively and cheerful, ordinary people can't handle them.

Gazing at the room full of memories, Shen Yao and Xu Zi Qing spoke of the two children's amusing incidents.

"Counting up the planet resources in our hands, eight have already gone through the corresponding procedures; the remaining two still need a bit of time."

These five years they haven't struggled in vain; even if just relying on farming and selling fruit, they've successfully squeezed into the ranks of small-to-medium Star Lords.

By the time planet resources are plentiful enough later, the efficiency of buying planets will keep improving; they'll eventually one day reach the Xu Family's height too.

Wow, the career line's progress is far faster than planned.

It seems her retirement can be arranged ahead of schedule too; after all, with the long lifespan of interstellar citizens, she can't spend it all as a farm owner — interstellar travel, exploration and leisure, all of it needs to be scheduled.

Envisioning scenes of her future life in her mind, until the doorbell rang, pulling her thoughts back to reality.

Xu Zi Qing's friend is surnamed Du — Du Lanzhou, also a major clan on Planet N25, famous for producing physically powerful mecha individual soldiers.

Shen Yao:... If memory serves, isn't there also a young man surnamed Du beside Tang Mian Mian? And he has a good relationship with Xu Zi Jin.

"Tsk, the old men at home are worried sick; mecha individual soldiers are no less precious than commanders — with the three of them Xu Zi Qing, Xu Zi Jin, and Xu Zi Qing making such a ruckus, the Du clan has suffered terrible losses."

Du Lanzhou wore a bitter smile, indicating the Du clan can't afford to play along with the Xu clan like this.

Xu Zi Qing picked up the water cup the robot brought and took a light sip, "Three days later the Xu clan will concede part of its interests in exchange for everyone's support; I suggest the Du clan not touch it."

Touch it and you'll have to keep investing more; how many more mecha individual soldiers can the Du clan afford to lose? That bit of benefit probably isn't enough to make the Du clan go all out.

"My suggestion the old men won't necessarily listen to, just like the Xu clan choosing Xu Chengguang and Xu Chengyao," Du Lanzhou doesn't think highly of them at all, yet the Du clan still sent people in, and this time they were all buried on the frontline battlefield — dead through and through, not even a half-dead hope left.

Xu Zi Qing shrugged, "Elders always have their own set of theories," the Xu clan isn't the same? Originally they could still maintain face, but now not a shred of face remains — all a joke.

Du Lanzhou leaned back against the chair, tone melancholy, "I alone eat my fill while the whole family doesn't starve; I've done everything I could — how the Du clan turns out, one can only say they brought it on themselves."

Otherwise what can be done? Can't let him go down with the Du clan's sinking ship.

Du Lanzhou's childhood was no happier than Xu Zi Qing's; the degree of their little bitter gourds is practically neck and neck.

That they've persisted until now without retaliating is thanks to them still having reason.

"Asking you out this time, I thought some things the Du clan can't do conveniently, but we can take them on; relying on this, our future livelihood will also be guaranteed."

The interests the Xu clan is conceding aren't small; we only need to eat a bit of the scraps and it'll be enough.

Du Lanzhou:...

"Xu Zi Qing, you finally couldn't hold back," he'd long known the other party would have this day; Du Lanzhou was only surprised that the timing came early.

Xu Zi Qing spread his hands, "This time is just the start — first get the entry ticket," the real knives and guns come after.

Doing business is like this — do familiar, not raw; otherwise letting him watch helplessly as the Xu clan hands benefits to outsiders would feel rather unpleasant.

Du Lanzhou gave a thumbs up, "This matter, what arrangements do you have?"

Neither of them can show their faces, and even people connected to them won't do.

Xu Zi Qing smiled, "Calling you over is to have you contact a few exploration hunters with good reputations," those who can swallow the Xu clan's interests must have considerable worth — exploration hunters are very suitable targets.

An excellent exploration hunter sits behind an entire interest chain.

"Related demands can be discussed later, but this entry ticket cannot be missing."

"Fine, leave it to me. But time is tight, the candidates might not be enough."

"Doesn't matter, the Xu clan this time is mostly testing the waters; besides the big chunk is with other forces — we're just the garnish."

"..."

Xu Zi Qing saw Du Lanzhou off, returned to the living room and saw Shen Yao looking at an electronic business card.

"Dad and Mom just sent it via wristband, thinking we should be able to use it."

Xu Zi Qing opened his wristband, and an identical business card popped up.

"It is usable; betting on both ends will be safer," Xu Zi Qing quickly dialed the number on the business card, contacting this famous exploration hunter.

Both sides communicated very promptly; with Xu Father and Xu Mother as the link, certain topics and cooperation were confirmed quite rapidly.

Shen Yao propped her chin, musing, "Besides us, would other Xu clan people do the same?"

Xu Zi Qing pondered a moment, "Depends on whether they're clever enough."

Foolishly not wearing a vest and taking the field personally would instead let the Xu clan draw out their trump cards.

"The Xu clan has no shortage of clever people," pity, most aren't clever and are stupid.

The two didn't return to the Xu clan that evening, just rested at the residence; incidentally, taking advantage of free time they strolled around Planet N25's city center and bought some specialties.

"Specialties?"

This batch of ugly ugly nutrient solutions? The system looked disdainfully at the spirit body chamomile clinging tightly to the host's neck, thinking: once those spiritual plants can be mass-produced stably, this little thing will be thoroughly unemployed — yet the host is actually willing to spend extra money raising it.

"Might come in handy later," nor is it entirely for raising spirit bodies.

Adhering to the 'since we're here' philosophy, Shen Yao looked at the federal currency in her wristband and spent it without the slightest hesitation.

The planet farming business is gradually getting on track, the two children are healthy and outstanding enough — Shen Yao should also consider the next world's situation.

High-tech products are sometimes very useful, and there's relatively mature space — Shen Yao entered empty-handed and left empty-handed, the only difference being the space packed full of various items.

Shen Yao stood in a corner, watching the bustling banquet hall before her, marveling that people like them really are just background boards — the main characters have all gone into the conference room, while they're still here eating and drinking with nothing to do.

"Host, a fight's broken out, a fight's broken out..." The system watched the show with relish.

Shen Yao casually picked up a piece of pastry and popped it in her mouth, "Won't come to blows — just putting on a show for others."

Right now who doesn't want to tear a piece of meat off the Xu clan? Who still has the mind for fighting?

"No fight, said a few words and got down to business," the system pouted, indicating that's not what it wanted to watch — the intense excitement just now was so much more interesting.

The system continued observing, occasionally guest-starring as commentator, but mostly complaining.

Like the Xu clan being too greedy, conceding such a tiny bit of interest yet demanding compensation; the Du clan also having something wrong with their heads, pitted to the point of losing their underwear yet still daring to follow; the military appearing much smarter — take as much stuff as you do work, not a shred of intention to contribute...

"Host, those two you found are really secretly doing big things," not many moves, but added up they've snatched quite a few benefits — even a planet rich in mineral resources.

"Wahahahaha, there really is someone stupid enough to not cover up and directly self-destruct.

Those few old geezers of the Xu clan have faces like a color palette — directly took the benefits back and chased the people out — in a bit you'll see it."

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao rubbed her somewhat noisy ears, turned and changed to another spot to rest.

As for Xu Zi Qing? He's currently with a group of people not far away, staying together chatting.

They aren't often on Planet N25; some necessary socializing still needs to be maintained.

Who knows which cloud will rain in the future? Walking around more never hurts.