**Chapter 29: The Family's Rank**
**The next day.**
Yang Zhao rode quickly to Yuehu County.
After arriving at the Yang family estate, he informed his uncle, Yang Wenfeng, of the matter.
"You want to give your daughter to a commoner from Qingjiang County?"
"Uncle, the two have already exchanged betrothal gifts and performed the ceremonies. We're only waiting for an auspicious day for the wedding. I cannot go back on my word. I cannot let the Yang family bear the name of oath-breakers."
In the end, Yang Zhao had listened to his wife's advice and chose to let Yang Ronghua happily marry the one she loved.
It was simply that the great families paid little attention to women—they were mostly tools for marriage alliances.
But Yang Shichang's marriage certainly could not be avoided.
He thought to himself that once this matter was settled and he returned to Qingjiang County, he would also have to close the circle of his lie as soon as possible.
If it were completed, he would leave at most half his burden in Qingjiang County.
Yang Wenfeng sighed, his eyes clear. "If that's the case, then we can only do as you say."
"Your son, Shichang, will marry the Wen family's daughter. Ronghua will then marry her beloved—that's more appropriate."
"Now there is only one other candidate to choose. Your uncle's granddaughter, Yang Rongchun, is eighteen and in the bloom of youth. She meets their requirements."
"I think the Wen family would be willing to form an alliance with the Yang family through her."
Having said that, Yang Wenfeng glanced at Yang Zhao again and said lightly, "Come with me to the Wen family. We'll tell them personally."
"Thank you, Uncle."
---
**That same day.**
Yang Zhao returned to Qingjiang County.
When he got home, he sent Yang Shichang to the Xu family to invite Xu Chuan to the county office.
The county office was busy. After a few days away, a pile of official duties had accumulated, waiting for him to handle.
**Qingjiang County, the county office.**
"Brother Yang, why did you call me here so urgently?"
"It concerns the marriage of my daughter and your son."
Xu Chuan was slightly surprised. Not long ago, he and Yang Zhao had exchanged views. They had both agreed that the two young people were still young and could delay marriage negotiations for a year or two.
"What happened?"
"The prefectural city wants me to compete for the position of county lieutenant. But the Wen family asked me to form an in-law relationship with them—a marriage. Shichang would marry the Wen family's daughter. Originally, Ronghua was also supposed to marry the Wen family's son."
"But Hua'er and your son have deep feelings for each other. The two have sworn vows. I fear that forcibly separating them would make them hate us for life. So I lied that Hua'er had already been betrothed to your son, the ceremonies completed, only waiting for an auspicious day to pass through the door."
"That's how I convinced my uncle to agree to a replacement."
"But this lie must be closed, or it will cause unnecessary trouble for both of us."
"Brother Yang, rest assured. I will have my family handle this as soon as possible. We will present a unified story, leaving no cracks, so as not to put you at risk."
"Yes." Yang Zhao nodded.
Immediately, Xu Chuan cupped his hands and congratulated him. "This younger brother congratulates Brother Yang in advance."
"But when you return to the prefectural city, the two places will be apart. I imagine you'll miss it here."
"I'll take your kind words." Yang Zhao laughed lightly. "Your family is not a fish in a pond. In the future, you will surely develop your family to the prefectural city."
"Brother Xu, the major prefectural cities are the best places for a family's development."
"Though Qingjiang County is called a wealthy county in Yuehu County, it's rare to see a cultivator on ordinary days."
"But in the prefectural city, the children of great families include both martial artists and cultivators. The resources to aid martial arts and the immortal path are far more diverse."
"Though my Yang family is also a great family in Yuehu County, the truly profound top families aim for immortal cultivation. Some even have clansmen who are Foundation Establishment cultivators guarding their towns."
"As for martial arts—even if you become a grandmaster, you are only comparable to the late stage of Qi Refining."
Xu Chuan heard these secrets of the prefectural city families for the first time and was very pleased.
"Then, Brother Yang, could you tell me how the prefectural city classifies these families?"
Yang Zhao smiled upon hearing this and said, "The Great Wei Dynasty secretly divides families into nine ranks, like official positions. The lowest is the ninth rank, the highest the first."
"Ninth-rank families must have at least one innate warrior or a Qi Refining cultivator of the third level."
"Eighth-rank families require a warrior at the peak of the acquired realm or a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator."
"Second-rank families require at least three Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"First-rank families must have five Foundation Establishment cultivators, including a great cultivator of the late Foundation Establishment stage."
Xu Chuan thought for a moment and smiled bitterly. "Then my family couldn't even be considered ninth-rank today."
"This is the classification for prefectural city families. County families are basically not included. After all, more than ninety percent of the people are not cultivators. So Brother Xu need not belittle himself."
"I still think highly of your family."
Xu Chuan nodded and asked again, "Then what rank is your Yang family now?"
"Quite curious? It's no secret in the prefectural city, nor is it anything I can't tell you." Yang Zhao smiled. "My Yang family ranks sixth."
Sixth rank—that meant at least three grandmasters, with one grandmaster residing in the family.
The exact number of experts was the highest secret of each family.
Of course, Yang Zhao wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal that.
"It's a long way to go." Xu Chuan sighed.
"Brother Xu, the path of a family cannot be built in a day. My Yang family took over three hundred years to reach its current state, and each generation worked diligently just to advance the family by three ranks."
Yang Zhao shook his head and laughed without speaking.
---
When Xu Chuan returned home, he immediately had Bai Jing prepare the three letters and six rites. Then, two days later, he and Xu Mingwei went with her to the Yang residence.
Xu Mingwei was overjoyed but also surprised.
So he asked why.
Xu Chuan did not hide the truth. He told him about the Yang family's situation.
"Thank you, Father."
"You should thank your Uncle Yang, the future head of the household. He could have sent Ronghua into an arranged marriage, but he didn't. And he took a risk for you."
Xu Chuan smiled and patted his shoulder. "This kindness you must remember for yourself. In the future, you will have to repay it."
"I understand, Dad."
---
**Two days later.**
**The Yang residence.**
"Brother Yang, I have prepared the three letters and six rites. Please inspect them."
Xu Chuan cupped his hands and looked at Yang Zhao. Yang Zhao smiled. "You've worked hard. I trust you. Come, let's talk over tea."
The Xu couple and the Yang couple discussed the marriage of Xu Mingwei and Yang Ronghua with smiles.
After some discussion, they finally set the date for the second day of the second month of the following year.
It was now October.
There were still four months left.
Enough time for both families to prepare everything.
"Brother, this family connection is finally settled. Congratulations." Yang Shichang congratulated him with cupped hands.
"Brother Chang, congratulations." Xu Mingwei looked at Yang Shichang quietly and saw only a trace of bitterness and envy in his eyes.
"Congratulations on the family alliance."
Yang Shichang said, patting Xu Mingwei on the shoulder. "Treat my sister well. If I find out she's been bullied, don't blame your future brother-in-law for coming back from the prefectural city and giving you a beating."
"Naturally." Xu Mingwei promised solemnly.
With the two families connected by marriage, Xu Chuan decided to announce it on the day of the household establishment.
Yang Zhao did not object.
The Xu family was now the hottest family in Qingjiang County.
On the great occasion of the household establishment, countless Qingjiang County families would be present.
A public announcement would nail it down.
Even if the uncle and the Wen family investigated, they would find no crack to exploit.
---
**The day of the household establishment arrived.**
The Xu family had finally reached this step. What came next—even the righteous father could guess.
---