From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 131 Occupying the Mountain
Tonggu County.

In the suburbs outside the city, there is a luxurious manor nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

There are no spiritual veins here, but the mountains and rivers are beautiful and the scenery is extremely beautiful.

When Xu Xiaoniu arrived, he saw a few servants pruning flowers, trees and shrubs near the manor, and some people scooping up algae from the pond to keep the water clear and transparent.

Everywhere you look, there are beautiful sights and things, and everything is spotless.

He used his lightness technique to float to the outside of the manor gate, barely touching the ground with his toes.

Two beautiful girls, around seventeen or eighteen years old, stood on either side of the entrance, dressed in fine silk and bright clothes.

One of the young women recognized Xu Xiaoniu and gracefully bowed, saying, "Lord Xu, please wait a moment, I will go and inform him."

Soon, Bailiwei's hearty laughter came from inside the door: "Director Xu, it's an honor to have you here. I'm so sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

With the sound, Bailiwei appeared gracefully at the door: "Please come in quickly."

Xu Xiaoniu cupped his hands and said, "I hope my sudden visit has not disturbed Supervisor Baili."

The two exchanged pleasantries as they entered the room.

This is Bailiwei's residence. He has plenty of spirit stones, so he doesn't need a spirit land.

The manor is enormous, and the interior is even more exquisite.

Xu Xiaoniu saw that all the maids were young, beautiful, and had slender figures.

Upon arriving at the reception hall, the two took their seats.

The maidservant brewed hot tea and brought it to the table.

Xu Xiaoniu was surprised to find that the tea was not ordinary tea leaves, but a spiritual plant: it was emitting bursts of spiritual energy.

"Director Xu, this is Yunjin Lingcha tea that I specially sourced. Please try it."

As Bailiwei spoke, he picked up the teacup beside him, took a small sip, and squinted his eyes as if savoring the moment.

At the price of Yun Jin Ling Tea, this small cup of tea is worth 5 spirit crystals.

Xu Xiaoniu followed his example, picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and immediately the aroma of tea filled his mouth, lingering in his nose and mouth before sliding down his throat.

A spiritual energy accompanies the tea as it enters the stomach.

Xu Xiaoniu was surprised. As a celestial official, he had drunk many expensive teas, but he had never drunk spiritual tea. Given the spiritual energy it contained, it must be very expensive.

"What wonderful tea! The aroma is rich and the aftertaste is unforgettable. One sip, and I'll probably remember it for years to come..."

He was generous with his praise and gave Bailiwei plenty of face.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Bailiwei inquired about Xu Xiaoniu's purpose for coming.

Xu Xiaoniu started talking about Baihe Mountain.

"Your timing is perfect. If I had come a few days later, I wouldn't be the head of the forestry bureau in Tonggu County anymore. While I'm still in this position, I'll get this done for you as soon as possible."

Bailiwei is about to be promoted to the Yuanli County government office.

"Oh? You're Supervisor Baili?"

Xu Xiaoniu was surprised. Bailiwei was no longer the head of the forest ranger?
"I'll be transferred to the prefectural government soon, probably still as the head of the Forestry Bureau, but with my current cultivation level, I definitely can't become the head of the bureau. I need to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage first, and then slowly climb up the ranks."

According to Bailiwei, “foundation building” seems to be something that can be easily accomplished without any difficulty.

Given his family background, establishing a foundation was indeed a natural and easy task for him.

"Congratulations, congratulations! Looking at it this way, I really did arrive at the right time."

If Xu Xiaoniu had arrived a while later, when the next forest supervisor of Tonggu County came, he might not have recognized Bailiwei's "pricing" of Baihe Mountain, and might have increased the registered reclamation fee for Baihe Mountain, or the annual rent.

He took out a bag of spirit stones and placed it on the table: "Supervisor Baili, this is the registration fee for the reclamation of Baihe Mountain, thirty-eight spirit stones."

He then took out two spirit stones: "This is a gift of thanks to Supervisor Baili."

Bailiwei helped him a lot and saved him at least five or six spirit stones, so it was only right that he repay part of it.

Even if Xu Xiaoniu were dull-witted, after serving as a county lieutenant and director of the Demon-Slaying Division for so many years, he would know the proper etiquette. "Haha, Director Xu, you're too kind. I'll try my best to complete your paperwork before I'm transferred."

Bailiwei smiled and said that he did not refuse.

He didn't care about the two spirit stones, but this was a customary practice.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

More than ten days later.

Xu Xiaoniu received the official documents and the Baihe Mountain deed.

From that time on, Baihe Mountain belonged to the Xu family.

At the same time, the massive project of clearing land and occupying mountains began.

Baihe Mountain is too big, covering an area of ​​twenty miles long and ten miles wide. It could easily accommodate tens of thousands of people, let alone the Xu family of a few dozen.

Xu Fugui's plan was to build it gradually in stages.

This vast mountainous area, crisscrossed by ravines, requires filling in some ravines, leveling hilltops in others, cutting down trees, cultivating fields, and so on. It takes a long time and a lot of manpower.

Considering that the Xu family had too many things to keep secret, the group decided after discussion to divide Baihe Mountain into three levels.

The outermost area is where terraced fields are cultivated, crops and medicinal herbs are planted, livestock farms are built to raise pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks and geese, fish ponds are built to raise fish, shrimp and crabs, etc. This area requires a large number of long-term and short-term workers and is a place where outsiders can freely enter and exit.

Further in, in the middle area, there are some houses and residences built, which are the living quarters of the Xu family. Only members of the Xu family and a few maids are allowed to enter and exit.

There is also the innermost core area, which contains many hidden caves. Only members of the Xu family at the Innate Realm are allowed to enter and exit this area.

The core area was where they practiced martial arts, cultivated immortality, and discussed important matters.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Hiring! Hiring! High salary offered! Need people to repair roads and cut down trees in Baihe Mountain!"

Xu Xiaoan was shouting loudly in Xiaoye Village, which is adjacent to Baihe Village.

"Master Xu, what's going on?"

"From now on, Baihe Mountain belongs to the Xu family. I'm here to recruit people to work. I'll take as many people as you want, food provided, 120 coins a day! Those who have martial arts skills will be paid even more!"

There were too many people needed to reclaim land in Baihe Mountain. Xu Xiaoan recruited all the people in Baihe Village and hired all those who had extra energy to work in Baihe Mountain at high prices.

Still short-staffed, he went to several nearby villages to continue recruiting.

He spent years at home managing farmland and overseeing long-term workers, so he knew the value of labor.

One hundred and twenty coins a day, plus food, was a very attractive offer. An ordinary farmhand would only earn a little over one tael of silver a month with food and lodging provided.

However, the work of repairing roads and cutting down trees is very tiring, and Baihe Mountain is far away. The conditions in the barren mountains are harsh, and we cannot attract enough people without offering high prices.

"120 coins a day? Can I do odd jobs? My wife is about to give birth, and I only have ten days or half a month of free time."

“Okay, any number of days is fine. If you work for one day and then stop, I’ll pay you for that day immediately.”

Xu Xiaoan said loudly.

Given the Xu family's reputation, no one doubted it.

Immediately, many people signed up to do the work.

Large numbers of people flocked to Baihe Mountain to build roads and cut down trees.

The vast Baihe Mountain has remained largely undeveloped for countless years, with only occasional herb gathering, hunting, and a small amount of logging. Countless trees there are decades or even centuries old.

The sale of these timbers alone would generate countless sums of money, enough to support the Xu family's expenses in reclaiming Baihe Mountain.

One by one, the large trees were felled and transported out of Baihe Mountain.

There are also the trees deep in Baihe Mountain. After they were felled, they were not transported out, but left behind as building materials to build houses or make furniture.

(End of this chapter)