Yihai Prefecture originally had seventeen high family names, collectively known as the Seventeenth Lineage.
The reason for this name is that each family controlled the various trades upstream and downstream within their industry.
With connections reaching the heavens, they earned gold daily, sitting at the top of the hierarchy.
Hence, they were referred to as "lineage."
For example, the Su Family's Escort Agency, the Mao Family's Pharmacy, the Han Family's Peach Garden Lineage, the Fang Family's Gold Bank.
The customary way to call them was Su Family Lineage, Mao Family Lineage, Han Family Lineage, Fang Family Lineage.
However, this has become an outdated tradition years ago, now everyone just calls them the Thirteen Lineages.
The younger generations do not know what changes occurred or what the secrets were.
