Qingjiang County, Dongxi Village.
Countless carriages and horses flowed like water into this ordinary village.
Over twenty Xu family guards in uniform black and red attire were directing the carriages and horses to prevent congestion.
"Family Head of the Wang family of Qingping County arrives with his wife and son!"
"Family Head of the He family of Qingping County arrives with his son and daughter!"
"Eldest Young Master of the Cao family of Qingping County arrives!"
"Family Head of the Yan family arrives with his wife and children!"
"Eldest Young Master of the Shen family arrives!"
"County Magistrate Wu of Qingping County arrives with his wife!"
"County Captain Fang of Qingping County arrives!"
Those announced with the name of Qingping County were either prominent families or government officials. The rest were all wealthy merchants or highly reputable figures in the county.
Chen Ergou's family and Chen Daming's family had also been invited to attend.
Seeing the coming and going wealthy merchants and prominent family nobles, Chen Daming sighed deeply in his heart and murmured, "Ergou, Father still had the keen eye. If not for his caring for Xu Chuan since childhood, our Chen family today would hardly be able to set foot in this place."
"Big Brother, that's you. What kind of relationship do I have with Brother Chuan? Not inviting you would be normal, but he definitely wouldn't leave me out."
Chen Ergou was quite pleased with himself.
Xu Yan looked around, jealous fire burning secretly in her heart.
"We're all Xu clan members from the same ancestry. Why is Xu Chuan's branch so illustrious while our branch gradually declines?"
The woman beside Chen Daming suddenly tugged lightly at his sleeve and whispered, "Husband, do you think the Xu family will resent us for asking them for the green jade pear cultivation secrets several years ago?"
She was Chen Daming's wife, Lady Lu.
"It should be fine, otherwise they wouldn't have invited us."
"Moreover, we gained no benefit whatsoever. We planted the green jade pear trees for several years without bearing fruit, and it nearly dragged down our family business."
After speaking, both fell silent.
As the group walked, suddenly a guard blocked their path, "Gentlemen, this road has been sealed by our Xu family today. Only those with invitations may pass."
Chen Ergou cheerfully stepped forward, pulled out the invitation from his bosom, then turned to Chen Daming and said, "Big Brother, take out your family's invitation too. They need to check it."
The Xu family guard glanced at them, nodded, then returned the invitations and made a welcoming gesture, "The invitations are in order. Please go straight ahead. Where the crowd gathers is where our Xu residence is located."
"I know this road well."
As they approached the Xu family's great residence, the crowd grew like a tide, finally reaching the mansion gate.
They saw an open space, the ground neatly arranged, entirely paved with blue stone slabs.
"Second Nephew."
Chen Ergou suddenly saw Xu Mingyuan chatting idly with some wealthy merchants and immediately waved and called out.
This shout drew many eyes.
"From the looks of it, he's calling Second Young Master Xu. Could he also be from the Xu clan line?"
Some wondered in their hearts, thinking whether they should go greet him and pay respects.
Xu Mingyuan was now close to becoming a second-rate martial artist, with keen hearing and sight, and naturally heard this familiar call.
Looking back, he immediately walked over with a smile.
"Uncle Ergou, Uncle Daming, Daniu, Fangfang, you've come."
"Where's my Brother Chuan?"
Xu Mingyuan smiled bitterly, "Uncle Ergou, today there are too many guests, and this is my Xu family's important clan establishment day. The occasion is solemn and dignified. You should still be more proper and not be too flippant and casual in your words."
"I understand now, Second Young Master Xu. Then may I ask where Family Head Xu is?"
"Father is in the inner rooms conversing with several prominent family heads as well as County Magistrate Wu, County Magistrate Yang, and County Captain Fang. The clan establishment ceremony begins at noon. If you know anyone here, you can chat with them first, or you can go into the residence to see Grandfather Chen."
"This ceremony will be presided over by him."
"My father?!"
Both Chen Daming and Chen Ergou exclaimed in surprise, exchanged glances, and found it incredible.
"Then let's go see Father first."
Both said the same thing.
After all, there really weren't many people present they were familiar with.
…
Noon.
Outside the Xu family's main gate.
The incense tables for the sacrifice to heaven and earth had already been arranged neatly. On the incense table were the three sacrificial animals of ox, pig, and sheep, eternal candles, and various other pastries.
Seven prayer cushions were placed behind, arranged in two rows.
Two in the front, five side by side in the back.
Xu Chuan's family, along with the county magistrate, county magistrate, county captain, and some prominent family heads, walked out from inside the main gate.
Uncle Chen stood beside the incense table.
Gray-white beard and hair, his face carved by wind and frost, already past sixty years of age.
He was considered long-lived among the people of Dongxi Village.
He was also the closest elder to the Xu family, so Xu Chuan asked him to preside over this occasion.
"Xu clan descendants, please come forward."
"Light the incense!"
Seven servants stepped forward to light the long incense sticks in Xu Chuan and the others' hands, then retreated.
Uncle Chen swept his gaze across them, his expression solemn and dignified, and read from the silk cloth in his hand, "The Xu clan hereby announces to heaven and earth: In this year of Yisi, in the month of Ruibin. Heaven clear and earth tranquil, the two primal forces hang as symbols. Clouds move and rain falls, all things flow into form. Containing vastness and great light, nurturing our common people. May the spirits descend blessings upon us endlessly. Following old traditions respectfully, we humbly offer this sacrifice."
After reciting, he threw the silk cloth into a bronze tripod to burn.
"Kneel!"
"First bow! Second bow! Third bow!"
"Kneel again!"
After three kneelings and nine bows, Xu Chuan led everyone to place their incense.
Then they came before the Xu clan ancestral hall.
Before opening the ancestral hall, they likewise needed to recite a prayer text to console the ancestors and glorify their achievements.
"The Xu clan hereby establishes the clan and builds the ancestral hall to glorify ancestral virtue and order the generations. Today we choose this auspicious place in Qingjiang, backed by green mountains, facing flowing water, with continuous dragon veins and magnificent atmosphere. The hall has three sections: the ceremonial gate in front, the worship hall in the middle, the spirit tablets enshrined in back, with side rooms left and right to store genealogies."
"The completion of this hall is not only a place for spirits to rest, but truly a foundation for strengthening family bonds and educating descendants. Future descendants who enter this gate should remember that starting a business is difficult and maintaining it is not easy. Be prudent and frugal, and bring glory to the family name."
After reciting the prayer, burning the silk cloth, Uncle Chen shouted loudly, "Open the ancestral hall, welcome the ancestor tablets!"
Servants with solemn expressions, holding tablets in their hands, walked into the Xu clan ancestral hall and placed them properly.
Xu Chuan counted from his grandfather's generation. He was the third generation, while Xu Mingwei and the others were the fourth generation. However, in others' eyes, Xu Chuan was the true founder of the Xu family.
Before him, several generations of the Xu family were ordinary common people living hand to mouth. Xu Chuan's father was even just a long-term laborer for the Xu family.
"I've heard the Xu family has five sons, each with extraordinary talent, but the Xu family head's reputation is not prominent."
"I've also heard that the Xu family's rise took only a dozen or so years, and when the Xu family head was young, he was even a laborer for the Xu family of Dongxi Village."
"Both generations of the Xu family have produced talented people. No wonder they have such flourishing prospects!"
The crowd watching the Xu family kneeling before the Xu ancestor tablets all showed envious expressions.
The Xu family's five sons were each outstanding.
Not only were they famous throughout Qingjiang County, they had even spread to several surrounding counties.
The eldest son Xu Mingwei needless to say. Three years ago, he was recognized as a first-rate martial artist. Before reaching the age of twenty, he had already reached the peak of the Postnatal realm and was recognized as having the bearing of a grandmaster.
The second son Xu Mingyuan made friends from all directions and gathered wealth from all sides.
Four parts of the credit for the Xu family's current prosperity rested entirely with him.
He was truly a business prodigy. In just a few short years, he had multiplied the Xu family's wealth dozens or even hundreds of times.
The third son Xu Mingxuan studied at Heavenly Dragon Martial Hall and had likewise reached the realm of a third-rate martial artist, enjoying the reputation of a genius martial artist in Qingjiang County.
The fourth daughter Xu Mingshu had exceptional talent. It was said she could communicate with beasts and control a variant white tiger. She was likewise famous and was the target many prominent families wished to marry.
The fifth son Xu Mingxian, in outsiders' eyes, kept a low profile, but many speculated that he was the most gifted person in the Xu family.