"Thank you all, family heads and good friends, for honoring us with your presence at our Xu clan's establishment and ancestral hall opening ceremony."
After finishing the ancestral worship ceremony at the ancestral hall, Xu Chuan said with a smile to everyone, "My Xu family has prepared modest wine and banquet. Please be sure to have several cups."
"Haha, Family Head Xu is too polite."
As soon as the words fell, someone nearby flattered him, "Now, who doesn't know that your Xu clan's Qianjin Workshop wine is famous throughout all of Qingjiang?"
Qianjin Workshop brewed yellow wine, rice wine, white wine, fruit wine, and even fruit drinks suitable for men, women, young and old.
It enjoyed great reputation and favorable reviews.
"Haha, everyone please drink as much as you like. Today we must not return until drunk!"
"Family heads, please come this way."
Guards began guiding everyone toward the banquet venue.
"I'll go too," Xu Mingxian also spoke up.
Xu Chuan waved his hand, "Go ahead. Watch them well. If they cause trouble today, don't blame me for starving them for ten days or half a month."
"I'll have servants send you some food."
"Thank you, Father."
"As for you three, go accompany the guests with wine. The family heads of various prominent families, wealthy merchants, and the villagers from Dongxi Village must all be attended to."
"Yes, Father."
Xu Chuan sat at the main table, accompanying Yang Zhao and several of the most powerful prominent family heads.
At the adjacent table were Bai Jing and the other women.
"Honored officials and family heads, Xu offers you a toast. Thank you for honoring us today and making our humble Xu clan shine."
County Magistrate Wu also raised his wine cup and said with a smile, "Family Head Xu is truly too polite."
"Having one more prominent family in Qingjiang County is a major event. As parent officials, we naturally must be present to witness it, otherwise wouldn't we be failing the words 'parent official'?"
"County Magistrate Wu speaks reasonably. We prominent families should also bear witness."
"Drink!"
Everyone drained their cups in one gulp.
"Family Head Xu, your Xu family has accumulated such substantial wealth in just over ten years. Your future prospects are limitless. In the future, we may need your Xu family's support."
"Family Head Wang is too kind. How can my Xu family compare with the Wang family? Even if we tried desperately to catch up, we couldn't."
"Hahaha, Family Head Xu is truly modest."
Family Head Wang was thoroughly pleased by the flattery, his face glowing red.
"Today, Xu actually has another joyous matter to share with everyone," Xu Chuan glanced at Yang Zhao and said calmly, "On the second day of the second month next year, my eldest son Xu Mingwei will marry County Magistrate Yang's daughter."
County Magistrate Wu, County Captain Fang, and the prominent family heads all looked at Xu Chuan in surprise, then turned to Yang Zhao.
Yang Zhao smiled faintly and waved his hand, "Family Head Xu, this isn't any major matter. You need not be so solemn about it. The three letters and six betrothal gifts were completed long ago. Don't tell me you're worried I won't marry my daughter to your son."
With Yang Zhao saying this, the matter was definitively settled.
County Magistrate Wu pointed at Yang Zhao and shook his head with a smile, "Younger Brother Yang, that's not very honest of you. When you were choosing a husband for your daughter, why didn't you tell me?"
"You let Family Head Xu's son gain such an advantage."
"It's my fault. I'll punish myself with three cups."
Yang Zhao drank three cups in succession, then said, "There was no choice. My daughter liked him. I only have this one daughter. How could I not listen to her?"
"Ah, that's true. Xu Mingwei is recognized throughout our Qingjiang County as having the bearing of a grandmaster. Which family's outstanding son could compare?"
Family Head He turned to look at Xu Chuan and said with a smile, "Family Head Xu, Nephew Mingwei should have reached the peak of the Postnatal realm by now, right?"
Many people were curious about this question and couldn't help but lean in to listen.
Xu Chuan smiled faintly, "I haven't had time to supervise him. It's been a while since I tested his martial Dao progress. I don't know what realm he's at. Perhaps he's still a bit short."
"Even if he's a bit short, he surely only has a few acupoints left. When all the circulating acupoints are opened and internal energy flows endlessly within the body, that will be the peak of the Postnatal realm."
"Haha, then I'll borrow Family Head Zhou's auspicious words. I hope he can reach the peak of the Postnatal realm by year's end."
Not only was Xu Chuan's table chatting enthusiastically, but Bai Jing's table was the same. However, they were discussing whether each family had sons or daughters of marriageable age.
Because of the Xu family's five sons' reputation, the other wives were most concerned about their marriage prospects.
Bai Jing was not confused. She only mentioned that Xu Mingwei had already been betrothed to County Magistrate Yang's daughter and would welcome her through the door in a few months. As for the other sons, she used their young age as a reason to wait several more years.
After eating and drinking their fill, the county officials, prominent families, and wealthy merchants all departed one by one.
Bai Jing, accompanied by Zhou Ming, counted the congratulatory gifts one by one.
"Madam, the gifts have been counted. A rough estimate puts their value at over eighty thousand taels." Bai Jing nodded calmly.
She was well aware of her family's wealth foundation and would no longer make a fuss over such sums.
"Manager Zhou, store everything in the warehouse."
"Yes, Madam."
Zhou Ming, Li Er, Zhao Dalong, and the other old-timers who had accompanied them from humble beginnings now all held considerable positions in the Xu household.
They were either stewards or guard commanders.
As the Xu family business prospered, their families had also risen with them.
Except for Li Er, the rest were already no worse off than before they fled as refugees.
Over the past three years, several had even had additions to their families.
…
Xu family main hall.
Chen Ergou and Chen Daming's family all sat in the hall, chatting idly with Xu Chuan.
"I knew Brother Chuan was the most capable. In such a short time, you've brought the Xu family into the ranks of prominent families. The Xu family couldn't accomplish that in decades."
Chen Ergou praised with a smile, took a sip of tea, and his eyes lit up, "This tea is excellent."
"Is that so? Then take some with you when you leave."
"No need, otherwise I'll feel like I came just to mooch off you."
Uncle Chen glanced at him and said irritably, "So you do know."
"Alright, we've had tea and chatted. Everyone should go back where they came from. Any later and the city gates will close, and you won't be able to return."
Chen Daming felt like he was sitting on pins and needles and immediately stood to take his leave.
Although his wife had told him to cultivate the relationship, the Xu family were all shrewd people. How could they not see through their intentions?
Their relationship wasn't that good to begin with, and now trying to latch on, there was no adhesive for that.
He had originally hoped Chen Ergou would speak up but he wasn't confused either.
Now that their father had told them to leave, they had even less face to stay.
"Brother Chuan, we'll be going now. We'll come visit and chat again in a few days."
Xu Chuan saw Chen Ergou and his group to the door, watched them depart in carriages, then turned to look at Uncle Chen beside him, "Uncle Chen, why do this? My Xu family has plenty of guest rooms now."
"That's right, Sanshu, your family is completely different from before, but the valuable thing about people is self-awareness."
Xu Chuan cupped his hands, "Thank you for your service as chief officiant today, Uncle Chen."
"Being able to witness your family's rise is my honor. If your parents have spirits below, they would surely be proud of you."
Xu Chuan gazed at the distant green mountains, their edges dyed with golden sunset clouds, and said calmly, "The Great Wei has nine ranks of prominent families. My Xu family doesn't even count as truly in the ranks of prominent families yet."
"Everything has only just begun!"
Uncle Chen's turbid eyes suddenly flashed with divine light as he looked at Xu Chuan, "Your heart holds the cosmos, your belly conceals brilliant embroidery."
"You are excellent!"
"It's a pity your Uncle Chen won't live to see that day."
"Cough cough cough~"
As he spoke, Uncle Chen couldn't help but cough.
Last winter, after Uncle Chen's wife passed away, his health had been declining steadily.
Xu Chuan quickly supported him, "Let me see you home, elder."
"That would be good."
Uncle Chen glanced at him, and the two walked toward his home.
"Sanshu, I want to ask you for something."
"Please speak, Uncle Chen."
"Take the Chen family as a vassal."
Xu Chuan remained silent, walking several steps before saying, "When your Xu family grows even stronger, you will surely need some vassal families to manage some family enterprises."
"I want to ask you, for the sake of this old face of mine, to give my two sons a chance."
After thinking for a moment, Xu Chuan said calmly, "Alright, Uncle Chen, you persuade them yourself. If they're willing, then I'll accept them and treat them the same as the Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, and Zhou families."
"My Xu family will never mistreat loyal people, but we also won't be soft-hearted toward those who are cunning and deceitful."
"I hope you make this clear to them." Uncle Chen nodded slightly.