Several days later.
Dongxi Village, the Chen family's old residence.
"What? Father, you want me and Ergou to become vassals of the Xu family?"
Chen Daming's face showed shock and alarm, while Chen Ergou assumed a contemplative expression.
"This matter concerns everyone. You all need to think deeply about it. Daniu, Fangfang, you as well. If you're unwilling, I absolutely won't force you."
"I'm old and there's not much I can do for you. This time I'm staking my old face to get Sanshu to agree."
"As long as you're willing, you can be just like the Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, and Zhou families."
Uncle Chen hunched his body, still gripping his old smoking pipe, and earnestly said, "Don't look at how those families aren't as well off as you now, but when one person attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. In the future, wherever the Xu family reaches, that's the level you can reach too."
"Sanshu told me that the Great Wei divides prominent families into nine ranks, and his Xu family hasn't even entered what's called the ranks of prominent families yet."
"His heart is as vast as the sea, his bearing like mountains. He's planning for a hundred generations of foundation."
Chen Daming's face showed indignation as he protested, "Though his offspring are all outstanding, how many more years can Xu Chuan live? Even if he has great foresight, won't everything become empty after death? How can he guarantee the Xu family will prosper generation after generation with no spendthrift heirs?"
"His Xu family just happened to meet the right timing, but my Chen family reproducing generation after generation will naturally also produce descendants who bring glory to our ancestors."
"You certainly look far ahead."
Uncle Chen glanced at him, then looked at his several descendants.
Lady Lu also said, "Father, my husband is right. My Lu family also had my grandfather start from nothing, becoming wealthy merchants and notables of Qingjiang County in just over ten years, but by my generation, we've already begun declining."
"Worldly affairs are unpredictable. No one can say for certain about the future."
"I understand your side's meaning. Ergou, what about your family? What's your decision?"
Uncle Chen looked over.
"I..."
Both Chen Ergou and Xu Yan remained silent.
"Grandfather, I agree." Chen Daniu was the first to step forward.
"I don't mean to disparage my own family, but Uncle Chuan truly is the wisest person I've ever met."
Chen Daniu seemed to recall something and said with a bitter expression, "In the past, I always felt I wasn't inferior to Ahyuan or Big Brother Shitou."
"But through these past years and the trials of worldly affairs, I've come to understand that people's talents truly differ from birth. This is natural. However, the development of a family is more importantly about having guidance from someone with far-reaching vision."
"Using things to their fullest, employing people to their capacity."
"Everyone in the family performing their duties."
"The Xu family is like this. Uncle Chuan is the anchor of stability, guiding the Xu family's forward steps while cultivating each person to display their strengths."
"Big Brother Shitou is the eldest legitimate son, the family heir. What he needs is steadiness and authority."
"Ahyuan has a flexible mind, is socially adept, and is a business genius. All of the Xu family's various enterprises are under his control, and even Uncle Chuan rarely intervenes."
"Tantou was sent to the martial hall from childhood, devoted to martial Dao."
"Even Aunt Bai Jing only manages the inner residence and never interferes in other matters."
When mentioning Bai Jing, he even glanced intentionally or unintentionally at his own mother, making a comparison in his heart.
Uncle Chen's lips held a smile as he nodded, "Worthy of being my good grandson. Having such insight, even without becoming a Xu family vassal, would be enough to make the Chen family wealthy merchants in your lifetime."
"Ergou, what about you?"
Chen Ergou pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "Forget it. I'm naturally not suited to be a decision-maker. Since there's a chance to return to my old trade, I'll continue following Brother Chuan."
"If that's the case, Daming, you go back. Live your life well."
Chen Daming ultimately didn't want to walk the path Uncle Chen had arranged.
Perhaps from the very beginning, it was destined to be so.
Uncle Chen told Chen Ergou and Chen Daniu of Xu Chuan's warning that the Chen family property would be merged into the Xu family for unified allocation. However, Xu Yan firmly disagreed.
After Chen Ergou's persuasion proved fruitless, he finally gritted his teeth and decided to divorce Xu Yan.
Knowing her greedy character, he left her seventy percent of the family fortune, while he himself, Chen Daniu, and Chen Fangfang all voluntarily entered the Xu family as vassals.
Uncle Chen informed Xu Chuan of Chen Daming's family's and Chen Ergou's family's decisions.
Xu Chuan was quite surprised and looked at Chen Ergou with new respect.
"Ergou, what worry does a great man have about lacking a wife? In a few years, I'll definitely find you a better one."
Xu Mingyuan was also present at the time. He patted Chen Daniu's shoulder and, seeing his worried expression, consoled him, "Daniu, don't feel bad about your family's things."
"Follow me from now on."
Xu Mingyuan glanced at Xu Chuan, who nodded with a smile, "Don't shortchange Daniu."
"Thank you, Second Young Master. Thank you, Family Head." Chen Daniu cupped his hands.
"Look at you. We'll keep public and private matters separate. In private when it's just us, you can still call me Ahyuan."
Chen Daniu and Chen Fangfang smiled, their hearts' depression completely dispersed, like clearing skies after rain.
Uncle Chen had resolved one matter weighing on his heart.
Two months later, he passed away, unable to make it through the year-end sacrifices.
The Xu family held a grand funeral for him.
…
In the blink of an eye.
The second day of the second month, when the dragon raises its head.
Mountain streams tinkled merrily, and shepherd's purse bloomed white flowers along the banks.
Xu Mingwei's wedding was another grand Xu family event.
Many prominent families from the county seat arrived, and the Yang family also had close clan elders coming from the commandery seat.
The Yang family, having existed for over four hundred years, was very large. Not everyone could come.
Only the close elders from Yang Zhao's branch came. However, if Yang Shichang had formed a marriage alliance with the Wen family in the commandery seat, it would have been vastly different and certainly much more lively than this.
At this moment, at the Xu family's main gate.
Xu Mingwei wore a bright red round-collar robe with woven gold cloud patterns, his waist bound with a black gold-inlaid jade belt. At the hem, subtly embroidered five bats surrounding a longevity pattern appeared and disappeared with his steps.
He wore a black gauze cap with spreading feet, with a gold-inlaid palace flower pinned on each side, making his sword-like brows and starry eyes appear even brighter.
His nose bridge was high and straight like a peak, his lip line slightly pursed from nervousness.
He wore green satin boots with pink soles, a large red silk flower arranged diagonally across his chest, his entire person shining brilliantly like tempered cinnabar.
Presently, Xu Mingwei was about to mount a black steed and depart with the wedding procession.
Xu Mingshu ran out with the white tiger.
"Big Brother, wait."
"Xueji, what is it?" Xu Mingwei turned his head and asked with a smile.
"I heard Father say that there are people from the commandery seat on the Yang family's side who will likely be arrogant. You should ride Little White instead to give them a show of strength."
Xu Mingwei looked at Xu Mingshu, "Is that really necessary?"
Xu Chuan knew that this marriage had made many in the Yang family dissatisfied. After consideration, he said, "Listen to Xueji. Although our Xu family can't compare with the Yang family, we can't be looked down upon either."
"Yes, Father."
"Little White, lie down. Let my big brother ride you today, and I'll get you delicious treats as a reward when we return."
Xu Mingshu leaned close to the white tiger's ear and spoke softly.
Her words seemed to have special power. The white tiger appeared to understand and nodded, even making two "Ao wu" sounds, as if haggling.
"Greedy Little White, as you wish then."
The other guards and servants, seeing Xu Mingshu communicate with the white tiger, had long become accustomed to the sight.
"Big Brother, mount up. I'll follow along in case Little White gets temperamental."
"Ahyuan, Tantou, Yunnu, you go too. Remember not to overdo things."
"Don't worry, Father. I guarantee we'll bring sister-in-law back on time." Xu Mingyuan laughed heartily.
All five Xu sons mobilized together, and so when the suona sounded, the gongs and drums also began to beat.
"Father, Mother, your son is going."
Bai Jing's eyes held tears, her face wearing a happy smile.
Xu Chuan grasped her soft hand, stroking it, and said to Xu Mingwei, "Go."
Watching children be born and then watching them marry and have children. For parents, this was probably the greatest happiness.
The wedding procession set out.
Upon reaching Qingjiang County, there were many onlookers following.
They had come to see the white tiger.
"Today is the Xu family's wedding, right?" someone on both sides of the street suddenly said.
"How do you know?"
"When that variant white tiger appears, who in Qingjiang County doesn't know it's the Xu family?"
"Oh, the Xu family even has such beast-taming skills?"
"That I don't know."
…
Qingyun Street.
In front of the Yang residence gate.
"Cousin, you don't need to interfere later. I'm going to let the Xu family know that women of our Yang family aren't so easily married. If they lack the ability, they should go back where they came from."
Yang Shichang's mouth twitched slightly, but he didn't stop them.
In wedding processions, since ancient times, the bride's side always made things difficult.
He could only act according to circumstances when the time came.
"They're coming, they're coming."
A handsome boy of about ten, dressed in black and gold brocade, shouted loudly.