After the lively greetings had died down, the smiling old man beside them beckoned and called An Ran over in front of everyone. "How old are you this year?"
"Sixteen. I'll be seventeen in another month."
"Good, you're old enough for the capping ceremony." An Ding nodded and instructed An Quan beside him, "Since everyone's here, go call the others. Have them make preparations."
"What? Old Bastard, are you serious?!"
An De's eyes widened as he instinctively tried to stop him. "He's still so young..."
The capping ceremony meant adulthood.
It meant he could go out and do work.
An Ding shook his head. "Sixteen isn't that young."
"Don't, Dad, think it over again!" An De interjected. "If word gets out..."
"And what if it does?"
An Ding looked back at him, his expression turning faintly cold. "What is there to consider? Can't I make decisions about my own family?"
"I am the family head. I am Hunter Finger. You don't need to tell me what to do. I will explain things to the Hermit at the Assembly myself," he said. "I will bear all consequences."
The An Family's transcendent position within Wild Bazaar came from their role as Hunters in stabilizing and maintaining the Wilderness, as well as their contributions to—and restraint within—Wild Bazaar.
Other than serving as Chieftain's Hand and occasionally taking on some part-time odd jobs, official members of the An Family never involved themselves in strife inside or outside Wild Bazaar. An Ran's previous wandering around while carrying nails had already been skirting the line.
If An Ran were capped today and allowed to involve himself in this election, how could the An Family's position still convince everyone? That was what An De and An Neng were worried about.
There was the Cave Horn Lineage, also