Several days later.
Dongxi Village, Chen Family old residence.
"What? Father, you want Ergou and me to become vassals of the Xu Family?"
Chen Daming's face showed alarm, while Chen Ergou fell into contemplation.
"This concerns everyone, so you all need to think it through carefully. Daniu, Fangfang, the same goes for you. If you are unwilling, I will never force you."
"I am old. There is not much I can do for you anymore. This time, I put my old face on the line before Sanshu agreed."
"As long as you are willing, you can become like the Zhao, Qian, Sun, plum, and Zhou families."
Uncle Chen hunched over, still gripping that old tobacco pipe in his hand. He said earnestly, "Do not look down on those families just because they are inferior to yours now. When one man attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. How high the Xu Family rises in the future will determine what level you can reach as well."
"Sanshu told me that the Great Wei Families are divided into nine ranks, yet his Xu Family has not even entered the ranks of the so-called Families."
"He said the Xu Family had only just started."
"His heart was as vast as the sea and his bearing as imposing as a mountain. What he sought was a foundation for a hundred generations."
Chen Daming looked indignant and protested, "His sons may all be outstanding, but how many more years can Xu Chuan live? No matter how farsighted he is, once he dies, will it not all come to nothing?
"How can he ensure that the Xu Family prospers generation after generation, without ever producing a wastrel descendant?"
"The Xu Family merely happened to encounter the right time. If the Chen Family keeps multiplying and carrying on through the generations, naturally we will produce people who bring glory to our ancestors."
"You certainly look far ahead."
Uncle Chen shot him a glance, then looked at his several children.
Madam Lü also said, "father, my husband is right. My Lü Family was also built from nothing by my grandfather, who became one of Qingjiang County's wealthy merchants and prominent figures in barely over a decade. Yet by my generation, we have already begun to decline."
"The world changes without constancy. No one can say what the future holds."
"I understand your side's intentions. Ergou, what about your family? What have you decided?"
Uncle Chen looked over.
"I..."
Chen Ergou and Xu Yan both remained silent.
"Grandfather, I agree." Chen Daniu was the first to step forward.
"I do not mean to disparage our own family, but Uncle Chuan truly is the wisest man I have ever met."
Seeming to recall something, Chen Daniu said with a bitter expression, "In the past, I always felt that I was no worse than A Yuan, nor worse than Brother Shitou."
"But after these past years of life's tempering, I understood that people's talents truly differ. That is something one is born with. Yet for the development of a Lineage, what matters even more is the guidance of someone with far-reaching vision."
"Make the best use of everything, and let every person display their talents."
"Everyone in a Lineage performs their own duties."
"That was how the Xu Family operated. Uncle Chuan was the Stabilizing Pillar, guiding the Xu Family forward while nurturing everyone and allowing them to make use of their strengths."
"Brother Shitou was the eldest legitimate son, the one to carry on the family. What he needed was steadiness and authority."
"A Yuan had a quick mind and could handle every side with ease. He was a business prodigy. He controlled all the Xu Family's enterprises, and even Uncle Chuan rarely interfered."
"Tantou was sent to the Martial Arts Hall from childhood and devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Martial Dao."
"Even Aunt Bai Jing was only responsible for the inner household and never involved herself in other affairs."
When he mentioned Bai Jing, he deliberately—or perhaps unintentionally—glanced at his own mother.
He compared them in his heart.
A smile touched Uncle Chen's lips as he nodded. "Worthy of being my good grandson. With such insight, even if you do not become a Xu Family Vassal, you will still be able to make the Chen Family one of the wealthy merchant households within your lifetime."
"Ergou, what about you?"
Chen Ergou pondered briefly before raising his head. "Fine. I was never suited to making decisions by nature. Since I have the chance to return to my old trade, I will continue following Brother Chuan."
"Since that is the case, Daming, you may return. Live your lives properly."
In the end, Chen Daming did not wish to follow the path Uncle Chen had arranged.
Perhaps it had been destined from the very beginning.
Uncle Chen told Chen Ergou and Chen Daniu of Xu Chuan's warning: the Chen Family's assets were to be incorporated into the Xu Family and allocated under the Xu Family's unified control.
Yet Xu Yan firmly refused.
Chen Ergou failed to persuade her. Finally, gritting his teeth, he decided to divorce Xu Yan.
Knowing her greedy nature, he left seventy percent of the family assets to her. He himself, Chen Daniu, and Chen Fangfang all willingly joined the Xu Family and became its vassals.
Uncle Chen informed Xu Chuan of the decisions made by Chen Daming's family and Chen Ergou's family.
Xu Chuan was greatly surprised and looked upon Chen Ergou several times more highly.
"Ergou, what need does a true man have to fear having no wife? In a few years, I will surely find you someone better."
Xu Mingyuan had also been present. He patted Chen Daniu on the shoulder and, seeing his furrowed brow, comforted him. "Daniu, do not grieve over that little bit of property your family had."
"Follow me from now on."
Xu Mingyuan glanced at Xu Chuan, who smiled and nodded. "Do not shortchange Daniu."
"Thank you, Second Young Master. Thank you, Patriarch." Chen Daniu said with cupped hands.
"Look at you. We keep public and private matters separate. When it is just us privately, you can still call me A Yuan."
Chen Daniu and Chen Fangfang smiled, and the knot in their hearts dispersed, like clear skies after rain.
Uncle Chen had finally laid one concern to rest.
Two months later, he passed away and did not live to finish this Yearly Sacrifice.
The Xu Family held a grand funeral for him.
In the blink of an eye.
The second day of the second month—the dragon raised its head.
Mountain streams tinkled, and white shepherd's purse blossoms bloomed along their banks.
Xu Mingwei's wedding was yet another grand occasion for the Xu Family.
Many Families from the county town arrived, while the Yang Family also had close elder relatives come from the Prefecture City.
The Yang Family had endured for more than three hundred years and was enormous; it was impossible for everyone to come.
Only the close elders from Yang Zhao's branch had come.
However, if Yang Shichang were marrying into the Wen Family in the Prefecture City, it would be entirely different. It would certainly be far livelier than this.
At this moment, at the Xu Family Main Gate.
Xu Mingwei wore a round-collared robe of formal scarlet woven with golden cloud patterns. Around his waist was a dark, gilded jade belt, while the hems of his robe bore subtly embroidered Five Bats Holding Longevity designs that flickered in and out of sight with every step.
He wore a black gauze winged headwrap, with a gilded palace flower pinned on either side, making his sword eyebrows and star eyes appear all the more striking.
His nose bridge rose high as a peak, while his lips were faintly pressed together from nervousness.
He wore blue satin boots with pale soles, and a large red silk flower hung diagonally across his chest. His entire person shone brilliantly like cinnabar tempered in fire.
A moment later.
Xu Mingwei mounted a black steed and was about to depart with the bridal procession.
Xu Mingshu ran out with the White Tiger.
"Big Brother, wait."
"Xue Ji, what is it?" Xu Mingwei turned and asked with a smile.
"I heard Father say that some people from the Yang Family came from the Prefecture City. They are surely strutting about arrogantly. Ride Little White instead, so you can give them a blow right from the start."
Xu Mingwei looked at Xu Mingshu. "There is no need for that, is there?"
Xu Chuan knew that many members of the Yang Family were dissatisfied with this marriage. After some thought, he said, "Listen to Xue Ji. Although our Xu Family cannot compare with the Yang Family, we cannot let them look down on us either."
"Yes, Father."
"Little White, lie down. Let my Big Brother ride you today, and when we return, I will bring you something tasty as a reward."
Xu Mingshu leaned close to the White Tiger's ear and spoke softly.
Her words seemed to possess some special power. The White Tiger appeared to understand and nodded, then gave two "Awoo" cries, as though bargaining.
"You greedy Little White, have it your way."
The other guards and Household guards had long since grown accustomed to seeing Xu Mingshu communicate with the White Tiger.
"Big Brother, get on. I will follow along in case Little White loses her temper."
"A Yuan, Tantou, Yun Nu, you go too. Remember not to make too much trouble."
"Do not worry, father. We guarantee we will bring sister-in-law back on time." Xu Mingyuan laughed heartily.
The Xu Family Five Sons all set out together.
Just like that.
The moment the suona sounded, the gongs and drums began to ring as well.
"Father, Mother, your son is leaving."
Bai Jing's eyes brimmed with tears, though a happy smile rested on her face.
Xu Chuan held her soft hand and gently stroked it before saying to Xu Mingwei, "Go."
Watching one's children enter the world crying, then watching them marry and have children.
For parents, that was perhaps the greatest happiness.
The bridal procession set off.
When they reached Qingjiang County, quite a few people gathered to watch and follow.
They had all come to see the White Tiger.
"Today is the Xu Family's wedding, right?" someone suddenly said from the side of the street.
"How did you know?"
"When that Exotic White Tiger appears, who in Qingjiang County would not know it belongs to the Xu Family?"
"Oh, the Xu Family even has such beast-taming skill?"
"That, I do not know."
Qingyun Street.
Before the gates of Yang Manor.
"Cousin, just leave it to me later. I will make the Xu Family understand that a woman of the Yang Family is not so easily married. If they lack the ability, they can go back where they came from."
Yang Shichang's lips twitched slightly, but he did not stop him.
Since ancient times, the bride's side had never failed to make things difficult for the groom during a wedding.
They could only play it by ear when the time came.
"They are here, they are here."
A delicate-looking youth of around ten, dressed in black-and-gold silk, began shouting loudly.
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