Founding the Clan and Establishing the Ancestral Hall

Qingjiang County, Dongxi Village.

Carriages and horses streamed into the ordinary village like flowing water.

More than twenty Xu Household guards in standard black-and-red uniforms directed the traffic to prevent a jam.

"The head of the Wang Clan of Qingping County has arrived with his wife and son!"

"The head of the He Clan of Qingping County has arrived with his son and daughter!"

"The eldest son of the Cao Clan of Qingping County has arrived!"

"The head of the Yan Clan has arrived with his wife and children!"

"The eldest son of the Shen Clan has arrived!"

"Magistrate Wu of Qingping County has arrived with his wife!"

"County Magistrate's Deputy Yang of Qingping County has arrived with his wife and children!"

"County Commandant Fang of Qingping County has arrived!"

Those announced with "Qingping County" before their names belonged either to great clans or to officialdom. The rest were wealthy merchants or people of considerable standing in the county.

Chen Ergou's family and Chen Daming's family had also been invited.

Seeing the wealthy merchants and illustrious clans coming and going, Chen Daming felt a surge of emotion. "Er Gou, Father truly had a keen eye. If he hadn't looked after Xu Chuan since childhood, our family might never have set foot here today."

"Big Brother, speak for yourself. Chuan and I go way back. It'd be normal if he didn't invite you, but he'd never leave me out."

Chen Ergou looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

Xu Yan looked around, jealousy smoldering in her heart.

We're all of the Xu Clan, descended from the same line. Why is Xu Chuan's branch so illustrious while ours dwindles by the day?

The woman beside Chen Daming suddenly tugged gently at his sleeve and whispered, "Husband, do you think the Xu Household still resents us for asking them how to cultivate Jade Pears a few years ago?"

She was Chen Daming's wife, Madam Lü.

"I doubt it. Otherwise, they wouldn't have invited us."

"Besides, we gained nothing from it. We planted Jade Pears for years without a single fruit. They nearly dragged the family business under."

After that, both fell silent.

The group walked on.

Suddenly, a guard blocked their path. "This road has been closed off by the Xu Household today. Only those with invitations may pass."

Chen Ergou stepped forward cheerfully and pulled an invitation from his robe. Then he turned to Chen Daming. "Big Brother, take out your family's invitation too. They need to check it."

The Xu Household guard glanced at the invitations, nodded, and returned them with a gesture toward the road. "Your invitations are in order. Go straight ahead. Where the crowd gathers, you'll find the Xu Household."

"I know this road well."

As they approached the Xu residence, the crowd thickened like a rising tide until they reached its gates.

Before them lay a broad open space, neatly paved throughout with bluestone slabs.

"Second nephew!"

Chen Ergou spotted Xu Mingyuan chatting with several wealthy merchants and immediately waved and called out.

His shout drew quite a few glances.

He seems to be calling Second Young Master Xu. Could he be from a branch of the Xu Clan too?

Someone wondered whether he ought to go over and offer a greeting.

Xu Mingyuan was now close to becoming a Second-Rate Martial Artist. With his keen ears and eyes, he naturally heard the familiar voice.

He turned, saw who it was, and walked over with a smile.

"Uncle Ergou, Uncle Daming, Daniu, Fangfang. You're here."

"Where's my brother Chuan?"

Xu Mingyuan gave a wry smile. "Uncle Ergou, we have many guests today, and this is an important day for the founding of the Xu Clan. The occasion is solemn. Please take it seriously and don't speak so casually."

"Got it, Second Young Master Xu. Then may I ask where the head of the Xu Household is?"

"Father is inside speaking with several clan heads, Magistrate Wu, County Magistrate's Deputy Yang, and County Commandant Fang. The founding ceremony begins at noon. If you know anyone here, you can chat with them first, or you can go inside and see Grandpa Chen."

"He'll be presiding over the ceremony."

"My father?!"

Chen Daming and Chen Ergou both cried out. They exchanged a look, finding it hard to believe.

"Let's go see Father first, then."

Both men said the same thing.

After all, there were scarcely any people there whom they knew.

Noon.

Outside the gates of the Xu residence.

The altar for making offerings to Heaven and Earth had been set out. Upon it sat the three sacrificial animals—an ox, a pig, and a sheep—along with ever-burning candles and assorted pastries.

Behind it lay seven prayer cushions.

They were arranged in two rows.

Two stood at the front, with five side by side behind them.

Xu Chuan's family emerged through the gates with the county magistrate, the County Magistrate's Deputy, the county commandant, and several clan heads.

Uncle Chen stood beside the altar.

His hair and beard were gray-white, his face carved by years of hardship. He had passed sixty.

Among the people of Dongxi Village, he counted as long-lived.

He was also the elder closest to the Xu Household, so Xu Chuan had asked him to preside over the ceremony.

"Descendants of the Xu Clan, step forward."

"Light the incense!"

Seven servants stepped forward to light the long incense sticks held by Xu Chuan and the others, then withdrew.

Uncle Chen swept his gaze over them. His expression solemn, he read from the silk scroll in his hands: "We of the Xu Clan offer sacrifice and make this declaration to Heaven and Earth: in the year of Yisi, under the pitch of Ruibin. Heaven is clear and Earth serene; the two powers display their signs... Clouds travel and rain falls; all things take shape. Vast and radiant, they nurture our multitudes... May the spirits bestow blessings and favor us without end. In reverence, we follow the rites of old; humbly, we ask you to receive these offerings."

When he finished, he threw the silk scroll into a bronze cauldron and burned it.

"Kneel!"

"First bow! Second bow! Third bow!"

"Kneel again!"

After three kneelings and nine bows, Xu Chuan led the others in placing their incense sticks.

Then they went before the Xu Clan's ancestral hall.

Before opening it, they likewise had to read a prayer to honor their ancestors and proclaim their deeds.

"We of the Xu Clan establish our clan and build this ancestral hall to honor the virtues of our forebears and preserve the order of our generations. Today, we have chosen an auspicious site in Qingjiang, with green mountains at its back and flowing water before it. The dragon vein stretches on, its bearing grand. The hall has three successive courtyards: a ceremonial gate in front, an offering hall in the middle, and ancestral tablets enshrined at the rear, with rooms on either side to keep the genealogical records..."

"This hall serves not merely as a resting place for the spirits, but as a foundation for strengthening family bonds and teaching our descendants. Those of later generations who enter its gates must remember how hard it was to establish our fortunes and how hard it is to preserve them. Conduct yourselves with care, live frugally, and bring glory to our family."

When the prayer was finished and the silk scroll burned, Uncle Chen shouted, "Open the ancestral hall! Welcome the ancestral tablets!"

The servants, faces solemn, carried the tablets into the Xu Clan's ancestral hall and set them in place.

Xu Chuan counted the generations beginning with his grandfather. He himself was the third generation, while Xu Mingwei and the others were the fourth.

In the eyes of outsiders, though, Xu Chuan was the true founder of the Xu Household's fortunes.

For generations before him, the Xu Household had been ordinary commoners living from day to day. Xu Chuan's father had even been a hired laborer for the Xu Lineage.

"I've heard the Xu Household has five children, each gifted, but the head of the household has little reputation himself."

"I've heard that too. The Xu Household rose to prominence only a dozen or so years ago. In his youth, its head was a hired laborer for the Xu Lineage of Dongxi Village."

"Both generations of the Xu Household are brimming with talent. No wonder they're flourishing!"

The assembled guests watched the Xu family kneel before their ancestors' tablets, envy plain on their faces.

All five children of the Xu Household were outstanding.

Their names had spread beyond Qingjiang County into several neighboring counties.

The eldest son, Xu Mingwei, needed no introduction. Three years ago, he had already been recognized as a First-Class Martial Artist. Before even turning twenty, he had reached the Houtian Peak and was widely considered to have the makings of a Grandmaster.

The second son, Xu Mingyuan, made friends in every direction and drew wealth from all quarters.

Four-tenths of the credit for the Xu Household's present prosperity belonged to him.

A true genius at business, he had multiplied the Xu Household's wealth many times over in just a few short years.

The third son, Xu Mingxuan, trained at the Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts School. He too had reached the level of a Third-Rate Martial Artist and was known throughout Qingjiang County as a martial arts prodigy.

The fourth child, Xu Mingshu, was an exceptionally gifted daughter. Rumor held that she could communicate with beasts and command a Variant White Tiger. She too was renowned, and many great clans sought her hand in marriage.

The youngest daughter, Xu Mingxian, kept a low profile in the eyes of outsiders, but many suspected she was the most gifted of the Xu children.