"Thank you, family heads and friends, for honoring us with your presence at the Xu Clan's founding and ancestral hall inauguration ceremony."
After the inaugural rites and offerings to the ancestors were concluded, Xu Chuan smiled at everyone and said, "The Xu Household has prepared a modest banquet with wine. Please be sure to enjoy a few more cups."
"Haha, you're too kind, Xu Family Head."
He had barely finished speaking when someone nearby chimed in, "Who in Qingjiang hasn't heard of the wines from your Xu Clan's Thousand Gold Distillery?"
The Thousand Gold Distillery brewed yellow wine, rice wine, white liquor, and fruit wine, as well as fruit drinks suitable for men and women, young and old alike.
Its products enjoyed a fine reputation and widespread praise.
"Haha, drink as much as you please. Today, none of us will leave sober!"
"Family heads, this way, please."
The guards began guiding everyone toward the banquet grounds.
"Father, I'm going to check on Little White," Xu Mingshu said.
"I'll go too," Xu Mingxian added.
Xu Chuan waved a hand. "Go on. Keep an eye on them. If they cause trouble today, don't blame me for starving Little White for ten days or half a month."
"I'll have the servants bring you some food."
"Thank you, Father."
"As for you three, go keep our guests company over drinks. Make sure you attend to the heads of the aristocratic clans, the wealthy merchants and households, and the villagers from Dongxi Village."
"Yes, Father."
Xu Chuan sat at the main table, keeping Yang Zhao and the others company, along with the heads of several of the most powerful aristocratic clans.
Bai Jing and the other women sat at the neighboring table.
"Esteemed officials and family heads, allow me to offer you a toast. Thank you for coming today and bringing such luster to our humble Xu Clan."
County Magistrate Wu also raised his cup and said with a smile, "You're far too courteous, Xu Family Head."
"The addition of another aristocratic clan to Qingjiang County is a major event. As the people's parent officials, we naturally had to witness it. Otherwise, we would be unworthy of that title."
"County Magistrate Wu is right. Our aristocratic clans ought to bear witness as well."
"Drink!"
Everyone drained their cups.
"Xu Family Head, your household has amassed such substantial wealth in little more than a decade. Your prospects are boundless. Perhaps we'll have to rely on your household's support someday."
"You're too kind, Family Head Wang. How could the Xu Household compare with the Wang Clan? Even if we whipped our horses, we could never catch up."
"Hahaha, you're truly modest, Xu Family Head."
The head of the Wang Clan basked in the flattery, his face glowing.
"In fact, I have another piece of happy news to share with you today." 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's Deputy Yang's daughter."
County Magistrate Wu, County Commandant Fang, and the heads of the aristocratic clans all looked at Xu Chuan in surprise, then turned to Yang Zhao.
Yang Zhao smiled faintly and waved a hand. "Xu Family Head, this is hardly something that calls for such a solemn announcement. The formalities of the Three Letters and Six Rites have long since been completed. Surely you aren't afraid I'll refuse to marry my daughter to your son?"
With those words, Yang Zhao settled the matter with a single stroke of the hammer.
County Magistrate Wu pointed at Yang Zhao, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Brother Yang, that wasn't very fair of you. Why didn't you tell me you were choosing a husband for your daughter?"
"You let Xu Family Head's son walk away with the prize."
"The fault is mine. I'll punish myself with three cups."
Yang Zhao drank three cups in succession, then said, "What could I do? My daughter likes him. She's my only daughter. How could I not listen to her?"
"Ah, true enough. Xu Mingwei is widely recognized in Qingjiang County as having the makings of a grandmaster. What other family's young talent could compare?"
The head of the He Clan turned to Xu Chuan and asked with a broad smile, "Xu Family Head, our worthy nephew Mingwei must have reached the houtian peak by now, surely?"
Many were curious about this and pricked up their ears.
Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "I haven't had time to supervise him, and it's been a while since I tested his progress in the martial way. I don't know what cultivation realm he's reached. Perhaps he's still a little short."
"Even if he is a little short, he surely only has a few apertures left to open. Once all the apertures of the heavenly circuit are connected and inner force flows unceasingly within him, he'll be at the houtian peak."
"Haha, then may your auspicious words come true, Family Head Zhou. I hope he can reach the houtian peak before the end of the year."
The conversation was lively not only at Xu Chuan's table, but at Bai Jing's as well.
The women, however, were discussing whether their families had sons or daughters of marriageable age.
Given the reputation of the Xu Household's five sons, their marriages were what interested the other ladies most.
Bai Jing was no fool. She merely said that Xu Mingwei was already betrothed to County Magistrate's Deputy Yang's daughter and would bring her home as his bride in a few months. As for the others, she used their youth as a reason to put off the matter for a few more years.
Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the county magistrate, the aristocratic clans, and the wealthy merchants and households all took their leave one after another.
With Zhou Ming accompanying her, Bai Jing inventoried the congratulatory gifts.
"Madam, we've finished counting the gifts. At a rough estimate, they're worth more than eighty thousand taels."
Bai Jing nodded calmly.
She knew the depth of her household's wealth well and had long since ceased to be astonished by such sums.
"Steward Zhou, put everything into the storeroom."
"Yes, Madam."
Zhou Ming, Li Er, and Zhao Dalong, the old hands who had accompanied them from their humble beginnings, now all held respectable positions in the Xu Household.
They were either stewards or guard commanders.
As the Xu Household's fortunes flourished, even the chickens and dogs of their households had risen to heaven along with them.
Apart from Li Er, the others were already living almost as well as they had before fleeing the disaster.
Over the past three years, their households had even welcomed more children.
The Xu Household's main hall.
Chen Ergou, Chen Daming, and their families sat in the hall, chatting with Xu Chuan.
"I always knew Brother Chuan was the most capable. In such a short time, you've brought the Xu Household into the ranks of the aristocratic clans. The Xu Lineage couldn't manage that in decades."
Chen Ergou smiled as he praised him, then took a sip of tea. His eyes lit up. "This tea is good."
"Is it? Take some home when you leave, then."
"No need. Otherwise, I'd feel as though I'd come here to cadge things off you."
Uncle Chen glanced at him and said irritably, "So you do know."
"All right, you've had your tea and your chat. Go back where you came from. If you leave it any later and the city gates close, you won't be able to get home."
Chen Daming felt as though he were sitting on needles and immediately rose to take his leave.
Although his wife had urged him to cultivate closer ties, Xu Chuan and his family were all shrewd people. How could they fail to see what they were after?
Their relationship had never been particularly close. Now that they wanted to stick themselves to the Xu Household, there simply wasn't enough glue between them.
They had originally hoped Chen Ergou would broach the subject.
But he was no fool either.
Now that their father had told them to leave, they had even less face to remain.
"Brother Chuan, we'll be off too. We'll come chat with you again in a few days."
Xu Chuan saw Chen Ergou and the others to the entrance and watched their carriage disappear into the distance. Then he turned to Uncle Chen beside him. "Uncle Chen, why did you have to do that? The Xu Household has plenty of guest rooms now."
"Yes, San Shu, your household is no longer what it once was. But a person's worth lies in knowing their own limits."
Xu Chuan cupped his hands. "Thank you for your efforts in presiding over the rites today, Uncle Chen."
"It's my honor to witness your household's rise. If your parents' spirits know of it beneath the earth, they must be proud of you."
Xu Chuan gazed at the distant green mountains, their edges dyed by golden sunset clouds, and said calmly, "Great Wei's aristocratic clans are divided into nine ranks. The Xu Household doesn't yet truly count among them."
"Everything has only just begun!"
A sudden gleam flashed in Uncle Chen's clouded eyes as he looked at Xu Chuan. "You carry heaven and earth in your breast, and splendid brocade within your belly."
"You're a fine man!"
"It's a pity I won't live to see that day."
"Cough, cough, cough..."
As he spoke, Uncle Chen could not help coughing.
Since his wife had passed away the previous winter, his health had steadily declined.
Xu Chuan reached out to support him. "Let me take you home."
"All right."
Uncle Chen glanced at him, and the two headed toward his home.
"San Shu, I have a favor to ask."
"Go ahead, Uncle Chen."
"Take the Chen Household as your vassals."
Xu Chuan remained silent. Only after they had walked a few steps did Uncle Chen continue, "When your Xu Household grows stronger, you'll surely need some vassal lineages to manage parts of your lineage's holdings."
"For the sake of this old face of mine, I'd like you to give my two sons a chance."
After considering it for a moment, Xu Chuan said calmly, "All right. Uncle Chen, you'll have to persuade them yourself. If they're willing, I'll take them in and treat them the same as the Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, and Zhou Households."
"The Xu Household will never mistreat those who are loyal, but neither will we show mercy to those who shirk their duties and resort to deceit."
"I hope you'll make that perfectly clear."
Uncle Chen nodded slightly.