I have a fortune book

Chapter 145 Birthday banquet, delivery of life and death

The second day of the Inner Palace Conference, August 26, was an ordinary day.

But for the Zhou people, it is not ordinary, because today is the birthday of their patriarch Zhou Bai, those who are interested want to organize a birthday banquet, and the ordinary people also want to thank this young patriarch who has brought the rise of the family, and send some small gifts .

However, Zhou Bai suppressed these voices. The Jinshi celebrations a few days ago had already been organized, and the mere 17th birthday should not be bothered.

When several members of the gift-giving tribe suffered bad luck one after another, no one used it as an excuse to come to the door to show their affection. However, the elders of the family did not think that Zhou Bai was unreasonable, but thought it was a sign of maturity and prudence.

17 years old is too young, it is not appropriate to make too much noise, so as not to be considered frivolous and unreliable by other forces.

It's not that Zhou Bai didn't just give birth, but went to the home of the old patriarch Zhou Mingxuan and invited the heads and heirs of each house to hold a family banquet.

Apart from close people like Zhou Xiangwen, Zhou Rui and his son, even the third-bedroom house owner, Zhou Chang, attended the banquet as scheduled. The unhappiness at the beginning was nothing compared to the current status gap.

Zhou Mingxuan and Zhou Bai also held this family banquet after discussing it. They both understood that they had to take advantage of the fact that the head of the previous generation was still there, so as to gather everyone's hearts in the family.

At the gate of Zhou Mingxuan's house, Zhou Bai became a serious welcome.

Zhou Chang saw the high-spirited young man at the door from a distance, and thought of the achievements of the young man in the past two years, he was in a daze.

It's not the pinnacle to be knighted by imperial decree.

At that time, due to the pressure within the family, he took his son Zhou Heyun to plead guilty. Although his behavior was embarrassing, he may not have a trace of courage in his heart.

Maybe one day Zhou Heyun can do the same?

But after waiting for Dingzhou Jieyuan, and now Jinshi, the Celestial Archway is an honor that no one can expect.

Zhou Chang still doesn't understand that his son and Zhou Bo are like fireflies to Haoyue.

Fortunately, they are also members of the Zhou family, and there is no deep hatred. Being able to invite him to a family dinner shows a lot of things.

"Brother Bai, please be careful on your birthday." Zhou Chang calmed down, with an awkward smile on his face, and strode to the door.

"Thank you, Uncle Chang, the elders are all seated, please come inside."

Zhou Bai took the gift box and asked Zhou Rui who was beside him to help him hold it. Then he pretended to be strange, looked behind Zhou Chang and said, "By the way, isn't He Yun here?"

"He's not good enough. He hasn't entered school yet and won fame, so I left him in the countryside and studied behind closed doors in the manor." Zhou Chang was stunned and quickly explained.

This is not what you said at the beginning, when you have fame and when you are a Hui nationality.

Of course, these words are often just complaining in his heart, the current disparity in status makes him unable to hold the airs of his elders.

Zhou Bai nodded and said, "Yes, that's good. But now that the family has grown up and has a lot of property, if Uncle Chang is interested, he can apply to Qunshitang to let He Yun do the work."

"If you are really talented, as the patriarch, I will definitely give you a chance."

Zhou Chang naturally responded happily, seeing that his steps were much lighter.

In the past year or so, he has finally experienced what it means to be warm and cold, and he also hates evil servants like Zhou Datian.

When the person walked away, Zhou Rui said from the side: "Sure enough, you have a lot more tolerance, my patriarch."

Zhou Bai smiled and said nothing, but it is true, different positions have different levels of thinking.

Yesterday's summary meeting was to unite the hearts of the inner government, and today's family banquet is to unite the hearts of the family. If the main family members are of one mind with him, the whole family will be of one mind.

He was deeply touched that the storm was about to come, so he didn't mention it, but said that the actions of the Zhao family in the past few days were the harbingers of a big fight.

Combined with various means of officials and secrets, they forcibly suppressed the Zhou family's business in the county.

For example, in a ready-made clothing store in the clan, a large number of ruffians and young adults will pour into the store during the day. They pretend to choose fabrics and admire the ready-made clothes.

But as soon as customers come, they will block the store door or scare them away. In the end, no business can be done at the end of the day.

At night, it is common for shops to be splashed with dog blood, stolen, or even caught fire.

For this reason, the clan can only send more manpower to be on duty day and night, which is a little better.

When Ji Hongzhe was here before, reporting to officials would definitely be useful, but now that Shouheng is in charge, the relationships managed by the subordinates, if they are not serious enough to embarrass you, they are all money sent to the place.

Another example is that the bandits, who hadn't appeared for a long time, frequently targeted Zhou clan's caravans going to other counties.

The servants tried their best to protect them, but they couldn't grab anything, but they could definitely destroy the goods and delay the time.

After all, under Zhou Bai's deliberate cutting, most of the people responsible for the inland transportation are clan soldiers and family members, not the inner government Zhuang Ding.

One day or two is fine, but after a long time, the loss will be unbearable, and the strength of the Zhou family will also be suspected by other families, causing more and more neutral factions to fall to the Zhao family.

Zhou Mingxuan's house is much bigger than Zhou Bai's small courtyard, and there is also a special place for receiving guests. The oversized round table is just big enough for guests to sit down.

Dishes are placed on the round table, but they are all normal home-cooked dishes, leek eggs, meat sauce soup, small fish, pickled eggplant...

The old lady took two maidservants and served the last few dishes: "It's all here, old lady, I made it myself, don't be disgusted."

"Hello, old lady." Everyone stood up and said hello. They respected this man no less than they respected Zhou Mingxuan.

During the years when Zhou Mingxuan was the head of the clan, Mrs. Yu had firmly secured the stability of the back houses of the direct descendants of the houses, allowing the old men in the front houses to devote themselves to their careers.

The Zhou clan was number one in the village before. If Zhou Mingxuan had five points of merit, then his wife must have two points.

"Okay, everything is fine, Zhou Bai's birthday banquet is also a family banquet, so be casual."

Seeing that Zhou Bai hadn't taken his seat yet, Madam Yu pointed to the seat and said, "Brother Bai, take the main seat. I'll call the old man and Yue Yun."

Zhou Bai smiled and nodded, watching the old lady's leaving back, still not moving.

A quarter of an hour later, the old patriarch Zhou Mingxuan slowly walked out of the back hall with the support of the old lady and Yu Yueyun.

Seeing this, Zhou Bai rushed forward to meet him. He and Yu Yueyun just exchanged eyes, and they took over the position very naturally.

Yu Yueyun went up and dragged out the chair, while Zhou Bai supported Zhou Mingxuan to sit down.

"In the old patriarch's house, the old patriarch must be in charge." Before the second elder could speak, he said with a smile.

Although there was a lot of laughter during the speech, the firmness in it could not be refuted, and Zhou Mingxuan had no choice but to acquiesce.

The two generations of patriarchs, one old and one new, seemed to have reached a tacit agreement before today's family dinner.

Then Zhou Bai and Mrs. Yu sat on both sides of the main seat, while Yu Yueyun stood behind Zhou Mingxuan with his hands on his shoulders, as if he was not going to eat.

Everyone was very curious, but they didn't want to ask too many questions, they just thought it was Yu Yueyun's filial piety.

Zhou Mingxuan is in good health today. Compared with the paleness of the ancestor worship that day, his face is quite bloody, and he speaks full of energy and spirit.

"By taking advantage of the patriarch's 17th birthday, today we gather together the first-line owners of the twelve households, but it's not about talking about big things, it's just chatting at the family banquet."

Zhou Bai nodded, and followed Zhou Mingxuan's words: "Well, the old patriarch's meaning is what I mean. Everyone should know the situation that our clan is facing these days. The foreign enemy is now, so we must first unify our internal thinking."

"Everyone, put your own hardships and conflicts accumulated with each other. Today, our two patriarchs will let everyone understand."

"My lineage is a big family, and I think I have enjoyed too much advantage in the clan, but I still have to say that our big family is very wronged, it is difficult to do things, and everything is in order..." Zhou Mingxuan, as the old patriarch, the big family The homeowner, took the lead in talking about the grievances and difficulties in his heart.

As he spoke, he also greeted everyone to start eating, and gradually the atmosphere became active.

Immediately afterwards, Zhou Lin from the second room, Zhou Chang from the third room... Everyone complained one by one, why did the conflict arise, and who was right and who was wrong.

Of course, Zhou Chang is very smart. He seems to be complaining, but he is actually admitting his mistake.

He brought up the little grievances with Zhou Bai, which instead set off Zhou Bai's magnanimity and fairness in dealing with things.

This point must also be recognized by the other houses. After Zhou Bai took over the family, there was no partiality or injustice in the judgment of big and small matters.

Slowly, the simple home-cooked dishes on the table were wiped out, and there were almost no dishes left, which meant that the family feast was coming to an end.

Everyone didn't realize it. Although there were still a lot of things in their hearts that they hadn't said clearly, just to this extent, they opened up their minds too much.

That's right, there is something in my family that I can't explain clearly.

The two patriarchs cleared the accounts that could be cleared in front of their faces, and the old millet and rotten sesame seeds that could not be cleared would be much easier to pour into bitter water.

They didn't know that in Zhou Bai's memory, this was called a democratic life meeting within the organization.

"My elders and peers, I am a celestial being, but in this life in the mortal world, I must do something.

"Some elders understand this business better, and some elders are a bit confused, but it doesn't matter, the family and I, both prosperity and loss."

"After tonight, when facing foreign enemies, no matter what the situation, please give your full support."

Zhou Bai finally took out a jug of spiritual wine, poured a glass for everyone, and then prepared to end the family banquet.

Who knew that Zhou Mingxuan wanted a cup too, so Yu Yueyun could only plead in a low voice: "Father, you can replace water with tea, the spiritual energy of this spiritual wine is really not something your body can bear."

However, Zhou Mingxuan didn't know that his body was long gone, and while holding his empty wine glass, he glanced at everyone on the table.

"The patriarch didn't explain everything thoroughly, so I'll explain it to you guys."

"Old man, let me tell you that it is not easy for the Zhou family to be lucky enough to be a dragon! No matter inside or outside, you must completely obey any order of the patriarch, otherwise you will not be allowed to enter the ancestral grave after death, and the spiritual seat will not be allowed to enter the clan hall. You know that I can do this .”

The homeowners looked at each other in blank dismay, how could this be like explaining the funeral?
Of course, they also understood Zhou Mingxuan's confidence, because he had the Yin You Edict sent by Zhou Bai, and he would definitely be able to enter the spiritual domain and become the ancestor spirit of the Zhou clan.

"Did you hear that?! Cough cough."

The old patriarch's angry shout made everyone stand up together again, and then bowed their hands to Zhou Bai and saluted: "I will obey the patriarch's order in the future, otherwise I will not enter the ancestral grave or the clan hall after death!"

Zhou Bai also solemnly returned the salute, acknowledging the "surrender" of these elders.

He secretly sighed in his heart, why the clan is in power in this world, and why there are small families that can rise step by step in the world, it is the clan members like Zhou Mingxuan from generation to generation.

There was no way, the wine had to be poured, but Zhou Mingxuan couldn't detect it if he replaced it.

Zhou Mingxuan toasted, Zhou Bai toasted, and everyone toasted.

"There is no banquet in the world that lasts forever, congratulations on Brother Bo's birthday..."

Vicissitudes and deep words announced the end of the family banquet, but Yu Yueyun burst into tears immediately, and the hand on Zhou Mingxuan's shoulder trembled slightly.

This is a farewell, a farewell to let go of obsession.

When all the guests were gone, Zhou Mingxuan finally couldn't hold on anymore. Even if he had mana to protect his heart all the time, he could only breathe his last breath when lying on the bed.

Husband and wife, father and daughter say their final goodbyes, while Zhou Bai waits quietly outside the house and arranges the funeral.

"Go and call some clan elders and the other sons of the big house. Remember not to alarm too many people."

Although the old patriarch only has Yu Yueyun as an adopted daughter, there are other males in Dafang, so it is not in danger of losing his heir.

Not long after, Yu Yueyun and Mrs. Yu came out with red and swollen eyes.

"Brother Bai, is it really hopeless?" The girl asked unwillingly with a sobbing voice.

Zhou Bai shook his head with a serious expression: "You have used your mana to take care of you every day for the past six months, and the situation should be clearer than me. It is not a problem of lack of energy and blood, thin body and mental fatigue, but that his lifespan stops here."

"What's more, the old patriarch really has his wish, and he doesn't want to hold on anymore. He is too tired in this life."

Hearing this, the mother and daughter could only accept the reality and let the door open, allowing the two patriarchs to make the final handover.

Zhou Mingxuan lay on the bed with his eyes closed, trying to save a little energy, and only opened his eyes when he heard Zhou Bai's voice coming in.

"Don't let them know, or it will be too noisy."

Zhou Bai shook his head: "They're all gone. According to your instructions, things should be as simple and quiet as possible."

"I can become an ancestor spirit, and I can enjoy Yin blessings. If it is too grand, what will happen to those clansmen who are suffering in the underworld."

"It's just that it's not the right time to go, Brother Bai, don't feel unlucky." Zhou Mingxuan slowly stretched out his withered palm, pressing it on the back of Zhou Bai's hand and said.

At this time, his breath was about to run out, and his words were as thin as mosquitoes.

Zhou Bai shook his head, did not interrupt the old man's train of thought, but silently input a mana to activate the last vitality in his body.

"Do it boldly. Where is the dragon of my family? It's just a Zhao family. A county magistrate can bully an existence."

"Jun'er and the family are entrusted to you, I can rest assured."

"Remember, one person's happiness is not happiness, but generation after generation is happiness..." At this moment, hurried footsteps came from outside, and the old man just let go of his hand.

The last words were blown away with the wind, and Zhou Bai's peaceful heart was filled with sadness, and then he nodded his promise to the empty place at the door.

There is a soul there, and the imperial edict in his hand emits a faint light, guiding him to the spiritual realm.

On this night, life and death just completed a delivery.

Not only did this not reduce the family's luck, but the moment he entered the spiritual domain, his luck suddenly flourished.

Zhou Mingxuan, who had just become the ancestral spirit, looked at the four fields with a little puzzlement. There was gray and black air everywhere, and he could hear the sound of weapons colliding.

This is Bo Geer going to use force!
(End of this chapter)