Immortality is above

Chapter 20 20: Ancestors’ prophecies, recognizing ancestors and returning to their clan

"The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth into Tusu; thousands of households always exchange new peaches for old talismans."

It’s the New Year, but the spring breeze is still cold and does not “bring warmth”.

The spring is cold!

Chenjiaji was filled with an atmosphere of joy.

At the same time, another good thing happened:
  On New Year's Eve, the patriarch of the Zhuang Shang clan and several other highly respected clan elders all had a dream. They dreamed that their ancestors appeared and predicted that the Chen clan would prosper and that great nobles would emerge and lead the clan to great achievements... …

When I woke up the next day, the clan leaders and elders met and talked happily, all of them beaming with joy.

In Jiangzhou Prefecture, the Chen family is considered a wealthy local family, but looking at the entire Zhao Kingdom, it is not enough.

From generation to generation, there have been some people who have been promoted to Jinshi. However, when they were the highest officials, they were only of the fifth rank. From the beginning to the end, they lacked a deep enough background.

Especially in the past few decades, there has been a trend of stagnant growth, and one crab is worse than the other.

Finally, Chen Liubai was born. Although it was just a side branch, he could be included in the direct family tree as long as he was in high school. He never thought that he was deceived by a wild Taoist priest. Although he is back now, times have changed and many things are different.

Even if Chen Liubai comes to study again, many people are not optimistic about whether he will pass the exam and will just watch with cold eyes.

It's fine now. Our ancestors had dreams that they wanted to give birth to a noble person.

My lord!
  One can imagine the levels. At the very least, one has to go up to the third level.

So the clan leaders gathered in the courtyard of the ancestral hall, dressed solemnly, and prepared three animal sacrifices, ingots, incense and candles, etc. They first worshiped their ancestors and then held a closed-door meeting to discuss the matter.

At the meeting, the first discussion was about how this "noble person" "nobles" the Dharma, and what kind of person he would be:

"Needless to say, it must be a title on the gold medal list. A first-class Jinshi. He may have won the first place in the exam, entered the Hanlin Academy, and became a noble Hanlin bachelor. This is in line with the prophecy of a 'noble man'."

"Maybe it's because of the girls. Could it be that a girl was drafted into the palace and became a noble?"

"Both theories are reasonable, but I want to know more, is this noble man outside, or in the village? It's hard to say about the situation outside, but if it's from the village, which family can be so lucky?"

Everyone expressed their opinions, and the atmosphere was very lively.

The patriarch, Chen Jia, spoke openly. He first knocked on the wooden table solemnly, and then said: "Everyone, be quiet. Let's put aside the idea of ​​'noble people'. It doesn't matter whether you are a man or a woman, as long as you enjoy the nobility, it is a good thing. The most urgent task is to get another thing done. The ancestors' apparition this time not only predicted that the clan will be prosperous, but also started the ritual of 'recognizing the ancestors and returning to the clan'. This is a big event for the whole clan. Especially for the children from the side branches, this is a once-in-a-century opportunity."

A clan elder immediately agreed: "Holding a grand ceremony to determine the bloodline inheritance is indeed a major event and cannot be missed."

Another clan elder asked: "Shouldn't all the clan members scattered outside be notified?"

Chen Jiagong said: "Of course, anyone who can be contacted will come back. If they are unwilling to come back and there is no legitimate reason, they will be regarded as voluntarily abstaining and will be removed from the family tree."

This punishment is quite serious.

At this time, a clan elder suddenly asked: "Is this grand sacrificial ceremony done deliberately by the ancestors, so that they can select the noble person in the prophecy and then perform the ancestral blessing?"

"Probably."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

The patriarch, Chen Jiagong, clapped his hands and said, "Everyone, please stop making random guesses and quickly divide the work and start working together. You must know that the day of the big sacrifice is scheduled for the fifth day of May, so we don't have much time."

From making the list, to each notification, and then rushing back from outside, it took a long time. Especially if the journey is far away, it will take two or three months to travel.

Chen Jiagong glanced at him and said with dignity: "You all, please remember: Don't be big-tongued and talk about things predicted by our ancestors in dreams, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" All the clan elders agreed in unison, then sat upright and began to discuss specific matters.

……

There is always a lively atmosphere during the Chinese New Year, including visiting relatives and friends, eating and drinking, and all kinds of trivial matters.

But now Chen Liubai has long been accustomed to being alone, and his temperament has become dull.

It has to be said that the environment changes people.

I have been practicing in the mountains for ten years. Most of the time I have been practicing hard and walking alone. Everything I see and encounter is different.

When I suddenly returned home, everything seemed out of place, and it was a bit difficult to blend in.

"A happy event, a great event!"

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Zhiping ran over excitedly and said loudly.

Chen Liushan asked: "What happy event? Are you getting married?"

Chen Zhiping's face turned red: "That's not true, but there is good news from the clan, saying that a ceremony will be held to recognize the ancestors and return to the clan. We, the descendants of the common people and side branches, can participate. If successful, we can be included in the direct family tree. Let’s move our family to Shangban Village to honor our ancestors.”

Chen Liushan perked up: "Is it true? This is really a happy event."

Chen Zhiping lowered his voice: "I heard this news from the escort team. I believe there will be a formal notice posted in a few days."

"What are the requirements for recognizing one's ancestors and joining the clan?"

"There is no limit to men and women, as long as they are Chen's children between the ages of fifteen and thirty, they can participate. As for the date, it is set for the fifth day of May this year."

Chen Liushan blinked: "Then can't we all participate?"

Quickly enter the room and tell Chen Liubai who is writing.

Chen Liubai put down his brush: "Recognize your ancestors and return to your clan? In my impression, the clan has never held such a grand ceremony."

Chen Liushan said: "According to records, the last time it was opened can be traced back to a hundred years ago."

"Then why is it happening again now?"

"Who knows? Maybe the time has come, and maybe the clan leaders want to do something practical to boost the morale of the clan. Whatever it is, it's a good thing anyway. Once we successfully recognize our ancestors and return to the clan, our family can move to the upper half of the village. ”

Chen Liubai smiled and said, "You want to move to the upper half of the village?"

Chen Liushan said loudly: "Water flows to lower places and people go to higher places. Of course I want to. Third child, don't you want to?"

Chen Liubai did not answer directly, but suddenly said: "Tomorrow, I am going to live in a thatched cottage and continue studying."

"Uh, so soon? I wrote a letter to my second sister some time ago. She was so happy to know that you were back. She said that she would go back to her parents' home to visit her relatives this year. For some reason, she hasn't come yet."

"Second sister is getting married in Pan County, which is not a short distance away...Besides, I'll be in the thatched cottage. If she comes, if you send someone to report her, I'll be right back."

"Well."

The whole family is very supportive of Chen Liubai's study.

Rather than the mysterious ceremony of acknowledging his ancestors and returning to the clan, Chen Liushan hopes to see his younger brother's family honor his ancestors after he is named on the gold medal list.

(End of this chapter)