Immortality is above

Chapter 35 35: Family Storm

After walking out of the mountains and arriving at the foot of the mountain, Chen Liubai put on a long robe and a sweatshirt, carrying a book on his back and holding a bamboo stick in his hand.

He looked like a scholar who had returned from a study tour and was dusty with work.

When he stepped onto the Seven-Star Stone Arch Bridge, he paused for a moment before continuing up to the village.

While passing through the vast fields, I was recognized by someone:
  "Hey, isn't that Chen Liubai?"

"If it was really him, I thought he was picked up by a big snake and eaten."

"It's just nonsense. His family has refuted the rumor, saying that Chen Xiucai was not in the thatched cottage that night at all, but went out to study. What is the saying among scholars? Yes, 'A gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall'. It can be seen that Chen Xiucai is a lucky person."

"Hello Chen Xiucai, you must come back in time. If you are later, you will not be able to make it in time for the clan's great ceremony."

Chen Liubai smiled and said, "Hello, Aunt Ninth."

After saying hello and walking through the thick gate, I noticed various changes as soon as I walked in.

The biggest change is that there are more people.

Not the kind of increments of ten or eight, but hundreds, which seemed bustling and lively.

These are all Chen clan members who have returned from other places. They are strangers and do not recognize them.

Chen Liubai went his own way, returned to Nishou Lane in the lower half of the village, and stepped into his home.

Sister-in-law Chen Yang was mending clothes in the yard. When she heard footsteps, she looked up and said with surprise on her face: "Brother-in-law, you are back...Mom, the third child is back!"

Chen's mother walked out quickly, walking so fast that Chen Liubai was worried that she would fall, so he stepped forward to support her without leaving any trace: "Mom, slow down."

Mother Chen grabbed his hand and smiled happily, with a kind face.

It didn't take long for Chen's father and his eldest brother Chen Liushan, who were out on business, to hear the news and rush back.

Although I saw Chen Liubai's message before, I felt a little worried, but now I feel relieved when I see the person returning safely.

Despite the exchange of greetings and greetings, Mother Chen had already taken her daughter-in-law to the kitchen and started boiling water and killing chickens.

After putting away books and other things, Chen Liubai came to the hall to talk to his father and elder brother: "When I returned to the village, I saw a lot of people and it was very lively."

Chen's father said: "They are all clan members who came back to participate in the great ceremony. Some are from the direct line and some from the side branches."

"Do direct descendants also have to recognize their ancestors and return to the clan?"

"They don't have to, but they still have to participate in the sacrifice. I don't know exactly how."

Although they are all in Chenjiaji, the upper and lower half of the village are very different from each other, and the gap between them is quite large.

Father Chen and others dreamed of recognizing their ancestors and moving into the upper half of the village.

It is said that in the past, Chen Liubai's grandfather's grandfather's generation was still in the direct lineage. They belonged to the same stove as the fourth uncle, and they were considered the fourth room.

But later on, the family fell into decline and couldn't maintain it, so he fell into a side branch.

Oceans can turn into mulberry fields, kingdoms can rise and fall, and changes in family lines are commonplace.

To use an old saying: "Our ancestors were once rich!"

And if we want to regain our glory, we can only hope that our descendants will live up to their expectations and become a figure.

For example, this is what Chen's father and the others expect from Chen Liubai at the moment.

Father Chen added: "Over the years, all the capable tribesmen have actually left, established themselves in the capital, or even in the county town, and spread their branches. Normally, they would only come back in twos and threes during the New Year and festivals, but from now on There are not as many as now, and almost all of them are coming back, which is really a great sight." Chen Liubai said calmly: "But it has little to do with us."

Chen Liushan couldn't help but said: "Third brother, you can actually go out to socialize and get to know more clan members, which will be beneficial. My fourth uncle just came here a few days ago to ask when you will be coming home."

Chen Liubai smiled and said slowly: "Brother, I have been out for so many years and have learned some skills. I also understand a truth: it is better to rely on others than to rely on yourself. If you don't live up to expectations and have no ability, even if you go around trying to flatter others, you will still be looked down upon. .”

Chen Liushan touched his head: "You are a scholar, and everything you say is right."

Father Chen nodded: "San'er is right to begin with. Others have their glory, and our family has our own life. Peace is a blessing, and there is no need to rush to please others. My father believes that as long as San'er studies hard at the poetry club, There will be a day when you will stand out."

Chen Liubai: "..."

In the afternoon, Chen Zhiping came and talked excitedly about the changes in the situation in the village during this period. Finally, he couldn't help but sigh: "I didn't know there were so many powerful people in the clan. I have a distant cousin, but Liu'an Mansion Tongzhi, a fifth-rank official, has not been back to his hometown for nearly twenty years. This time, he is back, and the pomp and circumstance is really eye-opening."

The "distant house" he refers to is naturally the kind that is very, very far away.

"Also, among the younger generation, there is a member of the Wei generation, called 'Chen Weibin'. I heard that he is a martial arts genius. He is about the same age as us, but he is already a half-step master."

Chen Liushan said with envy: "These days, when I hear his name, I almost hear cocoon. I really want to meet him and see what he looks like... By the way, Lao San, you have practiced martial arts. Let’s talk about the ‘half-step master’, how powerful is it?”

Chen Liubai pondered: "As far as I know, in Zhao State, if you have practiced martial arts and take up a military position, your rank will be relatively high, and you will not be able to fight at the fourth rank."

Chen Liushan and Chen Zhiping didn't know much about the concept of martial arts, but they knew the level of the official position and the rank. They knew it clearly after hearing it.

If it was fourth grade, wouldn't it be higher than that of the distant uncle's fifth grade colleague?
  Really great!

These are the most talked about topics in the streets and fields.

As for the actual situation, who cares whether it is true or false?

After dinner, my fourth uncle came to the door.

It's hard for him, a dignified clan elder, to take the initiative to come to Chen Liubai again and again, which can definitely be regarded as "extremely favored".

"Liu Bai, I'm very happy that you can come back in time."

"I'm sorry, Fourth Uncle, I'm sorry."

The fourth uncle sighed: "This clan festival is a rare event in a hundred years. It is truly an event, and many people have come back. Do you know the situation of the direct descendants of our clan?"

Chen Liubai said: "I would like to hear the details."

The fourth uncle introduced it: "There are seven families in the direct lineage, of which the eldest family is the patriarch. Now, the second and sixth families have declined. The third family where Chen Wenqing lives, and our fourth family are also in a bad situation."

He specifically emphasized "our four bedrooms" to treat Chen Liubai as one of his own.

"The most powerful ones now are the fifth-fang and the seventh-fang. Needless to say, the seventh-fang has a 'Chen Weibin', and the fifth-fang is not bad either. Some have become heroes, and some have become fifth-rank officials."

Chen Liubai understood that the purpose of what he said was nothing more than encouragement and encouragement, just like when educating children, he always likes to talk about other people's children.

In the past, people in the clan would give examples: "Look at Chen Liubai in Nishou Lane. He is so good at reading, has a photographic memory, and can speak in written form..."

But it’s all in the past tense.

The fourth uncle continued: "In a few days, Chen Weibin should be back. Liu Bai, you are all young people. You should go see him and see if you can talk to him."

Chen Liubai smiled: "That's exactly what I meant."

(End of this chapter)