The chicken that belonged to Sun Youtian's family eventually ended up in the stomachs of Li Xuhai's family.
That day, everyone from Shuxia Village gathered at Li's house.
Since the Li family came to Shuxia Village, many things have happened there.
Their village has a small population, and the imperial court did not allow them to elect a village head. When problems arise, each family sends one person to discuss them together, with the minority obeying the majority.
It's not that no one wants to be the village chief; it's that no one is satisfied with whoever becomes the village chief.
The Li family is different.
Last year, he helped everyone find ways to make money, and now he's figured out a breeding method. He can even talk to the bigwigs in the county. Next, he's going to build a workshop. Even the people of Futian Village don't dare to bully them anymore.
Isn't this the best candidate for village chief?
The people of Shuxia Village had been secretly thinking about this for ages. Now that the matter in Futian Village had been resolved, they all agreed to come to the Li family together.
Li Xuming was somewhat surprised to hear that the villagers had come looking for him. Could it be that they were here for a spot in the workshop?
Before he could think further, the villagers had already come in, and he greeted them with a smile.
"What a wonderful day it is today! All the uncles and elders have come."
Li Xuming looked at Zhao Qi in front of him, but Zhao Qi was too busy laughing to give him any information.
"Xu Ming, we've come here today for a good reason."
Qian Shulin took the lead.
"Oh, what good news?"
"Haha, it's like this, Xu Ming, we've all discussed it, and since our village doesn't have a village chief, it would be perfect if you were the village chief."
Zhao Qi didn't keep them in suspense and directly stated his purpose.
Li Xuming was genuinely surprised. "I'm the village chief now?"
“That’s very true. We would love for the village chief to be from your family.”
"We'll all accept you as the village chief."
"You'll just have to put in the extra effort. From now on, everyone in our village will do as you say and work together to make Shuxia Village thrive."
The Li family was just thinking about getting the village chief position when this good thing came knocking on their door.
Li Xuming was overjoyed to see everyone smiling so happily, which showed that they were not acting against their will.
"Uncles, do you really want me to be the village chief?"
"How could it be fake?"
Upon hearing Li Xuming's question, the villagers immediately became anxious. Was he trying to shirk his responsibility?
"You're not happy?"
"Haha, uncles, don't be impatient. If you all really want me to be the village chief, I'm naturally happy to do so. This shows that you trust me, and I'm overjoyed."
"Since everyone is willing to let me be the village chief, I will take the position. We are all in Shuxia Village, and together we will make sure that everyone in Shuxia Village lives a prosperous and happy life."
"good!"
Hearing that Li Xuming had taken the position, the villagers were overjoyed. They thought, "Look at what he's saying! Everyone in Shuxia Village is living a prosperous life." It made them feel relieved. They had definitely made the right choice in electing this village chief!
Once the village chief was appointed, Zhao Qi reported it to the village head, and Li Xuming took office as the new village chief.
The village chief seemed no different from usual.
——
The Li family chose an auspicious day to start construction on the workshop.
The site was chosen on the outskirts of Shuxia Village, where the terrain is flat, it is adjacent to the second village, and it is close to a water source, making it convenient to draw water.
The workshop couldn't be small. The Li family asked Pan Jinhua what things could be made from beans, and when they drew up the blueprints, they had already considered how to divide the work and areas.
Today is the day of the groundbreaking ceremony, and the Li family has already gathered here, all dressed formally and solemnly.
An altar has been set up at the designated location of the gate, with a bowl of meat, a bowl of fish, a plate of pastries, homemade dried tofu, and many homemade folded paper ingots on the table.
A pair of candles were lit in the center, a wine pot was placed to the side, along with a pair of wine glasses and a pair of chopsticks.
There was an incense burner placed between the two candles.
Li Qingyao stood at the front, holding three incense sticks. He respectfully addressed Heaven and Earth, knelt in worship, lit the incense in his hand, and then inserted it into the incense burner.
After he stepped down, Madam Yan also stepped forward to offer incense. Next came Pan Jinhua, Li Xuming's family, Li Xushi's family, Li Xuchang's family, then the fourth, fifth, and seventh families.
This order follows the sequence of the main and collateral branches of the Li family, the only difference being that women are also included.
According to custom, women are not allowed to offer incense and pray to heaven during the groundbreaking ceremony. The original arrangement was that only men could kneel and worship in the audience. However, because Pan Jinhua made great contributions to the Li family, it was impossible to bypass her.
Pan Jinhua had thrown a tantrum over this. It wasn't some coveted prize; she wouldn't even bother to go if begged. But she couldn't accept judging someone's eligibility based on gender, like the idea that only men could enter ancestral halls, and women couldn't—why?
Pan Jinhua stated directly that women were not allowed to offer incense, so she would not go.
If she doesn't go, the three Li brothers and Li Qingzhang's generation also say they won't go.
Even Li Qingyao said he wouldn't go.
How can this be allowed? The tofu workshop can only be established because of Pan Jinhua. If Pan Jinhua doesn't go, her son and grandson won't go either, and the master of the house, Li Qingyao, won't go. So who else has the face or the right to go up and start construction?
So they had no choice but to compromise with Pan Jinhua, and everyone went.
After offering incense, the Li family members bowed three times together, burned paper money, and set off firecrackers.
Li Qingyao invited Pan Jinhua, and the two of them together picked up a hoe and dug the first hole in the ground.
Only then is the ceremony considered complete.
"start!"
Li Xuming struck the gong, and the atmosphere relaxed, with everyone smiling.
Foreman Yan and his workers grabbed their tools and got to work.
The onlookers had some reservations about the Li family's ceremony involving both men and women, but they couldn't really do anything about it; at most, they would just talk about it behind their backs.
The women of the Li family were all very proud and self-satisfied.
"That's how life should be lived to be truly enjoyable."
Yuan, the fourth wife, smacked her lips and smiled like a chrysanthemum.
She's lived to such an old age but has never enjoyed such treatment before. Now that she's experiencing it, she's incredibly proud. She's living a better life than most women in the world.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
