Butler Li left with Jiang Qin and the others, and Jiang's father had something to say.
"Third Uncle, let's find a place to talk."
"Alright, let's go. Let's go to the ancestral hall, offer incense to our ancestors, and tell them about this joyous occasion."
Third Grandfather took the lead, and the two of them went to the ancestral hall one after the other.
After washing his hands and lighting three incense sticks, the third grandfather told the ancestors that someone in the family had received an imperial decree and a reward from the heavens.
"Ziwen, are Shuyun and the others angry and trying to distance themselves from the clan?"
"Third Uncle, this isn't about being distant or not."
Because of Shuyun and her husband, every family in our clan has improved to some extent.
However, some people have begun to lose their way.
Previously, everyone hoped to harvest more grain from the fields and earn more money so that the elderly and children in their families could be well-fed.
Now that I'm well-fed and have some spare money, I've forgotten who I am.
Some people gambled secretly, some went to town to fool around, and some even thought about changing wives...
This is just the beginning; things will only get worse in the future.
I cannot let my people think that Shuyun is their protector, and thus become even more willful and reckless.
In the end, it will only harm Shuyun's family. Our Jiangjia Village is already the richest village in the area; we should be content.
Uncle, there's not much we parents can do for our children.
Compared to my clansmen, my sons and grandsons are more important.
Jiang's father looked at the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall. There were also tablets for their branch of the family here, for their great-grandfather, grandfather, and father.
However, more than these memorial tablets, he cared about the future of his living children and grandchildren.
Jiang's father's words made the third grandfather frown deeply, his face full of helplessness.
"Alright, you can go back now. I'll think about it some more."
Jiang's father didn't say anything more. Everyone has their own stance and their own choices.
My third grandfather sat quietly in the ancestral hall, constantly wiping each memorial tablet, seemingly tireless.
"Father, why are you still here? Is something on your mind?"
After arranging things, Jiang Qin couldn't find his father. After searching around, he finally came to the ancestral hall.
"Eldest son, do you think Father is getting old? He's become hesitant and cautious in his actions, and he's lost the drive he had when he was young?"
"Dad, what happened?"
Jiang Qin had never seen her father like this before, and she was somewhat dejected.
"Ziwen just told me some things that left me a little confused."
I took over the position of clan leader from your grandfather, and I have always thought about leading the clan to a better life and making the Jiang clan flourish.
However, judging from this incident, it seems that Shuyun is about to be separated from his clan.
Ziwen also said that he would not ruin the future of his son and grandson for the sake of his clan.
Boss, was I wrong?
Jiang Qin felt sad as he looked at his increasingly aged father.
“Father, Ziwen is right. Compared to clansmen with whom we have little kinship, sons and grandsons are of course more important.”
We cannot entrust the fate of an entire clan to Shuyun alone; that would be unfair to him.
He studied diligently for years and achieved what he has today. But what have his clansmen done for him all these years?
Shuyun passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). The Jinshi Memorial Archway was erected in Jiangjia Village, which was already a great honor.
The glory of the Jiang family is not something that can be achieved by one person alone.
But how did Shuyun and her husband repay their clan for making money?
I know some of what Ziwen mentioned. I've spoken to them about it a few times, but it's no use. They won't come openly, they'll come covertly.
Can we manage hundreds of clansmen?
Dad, sometimes I wish I could be like my third brother, not caring about anything, just living my own little life with my wife and kids.
The third brother's family earns a lot from Shuyun's business, and their children can study in the prefectural city. Perhaps they can even pass the imperial examination and become a scholar in the future.
"Father, if my third brother's child becomes successful in the future, do you want him to drag down a bunch of people who are holding the clan back?"
Jiang Qin's words were like a thunderclap exploding above Third Grandfather's head.
Yes, if it were his own son or grandson in Shuyun's position, would he still think that way?
Ziwen said he would not hinder his sons' and grandsons' future for the sake of his clan.
Yes, he took it for granted and almost became an ingrate himself.
“Father, Shuyun is clear-headed and handles things comprehensively.”
He bought sacrificial land for the clan, helping the villagers earn money and find a way out.
The farmhands employed on the estate were well-paid and received good wages.
Even if one day someone comes to the clan to ask about something, most people will say that Shuyun is good.
No one will believe the words of a few ungrateful people.
Jiang Qin could see clearly that his father was simply blinded by the so-called responsibility of being the clan chief.
He and Shuhai had agreed that no matter who became the clan leader in the future, they would not be like his father.
Some people are simply not worth it.
"Is this your own idea?"
My third grandfather didn't believe it. His eldest son was rather simple-minded and wouldn't think so comprehensively.
"Not entirely. During the Chinese New Year, my third brother, Shuhai, and I talked about it together."
Dad, I can't do selflessness.
The clansmen are great; let's all work together to live a good life.
The clansmen are hopeless, and you can't drag everyone down with you.
To put it bluntly, some of these relationships are so distant that even the execution of nine generations of their families wouldn't apply; they're just connected by the same surname, Jiang.
Jiang Qin thought about his family's situation. As the eldest son, he couldn't abandon his parents and go out to work.
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