**Chapter 30: Establishing the Household**
**Qingjiang County, Dongxi Village.**
Countless carriages and horses streamed like water into this ordinary village.
More than twenty family guards in black and red uniforms guided the vehicles, preventing congestion.
"The head of the Wang family of Qingping County has arrived with his wife and son!"
"The head of the Li family of Qingping County has arrived with his son!"
"Elder Cao of Qingping County has arrived!"
"The head of the Zhao family has arrived with his wife and children!"
"Elder Sun has arrived!"
"The county magistrate of Qingping County has arrived with his wife!"
"County Magistrate Yang of Qingping County has arrived with his wife and children!"
"The county lieutenant has arrived!"
The names announced were all well-known figures in Qingping County's official circles.
The Chen Erzheng family and the Chen Daming family had also been invited.
Seeing the wealthy merchants and prominent families, Chen Daming felt a surge of emotion. He murmured, "Second brother, our father had a wise eye. If not for his kindness to young Xu Chuan back then, I'm afraid our Chen family wouldn't be here today."
"Brother, that's you. With my relationship with Chuan Ge, it would be strange if he didn't invite you. But he certainly wouldn't leave me out."
Chen Erzheng was self-satisfied.
Chen Daming was speechless, but jealousy ignited in his heart.
"We are both of the Xu clan, the same bloodline. Why is Xu Chuan's line so prominent, while our line grows more and more ordinary?"
Beside Chen Daming, his wife, Mrs. Lu, lightly tugged his clothes and whispered, "Husband, do you think the Xu family will blame us for not helping them back then?"
"It shouldn't be a big deal, or they wouldn't have invited us."
"Besides, I never got half the benefit. The Green Jade Pears never even bore fruit. Instead, they nearly dragged down the family business."
Saying this, the two fell silent.
The group walked on.
Suddenly, a guard blocked the way. "This road has been closed by my household today. You may only pass if you have an invitation."
Chen Erzheng happily stepped forward, took out the invitation from his bosom, then turned to Chen Daming and said, "Brother, take out your family's invitation too. They need to see it."
The Xu family guard looked at them, nodded, then returned the invitations. He made an inviting gesture. "The invitations are correct. Go straight this way. The crowd is where my Xu family is."
"I know this path."
As they neared the residence, the crowd thickened, and finally they stood before the house.
They saw an open space, the ground paved with green slate.
"Second Nephew!"
Chen Erzheng suddenly spotted Xu Mingyuan chatting with some wealthy merchants. He immediately waved and shouted.
This shout made many people look over.
"Judging by his manner, he's shouting for the second young master. Could he be a relative of the family?"
Some people were suspicious, wondering whether they should greet him as well.
Xu Mingyuan was now close to becoming a second-rate warrior. His ears were sharp, and he naturally heard this familiar cry.
He looked back, laughed, and walked over.
"Second Uncle, First Uncle, Big Ox, Fang Fang—you're here."
"Where's your father?"
Xu Mingyuan smiled wryly. "Uncle, there are too many people today. This is an important day for the family to establish our household. Please be mindful of the occasion. Your words shouldn't be too casual."
"I understand, Second Young Master. May I ask where the master of the house is?"
"Father is inside with several family heads, County Magistrate Wu, County Magistrate Yang, and the county lieutenant, discussing matters. The household establishment ceremony is at noon. If you have acquaintances, you can chat with them first. Or you can go inside to see Grandfather Chen."
"This great ceremony is being presided over by him."
"My father?"
Chen Daming and Chen Erzheng both exclaimed, looking at each other in disbelief.
"Let's go see Father first."
Both said the same.
After all, there weren't many people they knew.
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**At noon.**
**Outside the gate.**
The incense altar for the heaven-and-earth sacrifice had been arranged. On the altar were the three animals—ox, pig, and sheep—long candles, and some pastries.
Behind stood seven descendants.
Divided into two rows.
Two in the front row, five in the back.
Xu Chuan's family, along with the county magistrate, county vice magistrate, county lieutenant, and several family heads, walked out of the gate.
Chen Bo stood beside the altar.
His hair was gray, his face weathered. He had already passed his sixtieth year.
He held the highest status among the villagers of Dongxi Village.
He was the closest elder of the Xu family, so Xu Chuan had asked him to come out and preside.
"Descendants of the Xu family, step forward."
"Light the incense!"
Seven family members stepped forward to light the long incense in Xu Chuan's and the others' hands, then retreated.
Chen Bo swept his eyes, his expression solemn, and read aloud from the text in his hand: "The Xu family sacrifices to heaven and earth: In the year of Yimao, following the law of the land. Heaven is clear, earth is tranquil—the two principles are like clouds and rain, giving form to all things. With reverence and brilliance, the spirits grant us blessings, benefiting us without end. We honor the ancient rites, and may they forever flourish."
After reading, he threw the cloth into a bronze tripod to burn.
"Kneel!"
"First bow! Second bow! Third bow!"
"Kneel again!"
After three kneelings and nine bows, Xu Chuan led the family to insert the incense.
Then they came to the ancestral shrine.
Before opening the shrine, they had to read another prayer to comfort the ancestors and invoke their blessings for the family's cause.
"It is most fitting that the Xu family builds a shrine to honor the ancestors and establish order. Today, we choose this land in Qingjiang, leaning against the green mountains, facing living water. The dragon vein stretches long, the atmosphere magnificent. The shrine has three rooms, with a front gate, a central hall for offerings, and side rooms on left and right for storage."
"Now the shrine is complete. It is not only a dwelling place for the spirits but also the foundation for the descendants and the education of children. Those who come through this door should think of the difficulty of starting this enterprise and the hardship of preserving it, so that they may use it wisely and bring glory to their ancestors."
After reading the prayer and burning the cloth, Chen Bo shouted loudly, "Open the shrine! Welcome the ancestral tablets!"
Several family members, looking solemn, held the tablets in their hands, walked into the Xu ancestral shrine, and placed them.
Xu Chuan's generation began with his grandfather. He was the third generation. Xu Mingwei and the others were the fourth generation.
But in the eyes of others, Xu Chuan was the one who had truly founded the family.
Before him, the Xu family generations were ordinary peasants. Xu Chuan's father had even been a long-term laborer for the other Xu family.
"I heard that this family has five sons, each of them extraordinary. But the master of the house was not famous at all."
"I also heard that the Xu family has only been prominent for a little over ten years. The master of the Xu family used to be a long-term laborer for the other Xu family in Dongxi Village."
"Both generations have produced outstanding people. No wonder they have such thriving prosperity!"
Everyone looked at the family kneeling before the Xu ancestral tablets, their faces showing envy.
Five children, each outstanding.
Not only famous in Qingjiang County, but their reputations had also spread to several surrounding counties.
The eldest son, Xu Mingwei—needless to say. Three years ago, he was already considered a first-rate warrior. Before his weak crown, he had reached the peak of the acquired realm, recognized as having the bearing of a grandmaster.
The second son, Xu Mingyuan—friends in all directions, wealth from all quarters. The family's current prosperity was largely due to him. A business prodigy—in just a few short years, he had multiplied the family's wealth a hundredfold.
The third son, Xu Minghu—studying at the Tianlong Martial Hall, had also reached the realm of third-rate warrior and enjoyed a reputation as a genius fighter in Qingjiang County.
The fourth daughter, Xu Mingyi—gifted, it was rumored that she could communicate with beasts and control a rare white tiger. She was equally famous and was the target of many families who wished to marry her.
The fifth son, Xu Mingxian—in the eyes of outsiders, he did not show his talent. But many speculated that he was the most gifted of all the Xu children.
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