Ruili loved lively events. He still vividly remembered Xiao E’s wedding and was excited to return to the village for Xiaomao’s wedding. He couldn’t wait to fly back.
Ruijin, on the other hand, was the opposite of Ruili. He had never been fond of noisy gatherings. While he wanted to sleep in, Ruili kept fidgeting beside him, even sticking his sweaty feet against Ruijin’s back.
It wasn’t cold in the summer, but Ruili’s sweaty feet were uncomfortable against his skin. Realizing he wouldn’t get any more sleep, Ruijin reluctantly got up.
The family set off for the village. Since it wasn’t a long journey and they were taking the main road, they didn’t bring many servants. Originally, there were only four or five of them, but Zhang Fangyuan’s sixth uncle heard the news and joined them on the way back to the village.
The journey had been quiet until the sixth uncle arrived, bringing a wave of chatter.
He asked Zhang Fangyuan about the martial arts school in the city and their new house, expressing regret that they hadn’t been closer in the past.
Zhang Fangyuan knew his sixth uncle was hoping to find some work through him. In the past, he would have been annoyed and ignored him, but as his business grew, he began to value family ties more and wanted to support his relatives.
His fourth uncle, Zhang Shicheng, had even commented that he had become more mature.
Over the years, Zhang Fangyuan had worked hard and been fortunate enough to build a successful business. In his younger days, he had been rebellious and ignored anyone he didn’t get along with, regardless of their relationship.
But as his business grew, he realized that the most enduring families weren’t supported by just one person. A single person might enjoy temporary wealth, but it wouldn’t last long, and the journey would be difficult.
Although he had this in mind, he couldn’t think of a suitable role for his sixth uncle. He considered either having him work at the martial arts school or finding him another job through his connections.
The sixth uncle, sensing an opportunity, became even more talkative during the journey. Even the usually lively Ruili found him too noisy.
They finally reached the village and were relieved to escape the chatter.
The wedding banquet was scheduled for the next day, but the house was already bustling with preparations. Dishes and wine were being prepared, and the house was decorated with red silk and lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere.
Ruili ran excitedly into the courtyard, exclaiming how beautiful the house looked after not having been back for so long. His enthusiasm amused everyone.
Xiaomao’s wedding brought the entire Zhang family together. Even relatives who had previously declined invitations showed up this time.
What surprised Zhang Fangyuan the most was that his two cousins from his eldest uncle’s family had also returned.
The night before the wedding, the brothers shared a drink.
“Cousin Zhang Xiaotian and Cousin Zhang Xiaoxuan, did you come back specifically for the wedding?”
“It’s hard to get news from home when you’re out trading. By the time we hear about things, they’re usually over.”
Zhang Xiaotian, the eldest cousin, said, “Last year’s disasters made it hard for people in other counties to spend money. This year, business has been bad, and we’ve been losing money. We finally sold our goods at a low price and came back.”
They had made some money by selling Zhang Fangyuan’s toothbrushes in other counties, but in the past two years, toothbrushes had become common everywhere, and traveling merchants like them couldn’t make much profit anymore.
Zhang Fangyuan knew business had been tough. “Last year’s disasters disrupted trade routes. Many merchants who used to come to Siyang didn’t show up. The consecutive hardships have caused many shops in the city to close. This year’s business isn’t as good as the past two years.”
The accounts from his shops showed a decline, but fortunately, he had built a solid foundation in the past two years, so he could still keep things running.
Their family was lucky. The charcoal business had brought in significant income, and compared to other merchants who had suffered heavy losses, Zhang Fangyuan still had the funds to invest in new ventures.
The post-disaster economic downturn had its advantages. Renting new shop spaces was cheaper, and there were more options available.
Zhang Xiaoxuan seemed about to say something but hesitated after hearing Zhang Fangyuan’s words. He glanced at his older brother, Zhang Xiaotian.
Zhang Fangyuan took a sip of wine and noticed the exchange between the two brothers. He lowered his eyes to hide a faint smile.
“Fangyuan, you’ve really made a name for yourself. Recently, Dad and Fourth Uncle discussed recommending you as the clan leader.”
“Our grandfather’s generation didn’t have a clan leader. Why bring it up now?” Zhang Fangyuan was surprised.
“Back then, no one stood out, so no one could agree on a leader.”
Zhang Xiaotian said, “Usually, the eldest would make decisions, and the others would follow. But Dad and Fourth Uncle said they’re getting old and want to pass things on to our generation.”
“You’re the most successful in our generation. They thought Xiaomao’s wedding would be a good opportunity to bring it up since the whole family is here.”
Zhang Fangyuan could tell from the relatives’ attitudes that most wouldn’t object to the idea. His eldest uncle was just checking with him first. If he agreed, his eldest uncle would make the proposal.
Being the clan leader was a double-edged sword.
On one hand, he would have to manage the entire Zhang family, which, though not extremely large, still numbered in the dozens. It would be a lot of work, dealing with both major and minor family matters.
On the other hand, the clan leader had authority, and everyone would respect him. Having a clan leader would also make the family more united and help establish their reputation in the area.
In recent years, many villages had become fragmented, but the few that had strong clan leaders were usually led by landlords.
Seeing this, other large families naturally wanted to follow suit.
Zhang Fangyuan glanced at Xu He, who was playing with the children. Their eyes met. “If everyone agrees, then I’ll humbly accept the role.”
Thank you for the chapter!!!!
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