The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 58 The Current Situation of the Clan
There are now more than a thousand people in the Wu family in Wujiaopo, of which about five hundred are direct descendants of the Wu family, and the rest are collateral branches and outsiders. The direct descendants of the Wu family occupy an absolute dominant position.

Only direct descendants can use the generation names inherited by the Wu family. For example, Wu Chengyu is of the Cheng generation, and his father Wu Zhengkang and Wu Zhenghui are both of the Zheng generation.

The direct line of the Wu family is divided into three branches. The patriarch usually comes from the eldest branch, and Wu Chengyu's family belongs to the third branch.

Although the eldest branch is the dominant one, the other two branches also have a high status in the Wu family, and the three branches are in charge of different industries of the Wu family.

The Wu family has been farming and martial arts for generations. In addition to the fertile fields in the valley, they also have many farms on the outskirts of Gusu. The Wu family is located on the edge of Taihu Lake, and the output from Taihu Lake is also quite rich.

There is also a large weaving workshop, dyeing workshop and embroidery workshop in Wujiaopo. These industries are generally managed by the eldest son.

In addition, there are many shops and restaurants in Gusu City, including the Yangwu Escort Agency where Wu Zhengkang worked in the past. These industries are managed by the second and third wives respectively.

After generations of accumulation and operation, good management and household keeping, the Wu family is considered one of the top wealthy families in the Gusu area.

But when Wu Chengyu returned to his hometown this time, he found that the situation was different from what he remembered. The status of the third branch in the Wu family was much lower and was far less wealthy than before.

However, Wu Chengyu's body was still that of a child, and he didn't have many close elders in the clan, so no one explained things to him. After returning home, Wu Chengyu was busy practicing martial arts, and at first he didn't realize the changes in his family.

But I remember that his family received a full thirty taels of money and grain every quarter, not the ten taels shown here.

Wu Chengyu didn't believe that anyone was deducting money from him. Orphans like him whose fathers died fighting for the family were always treated well by the clan. The Wu family did not distribute money and food per person, but per household. Although Wu Chengyu's parents were both dead, as long as he was still alive, his family would definitely not be short of money and food.

This is also a problem that Wu Chengyu must solve. Since ancient times, the scholars have been poor and the martial arts have been rich. The resources needed to practice martial arts on a daily basis are quite large. Putting aside other things, the money spent on medicinal materials for his daily medicinal baths alone is as much as 10 taels a month. Now, 10 taels of silver a quarter is not enough to support his life needs.

Fortunately, I got a few hundred taels of silver from those court lackeys, which can support me for a while, but there will always be a day when all the money is gone.

While Wu Chengyu was thinking about the changes in the family, he followed Wu Zhenghui to the meeting room of the third house.

When they reached the door of the meeting room, Wu Zhenghui's face was somewhat gloomy. He hesitated to speak, and finally just warned: "Don't lose your composure when you meet your Fourth Uncle Zhengliang later."

Wu Chengyu was surprised and didn't know what Wu Zhenghui meant. He knew Wu Zhengliang quite well, and when his father was alive, he and Wu Zhengliang were like brothers.

There were many outstanding young men in the previous generation of the third branch of the Wu family. Wu Chengyu's father, Wu Zhengkang, was among the best in martial arts among his peers, and Wu Zhenghui was also quite capable in his daily life, but everyone of their generation followed Wu Zhengliang's lead.

Wu Zhengliang is the eldest of the third branch and ranks fourth among his clan, so Wu Chengyu calls him Fourth Uncle.

Wu Zhengliang became the manager of the Third House when he was very young. He was fair and good at business in his daily life. He was quite scheming towards foreign countries, but friendly to his brothers at home. In terms of ability and prestige, there was no one else in the Third House. It was under his leadership that the Third House prospered.

Wu Chengyu suddenly became suspicious because of Wu Zhenghui's words, but now was not the time to ask further questions. Wu Zhenghui had already pushed open the door and pulled him into the conference room.

Wu Zhengliang was seen sitting in the host seat in the conference room. He looked exactly as Wu Chengyu had imagined, but he had become much thinner and weaker. At the moment, Wu Zhengliang was a little depressed, but when he saw Wu Chengyu come in, he sat up straight and forced a smile.

"Little Chengyu has been away from home for five years and is finally back. Look, he's grown up already and is much more energetic than the crybaby he was back then.

Zhenghui, little Chengyu is so handsome, and looks more like his mother. Back then, Zhengkang was big, thick, and dark. If he looked like him, it would be ruined. Good, Chengyu, if your parents were here, they would definitely be pleased to see you look like this. Fourth uncle is also very happy.

Wu Chengyu sensed a deep concern in Wu Zhengliang's words, a genuine expression of affection from an elder to a younger generation. He hurried forward, bowed, and said, "Chengyu greets Fourth Uncle. It was Little Twenty-One who made Fourth Uncle worried."

"Chengyu, there's no need to be so polite. We are all family. Come and sit down. Zhenghui, you should sit down too."

Wu Chengyu insisted on bowing, then found a chair nearby and sat down. Only then did he carefully look at his fourth uncle. He looked much older than he did five years ago, far from what he should look like at his current age. Moreover, Wu Chengyu always felt that his fourth uncle's sitting posture was a little strange.

"Chengyu, why do you suddenly want to go home? But your aunt treats you badly."

"My aunt was very kind to me, but unfortunately she passed away due to complications during childbirth a few months ago. That's why I wanted to go home."

"You're such a miserable person, too. If that's the case, it's good that you come back. I didn't agree with you going with Auntie in the first place, and your family won't treat you badly.

It's just that you were too sad at that time. You followed her every day and refused to leave. I was afraid that you were too sad, so I agreed to let you leave.

Now that you are back, you can settle down and feel at ease. There are so many elders in the clan, they will definitely take good care of you. Fourth uncle is old, you have to grow up well, the third branch will depend on you in the future."

At this point, Wu Zhengliang's tone was filled with sadness, and Wu Chengyu was finally certain that something big must have happened in the third house in recent years.

"Chengyu, after your parents passed away, they left behind some relics and a lot of money. I have taken the initiative to collect them for you. I will send someone to deliver them to you later.

Our Wu clan is self-reliant and independent. Although we have the care of our elders, you must also strive to excel. I heard from Zhenghui that you have been practicing martial arts every day since you came back, which is great.

But you can't just work in isolation. There are people in the clan who specialize in teaching martial arts. You should listen more often and have someone to guide you so you don't go astray. On a daily basis, get close to your peers. The Wu family is what it is today, and unity among the clan members is the foundation."

Wu Zhengliang spoke a lot in one breath, and his spirit became weaker and weaker. In the end, Wu Zhenghui took Wu Chengyu and said goodbye.

On the way back to his home, Wu Chengyu couldn't help but ask Wu Zhenghui what had happened at home.

Wu Zhenghui sighed deeply, his face looking miserable, but he finally told the truth.

"Chengyu, you are a grown-up kid now, so I won't hide some things from you.

You have been away from home for five years. Have you ever thought that since the death of your father, Brother Zhengkang, there are only ten brothers of the Zheng generation left in our third branch. You should know that there were 25 of us back then. Even your fourth uncle Zhengliang has broken legs and can hardly walk.

The clan's assets, originally managed by the Third Branch, now lack the manpower to maintain them, so they have to be temporarily handed over to the First and Second Branches. Even so, your Fourth Uncle still has to run around trying to maintain them, and our Third Branch's life is no longer as good as before."

This volume belongs to the protagonist's development period. Of course, it will not be smooth sailing. He can find ways to help his family through his own efforts. In addition, some of my previous ideas need to be realized.

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(End of this chapter)