Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 23 The Considerations of the Clan Head
The next morning, a grand ancestral worship ceremony was held at the Yu Family Ancestral Hall on Phoenix Mountain.

This ceremony officially established Yu Chenglin's status as an adopted son.

The fact that no one from the two main branches of the family attended made this grand event seem less than perfect.

After the solemn and grand sacrificial ceremony, people from all branches of the Yu family went down the mountain one after another, and the ancestral hall suddenly became deserted.

Yu Xinglong asked Yu Chenglin to light incense for his elder brother Yu Chengye, then took his hand, and the father and son slowly walked out of the ancestral hall.

In a corner of the courtyard stood an ancient tree. During yesterday's thunderstorm, this old tree, which had long been hollowed out by insects and mosquitoes, finally fell.

However, this tree requires three people to hug it because it is too thick, and it has not yet been cleared and moved away.

Looking at the fallen behemoth, Yu Xinglong said to Yu Chenglin, "Son, from today onwards, you are the heir of the Yu family."

"When Father is no longer here, you will be the head of the Yu family."

Yu Chenglin held his father's hand and felt that his father's hand was as cold as the well water that had just been drawn up.

"Father, why did you make me the adopted son? I heard from some of my cousins ​​that I am too young and should not be the adopted son."

Yu Xinglong smiled faintly, looked down at him and said, "Chenglin, this is what your elder brother fought for for you with his life, it can only belong to you!"

Yu Chenglin pursed his lips and hesitated before saying, "But, can I be a good head of the clan? Will my uncles listen to me?"

Yu Xinglong said, "So you have to work harder than before. Study hard, practice martial arts well, and be more outstanding than your eldest brother in the future. That way you can become a qualified head of the family."

Yu Xinglong sighed and said slowly, "My Yu clan has been established in Tianshui for nearly three hundred years."

Through countless trials and tribulations over the past three hundred years, it has still been able to preserve this glorious ancestral legacy.

This is certainly due to the tireless efforts of my ancestors throughout the generations, but the orderly transmission of knowledge and skills is also an important reason.

Yu Xinglong pointed to the fallen old tree and said, "Look, this old tree was already here before our Yu family manor was built."

It took at least five hundred years for it to grow so thick and strong. Yet it fell in just one night of wind and rain!

Yu Xinglong patted his son's head and said in a low voice, "Chenglin, you must remember, the eldest son must be the heir! Power must be firmly held in the hands of the legitimate branch of the family."

If Dad makes your second uncle's son his heir today, and this precedent is set, then will everyone have a chance in the future?

Without rules, there will be huge chaos!

Seven-year-old Yu Chenglin looked up at his father, still only half understanding what his father was saying.

Yu Xinglong said, "Your second uncle is an ambitious man. In fact, if he were to become the head of the clan, he would probably do a better job than your father."

However, that good only applies to our present life, while the calamities it brings will be endless, generation after generation.

Yu Xinglong shook his head slightly: "No, it doesn't need to be generation after generation. If we do that, my Yu family might fall apart within three generations and become fish on someone else's chopping block."

Yu Chenglin didn't understand such profound words, but he tried his best to remember his father's words.

He thought, it doesn't matter if I don't understand now, as long as I remember it, I will understand it someday.

Yu Xinglong said kindly to Yu Chenglin, "So, Chenglin, you may not be the most outstanding son of my Yu family. But you are the most suitable, understand?"

Yu Chenglin nodded vigorously.

Yu Xinglong smiled slightly, looked up at the white clouds in the sky outside the courtyard, and his eyes suddenly became unfocused.

"Chenglin, your older brother and sister-in-law slept together on the way back to Tianshui."

Judging by the time, in just a few more days, a skilled doctor will be able to tell whether she is pregnant.

If your sister-in-law is really pregnant, you'll soon be a little brother-in-law.

Upon hearing this, Yu Chenglin's eyes immediately lit up with joy.

He is still young, and he has a strange joy and anticipation about becoming an elder.

Yu Xinglong's gaze turned somewhat strange, and he suddenly asked Yu Chenglin seriously:
"Chenglin, tell me, have your older brother and sister-in-law really consummated their marriage?"

Yu Chenglin didn't quite understand what consummating the marriage meant; he guessed it probably meant sleeping in the same room.
In his mind, his sister-in-law was his elder brother's wife, so wasn't it normal for them to sleep together?
So Yu Chenglin answered seriously, "It should be true, my sister-in-law is so beautiful."

Yu Xinglong chuckled: "How old are you, kid? What do you know about beauty and ugliness?"

Yu Chenglin retorted, unconvinced, "Of course I know! My sister-in-law is beautiful, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

"Haha... cough, cough cough..." Yu Xinglong burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down his face.

He took out a handkerchief, wiped his eyes, and said to Cheng Lin, "Go, go back, don't miss your studies."

Yu Chenglin obediently agreed and walked properly to the courtyard gate. After he stepped down the steps, he lifted his clothes and ran away.

Watching his son's figure disappear into the distance, Yu Xinglong let out a long sigh and murmured to himself, "Chengye, if you have a spirit in heaven, please bless your brother with all good things and peace, and bless the Yu family's foundation to prosper for generations to come."

……

When Yu Xinglong returned to his study, Yang Can had already been waiting there for quite some time.

He was summoned by Steward Deng. When he arrived at the study, the ceremony for establishing an heir was still underway at the ancestral hall.

Yu Xinglong entered the study and asked someone to bring Yang Can in. Yang Can had just finished greeting Yu Xinglong when Yu Xinglong suddenly asked, "Yang Can, when did you become Huan Hu's man?"

Yang Can was taken aback and asked blankly, "What?" Yu Xinglong and Butler Deng, who was standing beside him, had been watching Yang Can closely since he came in, observing his every reaction.

Even the most skilled at disguising themselves will inevitably have some subconscious reactions when their secrets are suddenly exposed.

But Yang Can did not.

Yu Xinglong said, "If you are not Huan Hu's man, why did you try so hard to clear his name in Mingde Hall?"

Yang Can suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly explained, "Master, you've misunderstood. I wasn't speaking up for Second Master!"

Yu Xinglong looked at Yang Can calmly, waiting for a reasonable explanation.

Yang Can said, "Master, the young master's death is shrouded in mystery. Without irrefutable evidence, we cannot convict the second master."

Yu Xinglong said, "But that doesn't wash away the suspicion, does it?"

"That's true, but now, has Second Master cleared his name?"

"Regardless of whether he has been cleared of suspicion, what are your reasons for speaking up for him?"

"I'm not speaking on behalf of the Second Master; I'm just providing an excuse for the clan leader to be wary of the Suo family."

Yu Xinglong's expression darkened slightly, and his voice turned cold: "Yang Can, what do you mean by this?"

"Master, the young master regards his disciples as his confidants and often confides his concerns to them."

The position of patriarch is the throne that Second Master dreams of. And the fertile land of my Yu family is the coveted target of the Suo family.

The lord of the clan is beset by internal and external troubles, and the young master feels his pain deeply, worrying day and night. His subordinates wish they could take his place.

Yang Can spoke with great emotion: "Young Master has unfortunately been murdered. I have not yet been able to repay the kindness you have shown me. The only way I can live up to your trust is to serve you wholeheartedly."

After a moment of silence, Yu Xinglong narrowed his eyes slightly: "So, you insist that the Suo family is a suspect because you don't want me to be taken advantage of by the Suo family?"

"Exactly! No matter what the disciples say, Second Master cannot clear his name. Moreover, the clan leader, for the sake of the greater good, would never put him to death."

Therefore, no matter what the subordinates say or do, it will not affect the clan leader's plans for the Second Master.

However, with this testimony from his subordinate, the clan head could use it as a pretext to control the Suo family at any time.

Yang Can added, "What the sect leader says, the clan leader may or may not believe."

The valve master can believe now or in the future.

This is why his disciples accused the Su family.

Yu Xinglong's eyes narrowed slightly.

Yu Xinglong was unaware whether his son, Yu Chengye, had ever told Yang Can about the complex relationship between the Yu and Su families, which involved both mutual exploitation and mutual distrust.

But even if his son truly considered Yang Can a confidant and told him these things, it's still remarkable that Yang Can could come up with such a solution from this perspective after his son's death...

Whether this person is genuinely grateful for his son's recognition or hopes to use this as a stepping stone to advancement, his scheming should not be underestimated.

Yu Xinglong pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "You're not from Longshang, but from the Central Plains?"

"Yes!"

Why did you leave the Central Plains?

"because……"

Yang Can hesitated for a moment before lowering his head and saying in a low voice, "I am a poor scholar, but I was fortunate enough to meet the eldest daughter of the Luo family from Jiangnan who came to worship Buddha in a Zen temple."

Mr. Yang and Miss Luo fell in love at first sight and secretly pledged their lives to each other. However, when the Luo family found out, they sent their henchmen to kill the entire family of Yang's servants, with only one servant managing to escape..."

At this point, Yang Can's voice trembled with emotion, as if he could no longer continue.

Yu Xinglong understood immediately upon hearing this.

The gentry of the Central Plains were most proud of their family background and lineage, and those of low status who attempted to marry into the gentry would be severely opposed.

Those aristocratic families usually do not put too much pressure on their children; they have simpler, more direct, and more effective methods.

That is, to make this arrogant person who tries to climb the social ladder disappear, or even make his whole family disappear.

Yu Xinglong nodded and then asked, "Your original name was Yang Can?"

Yang Can said, "I wouldn't dare to deceive the clan leader. My real name is... Ding Hao!"

Yu Xinglong grunted and said, "Now that you have joined my ranks, the Luo family of Jiangnan can't do anything to you. You can change back to your original name and surname."

Yang Can said excitedly, "Thank you, Master, but I have sworn an oath that I will not restore the name my parents gave me until I avenge my parents and family!"

Yu Xinglong revealed a hint of admiration and praised, "It's rare to find someone with such a thoughtful mind. You may step down now."

"Yes! I'll take my leave." Yang Can bowed to Yu Xinglong and left the study.

Yu Xinglong leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Xiao Deng, what do you think of this Yang Can?"

(End of this chapter)