Chapter 58: Current State of the Clan

The Wu Clan within Wu Family Slope now numbers over a thousand people, of whom the Wu direct lineage comprises roughly five hundred; the rest are collateral branches and outside surnames, and the direct lineage holds absolute dominance.

Only those of direct lineage bloodline may use the Wu Family's inherited generation names — for instance, Wu Chengyu belongs to the Cheng generation, while his father Wu Zhengkang and Wu Zhenghui both belong to the Zheng generation.

Moreover, the Wu direct lineage is divided into three branches; the Family Head generally comes from the Main House, and Wu Chengyu's household belongs to the Third Branch.

Although the Main House leads, the other Second House's status in the Wu Family is not low; the three branches separately manage the Wu Family's different enterprises.

The Wu Family passes down farming and martial arts; besides the good fields in the valley, they also own many farmsteads outside Gusu City, and since the Wu Family sits beside Lake Tai, the lake's yield is also quite substantial.

Within Wu Family Slope there is also a very large Weaving Workshop, Dyeing Workshop, and Embroidery Workshop; these enterprises are generally managed by the Main House.

In addition, inside Gusu City there are many shops and restaurants, including the Yangwu Escort Agency where Wu Zhengkang once served; these enterprises are respectively managed by the Second and Third Branches.

Through generations of accumulation and operation, with proper management and sound household governance, the Wu Clan ranks among the top prominent clans in the Gusu region.

Yet when Wu Chengyu returned to his hometown this time, he discovered the situation differed from his memory — the Third Branch's standing in the Wu Family had fallen considerably, far less prosperous than before.

However, this body of Wu Chengyu's is ultimately a child's; he has few close elders in the clan, no one explained matters to him, and after returning home he was busy practicing martial arts, so at first he did not realize the changes in the household.

In his impression, his household's quarterly stipend used to be a full thirty taels, not the ten taels before his eyes now.

Wu Chengyu did not believe someone was embezzling from him; as an orphan whose father died in battle for the clan, the clan had always treated him generously. The Wu Family distributes stipends not per head but per household; although Wu Chengyu's parents are both deceased, as long as he remains, his household's stipend would absolutely not be reduced.

This is also a problem Wu Chengyu must solve; since ancient times, the poor study literature while the rich practice martial arts — the resources needed for daily martial cultivation are considerable. Leaving aside other matters, just the medicine money for his daily medicinal baths costs over ten taels a month; now only ten taels of silver per quarter, still needing to cover living expenses, is simply a drop in the bucket.

Fortunately, he had obtained several hundred taels of silver from those Imperial Court lackeys earlier, which can support him for a time, but there will inevitably come a day when he sits and eats the mountain empty.

While pondering the household's changes, Wu Chengyu followed Wu Zhenghui toward the Third Branch's Discussion Hall.

Arriving at the Discussion Hall entrance, Wu Zhenghui's expression was somewhat gloomy; he seemed to want to speak but stopped, and in the end only admonished: "When you see your Fourth Uncle Zhengliang later, do not lose composure."

Wu Chengyu was startled, unsure what Wu Zhenghui meant; he knew Wu Zhengliang quite well — when his father was alive, they were as close as brothers.

The Third Branch's previous generation had many outstanding disciples; Wu Chengyu's father Wu Zhengkang ranked among the top in martial skill among peers, and Wu Zhenghui was usually quite capable, but all of that generation looked to Wu Zhengliang as their leader.

Wu Zhengliang is the eldest of the Third Branch's Zheng generation, ranked fourth in the clan, so Wu Chengyu must address him as Fourth Uncle.

Wu Zhengliang became the Third Branch Steward at a very young age; he handles affairs impartially, excels at management, possesses considerable schemes and methods externally, and treats clan brothers kindly internally — in both ability and prestige, no one in the Third Branch dares claim to be second; it was under his leadership that the Third Branch flourished day by day.

Wu Zhenghui's words gave rise to doubts in Wu Chengyu's heart, but now was not the time to press; Wu Zhenghui had already pushed open the door and pulled him into the Discussion Hall.

He saw Wu Zhengliang sitting in the master's seat of the Discussion Hall; his appearance was exactly as in Wu Chengyu's memory, but he had grown much thinner and weaker. At this moment Wu Zhengliang's spirit seemed low, yet upon seeing Wu Chengyu enter, he straightened his posture, forced his spirits up, and smiled.

"Little Chengyu has been away from home for five years; you've finally returned. Look at you — already a big child, far more spirited than that crybaby from back then."

"Zhenghui, little Chengyu has grown so handsome, even more like his mother. Back then Zhengkang was tall, burly, and dark-skinned; if he took after him it would have been ruined."

"Good, good. Chengyu, if your parents were alive, seeing you now would surely comfort them. I, your Fourth Uncle, am also very happy."

From Wu Zhengliang's words Wu Chengyu felt deep concern, entirely a genuine outpouring of an elder's affection for a junior; he hurried forward, bowed deeply, and said: "Chengyu greets Fourth Uncle; it is little Ershiyi who has caused Fourth Uncle worry."

"Chengyu, no need for excessive courtesy; we are all family. Sit quickly. Zhenghui, you sit too."

Wu Chengyu insisted on performing the bow, then found a chair to the side and sat down, only then carefully observing this Fourth Uncle of his — he had aged greatly compared to five years ago, far from what his current age should look like, and Wu Chengyu constantly felt Fourth Uncle's sitting posture was somewhat strange.

"Chengyu, why did you suddenly think to return home? Was it that your Aunt treated you badly?"

"Replying to Fourth Uncle, my Aunt treated me very well. Unfortunately, a few months ago she passed away due to dystocia, which is why I had the thought to return home."

"Also a wretched soul. Since that's the case, your return is good. Back then I disagreed with you leaving with your Aunt; the family would never mistreat you."

"Only you were too grief-stricken at the time, following behind her day and night, unwilling to part a single step. I feared excessive sorrow would harm you, so I agreed to let you leave."

"Now that you're back, settle down peacefully. There are many elders in the clan who will surely take good care of you. I am old; you must grow up well — in the future the Third Branch will still have to rely on you all."

As he spoke, Wu Zhengliang's tone carried a few notes of sourness; Wu Chengyu finally confirmed that the Third Branch had definitely encountered major events these years.

"Chengyu, after your parents passed away, the legacy they left behind, and no small amount of wealth — I took charge and had it all collected for you. Later I'll send someone to deliver it to you."

"Our Wu Clan stands on self-reliance; although elders watch over you, you must also strive yourselves. I heard from Zhenghui that you've been training martial arts every day since returning — very good."

"However, you must not engage in closed-door training. The clan has people who specialize in teaching martial arts; you should go listen more. Only with guidance will you avoid taking the wrong path. Ordinarily, get along well with your peer brothers — the Wu Family's current standing rests fundamentally on clan disciples' unity."

Wu Zhengliang spoke quite a lot in one breath; his spirit grew increasingly weak, and in the end it was Wu Zhenghui who led Wu Chengyu to take leave and depart.

On the way back to his own small courtyard, Wu Chengyu could not help but ask Wu Zhenghui what exactly had happened in the household.

Wu Zhenghui let out a long sigh, his face miserable, and in the end still told the truth.

"Chengyu, you're a big child now; some things I won't hide from you."

"You've been away from home for five years. Have you ever considered that since your father Zhengkang passed away, the Third Branch's Zheng-generation brothers now number only ten? You must know that back then we had a full twenty-five. Even your Fourth Uncle Zhengliang now has both legs broken and walks with difficulty."

"The enterprises originally managed by the Third Branch — there truly isn't enough manpower to maintain them now, so they could only be temporarily handed over to the Main House and Second House. Even so, your Fourth Uncle still has to run around everywhere, struggling to maintain things. Our Third Branch's days are already far from what they once were."

This volume belongs to the protagonist's development period; naturally it cannot be smooth sailing. He can find ways to help the family through his own efforts, and there are also some of my previous ideas that need to be realized.

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(Chapter End)