The Great Seminary

Chapter 292: Go first
Being worldly-wise is a form of learning; understanding human relationships is a form of literature.

This principle applies not only to people of different surnames, but also to close relatives.

When Caiyang Duojie made her words clear, Qiedan Jiena smiled sheepishly and stopped making a fuss, and Caiyang Ailin also quieted down.

Taking the opportunity, Zhang Gui changed the subject and asked about the progress of his cousins' cultivation.

The results showed that although there was considerable progress, it was only at the level of medium to high aptitude.

However, truly exceptional cultivators are extremely rare, one in ten thousand.

Above average is already quite good.

So he praised them sincerely and encouraged his cousins ​​to keep up the good work and strive to achieve success in their "path" within three years.

The family chatted away, one sentence after another, until it got dark.

Lunch was served as dinner, and Zhang Gui ate another twenty 'pure meat pills' with his food and wine.

After having some tea, he chatted with his mother until late at night before returning to his bedroom.

I boiled a bathtub full of water using a steam stove.

While urging the main god to 'swallow crows and drink from rivers' to absorb water and fire, he also scrubbed his body clean.

I changed into dry, light linen clothes and lay down on the bed, drifting off into a deep sleep.

After a good night's sleep, the wind and snow finally stopped the next morning.

After having a refreshing breakfast, Zhang Gui was about to stroll around the market to help digest his food.

Suddenly, a trusted steward of Zhang Liuduo, the patriarch of the Zhang family in Pingyang, came to pay a visit.
"Greetings to Brother Gui."

The head of the household heard that you returned to your hometown yesterday and specifically asked me to come and invite you to discuss some matters.

Family power is not only based on nobility, but also on seniority.

For example, this head steward is a member of the "eight" generation of the Zhang family in Pingyang, one generation older than Zhang Gui.

In addition, in order to ensure the continuation of his family line, Zhang Liuduo gave Zhang Gui a large booklet with pictures and texts about the ironwood tortoise-shaped mechanical ship, which was the foundation of the Zhang family's prosperity in Pingyang.

To make him feel indebted to others, he nodded politely and said:
"Greetings, Uncle."

I originally thought that with the end of the year approaching, the head of the household would be busy with many matters and might not have time to see me, so I planned to pay my respects during the sacrificial ceremony.

I didn't expect him to need me so soon, so let's go.

They left the house one after the other, boarded a four-horse carriage, and swayed and wobbled towards the Zhang family's main residence.

On the way, Zhang Gui was curious about Zhang Liuduo's eagerness to find him.

She asked with a smile:
"Uncle, do you know what the patriarch wanted to discuss with me?"

The head steward gave a vague reply:

I know a little bit about it.

Brother Gui, do you know that more than 80 years ago, our clan produced a heroine named Zhang Liulong?

Like you, I was born with the Kuafu Divine Cluster awakened, and later discovered the 'True Form' transformation.

For the greater good of the world and the survival of humanity, we went far away from the 'Great Cavern'—no, it should be called the 'Cave Realm'?

She suddenly returned a few days ago.

Therefore, with the end of the year approaching, in order to prevent gossip from rising, the head of the family temporarily suppressed the matter.

They plan to release the news after the New Year.

The reason I invited you over is for this matter.

The grand narrative of "the greater good of the world and the survival of humanity" sounds incredibly glorious.

In reality, it was just an elderly man from the same clan who, more than eighty years ago, had left his hometown and spent most of his life working elsewhere before returning. There was really no "rising public opinion" about it, unless there was something else going on.

Zhang Gui frowned slightly and pondered for a moment.

Suddenly reminded of the exiled "Han Lishen" by the 'underground realm', her eyes widened.
"Does Zhang Liuduo also intend to lead the Zhang family of Pingyang to relocate to the 'underground realm'?"
He believed in the saying "a cunning rabbit has three burrows," and was also extremely power-hungry and cowardly.

She was initially frightened and deceived by Mr. Yin, which led to the death of her own son and her reclaiming of power.

He also became the first member of the prominent families in the entire Dongyue Province to pledge allegiance to Prince Zhen.

Afterwards, fearing that Emperor Hezheng would seek revenge, he was so terrified that he almost went insane.
Out of the blueprint, they gave me a large booklet with pictures and text about building the Ironwood Turtle Machine Ship.

When such a person is forced into a corner with no room for maneuver, they may rack their brains and put their ideas into practice to ensure the continuation of their family line.

But given even the slightest opportunity, they'll start causing trouble to protect their lives and power.

Thinking of this, Zhang Gui asked softly:
"Uncle, is the patriarch afraid that after the 'Prince Zhen' is wiped out by the Yuanshan Protectorate, Emperor Hezheng will use the pretext of desertion in battle to execute him?"
After all, he had always held the position of "Comprehensive Military Advisor" in Prince Zhen's temporary residence.

The head steward was stunned upon hearing this, and stammered:
"This, this is from what you're saying, to begin with... Although the patriarch is here, at Prince Zhen's temporary residence..."

"Alright, Uncle, you don't need to say anything more."

It seems the patriarch's real purpose in seeking me out is probably to discuss the family's relocation to the 'Dungeon Realm'.

It was impossible for the entire clan to go together.

In Pingyang Town, there are nearly 20,000 people with the surname Zhang, including both direct and collateral relatives.

With elderly and young children, they dragged their families along, carrying their meager savings, leaving their hometowns to wander thousands of miles in search of a new livelihood.

Such a heavy burden, even if one could reach the 'underground realm,' would only lead to utter poverty, with little chance of liberation.

It would be better to die in one's homeland.

So he wanted to leave all the old, weak, sick, and disabled people in the clan to me to take care of, and then take the clan's elites and set off lightly, right?

It's a pity that Great-Grandma Zhang Liulong returned a little late; otherwise, there would have been no need to establish businesses and leave manpower in the 'Great Wolf Capital' of Yuanshan Kingdom.

Having said that, the head steward didn't utter another word, only managing a dry laugh.

His stiff expression was so distressing to look at.

Fortunately, although Pingyang Town is not small in area, it is only the size of a city.

From the outermost corner of the 'Youyu Fang' to the main residence, which is surrounded by four inner Fangs, eight middle Fangs, sixteen outer Fangs, and twenty-seven miscellaneous Fangs.

If they took a carriage, they would arrive in no time, and it wouldn't have troubled him for too long.

When Zhang Gui arrived this time, the main gate of the Zhang family in Pingyang, which was only opened to receive imperial edicts or visits from high-ranking officials of the third rank or above, or heads of prominent families of the county rank or above, was wide open.

The four-horse carriage carried him all the way, passing through halls and houses, until it arrived at Zhang Liuduo's study.

Zhang Gui straightened his clothes and jumped off the carriage.

They saw Zhang Liuduo waiting in front of the study with a mature woman they didn't recognize.

A thought flashed through his mind: "That woman is most likely Zhang Liulong."

He passed away more than 80 years ago. I heard he was already in his thirties when he died, but he looks no more than thirty years old now.

Could it be that they have already advanced to Class B extraordinary level?

With such a powerful backer, Zhang Liuduo's desire to leave wouldn't be merely a matter of cowardice or a desire for power.

He quickened his pace and ascended the stone steps, bowing respectfully to Zhang Liuduo and the woman:
"Zhang Gui greets the head of the family and the sixth ancestral grand-aunt."

I had heard tales of your remarkable deeds since I was a child, but seeing you in person today, your presence surpasses even those I've heard of by a hundredfold.

(End of this chapter)