Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 53 Clan Council (Part 1)

The Pei clan held its first formal clan meeting.

The entire Pei family, young and old, arrived. Even the baby puppy in its swaddling clothes was brought out.

The location was an open space north of the village. The woods where more than a dozen bandits had hanged themselves were not far away, just a glance away. The pit where the bandits' corpses were buried was also not far off. The faint stench of blood lingered in the air.

The women of the Pei family were almost immediately reminded of the brutal memories of the life-and-death battle. In their minds, the image of Pei Qinghe wielding a knife and killing people flashed before their eyes.

Gu Lian and more than ten other women from the mountain bandit stronghold stood on the outside.

Pei Jia and the other five men also arrived. They stood on the outside, keeping their distance from Gu Lian and the others, clearly separating them.

Pei Qinghe waved her hand, and everyone sat down where they were, forming a dense, dark mass except for Pei Qinghe, who remained standing. The crowd looked up at her, a natural sense of awe and reverence arising within them.

"I've called everyone here today to discuss an important matter." Pei Qinghe didn't deliberately raise her voice, but her clear voice clearly reached everyone's ears: "Now that the Pei family has established itself here, it's time to set up clan rules."

Then, he recited the three clan rules.

The first rule is to train hard and ensure everyone has the ability to protect themselves.

Article Two: Women of the Pei family shall not marry out of wedlock. If they wish to marry, they shall be married into the family, and all their children shall bear the surname Pei.

Article 3 states that in the future, those who recruit displaced people and hidden households and perform exceptionally well may change their surname to Pei.

Before the Pei family women arrived, they had a vague idea of ​​what it was about. But when Pei Qinghe calmly announced the three clan rules, the women were still stunned.

The first point goes without saying, and the third point is a matter for later and can be ignored for now. The key point is this second one!
The oldest of the unmarried Pei family daughters is only seventeen. Those slightly younger, like Pei Yan, would be suitable for marrying into the Pei family later. But can young wives who marry into the Pei family really also be allowed to marry into the family?!
Most of them are still immersed in the grief of losing their husbands and children. Even those who have cheered up haven't thought that far into the future.

This clan rule was clearly most advantageous to them. They didn't have to remain chaste for their deceased husbands, nor did they have to leave the Pei family; they could find a suitable man to live with. Their children would be raised by the Pei family... Even Mao Hongling, whose heart had been as dry as a well, couldn't help but be moved.

However, such selfish thoughts were too shameful to voice. The group of young wives, led by Mao Hongling, did not have the courage to stand up and agree, and each kept their heads down in silence.

Madam Lu abruptly stood up and passionately expressed her opposition: "I disagree with the second clan rule. Those who can remain chaste for their deceased husbands may stay in the Pei family. If they wish to remarry, then they should leave Pei Family Village to marry and have children. The Pei family does not want offspring of unknown origin."

The stubborn Lu family was not alone. Soon, several others stood up, also opposing this clan rule.

These vehement opponents were all elderly women over sixty, with a host of daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law. They certainly didn't want their daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law to remarry, let alone have children born into the Pei family—that would be even more absurd.

Pei Qinghe glanced around and said, "Those who oppose this clan rule must stand up. Those who support it may remain seated."

Madam Lu was furious: "How is this fair! They didn't move or say a word, how does that mean they agree?"

Pei Qinghe glanced at him indifferently: "I am the clan leader, and I make the rules. The clan meeting is to let all clan members know these clan rules. No matter how many people object, these clan rules are set."

Lu Shi: "..."

Lu was so angry that her face turned red, and she was about to start cursing again.

Pei Qinghe's indifferent and cold gaze swept over like a sharp blade.

Lu's heart skipped a beat. The image of Pei Qinghe's ruthlessness when shooting and killing people flashed through her mind. She swallowed the angry curse that was on the tip of her tongue.

“Grandmother is over sixty and does not want to take in a son-in-law. No one is forcing you.” As soon as Pei Qinghe opened her mouth, Madam Lu was so angry that her blood boiled: “And you few, you are all elders of the clan.”

"Everyone knows what you're thinking. You hope your daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law will remain chaste for their children and grandchildren, and you don't actually object to your granddaughters taking in husbands." "Such selfishness is despicable and laughable."

"The Pei family survived the calamity of being destroyed, and all the survivors are here. Everyone has risked their lives to stay alive. Are we really going to be bound by those outdated and backward customs now?"

"Those who wish to remain chaste may do so. Those who wish to marry may do so at any time."

"Cousin Qinghe!" Pei Yan, that blockhead, jumped up and shouted, "I don't want to get married, I don't want a man, is that okay?"

Pfft! Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

The tense and heavy atmosphere was dissolved by laughter.

Pei Qinghe laughed as well: "Of course. If you don't want to get married, then you don't have to get married. No one is forcing you to find a husband and have children."

Upon hearing this, the seven old women who had vehemently opposed the statement secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Their biggest worry was that Pei Qinghe would make all the wives of the Pei family marry into the family in order to increase the number of Pei family members.

It would be much better if marrying into a family were free and easy. Currently, Pei Family Village only has five men from outside the village, one of whom is a cripple missing an arm. Their daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law are mostly from prestigious families; why would they look down on these uncouth men from outside the village?
Even if someone occasionally has such intentions, they can offer advice privately.

Two of the old women quietly sat down.

Madam Lu remained stubbornly standing there, not daring to glare at Pei Qinghe, but instead glaring fiercely at Pei Yan: "What nonsense are you talking about? What kind of woman never gets married in her entire life? You're still young, only twelve years old. In a few years, we'll find a son-in-law to live with us."

His eyes were on Pei Yan, but his words were directed at Pei Qinghe.

For someone who wants to lift the roof, opening a window is always much easier.

Pei Qinghe, well aware of this, smiled slowly and said, "So, Grandmother agrees to the clan rule of taking a son-in-law as a wife?"

Lu remained defiant: "I disagree. But are you willing to listen to me?"

The octogenarian Li coughed forcefully and said, "Qinghe is the clan leader elected by everyone. She considers the Pei family in everything she does and has no selfish motives. I, this old woman, agree to these three clan rules."

As the eldest member of the Pei family, Madam Li held considerable prestige. Once she spoke, the other four elderly women fell silent and quietly sat down.

Lu was left standing alone, looking rather awkward.

No one expected that Madam Feng would speak up at this moment: "I will never take in a son-in-law. From now on, I will stay with Qinghe and take care of my mother."

Among the eldest son's daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law, Feng was the most beautiful and also Pei Qinghe's biological mother. In truth, Feng was the one Lu was most worried about.

Upon hearing Feng's statement, Lu felt a weight lifted from her heart, and her expression improved considerably. She reluctantly sat down, still saying, "I still disagree with this clan rule."

Pei Qinghe's expression was slightly cold.

Mrs. Feng quickly gave her daughter a wink.

She was, after all, her own grandmother; she had to be given some face.

At this moment, someone stood up from behind: "Clan leader, can we also abide by this clan rule?"

(End of this chapter)