Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

"Dad, why bother contributing? Our family will pay for it."

As soon as Chen Zaixing said this, the clansmen in the room went from whispering to being completely silent, all looking at Chen Zaixing, the famous "Prosperous Chief" of the village.

Chen Xiangui glared at the show-off fifth brother, wanting to say a few words to ease the atmosphere. It wasn't that Chen Xiangui was stingy or unwilling to pay, but rather that the camp was a token of the entire Lianzhai community's goodwill, and it couldn't be that Chen, being generous, could just say he would cover everything.

You've taken all the credit!

It was Chen Xianfeng, the oldest person present, who spoke up. After clearing his throat, he said, "Zaixing, it's good that you have the intention. It's fine if you contribute more, but Lord Ying is the hope of all the people in Lianzhai. It's unreasonable to let you pay for everything!"

"Yes, Zaixing, if you're willing, contribute more. We can't let your family pay for everything. We're family, so we can say this without fear. If we say it outside, people will think that our Chen family has become successful and looks down on people from other villages. This is not good for unity. It's not good to say it or do it," Chen Xianliang also advised.

"Uncle Xianfeng, Uncle Xianliang, what you said is correct," Chen Dong said to ease the atmosphere when he saw the two elders say this. "My fifth brother didn't mean anything by it. He just felt that although life in our Lianzhai has been better in the past two years, each family still has a weak foundation."

"This is a major event for our entire village, and it's also a matter of face for our Chen family. Since we're going to hold it, we have to do it in style and not let anyone look down on us," Chen Dong said after a pause. "How about this, I'll cover the majority of the expenses. It's been over ten years since we last held this event, and it's only right that I contribute the majority of the money now that I'm back."

After speaking, Chen Dong turned to look at his uncle Chen Xiangui, then at his elder brother Chen Zaiguang, his eyes questioning, "Uncle, elder brother, don't you agree?"

Chen Zaiguang smiled slightly, put down his teacup, and said with a calm gaze, "Adong, it's good that you have this intention. This camp master values ​​'working together with one heart and one mind.' As for the money, our family can indeed contribute, and we should contribute more."

"But this matter cannot be accomplished by our family alone; we need to mobilize the entire clan, and even the entire village."

"Our Chen family can take the lead. A few brothers can contribute some, and the council can collect the rest from each household. Those who are willing to contribute can contribute more, and those who are unwilling will not be forced. But on the day of the procession, it would be embarrassing for any household not to set up an incense table and set off firecrackers at their door."

After hearing Chen Zaiguang's words, Chen Dong smiled and said, "Uncle, esteemed elders, since my brother says so, then I, Chen Dong, will personally contribute 50,000 to cover the expenses of this camp!"

The number Chen Dong mentioned made everyone in the clan gasp. In an era when even households with 10,000 yuan were rare, 50,000 yuan was an astronomical figure, enough to make this event the most sensational event in the entire Tuo City.

"Okay, Ah Dong is contributing 50,000, then I'll contribute 10,000," Chen Zaiguang continued, announcing his own donation. Chen Zaisheng, as the second oldest, followed suit, saying, "Then I'll contribute 9,000!"

"Eight thousand!"

"Six thousand!"

Chen Zaixing clicked his tongue and looked at his four older brothers. In Tuocheng, money is given for weddings and funerals, but it's not about who has money and can give as much as they want. It's about going along with the social obligations.

Not only must you follow the family's wishes, but you must also follow the wishes of your elder brothers. For example, if Chen Zaiguang, as the eldest son, contributes 10,000, you, as the younger brother, cannot contribute more than him.

If Chen Zaiguang were not the chairman of Guangdong Company now, but still just a recorder for water transport, even if he contributed one hundred, no matter how successful and wealthy his brothers were, they could not surpass him. This is a matter of personal relationships.

If you suppress him, people won't say you're generous and magnanimous; instead, they'll say you're arrogant and that you bully your own brother now that you have money, which will ruin your reputation in the village.

Society is made up of human relationships. You might say that you have money and that you can do whatever you want as long as you feel good, but then you're underestimating the power of public opinion.

Similarly, if Chen Zaisheng only contributes nine thousand, then Chen Zaiguang can only contribute eight thousand, and Chen Zailong can only contribute six thousand. This is because, in traditional beliefs, nineteen or eighteen is an auspicious number for contributing money at weddings, while odd numbers like seven, five, and three are only used for contributing money at funerals.

Weddings should be given in even numbers, and funerals in odd numbers; these are already established customs.

The first four brothers had already taken all the lucky money, leaving only four. Chen Zaixing, who loved to show off, called himself the "prosperous boss" of the village. He only gave four thousand, which was not very respectable.

But there was no way around it; his older brothers were running ahead, and as the youngest, he couldn't outrun them, so he said helplessly, "Four thousand!"

After Chen Zaixing finished reporting, the Chen clan members present put their heads together and exclaimed in surprise! Just the few boys from Chen Xiangui's family, plus Chen Dong, had contributed 87,000 yuan. This was the largest amount of money ever spent on a campaign against the patriarch in the history of Lianzhai.

After Chen Xiangui saw that his nephew Chen Dong and his sons had finished speaking, he looked at his clansmen and said, "We need to establish a rule for this money. This 80,000 yuan is specifically for hiring the best opera troupe, making the most beautiful floats, and creating the most impressive banners."

"As for other expenses, such as firecrackers, incense, and the banquet on the day of the procession, each household has to contribute their own money."

"Ah Da, you're right to say all this," Chen Xianfeng nodded in agreement. Although he was older than Chen Xiangui, Chen Xianfeng still followed the old way of addressing him and called Chen Xiangui "Big Brother" to show his respect for Chen Xiangui as the eldest son of the eldest branch and the head of the Chen clan.

Just then, Grandma Wei Shufen, who had been sitting on the sofa without saying a word, spoke up, "Xianfeng and Xianliang, now that you've set up the framework, I, an old man, have nothing to worry about. However, there's something I need to remind you of."

"Aunt Shufen, please speak," Chen Xianfeng said respectfully, bowing slightly.

"The most important thing about this camp is its 'spirit.' We were poor before, but we couldn't lose that spirit. Now that Ah Dong, Ah Guang, and the other brothers have contributed so much money, the spectacle is definitely there, but we mustn't let it turn into a 'money show'!"

Grandma Wei Shufen then cautioned, "Those young men and women carrying the flags, and the men beating the drums, must all be from our own village and clan. We can't spend money to hire outsiders to fill the positions. This 'master' must be someone we, the people of Lianzhai, 'arranged' ourselves, for that's the only way to be sincere!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xianfeng nodded solemnly, "Aunt Shufen, don't worry, I understand what you're saying. This time, we're trying to win over the hearts of the people and reunite the feelings of our fellow villagers."

"We, the Chen family, are spending a lot of money to provide everyone with a better platform, but the leading roles on this stage still have to be played by our own people."

"Good! I'm relieved to hear that!"

The following time, the main room was filled with lively discussion about the specific details: how old were the young men of each family, whether the maids of each family could carry the flag, who could play the gong and who could play the drum, and so on. Everyone chimed in with their own opinions.

Chen Dong sat to the side, watching this scene, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. In this era of primitive accumulation of capital, people often only focus on money, but ignore the power of culture.

Chen Dong knew that a city without cultural heritage would not go far.