My seniority is extraordinary: I was only eight years old when the whole village came to wish me a H

Wu You looked calmly at Wu Jingzhi, who stood bowing behind him, and his voice echoed in the empty ancestral hall, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Jingzhi, have the arrangements for this year's ancestral worship ceremony been finalized?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Jingzhi bowed even lower, his expression becoming even more respectful. He stepped forward and stood to the side and behind Wu You, beginning his report in a clear and steady tone.

"Reporting to the young master, everything has been prepared in accordance with the highest standards."

His voice carried a deep sense of pride. For Wujia Village, the annual ancestral worship ceremony is not only a way to pay homage to their ancestors, but also a concentrated display of the family's cohesion and strength.

"The three sacrificial animals for the ancestral worship have been selected. The first is a purebred yak raised deep in the Kunlun Mountains, weighing over a thousand catties. Its horns are three feet and three inches long, and its coat is pure black without a single blemish. It is called the 'Black Ox.' The second is a hundred-year-old tortoise caught in the East Sea, whose shell pattern is a natural Bagua diagram. It is called the 'Spirit Tortoise.' The third is a seven-colored golden pheasant found in the dense forests of the southern border. Its wings can display seven colors under the sunlight, and its cry can be heard for three miles. It is called the 'Phoenix Pheasant.' These three sacrificial animals have been purified and fasted by a special person for half a month. They have only drunk mountain spring water and eaten spiritual herbs to ensure that they are pure in body and full of spiritual energy, enough to comfort our ancestors."

Wu Jingzhi spoke slowly, and each word was spoken clearly.

Although Su Qinghuan's live stream has been temporarily shut down, if she were here and heard these words, she would probably be so shocked that she would be speechless.

The three sacrificial animals used in the ancestral worship in Wujia Village are all mythical beasts that only exist in legends, auspicious omens that are hard to come by and cannot be sought.

Here, however, they are merely offerings to the ancestors.

Wu You listened quietly without interrupting.

Wu Jingzhi continued his report: "The five grains used in the sacrifice are all taken from our Wu Family Village's exclusive farm located in the black soil of Northeast China. The rice used is a specially cultivated 'Golden Jade Fragrant Rice,' with plump grains and a golden color. When steamed, its aroma can be smelled for miles. The wheat and millet used are all the first harvest of this year, harvested by the village's elderly farmers themselves, ensuring that every grain is safely stored without any omissions."

"All the fruits used are air-freighted from estates around the world. There are 99 varieties in total, including white strawberries from Japan, royal cherries from Chile, and blood oranges from Australia. They are all the freshest and best-looking fruits of the season."

"The wine used in the sacrificial ceremony was brewed three years ago by you, young master, in the core production area of ​​Maotai Town using ancient methods and sealed in an underground cellar. On the day the jar was opened, the aroma of the wine filled the entire valley. After being appraised by wine masters, its quality surpasses any vintage Maotai on the market and can be called the soul of national brewing."

Wu Jingzhi reported each item with utmost sincerity.

These seemingly simple offerings reveal the terrifying wealth of Wujia Village and its absolute control over global resources.

"All the sacrificial vessels have been inspected. The nine bronze tripods used by the previous dynasty to hold the three sacrificial animals have been polished to a shine. The ninety-nine doucai porcelain plates made by the Ming dynasty imperial kiln to hold the five grains and fruits are flawless. The wine cup that you will use is a dragon-patterned jade cup from the Warring States period, which has been soaked in snow water from the Tianshan Mountains for seven days to remove any impurities and preserve its luster."

"The incense, candles, and paper money used in the sacrifices are also extraordinary. Ninety-nine sticks of 'ambergris' have been prepared. The candles are made from whale oil from the East China Sea mixed with honey from a hundred flowers. When lit, the flame is gentle and the fragrance is pleasant. The paper money is made from the pulp of century-old bamboo by the best craftsman in the village. The paper is then decorated with gold powder to depict runes. When burned, it produces no smoke or dust, and the ash is lotus-shaped."

Wu Jingzhi's report was extremely detailed, covering everything from food to daily necessities, from the largest to the smallest, leaving nothing out.

This was no longer a simple ritual; it was an extremely luxurious ceremony that employed unimaginable human, material, and financial resources.

After listening, Wu You remained silent for a moment.

He did not show any surprise or admiration for these rare items, unlike ordinary people.

In his view, it is only natural to use the best things to worship one's ancestors.

He simply spoke up and asked the first question.

"Was the black ox's eye covered with a black cloth?"

Wu Jingzhi shuddered and immediately replied, "Young Master, as you instructed, it has been covered with the finest black silk. This ensures that it remains unseen and untouched by the world before the sacrifice, preserving its spiritual essence."

Wu You nodded and then asked a second question.

"After the 'Supreme Ruler' altar is opened, who will seal it?"

Wu Jingzhi replied, "Zhenfeng personally led the team to seal it. He is the most knowledgeable person about wine in the village, and also the most steady person. After opening the jar, they took enough for the sacrificial ceremony and immediately resealed it to ensure that not a single drop of the wine's aroma was lost."

Wu You nodded again, and then asked one last question.

"How old is Master Wu, who is in charge of making the paper money?"

Wu Jingzhi was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the young master to ask such detailed questions, but he still immediately replied, "Young master, Master Wu Mancang is eighty-six years old this year. His craftsmanship was passed down from his ancestors. This time, in order to make paper money for the ancestral worship, he fasted for a whole month, sleeping only two hours a day, and managed to complete all nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine sheets of paper money before New Year's Eve."

After listening, Wu You remained silent for an even longer period of time.

In the empty ancestral hall, only the flame of the eternal lamp flickered gently.

After a long while, Wu You finally spoke, his voice carrying an unquestionable command.

"Master Mancang is getting old and has worked hard for the Wu family all his life. After this ancestral worship ceremony, he will no longer need to do this work."

"We will allocate funds from the foundation to support his retirement. If any of his descendants are promising, they can be sent to the schools we sponsor for intensive training."

"Furthermore, the ancestral worship ceremony is a matter of honor for the Wu family and a sign of respect for our ancestors. Every step must be flawless."

"You need to do it yourself."

Wu Jingzhi felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he listened to the young master's words. The young master not only possessed the majesty and wisdom of a ruler, but also the compassion of someone who cared for his clan.

He bent down deeply, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Yes, young master! I will obey! I will personally oversee everything and ensure there are absolutely no mistakes!"

He responded excitedly, his admiration for the eight-year-old child in front of him deepening even further.

However, just as he was about to accept his orders and step down to personally oversee various matters, an extremely perplexing question surfaced in his mind.

He raised his head and looked at Wu You's calm profile. His lips moved as if he wanted to ask, but he didn't dare to.

This is a huge matter.

Even he, the chief steward of Wujia Village, dared not speculate on his own.

He knew that the young master had brought outsiders into the village to establish his authority.

The ancestral worship ceremony is the most private and sacred ritual in Wujia Village for hundreds of years. No outsiders have ever been able to witness it.

If... if that host named Su Qinghuan were to broadcast this ceremony live...

That would completely break the rules passed down from our ancestors.

But if you don't ask, and the young master really does have this plan, and you haven't prepared in advance, that would be an even greater crime.

Wu Jingzhi was torn between his inner thoughts and his own conscience. For the first time, a look of hesitation and struggle appeared on his wrinkled face.

Wu You seemed to sense his unease. He didn't turn around, but simply spoke softly.

"Is there anything else?"

Wu Jingzhi trembled, knowing he couldn't escape it any longer.

He steeled his resolve, gritted his teeth, and finally mustered all the courage he had ever possessed. With an almost tentative, extremely cautious tone, he asked the question that had been swirling in his mind.

"Young Master... then... Miss Su's live stream..."

His voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

"The ancestral worship ceremony... is it also...?"

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