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

Wu Jingzhi's voice sounded weak yet full of struggle in the empty ancestral hall.

After asking the question, he lowered his head and held his breath, awaiting the final judgment.

He was prepared that if the young master got angry, he would not complain even if the young master dismissed him as the head steward on the spot.

Because he asked a question he shouldn't have asked.

Inside the ancestral hall, a deathly silence fell.

Only the flame in the bronze beast-head eternal lamp flickered gently, casting their shadows, which stretched and shortened on the black basalt ground.

Wu You did not answer immediately.

He slowly turned around and, for the first time, looked directly at the old man who had worked hard for Wujia Village his whole life.

Wu Jingzhi felt the young master's gaze, and his body tensed up even more, a fine layer of cold sweat seeping out from his back.

He dared not look up, and could only see the hem of Wu You's black Zhongshan suit and his small, yet incredibly steady, cloth shoes.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely at this moment.

For Wu Jingzhi, every second felt like an eternity.

Just when he was about to succumb to the immense psychological pressure, Wu You's clear, cold voice finally rang out.

However, there was no anger or even a trace of displeasure in that voice, as Wu Jingzhi had imagined.

Yes, but only a faint smile, as if it saw through everything.

"Jingzhi, raise your head."

Wu Jingzhi trembled, somewhat unable to believe his ears.

He hesitated for a moment, then slowly raised his head.

He saw Wu You looking at him calmly, her dark eyes showing no reproach, but rather a faint hint of approval.

"That's a very good question," Wu You said.

Wu Jingzhi was completely stunned.

That's a good question.

He just questioned the young master's decision and even touched the most core taboo of Wu Family Village, so how could he... ask such a good question?

Wu You seemed to see through his doubts, and a very faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Are you thinking that the ancestral worship ceremony is the most sacred and private matter in our Wu Family Village, and that our ancestors have always strictly forbidden outsiders from prying into it? Now that I have brought outsiders into the village, I have already broken with convention. If I were to make the ancestral worship ceremony public, it would be a great act of rebellion and a violation of ancestral precepts?"

Wu Jingzhi's heart skipped a beat.

The young master... actually revealed all of his deepest thoughts, word for word.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word; he could only nod unconsciously.

"Rules are made by people." Wu You's gaze shifted from Wu Jingzhi's face and returned to the thousands upon thousands of ancestral tablets high above.

"Our ancestors established the rule of seclusion because the world was in chaos at the time, and our Wu family held immense wealth. If we were to be too ostentatious, we would surely invite disaster and even face the risk of extermination. Therefore, seclusion is for survival."

"But now, times have changed."

Wu You's voice, in the empty hall, carried a deafening power.

"Today, the seas are calm and the rivers are clear, and the country is prosperous and the people are at peace. China is no longer the weak country it was a hundred years ago, and Wu Family Village is no longer the wealthy family that had to keep its tail between its legs."

"In this era, constantly hiding our true selves will only make us seem like nouveau riche who can't stand the light of day. The more mysterious we are, the more unfounded speculation and covetousness we attract. Rather than letting outsiders guess wildly, we should openly and honestly show them who we are!"

Wu You turned around and stared intently at Wu Jingzhi.

"Do you think I had Su Qinghuan do a live stream just to flaunt our wealth or establish our authority?"

Wu Jingzhi was taken aback by the question.

Is not it?

That's exactly what the young master said before.

"That's what I said to them," Wu You said calmly. "To deal with ordinary people, you have to use their logic. But to you, and to us, the people of Wu Family Village, I have a different meaning."

He paused, his voice becoming even deeper.

"Our China is a land of etiquette. Our sacrificial culture has a long history and is one of the most important parts of our national heritage. But what about now? How many young people outside know what ancestor worship is? How many remember where their roots are?"

"They celebrate Western holidays with more fervor than the Spring Festival. They know very little about their own country's history and traditions. That is the real tragedy."

"Our Wu Family Village has a history spanning a thousand years, with strict family traditions and rigorous rules. Our ancestral worship ceremony is a living fossil of traditional Chinese sacrificial culture! It is a treasure that every descendant of the Chinese nation can be proud of!"

"Why hide such a treasure? Why can't the world see it?"

Every word Wu You said was like a heavy hammer blow, striking Wu Jingzhi's heart hard.

"I want Su Qinghuan to do a live stream so that the whole world can see how our Wu Family Village respects our ancestors and how we pass on our bloodline!"

"I want them to know that truly top-tier wealthy families aren't those nouveau riche who only know how to squander money and enjoy life, but rather families like ours—families with roots, soul, rules, and a legacy!"

"Through this live broadcast, I want to show everyone what true Chinese character and integrity are!"

"This is my true purpose."

After Wu You finished speaking, the entire ancestral hall fell into a long silence once again.

Wu Jingzhi stood there dumbfounded, looking at the eight-year-old child in front of him, feeling his soul tremble at his words.

pattern!

This is true vision!

He had only thought that broadcasting the ancestral worship ceremony was to establish his authority and deter villains.

But what the young master was thinking was to use this live broadcast to promote traditional Chinese culture and reshape people's understanding of "inheritance"!

One did it for himself, the other for the world.

Sit down!

Wu Jingzhi's eyes welled up with tears.

He looked at Wu You, the child he had watched grow up, and felt an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration.

He bowed deeply, deeply once again.

This time, it wasn't because of rules, nor because of status.

Rather, it was a heartfelt, pure, and utter admiration for the "young master" before them, a man of unparalleled wisdom and magnanimity.

"Young Master..." Wu Jingzhi's voice choked with emotion, "This old servant...this old servant has learned so much!"

"This old servant is dull-witted and has only seen the surface of the rules, but has failed to grasp the true meaning of the rules established by our ancestors, and has not been able to keep up with your vision and perspective, young master."

"This old servant knows his mistake!"

Wu You looked at him and nodded gently.

"You're not wrong, you're just getting old. When people get old, they tend to become more stuck in their ways of thinking. It's not your fault."

He reached out his small hand and gently patted Wu Jingzhi's arm, speaking in a soothing tone.

"Go ahead, do as I say for the ancestral worship ceremony."

"Have Su Qinghuan's team get ready. The ceremony will begin promptly at 5:00 AM on New Year's Eve."

"I want this ancestral worship ceremony to be a New Year's gift from our Wu Family Village to all of China."

"Yes, young master!" Wu Jingzhi straightened his back, his eyes no longer showing any hesitation or struggle, only boundless fighting spirit and determination. "This old servant will take care of it immediately!"

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