I couldn't take it anymore; when I went home for Chinese New Year, the family genealogy book ha

Time flies. In the blink of an eye, more than two months have passed since spring plowing began. The weather is gradually warming up, and the annual Qingming Festival is just around the corner.

Jiangjia Village is now extremely wealthy, and according to old tradition, paying respects to ancestors during the Qingming Festival is the most important event.

That afternoon, Jiang Chen was summoned by the old master Jiang Wanshan to the magnificent Jiang Clan Ancestral Hall in the center of the village, which had just been renovated and expanded.

The new ancestral hall is more than ten times larger than the old one, with flying eaves and brackets, carved beams and painted rafters, and two huge stone lions at the entrance, which are majestic and even more impressive than the county government gate.

In the main hall of the ancestral hall, the ancestral tablets of the Jiang family are enshrined, row upon row, with black background and gold characters, solemn and dignified.

A faint sandalwood scent filled the air.

Today, the old patriarch Jiang Wanshan was dressed in a brand-new black Tang suit, his hair neatly combed, and he stood alone in front of the ancestral tablets, silently looking at them.

He heard Jiang Chen's footsteps, but didn't turn around; he simply spoke slowly.

"Chenzi, you've arrived."

"Sir, you wanted to see me?" Jiang Chen walked to his side and followed the old man's gaze to the memorial tablets.

Jiang Wanshan remained silent for a long time before turning around.

His eyes, which were always as sharp as an eagle's, now held a complex emotion.

"Our Jiang family has been rooted in this land for five hundred years."

"The village used to be poor and the people were scattered. This family tree was a mess. Some names were missing, and some generations were written incorrectly. It was not in order at all."

The old man stretched out his calloused hand, picked up the gleaming brass pipe from the altar, and tapped it lightly on the heavy mahogany table.

"when!"

A muffled thud echoed through the empty ancestral hall.

"Now, our lives are much better. You led the whole village to prosperity, which is a blessing from our ancestors and a great deed."

"But the better the occasion, the more important it is to uphold these ancestral rules."

"I've decided to take advantage of the Qingming Festival ancestral worship ceremony, when the whole village is here, to revise our Jiang family genealogy."

"Re-establish the rules!"

Jiang Chen immediately understood what the old man meant.

On the surface, compiling a family genealogy is about organizing family history, but in reality, it's about redistributing the family's power structure and interests.

For Jiangjia Village, which is now rapidly expanding and experiencing a population boom, this is a top priority for establishing its foundation.

"Sir, I completely agree."

Jiang Chen nodded, his tone firm.

"You make the decision, I fully support you. I'll provide the money and manpower you need."

Upon receiving Jiang Chen's affirmation, Jiang Wanshan smiled with satisfaction.

That afternoon, Jiang Chen arranged for Wang Dagou to broadcast the news of the revised family genealogy on a loop through the village's loudspeakers.

"Attention all villagers! Attention all villagers!"

"By resolution of the ancestral hall and unanimous approval of the village committee, it is hereby decided that the genealogy of our Jiang clan will be revised before the Qingming Festival!"

"All members of the Jiang clan, regardless of whether they are from the main family or relatives, and regardless of where they are located, are welcome to participate..."

The news caused an uproar throughout Jiangjia Village, along with several newly merged surrounding villages, and the distant relatives who had married out or moved away.

Less than half an hour.

Jiang Baichuan, the distant uncle who was known as the "Jiang Family Genealogy," rushed into the ancestral hall carrying an old thread-bound book that was even older than him, with yellowed and curled pages.

"Grandpa! Chenzi! How could I be left out of such a big project as compiling the genealogy!"

Jiang Baichuan was very excited and volunteered to be the chief strategist for this genealogy revision.

Under the large banyan tree at the village entrance, a large crowd had gathered.

The villagers gathered in groups of three or five, discussing animatedly, each with a mixture of excitement and nervousness on their faces.

"Have you heard? They're going to revise the family genealogy!"

"This is a fantastic opportunity to change our social standing! If we can get our names listed first, we'll have more confidence and authority in the village!"

"Absolutely! Look at that new ancestral hall, it's built like a palace. If I could have a memorial tablet in there, it would be worth dying for!"

The news spread like wildfire.

Those distant relatives who had moved to the county town or even other places decades ago because of poverty became restless after hearing the news.

The next morning, the village entrance was crowded with people carrying large and small bags, bringing chickens, ducks, fish and meat back to the village to "recognize relatives".

Even some distant relatives from other families, who were not even related by blood, wanted to take the opportunity to come and see if they could get some benefits.

The scene became somewhat chaotic at one point.

Attorney Zhou and his legal team worked through the night in a side hall of the ancestral hall.

The table in front of him was covered with various documents and drafts.

A preliminary list of "qualifications for inclusion in the canon" was already written in dense detail, spanning several pages.

"They must be of the Jiang family bloodline; that's a basic requirement."

"Those who have made outstanding contributions to the family can be promoted ahead of schedule."

"Those who are of bad character, have a criminal record, or have been expelled from the family are not allowed to be included in the genealogy."

In a corner of the ancestral hall.

Several distant uncles of Jiang Wanshan's generation were gathered together, whispering in hushed tones.

"Third brother, have you heard? Chenzi is going to make a big move this time with the genealogy revision."

An elderly man with white hair said mysteriously.

"My nephew, who sweeps the streets at the village committee, told me that the benefits for being included in the register of members this time are shockingly good!"

Another uncle, known as "Third Brother," took a puff of his cigarette and slowly exhaled a smoke ring.

"Hmph, is that even a question?"

"Revising a family genealogy is never a trivial matter."

"Is this name written on the first page or the last page? On the main branch or on a side branch?"

"The benefits and dividends we receive in the village after that will be worlds apart!"