In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

Wang Xingguo quickly shook his head, but with so many people around, it wasn't appropriate to say anything else. So he simply said, "Grandpa Wang, I brought the family genealogy with me this time. I'd like to check it against our branch and have it added to the genealogy. Is that alright?"

Wang Changshun asked with some suspicion, "Is that all? Nothing else?"

After thinking for a moment, Wang Xingguo whispered in his ear, "There's something important I need to tell our clansmen, but there are too many people here right now, so it's not convenient to talk about it. As for the genealogy, I'm going to gather the elders in the clan who can speak up, right? We'll talk about it then."

Wang Changshun's eyes sharpened, and he nodded slightly, raising his voice to say, "Alright, then you and Yong'an go line up for dinner first. After dinner, I'll gather the clan elders to discuss your recognition as an ancestor and your inclusion in the clan genealogy."

Wang Xingguo knew he was speaking loudly on purpose so that others who were listening would know what was going on, so he spoke in a normal voice: "Okay, then I'll trouble you, Grandpa Wang, to help us with the matter of recognizing our ancestors."

Wang Changshun nodded and went back inside to continue discussing the work arrangements for the autumn harvest with everyone.

At seven o'clock, everyone went to line up for food. Wang Xingguo also took a big bowl, got a bowl of corn and sorghum porridge, and two steamed buns with vegetables. He squatted down and ate with everyone else.

After dinner, Wang Changshun invited the able-bodied members of his clan to his house to discuss Wang Xingguo's recognition of his ancestry. This was because the Wang family had branched out into several villages in the area, and the clan was divided into two lineages descended from their great-great-grandfather.

Actually, they all share the same ancestor, but one branch's great-grandfather arrived earlier, while the other branch migrated later. The two branches don't usually interact much, as if to avoid suspicion. However, when it comes to matters concerning the interests of the clan, the two branches will sit down together to discuss them.

The first group consisted of immigrants from the Big Pagoda Tree in Hongdong, Shanxi Province, during the early Ming Dynasty (migrants who filled the capital during the Hongwu and Yongle periods, a branch of the Wang family in Taiyuan). They settled along the Tonghui River canal and made a living by transporting grain, growing rice, and raising fish.

The second branch migrated back from the surrounding areas of Shuntian Prefecture in Zhili (Wuqing and Xianghe) during the Qing Dynasty. Due to the recruitment of workers for the Tonghui River water conservancy and canal transport, some branches of the family moved to settle around Pingjin Sluice Gate in Gaobeidian.

Wang Xingguo and his family are descendants of the second branch. However, when Wang Xingguo's ancestors arrived here, they went directly to the city to make a living. Therefore, their family genealogy was taken from Wuqing and there were no records from Gaobeidian. That's why he didn't know that his Wang family came from Gaobeidian.

Upon arriving at Wang Changshun's house, Wang Changshun instructed his son to summon the three surviving ancestors of the clan.

Before long, more than twenty people entered the room, and Wang Xingguo respectfully bowed to them.

Wang Changshun began, "His name is Wang Xingguo, and he is also a descendant of our branch. However, his great-grandfather went directly into the city after arriving here. At first, there was still contact, but later, when things got chaotic, the connection was lost. The family genealogy also records the story of this great-grandfather. Today, he wants to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the clan. Let's all discuss this matter together."

At first, Wang Xingguo didn't understand, but Wang Yong'an explained it to him, saying that in their area, whether it is a great-grandfather or a great-great-grandfather, they all call him "Lao Zuzong" (Old Ancestor). Only the ancestors five generations ago, regardless of whether they are from the same family or the maternal family, are all called "Lao Zu Taiye" (Old Ancestor Great-Grandfather).

Therefore, Wang Xingguo should also address the three people of the "Wen" generation as his ancestors.

The three ancestors, all of whom were of advanced age and probably over seventy, were studying the two genealogies very seriously.

Not long after, one of them said to Wang Xingguo, "It's confirmed. You are a descendant of our branch of the family, a descendant of our eighth uncle. From now on, you can call me Eleventh Uncle."

After saying that, he said to Wang Changshun, "Changshun, go kill a chicken and slaughter a carp. Have this child kowtow to our ancestors and offer incense. It's not appropriate to hold a big ceremony now. Just a simple offering of incense and kneeling to pay respects to our ancestors will suffice."

The other two elders, whose names belong to the same generation, also nodded in agreement. Everything in the family genealogy matched, and they were indeed descendants of their branch. It was only right for them to acknowledge their ancestors and return to their roots.

Wang Changshun began introducing the people present to Wang Xingguo according to their seniority, and Wang Xingguo greeted each person with a bow and changed his address accordingly.

He then realized that it wasn't that he was of a lower generation, but that Wang Changshun was of a higher generation. In fact, there were several people in the room who shared the same generation name as him.

After careful consideration, the generational names here have been changed to Huai Jingwen, Chang Yongxing, Cheng Deshou, and Zong Chuanjia, continuing for six generations.

In other words, when Wang Xingguo names his son in the future, he should follow the generation name "Cheng". The current generation of "Cheng" in the clan did not discuss continuing the generation name at the time, so they all had single-character names. Now, the character "Cheng" should be added to the name.

This place still values ​​tradition, but Wang Xingguo knows that in the future, everyone will give their children patriotic names to express their love for their country. At that time, generational names will only be used in the family genealogy. This is the trend of the times and something that cannot be avoided.

The ancestral tablets of the Wang family were brought out, and Wang Xingguo, led by his eleventh uncle, performed three kowtows and nine prostrations to offer incense, thus completing the ceremony of recognizing his ancestors.

The three men of the "Chang" generation are Uncle Eleven, Uncle Fifteen, and Uncle Eighteen. Wang Changshun is the twenty-first in the "Chang" generation, so Wang Xingguo needs to call him Uncle Twenty-One.

Because of their advanced age and declining health, they were helped back to rest after the ceremony of recognizing their ancestors.

There are now eight people left in the room. These eight are all leaders of the Changyong generation. People of the Xing generation are not qualified to participate in this kind of thing.

Wang Changshun asked, "Xingguo, you said you had something important to tell us. What is it?"

Wang Xingguo said solemnly, "Twenty-first Master, I've received a lot of news from the city about disasters all over the country. There's a shortage of food everywhere, including the rural areas outside Beijing. Food will become extremely scarce in the future..."

After Wang Xingguo finished explaining his plan, everyone started discussing it.

It was actually a very simple matter: Wang Xingguo had his family members use money to buy pigs!

He helped to exchange pigs for grain, but there was a condition: if they ate from the same pot, the grain they brought back had to be shared with villagers of other surnames.

Therefore, Wang Xingguo suggested that the production brigade should learn from other rural areas, secretly close the communal canteen, distribute the grain, and let everyone cook at home.

While grain prices haven't risen yet, they can exchange pigs for more grain, so Old Wang's family won't have to go hungry and have to eat tree bark anymore.

This idea was very appealing to everyone, because the current system of communal eating meant that the Wang family members were indeed not getting enough to eat. If what Wang Xingguo said was really feasible, the Wang family did have some resources, so they could definitely give this method a try. The only question was whether Wang Xingguo had the ability to procure the grain.

Wang Xingguo took out all his money and said to everyone, "My family has not contributed much to the clan. This is all my belongings, a total of 1,250 yuan. I will keep 50 yuan for expenses, and ask everyone to help me exchange the 1,200 yuan for pigs. Then I will turn the pigs into feed."