It is said that the son's father is the patriarch of a wealthy family

The grand ceremony of worshiping the ancestors is over, but it does not mean that all the work of the sacrifices is over. Paper money has to be burned before and after the ancestor worship, but the paper money is not burned much. There are two big incense burners in the courtyard, where all the paper money is burned.

This is not considered the most solemn, the most solemn is at night, when the envelopes are burned and the ancestors are sent back to the underworld, this is the end of the whole ancestor worship activities of the Ghost Festival.

So even though the ancestor worship activities in the inner and outer courts have ended, but Li Mu didn't see Yuan Bao in the first place, what is our Yuan Bao doing now?

With the end of the ancestor worship activities, the Zhang family began to withdraw from the inner and outer courts, and Yuan Bao followed Zhang Yi to the inner court's meeting hall, where the clansmen discussed family affairs. Of course, only the Zhang family could enter. People with heads and faces.

The little Yuan Bao walked with a steady pace, following Zhang Yi's appearance, and walked with a serious face. Looking at his posture, he really looked like the son of the patriarch. This made people who were always paying attention to him couldn't help thinking .

After exiting the ancestral hall, the people did not leave, but gathered in twos and threes on the square outside the ancestral hall, where under the command of Uncle Zhong, the servants were setting up large tables and chairs. This was preparing a banquet. After the ancestor worship in the ancestral hall is completed, everyone must gather together to share and eat the offerings made to the ancestors, which not only symbolizes respect for the ancestors but also symbolizes the blessings of the ancestors for future generations.

Moreover, after lunch, the Zhang family will go to the cemetery to visit the grave in the afternoon.

The cemetery here refers to the private cemetery of the Zhang family. It is guarded by special personnel in a place far away from the urban area. Some ancestors of the Zhang family are buried in it, and some are the ashes that have just been relocated from overseas. After the descendants moved out, many old people passed away abroad. The wish they never forget until their death is to return to their roots. Now that they have the opportunity, Zhang Yi asked the clansmen to move all the ashes of these old people back. Soothe the spirits of the ancestors in heaven.

Therefore, worshiping ancestors is not just about offering sacrifices in the ancestral hall, but also going to the cemetery to sweep the tombs of the ancestors who have already been buried in the soil. Only such a sacrifice can be considered complete.

The matter of today's lunch is also Li Mu's responsibility, so as soon as the ancestor worship in the ancestral hall is over, he takes people to check the lunch arrangements. Fortunately, under the arrangement and command of Uncle Zhong, all matters are carried out in an orderly manner with.

Li Mu, who is in charge of the Zhang family's internal affairs, is relieved.

The food served to the ancestors should be heated, processed, and other dishes are also carried out in an orderly manner under the busy chefs. The diet of more than 1000 people can not be sloppy at all.

It is not easy for the master chef to come to the Zhang family today. He is the chef of the Haijue Hotel. It can be seen that Zhang Yi attaches great importance to today's festival. This is also the first time that outsiders have really entered this island.

Immediately, they were overwhelmed by the luxury and beautiful environment of the island, especially the Zhang family's ancestor worship. It is no exaggeration to say that there are very few family sacrifices on such a large scale. It's not just a matter of money, but also the factors of population prosperity and family prosperity.

The upcoming lunch is in full swing.

At this time, Zhang Yi was sitting at the main seat of the ancestral hall. There was a big futon on the ground in front of him. On the futon was a small and chubby Yuan Bao. Facing the serious scene in front of him, Yuan Bao was a little dazed. , he turned his head to look at the people he didn't know around him, then looked back at Zhang Yi, who had a serious expression on his face. He blinked his big eyes and suddenly called softly, "Dad." The voice was very soft and waxy, with a childlike Unique milk flavor.

Zhang Yi's forehead twitched slightly for Yuan Bao's cry, and he knew that Yuan Bao called him not because he was afraid, but because he thought it was fun.

The clan elders who heard Yuan Bao's cry couldn't help but smile kindly.

They like Yuan Bao, not only is he white, fat, and cute, but the key is that he is not afraid of strangers, nor is he stage frightened. He is born with the aggressiveness of a newborn calf. Sometimes, not to mention crying in fright, at least fidgeting.

"Father!" Seeing that Zhang Yi didn't promise himself, Yuan Bao called out again with a louder voice.

"Well, Yuan Bao should be obedient, please?" Zhang Yi was extremely helpless. Didn't he just tell the child that he should be more serious? Why did you start to pick things up after only a few minutes of sitting? Could it be that there are so many people Not afraid at all?

Yuan Bao was really not afraid, he was satisfied after seeing Zhang Yi agreeing to himself, so he turned his small head and looked around the people in the hall with big round eyes, um, that was Xiao Shitou's grandfather, he had seen Yes, ah, there is also the old man with the white beard, he has seen it before when he was fighting, who else knows?

In just a short while, he looked over all the people in the hall.

The meeting hall is spacious and solemn, and there are four large seats on both sides of the main seat, which symbolize the status of the elders of the eight major clans in the clan. bit, and then in order.

There are two rows of seats under the eight seats. However, the chairs are not so particular, and the ones sitting on them are the heads of several houses. Behind the heads of the houses are the capable and potential juniors of each house. offspring.

This council is a major event for the direct branch, so all capable people in the direct branch stand here.

At this time, there are still six direct branches of the Zhang family, who are the direct descendants of Grandpa Zhang Yi, and Zhang Yi has always been the eldest son. The first seat, and the remaining ones are arranged in order.

Zhang Yi has four brothers, and he ranks fourth. The eldest brother, Zhang Ying, followed him to the island. The second brother, Zhang Jing, is currently in the overseas headquarters. The third brother, Zhang Dai, is serving in the army and did not come this time. However, his children and grandchildren also Participated in this ancestor worship.

From this point of view, the number of people in the hall reached thirty or so.

After everyone returned to their respective positions, Zhang Yi was about to speak. At this moment, Yuan Bao came out to make trouble again. After looking around at everyone, Zhang Yi sat down quietly, It is sitting, no longer kneeling.

Yuan Bao, who was sitting down, suddenly stretched his two fat legs straight. After stretching, he touched the futon under his buttocks with his hands. He felt that it was very soft, so he was satisfied. Satisfied, he directly lay down on the futon, closed his I started to sleep with my upper eyes upright and my stomach up, hey!Today's calf hurts a lot, and I'm very tired, I'd better get some sleep, anyway, Dad is here, so he's not afraid.

Seeing the unscrupulous Yuan Bao, everyone was taken aback.

Zhang Yi would not be surprised if everyone was surprised. He already knew how courageous Yuan Bao was, and he also knew how assertive the child was. He felt strange.

Forget it, it's fine if the child didn't fall asleep during the ancestor worship, not to mention that Yuan Bao got up an hour earlier than usual today, and it's a face for all of them to endure until now.

Looking at Yuan Bao who was about to fall asleep, Zhang Yi went over to him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and gently pushed him, saying, "Yuan Bao, do you want to sleep? Can you stay awake? Have you forgotten what you promised Dad? "Looking at the tired Yuan Bao, he really felt distressed.

Hearing Zhang Yi's voice, Yuan Bao, who was about to fall asleep, rubbed his eyes and sat up and said, "Father, when will the ancestors finish their meal? I want to sleep." He regarded worshiping ancestors as ancestors to eat It means that, that is to say, he will be free after the ancestors finish eating the offerings.

Zhang Yi lifted Yuan Bao's sacrificial clothes and looked at the knees below. There was a little bruise, and he said distressedly: "Yuan Bao is good, let's wait a little longer, we can go out after you burn incense for the ancestors. .”

Yuan Bao looked at the serious Zhang Yi, then at the people around him, and nodded.

Looking at such Yuanbao, Zhang Yi really wanted to pick up the child and rub it, but when he thought of the purpose of bringing the child here today, he said cruelly: "Just wait a little longer, and Dad will take you out, okay?" ?”

"Okay, I want Dad to hug me later." Yuan Bao compromised, and put his fat legs back a little, but he didn't sit on his knees again.

Facing Yuan Bao's cleverness, Zhang Yi kept his mouth shut.

Zhang Ying at the bottom looked at Zhang Yi and Yuan Bao's natural relationship, and frowned. It seems that this child may really be his fourth brother's child. Maybe the last banquet was really given by this good fourth brother. The trap I set up is probably to use my mouth to test the reaction of the people in the clan. Look, the way the clan elders look at this child now is not the way they look at outsiders, but the gratified eyes of the heir.

Thinking of this, he was almost ashamed to death.

Originally, Zhang Ying should not care about anything with a child, but he is also depressed. He has competed with Zhang Yi for the position of patriarch since he was a child, but he lost every time, and finally was taken away by his fourth brother who is almost 20 years younger than him. Obtained the position of patriarch.

Are you willing?Certainly not reconciled!

Say you want revenge?That's not the case, it's the same root, why is it too urgent, he just doesn't accept it, so every time he encounters something, he wants to cause Zhang Yi some trouble, not fatal, just to add chaos to the other party.

Therefore, the two brothers who have a tacit understanding in this regard crush each other by means.

For decades, the two brothers have come and gone, each has its own winners and losers, but Zhang Ying still attaches great importance to the matter of heirs. After all, this is related to the important matter of family continuity, and it can't be sloppy at all.

The most important point is that only the Zhang family can sit on the throne of the patriarch, and the blood must not be confused.

Seeing that the meeting hall was calm again, the old man cleared his throat and said: "Today is a big day for worshiping ancestors, and it is also a time for our Zhang family to gather together. Now we are calling everyone here not only for ancestor worship, but also for a I have to notify you of important events." It was a notification, not a discussion.

It seems that the patriarch and the patriarch have discussed it.

Zhang Ying started to frown again, but he didn't say anything.

Seeing that everyone looked quite natural, the elder of the clan nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "The reason for calling everyone here today is because of this child named Yuan Bao, who is Zhang Yi's direct bloodline, so we jointly decided to take advantage of this big day of worshiping the ancestors." Putting the child on the family tree officially is considered a major event for the child to return to the clan today."

The existence of Yuanbao is not a secret. Everyone has suspicions about the birth of the child, but even though everyone was prepared, when they heard it at this time, they couldn't help but whispered about it. The content was nothing more than the child's blood Pure or not, who is the child's mother? Even Li Mu was indirectly discussed.

Zhang Yi sat on the top with a light smile and watched the expressions of everyone below.

Gradually, all the voices of discussion disappeared into the air. People stopped discussing and looked at the patriarch awkwardly. They knew that the patriarch still saw their little thoughts, so they gave up saying nothing.

Anyway, as long as the patriarch can prove the identity of the child, that is an indisputable fact, no matter how much it is said, it will be of no use, it is better not to say it, let's see how the clan elders arrange it.

Seeing that the hall had returned to calm again, the elder of the rich clan slowly picked up a stack of documents on the table and said: "I know you have doubts, but please read this first, this is the parent-child relationship between the child and Zhang Yi." Appraisal, it's clearly written in black and white." After speaking, he asked people to distribute the photocopied appraisal certificates to everyone one by one.

Everyone present got some sort of authoritative appraisal in their hands, and it was a certificate from a well-known appraisal hospital in the world. Therefore, the blood relationship between Yuan Bao and Zhang Yi is unquestionable.

Now Yuan Bao's identity is confirmed. Faced with this indisputable fact, everyone really can't find any topic on blood relationship, but Zhang Ying still spoke. He didn't really think about trouble, but, this If he doesn't ask the question, others will ask. Instead of that, it's better for him to ask it.

So he asked: "Is Yuan Bao considered a direct branch or an illegitimate child?" The status of direct branch and illegitimate child must be different. In fact, he also likes the white and fat Yuan Bao, because Yuan Bao looks similar to Zhang Yi when he was a child. At the first glance, he was sure that the child was the fourth brother's seed, so the planned follow-up measures were not used, and now he was relieved to see the paternity test.

"My son."

It was not Zhang Yi who answered this question, but the elder of the Dazu. Seeing that everyone was looking over, the elder of the Dazu explained: "The identity of the child's mother is a bit special, but we can all prove her innocence and at the same time prove her identity." It’s just that his identity cannot be disclosed temporarily for some special reasons, but everyone can rest assured that there will be no problems.”

After finishing speaking, the other elders also nodded.

Li Mu's identity was only confessed to them by Zhang Yi a few days ago, and they were quite surprised by the fact that the male had a child. However, fortunately, the Zhang family is a big family with a long history of cultural heritage. They did find a record on the Internet that a man can have children, and the other party has a very good relationship with the ancestors of the Zhang family. So far, they have truly acquiesced in the identity of the wife of the patriarch Li Mu.

You must know that as the patriarchs of the Zhang family, they have great power in making decisions about the family. Even if Zhang Yi is the patriarch, the patriarchs still have veto power in matters of family continuation. Mingming, and the fact that Yuan Bao was born to Zhang Yi, everyone agreed that a male should be the patriarch's wife.

You know, the Zhang family has lasted for thousands of years, but there has never been a case of a man becoming the patriarch's wife.

The Zhang family has successors, and Li Mu also gave birth to an excellent heir to the Zhang family. In this regard, the clan elders are grateful. As for whether there will be any problems with the male-born child.

History has already given the answer to this question.

Everyone was taken aback by the unanimous answer given by the clan elders. It seemed that this was a certainty, and Yuan Bao's identity was unquestionable.

After estimating that everyone was calm, Zhang Yi said calmly, "I know you have some doubts, but regardless of the identity of the child's mother, Yuan Bao is my closest blood child, which is beyond doubt. , Li Mu is my partner now, and he will be the direct guardian of the child in the future, I hope everyone can respect my choice, because we are not hindering anyone's existence."

Facing Zhang Yi's words, everyone thought about it carefully, and could only nod their heads. Yes, the patriarch just found a man to live with. Clear, but, according to the elders, they know the inside story, so if that's the case, why do you have any doubts.

Certainly not, even if Zhang Yi doesn't look for Li Mu, he will have children just like any woman married, and his children will also be the most powerful contenders for the next patriarch, so the existence of Li Mu and Yuan Bao has not affected anyone.

It seems that the patriarch's long-term non-marriage gave them unnecessary imagination, which is not conducive to the development of the family. The development of the family must never be selfish in matters of right and wrong. Family members can compete, but they must not suppress maliciously. All members of the next family council passed the approval of Yuanbao.

Now that Yuanbao is recognized, it is time to give the child a genealogy.

The matter of returning to the clan is very sacred, and it also requires many rituals. Fortunately, today is a good day for worshiping the ancestors. The elders of the great clan are also ready-made, so the clan elders respectfully invited out the genealogy.

Continuing the family tree.

Although it seems very simple to write the name on the family tree, it is actually a kind of recognition of the family and a symbol of status.

The name recorded in the genealogy can no longer be written as Yuanbao. Long after Li Mu and Zhang Yi officially got together, Zhang Yi discussed with him about the name of Yuanbao. Yuanbao's name is Li Jiaoyang. , then it should be another name named Zhang, which is also for the convenience of future inheritance.

For such a request, Li Mu thought for several days before agreeing.

Although he doesn't care about Zhang Yi's family property, he and Zhang Yi are both men, and they really have no legal rights in terms of law. If Yuanbao can be recorded in Zhang Yi's name, then if Zhang Yi encounters something in the future There is at least one person who is qualified to sign, Li Mu does not want to encounter a day when he is helpless.

So after the two discussed it, they named Yuanbao Zhang Houyuan. Yuan: It is the beginning and the fundamental meaning, which symbolizes righteousness to accommodate all things. This character is based on the generation of the Zhang family tree.

Yuan Bao didn't know at this time how much advantage his seniority took in the Zhang family.

Originally, Zhang Yi was considered the youngest among his peers, and he had Yuan Bao at a later age. Invisibly, the children of the next generation were much younger than his peers, so his elder brother's grandsons were all older than Yuan Bao, and Yuan Bao was also considered a human being. A typical representative of the younger generation.

Seeing the three words Zhang Houyuan being carefully written under Zhang Yi's name by the clan elders, Zhang Yi finally settled down. It would be more perfect to add Li Mu's name in a few days.

At that time, their family will be truly reunited.

Before Yuan Bao returned to the clan, Zhang Yi had already thought about it. He wanted to find a time to confess Yuan Bao's real life experience to Li Mu. Now that the two have been together for a while, the temperament between the two parties has become better understood. He believes that, In the chaotic situation back then, Li Mu could understand, even if he couldn't understand, he was willing to exchange his sincerity.

If the genealogy is good, the ingots after returning to the clan should officially offer a stick of incense to the ancestors.

Fortunately, he had just experienced the process of worshiping the ancestors in the ancestor worship hall. Although he was not very proficient in this meeting, he did it decently under the guidance of the clan elders. When the incense was inserted into the incense burner, the clan elders immediately Announce the ceremony.

The family tree ceremony is considered to be truly completed.

Zhang Yi looked at the time, and it was twelve o'clock soon, which was also the time for the banquet at noon, so he got up, picked up the tired Yuan Bao, and walked out of the ancestral hall, followed by the Zhang family who had just participated in the Yuan Bao's returning ceremony branch.

The table has been arranged, and the table can start after Zhang Yi, the patriarch, takes his seat.

Most of the dishes on the table are offerings to the ancestors today. However, a lot of hot and cold dishes have also been added. As the first meal of ancestor worship on the Ghost Festival, the dishes are rich and grand, and served on every table It is full of 36 dishes.

For the Zhang family, everything that flies in the sky, swims in the water, or runs on the land can all be used as ingredients to offer to their ancestors. All of them, how rich their ancestor offerings are, is how luxurious the meal today is.

As soon as Zhang Yi stepped out of the gate of the ancestral hall, he saw Li Mu. Before he could call someone, Yuan Bao waved his chubby hands and shouted happily, "Dad, Dad, here, here." It's been a long time since I saw Li Musi.

Hearing Yuan Bao's crisp and bouncing cry, Li Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief, yes, he is still so energetic, it seems that he has not suffered any crimes.

Li Mu was worried all morning that the child would not be able to endure such a high-intensity worship. Now that he saw the real person, he must come over to see the situation. After approaching, he took the fat man from Zhang Yi's hand and kissed the child. Face asked: "Yuan Bao, are you tired?"

"Tired, my legs hurt." Yuan Bao put his arms around Li Mu's neck and began to complain. He didn't see his father all morning, and he thought a little, especially after kneeling for so long just now, he wanted to express his grievances when he saw his relatives .

"Mumu, I'm sorry, I wronged Yuan Bao." Zhang Yi had seen Yuan Bao's leg before and knew it was a bit bruised.

"Since Yuanbao has entered the Zhang family, it is his blessing to be able to participate in the family's ancestor worship. There is nothing wrong with kowtowing to the ancestors, but he is still young, and his skin is probably too tender. Just a little more."

Facing the reasonable Li Mu, Zhang Yi held back the throbbing in his heart and squeezed his hand tightly under the cover of his robe.

Today's occasion was very formal and there were many people. They were the focus of everyone's attention at any time, so Li Mu shook Zhang Yi's hand and let it go.

Li Mu let go of his hands and picked up the cropped trousers under Yuan Bao's robe to take a look. The child's knees were indeed a little bruised, but it was not serious, so he waved his hand, and Uncle Zhong, who had been waiting by the side, quickly took a piece of hot The handkerchief was handed over, because the ancestor worship is not over yet, now I can only apply hot compresses to relieve it.

There are many children who come to the ancestral hall today to participate in ancestor worship. Uncle Zhong has already prepared a heat-compressing handkerchief. All the children who have just finished worshiping before come out will have a heat-compressing bag to relieve the bruises on their knees. .

The children who came out early in the square were a little ready to move when they saw Yuan Bao, but when they saw Zhang Yi beside Yuan Bao, they flinched back.

At twelve o'clock, the banquet in front of the Zhang Clan's Ancestral Hall started on time, people filed in, and Zhang Yi also walked to the main table with Li Mu and Yuan Bao.

Except for the main table where the patriarch and the elders are, the rest of the tables are arranged according to seniority. The older the seniority, the closer to the main table, but it is farther away. In just a few minutes, you can sit on the large square. It was full of people, and more than 100 tables were seated at the same time. The scene was grand and spectacular.

With so many people eating at the same time, apart from hosting a big banquet, there is really no one with such courage, Li Mu was stunned to see it.

Sitting down, Zhang Yi first picked up chopsticks for Li Mu and Yuan Bao before starting to move. Seeing the patriarch move, the others also started to move their chopsticks.

The clan elders who knew Li Mu's details looked at him taking care of Yuan Bao in every possible way, and their hearts were filled with satisfaction. Although he was a man, a man who could bear children was not bad. Besides, men had their own benefits, that is, they were born children are smarter than average children.

Thinking of Yuan Bao's cleverness, the faces of the clan elders became even more pleasant.