Chen Lin walked around the village and visited the elders of the clan one by one according to the etiquette of younger generations returning home. The deceased kowtowed in front of the memorial tablet; the living sat down and chatted for a few words.
His family has a very high status in the clan, and even the elders have to deal with him a few words. But he felt uneasiness in the expressions and words of the elders.
He originally thought that this uneasiness was related to his second uncle taking away the silk workshop: he was afraid that when he came back, his uncle and nephew would fight and cause trouble in the clan. During the conversation, they discovered that they were even more uneasy because their second uncle colluded with the Australians to seize the clan.
Quan later colluded with "foreign surnames".
Although there are not many people with foreign surnames in Nansha, they account for almost one-third of the population. Most of them are workers and tenants. In the past, these people with foreign surnames had always been submissive under the rule of the Chen family, and there were a few restless ones. As long as the elders of the clan said a word, they would
Cooked at home.
Chen Lin's second uncle, Chen Xuan, was a prodigal and had no prestige within the clan. Even though he became a "liaison officer" and gained power through the influence of the Australians, it was not easy to speak in Nansha, and the younger members of the clan also
Unwilling to be driven by him, naturally, Chen Xuan could only bring in foreign aid.
The Australians were too far away for him, and as he was a "liaison" in the village, the Australians would not send someone to support him, so Chen Xuan came up with the idea of these "foreign surnames".
No matter how the elders of the Chen family said that they had treated the foreigner well, the fact was that the foreigner was not grateful for this. Chen Xuan immediately began to "repay kindness with enmity" after such troubles.
Nowadays, not only the village administration is controlled by foreigners, but also the newly established Xiangyong is controlled by foreigners. With their support, Chen Xuan can do almost anything he wants in the village.
"...Nowadays, people with foreign surnames are in trouble. Customers are forcing landowners to reduce rents and interest rates; those who work in workshops, regardless of whether they are long-term or part-time workers, have to pay more. Even the slaves of each family in the clan are ready to make moves and speak arrogantly.
, Alas, it is really lawless..." The clan elders lowered their voices and complained, "Anyone who violates their will will be beaten and scolded at least, and robbed at worst... They even threaten to kill someone."
"Second uncle doesn't care?"
"He? He relies on the power of this group of foreigners. Besides, people have to be under your control now."
After hearing this, Chen Lin felt heavier and heavier. To be honest, it was a small matter that his second uncle took away his family's workshop - after all, he was an ancestor. But it was a big deal for his second uncle to collude with a foreign surname! If he was allowed to continue to act like this, Nansha
The Chen family's foundation will be destroyed in his hands!
"Let's go back to the ancestral hall and have a look." Chen Lin said.
At the moment, I have no place to stay. Guihua Sister-in-law is a widow. It is easy for my sister to stay there, but it is inconvenient for me and Chen Qing. I can only stay in the ancestral hall for a few days to see the situation.
The appearance of the ancestral hall is also very miserable, with all the doors and windows smashed, but at least the plaque is still there. There are two more strong men standing guard in front of the door holding long guns - what kind of rule is this?
Chen Lin was full of doubts. Just as he was about to enter the ancestral hall, he was stopped before he could reach the steps:
"Stop! What are you doing?"
Chen Qing hurriedly said: "This is Chen Lin, the ninth master of the second room!"
The upper two families are his doormen. The Chen family in Nansha is divided into the upper three families, the north third family and the lower seven families, with thirteen clan gatekeepers. Among them, the upper three families are the direct branch of the direct clan, and the clan chiefs are descendants of these three families.
Responsible for.
Chen Lin was the ninth among his peers in the clan, and usually only outsiders and servants called him that. But when Chen Qing saw that he didn't recognize the two strong men, he knew that they were not from the clan.
"Why are you going to the second room and the latrine?" The young man looked disdainful and waved his spear, "This is the Nansha Village Office! If you have nothing to do, stay away!"
Chen Lin was startled: The name of his ancestral hall has been changed?! Just as he was about to speak, another older man scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about! This is Mr. Lin Jiu! Chen Paijia's nephew!"
After greeting him with a smile, he bowed and said, "Master Jiu, don't be as familiar with this kid! He has only been in Nansha for a few days and doesn't recognize you..."
Chen Lin looked familiar to the older man, but couldn't remember who he was. The current situation was obviously not the time to show off, so he smiled politely and said: "You are..."
"Little Wu Quan," the strong man said hurriedly, "it turned out to be Bei Yifang..."
"Are you a long-time employee of Uncle Kuan's family?"
"Yes, yes, it's hard for Master Jiu to still remember." Wu Quan's face lit up with joy, "This guy is a distant relative of mine. He was just introduced here to serve as a militiaman. He just makes a living and doesn't recognize you.
Don't blame me..." After saying that, he scolded: "You haven't come up to apologize!"
Chen Lin quickly waved his hand and said: "He who doesn't know is not guilty." Seeing the young man's expression of reluctance, Chen Lin quickly imitated the new fashion in Guangzhou and said, "Now is the New Life Movement, we don't want to do this!" He quickly said
Change the topic: "Is second uncle here?"
"Yes, yes," Wu Quan said hurriedly, "Second Master Xuan is now the leader of the village. He is in charge of all matters related to transportation and food supply. He is very busy! You must have come at a good time. Otherwise, he will ask for help later.
Go out and do some errands."
Chen Lin was wondering, it was almost dark, where would his second uncle go to do business? He couldn't care about this, so he said: "I just came back from Guangzhou and wanted to see my second uncle..."
"Easy to say, easy to say," Wu Quan nodded repeatedly and immediately told the young man: "Xiao Min, go and report it!"
Chen Lin thought to himself that his second uncle was so powerful! In the past, people in the clan didn't even ask to inform the clan leader when they wanted to see him. At most, they could just give him a warning at the door.
After a while, the young man came out and said, "Master Paijia asked Master Linjiu to come in."
His mood at the moment was quite complicated. Judging from this posture, the second uncle held great power in the village, and he was obviously a man of power.
Although Chen Lin is young, he is very understanding of the world. The most fearful thing in the world is "the success of a villain." Now, the second uncle is an out-and-out success of a villain. He couldn't help but feel nervous, secretly thinking about what offense he and his father had done in the past.
passed his place.
To say it was a serious offence, it didn't seem like it was a serious offence. After all, when he was stealing silk and satin, he just stopped his work and gave him an allowance as usual. But as the elder brother, my father had reprimanded this brother many times. The second aunt forced the second uncle to write
When the divorce was being written, the second uncle went to the ancestral hall and cried and asked the clan elders to come forward. It was his father who said it was his family's fault. Although the other party was overly aggressive in writing the divorce, it was understandable.
The final decision to not come forward in the clan was made by the clan elders, but it was Lao Dou who started it. If the second uncle thinks about this "hatred of seizing his wife"...
Thinking of this, Chen Lin couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. These are troubled times. Once the second uncle has the power, there is no guarantee that he will not use it to avenge his private revenge...
He secretly regretted coming to the ancestral hall to stay overnight, but he was rash! He didn't consider the key points clearly!
But now it was impossible to say "no" - this would only anger the second uncle. Now I had to bite the bullet and follow Xiang Yong in.
The inside of the ancestral hall was still neat, with the ancestral tablets in each room intact, and there were tribute incense and candles on the confession table. It looked like someone was cleaning it. Chen Lin felt a little relieved: Finally, the ancestral hall was safe.
He was taken to the three main rooms in the east cross courtyard - this is where the clan does business, and his father used to come here to do business. Now the courtyard is still the same, but things have changed.
At this moment, Chen Lin felt mixed emotions, but the most important thing at the moment was himself. He calmed down, straightened his clothes, and walked in.
Second uncle Chen Xuan was sitting on the Taishi chair. This famous libertine of the Chen family was not yet forty, but years of dissolute life had made the skin on his face loose. Generally speaking, such a direct descendant of a large local farming and reading family
Most of his descendants have good looks, but Chen Xuan has a sinister face. As he gets older, his skin and flesh become saggy and his eyebrows droop, making him look more sinister and cunning.
After Chen Lin entered, he greeted Li respectfully and called: "Second uncle."
"You're back." Chen Xuan looked at his nephew and saw that he was wearing a white cloth around his waist. He snorted and said, "Did the journey go smoothly?"
"The road went well." Chen Lin thought that since his second uncle had become the leader of the Australians, he might as well brag about it. "Speaking of which, the road was much smoother than in the past. There were local warriors patrolling and standing guard everywhere along the way. The common people seemed to be too.
Quiet. Australians are really good at governing."
"Of course." Chen Xuan was quite pleased with his choice. "My nephew comes from Guangzhou. I wonder what the situation in Guangzhou is like?"
"It can be called Shanghai Yanhe Qing." It can be seen that the second uncle likes to hear it, and Chen Lin can no longer care about the nausea. "If the world can be like Guangzhou, it will be a rare and prosperous age..."
"Hahaha," Chen Xuan laughed, "My nephew said it well. Australians are indeed amazing!" He stopped smiling and asked, "Tell me about the situation in Guangzhou."
"I wonder what the second uncle wants to hear?"
"You pick the important things to talk about!"
Chen Lin saw that his second uncle liked to listen, so he selected the major events after the Australians entered the city and recounted them one by one. He also talked about the Australians' governance and people management, especially the New Life Movement. Chen Xuan was fascinated by what he heard, and Chen Lin talked about it in detail.
It took almost an hour before he interrupted me.
"Interesting! Interesting! It seems that what they said is true!" Chen Xuan said with emotion, "I thought it was somewhat exaggerated, but I didn't expect that my nephew came and solved my confusion! Good! Good!"
Chen Lin didn't know who the "they" in his uncle's words were, and he didn't know what "good" meant. But he immediately thought of what his sister said: The people who manage the weaving workshop are Kun people. The so-called "they" probably meant this.
People.
He responded with a haphazard "yes".
Chen Xuan changed the subject and asked, "Have you visited your father's grave?"
"Yes." Chen Lin quickly stood up, "I just regret that I was in Guangzhou at that time, and I couldn't take care of my father's death personally. I had to rely on all my uncles and relatives..."
"My eldest brother died tragically," Chen Xuan said with a sad expression. "The clan and the village were destroyed by the rebels, and several elders also passed away. Thanks to the trust of the Australians, now I can only take on this responsibility."
It’s a heavy burden.”
"Yes, thanks to my second uncle's hard work, Nansha Village was kept safe."
Chen Xuan glanced at his nephew and felt secretly proud - you and your son were so polite in the past, but never looked at me seriously? Now I have to take care of even a dragon!