Chapter seven hundred and fiftieth chapters the head of the family
Snow sculpture, ice sculpture, wood sculpture, stone sculpture——
Zhang Guangyao spent three days imparting all his knowledge and insights on sculpture to Zhang Xiaozu.
It's not that his knowledge and skills are too shallow to teach Zhang Xiaopou much, but that Zhang Xiaopou has a thoughtful attitude to help him and learns too quickly.
It took Zhang Guangyao a year or even several years to master those exquisite techniques, but Zhang Xiaopou only needed to watch and practice them over and over again to master the perfect heat.
Because the subtle state of mind allows Zhang Xiaozu to clearly see every subtle movement of Zhang Guangyao when carving, and even Zhang Guangyao's control and use of strength, he can clearly see it and remember it in his heart.
Then it can be restored in the ten places of inseparability.
Although the father and son stayed at home and did not go out for three days, they lived a very fulfilling and happy life.
"Is this...your Uncle Wan?"
Zhang Guangyao looked at a wood carving that had just been carved in Zhang Xiaozu's hand, and found that the appearance of the little wooden figure had an almost autumnal look.
But before Zhang Xiaopou could answer, he shook his head and denied his guess, saying: "It doesn't seem to be the case. You, Master Wan, don't have such domineering power in you. This woman has the temperament of an iron-blooded soldier, and she should be a general in charge of the army."
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Hearing this, Zhang Xiaopou couldn't help but raise his thumb to Zhang Guangyao and praised: "Father, you have really good eyesight. You can actually tell that she is a general who commands the army with just a wooden sculpture. You have piercing eyes."
"Haha, it's not that I have good eyesight, but that you carved it well and lifelikely, bringing out all her temperament and charm." Zhang Guangyao praised Zhang Xiaopeng in turn.
"The master has a fiery eye, and the young master has a vivid carving skill. They are both amazing." Pearl praised both of them in one sentence.
"Haha..." Zhang Guangyao laughed happily.
Most of the sickly paleness that had accompanied him for more than ten years on his face had disappeared and was being replaced by a healthy ruddy look. His physical condition was much better than three days ago.
Pearl looked at the wooden sculpture in Zhang Xiaozu's hand and couldn't help but asked curiously: "Young Master, who is this girl?"
"It goes without saying that she must be the young master's sweetheart, otherwise how could the young master remember her so clearly? Haha..." Zhang Quan teased and joked from the side.
Zhang Xiaozhu couldn't help but blush, and without denying it, he said: "She is Master Wan's daughter. Her name is Qi Yoyo. She led the three armies to quell the rebellion and made great contributions. His majesty specially named her the general to quell the rebellion. It's very remarkable."
"It's a perfect match for the young master." Pearl smiled.
Zhang Guangyao smiled and patted Zhang Xiaopou on the shoulder, encouraging him: "My fair lady, a gentleman is always brave. If you like her, go for it boldly. There is nothing to be embarrassed about as a man."
Zhang Xiaozu nodded with red cheeks, not embarrassed to tell Zhang Guangyao that his relationship with Qi Yoyo was already very close.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, Butcher Zhang sent someone over to call his father and son over.
Zhang Xiaozhu couldn't help but feel a little thump in his heart, knowing that Butcher Zhang had already finished explaining all the things that needed to be explained and was about to leave for Canghai City.
He hesitated to tell his father the truth, because this farewell was most likely to be the last farewell between his father and his grandfather.
During his hesitation, the carriage had arrived at the gate of the palace before he knew it.
The two got off the car, and the old housekeeper who had been waiting in front of the door took them to the Zhang family ancestral hall according to Butcher Zhang's instructions.
Butcher Zhang was already waiting in the ancestral hall, and the two of them stepped forward to pay their respects.
Butcher Zhang nodded and ordered the two of them: "Go over and offer incense sticks to our ancestors."
Zhang Guangyao finished offering incense and kowtowing. When it was Zhang Xiaozu's turn, Butcher Zhang said at the side: "Zhang Xiaozu, a descendant of the Zhang family, suffered a disaster and was homeless since he was a child. Thanks to the blessings of his ancestors' heroic spirits and the help of noble people, he fortunately grew up.
It is very useful to take table characters.
Now I have traveled across thousands of mountains and rivers to find my clan, recognize my ancestors and return to my clan, and I hope that my ancestors will give me more blessings, and may I have peace and joy in my life."
Zhang Xiaopou couldn't help but feel excited. After finishing the incense, he kowtowed respectfully on the futon and said: "Zhang Dayong, a descendant of the Zhang family, kowtows to his ancestors."
After the nine-kowtow ceremony, Butcher Zhang took the two of them out of the ancestral hall and went to the study.
To Zhang Guangyao and Zhang Xiaozu's slight surprise, there were seven people sitting quietly in Butcher Zhang's study.
These seven people were all old men of considerable age, with serious and solemn expressions. When they saw Butcher Zhang coming in, they all stood up and saluted, and respectfully called "Master of the House".
When Zhang Guangyao saw these seven old men, his expression suddenly became serious, and he quickly stepped forward to salute one by one: "Uncle Li, Uncle Sun, Uncle Guang——"
These seven people are the seven retainers of the Zhang family.
Retainers are different from personal guards, subordinates, slaves, etc. Retainers are loyal men who share the heart and soul of the family with their master, swear allegiance to the master's family from generation to generation, are willing to dedicate their whole family's lives to the master's family, and share the honor and disgrace of the master's family.
If one generation is a retainer, they will be a retainer for generations to come. Even if the master's family raises the flag to rebel, they will follow without hesitation and take the lead in the charge, without any regrets or complaints.
To swear an oath as a retainer is equivalent to selling the lives of all future generations, so no one is willing to be someone else's retainer easily.
The Zhang family has seven retainers, all of whom are loyal and loyal people who have passed the strict test of Butcher Zhang.
Today, seven retainers gathered together, and Zhang Guangyao knew that his father had something important to announce.
Butcher Zhang took Zhang Xiaopeng's hand, walked to the seven people and introduced him: "I would like to introduce to you, this boy is my grandson, Guangyao's biological son, his name is Xiaopeng, and his nickname is Dayong. He has suffered a lot since he was a child.
He was living abroad, but today he returned home to recognize his ancestors."
"I have met the young master." The seven of them saluted Zhang Xiaopeng.
"Pawn, these seven are the seven retainers of my Zhang family. Do you understand, retainers?" Butcher Zhang asked.
Zhang Xiaozu nodded. He had heard Zhou Jianlai's story and immediately stood in awe of the seven old men in front of him.
"Let me introduce to you, this is Li Hongfang."
"Young man, I have met Grandpa Li." Zhang Xiaozhu saluted respectfully.
"This is Sun Shangwen."
"The boy has met Grandpa Sun."
Butcher Zhang introduced the seven people to Zhang Xiaopou one by one.
Zhang Xiaozu's humility and respect gave Li Hongfang and the others a good first impression of him.
"I have invited you here today because I have something important to announce." Butcher Zhang said while looking at the audience.
"Master, please speak."
"I want to pass on the title of head of the family to my grandson Zhang Dayong." Butcher Zhang said in a serious tone.
The whole place fell into silence as soon as this statement came out, because it was so sudden.
"Grandpa, my grandson is still young and has little experience in the world, so it is difficult for him to take on important responsibilities." Zhang Xiaozu quickly declined after being shocked.
Butcher Zhang ignored him, but looked at Zhang Guangyao and asked, "Guangyao, do you have any objections?"
"My child has no objection." Zhang Guangyao shook his head and smiled.
Butcher Zhang nodded, looked at Li Hongfang and the other seven and asked, "Do you have any opinions or doubts? You can tell me."
Although retainers are not qualified to choose the next head of the main family, they have the right to express their opinions, and the main family usually respects and seriously considers their opinions.
"I just want to ask, did the head of the family make a decision after careful consideration?" Li Hongfang asked.
"Of course." Butcher Zhang nodded and responded.
"I obey your orders." Li Hongfang said.
The other six people looked at each other and said, "We have no objection."
"Well, I will immediately announce that the next head of the Zhang family will be Zhang Dayong." Butcher Zhang solemnly announced, then took out a seal and handed it to Zhang Xiaozu, saying: "This is the family seal that symbolizes the identity of the head of the family. Please keep it carefully.
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"Grandpa, I - okay."
Zhang Xiaozu wanted to refuse, but when he spoke, Butcher Zhang glared back. He had no choice but to agree and reached out to take the seal.
"We pay homage to the master of the family, and we will follow you to the death and never regret it." Li Hongfang and the other seven saluted Zhang Xiaopeng respectfully.
This ceremony is different from the one when they met just now. This ceremony is solemn and formal. It is a ceremony to greet Zhang Xiaozu, the new head of the family, as a retainer.
Zhang Xiaozu quickly responded respectfully and said: "I am not very talented, so I take on this great responsibility. I am sincere and frightened. I hope you will be more tolerant and give me guidance in the future. Thank you very much!"
Butcher Zhang took out a jar of wine from under the desk, poured a bowl out, and said: "The head of the family and the servants will drink a bowl of blood together. We will share the honor and disgrace in this life and the next, and we will never leave.
Pawn, take a drop of your heart's blood.
You seven can skip it. You are too old to take a drop of blood from your heart, so you can use the blood from your fingertips instead."
"Hehe, thank you, my old master, for caring about me." Li Hongfang responded with a smile.
They are old and it would really hurt to take a drop of their heart's blood.
Zhang Xiaozu took out a drop of his heart's blood and dropped it into the wine bowl. Li Hongfang's seven people bit their fingertips one by one and dropped a drop of blood from their fingertips into the bowl. Then each of the eight people drank the blood wine in the bowl in one gulp and swore an oath of honor and sharing.
"After the seven of you go back, each family will select two juniors who are smart and have good qualifications and send them over. I will send them to Taiping Academy in the Imperial Capital to learn knowledge, but you will be responsible for their training," said Butcher Zhang.
"Yes." Li Hongfang and the others nodded in response.
They knew in their hearts that Butcher Zhang was doing this to cultivate confidants for Zhang Xiaopeng, and they were happy to see this happen, because so many people could better maintain and deepen the close relationship between the family head and his retainers.
Zhang Xiaozhu also understood Zhang Tufu's intention and said: "Being smart is all that matters. Cultivation aptitude doesn't need to be a big consideration. Those who haven't penetrated the Qi Sea are the best. I have a powerful technique that can be practiced even if the cultivation aptitude is poor."
"Haha, don't underestimate your young family leader. His combat power can rival that of a third-level star in the Perfect Realm. The seven of you combined may not be enough to defeat him, so the skills he cultivates are very incredible.
Yes, you must choose carefully when you go back." Butcher Zhang stroked his beard and said with a smile.
"Really?" Li Hongfang asked in disbelief.
Zhang Guangyao was also so shocked that he opened his mouth wide. He only knew that Zhang Xiaopeng had cultivated a lot, but he never expected that it was so terrifying.
Butcher Zhang glared and said, "Will I lie to you? Fifty thousand soldiers of the Zhang family witnessed with their own eyes that the master of Duyuan Building, Lu Dawang, was defeated by Zhang Xiaozu, the grandson of Butcher Zhang. You can find out by asking people from several sects in northern Xinjiang."
Already."
"It's just a lucky win." Zhang Xiaozhu said modestly. He knew that his grandfather was helping him establish his authority in disguise.
Li Hongfang and the other seven were so shocked that the wrinkles on their faces widened, and then they burst into joy. They secretly wondered which of their juniors would be suitable.
"There is one last thing I want to talk about."
Zhang Tufu looked at everyone and said in a solemn tone: "I am going to Canghai City in the Western Region on the 15th of next month to fight the Sword Saint Cang Yihai for a life and death battle. No matter I win or lose in this battle, I will never come back, so I will tell you here in advance.
