The territory of Nanyuan Kingdom has become different since three days ago. White clothes have begun to decorate the streets and alleys. Although there are no cries in every house, the faces of passers-by are still more or less sad.
.
All the country was in mourning. Even Emperor Yang Sheng ordered all officials, both civil and military, to be vegetarian for a month to express his condolences.
Who can die with such mourning and honor?
Langyuan City, Zhang Mansion.
A month and a half ago, Zhang Yan returned to his home where he had been away for several years. It was not someone who came looking for him. It was him who hurried back due to a feeling in his heart.
Because Zhang Yan's mother, Wang Lanping, who is already 100 years old, is approaching her end of life.
As the saying goes, if a person achieves enlightenment, a chicken or a dog will ascend to heaven. Although this seems exaggerated, it is not unreasonable. At least for close blood relatives, they can indeed enjoy great benefits.
Let’s not mention the current prosperity of the Zhang family, let’s talk about Wang Lanping. Before Zhang Yan came back, Wang Lanping’s health was actually not very good. It would be considered lucky to live over seventy. But now, with a life span of over a hundred, she is neither a monk nor a warrior.
Among ordinary people, he can definitely be called the longevity star.
She relied on Zhang Yan's frequent supplements with elixirs, and even life-extending elixirs to increase her lifespan limit. Coupled with the Zhang family's current wealth and wealth, and their comfortable and comprehensive life, Wang Lanping has lived far longer than her original lifespan, and
Even when he was dying, he was free from illness and pain, and had a smile on his face.
Returning home more than a month early, Zhang Yan accompanied his mother to walk the last part of the way. The old man's senses were very keen and he guessed that his second son, who had been absent all year round and had extraordinary abilities, suddenly came back and stayed for three to five days and still didn't leave.
The reason. But the old man didn't say anything. He smiled and enjoyed it, which was probably the last filial piety that he could feel.
On her deathbed, Wang Lanping didn't even have anything to say or tell her, because everything around her was so satisfying.
Of course, there are regrets. For example, the second son has not gotten married yet. It’s just that she has understood this matter a few years ago. Looking at the appearance of the second son who seems to be in his early thirties, it is indeed too difficult to find a marriage.
It’s difficult. Who can stay with me?
The old man sent him away. A piece of obsession in Zhang Yan's heart that was inherited from the original owner of the body suddenly disappeared. He didn't feel this in the past, but now he felt a burst of lightness after it was suddenly removed.
"Zhang Er, how many drinks will you have with me?"
"good."
It's still under the big tree in the backyard of the old house. It has grown luxuriantly over the years.
Zhang Shun asked his son to set up a small table with two appetizers and two pots of wine. He sat across from Zhang Yan. He waved away his son and grandson who wanted to stay and serve. He grabbed the kuaizi on the table and motioned to Zhang Yan to leave.
eat.
The two brothers have not been eating and drinking together like this for many years. And even though Zhang Shun has been living a leisurely life these years, he has basically begun to focus on cultivating the next generation of shopkeepers. Many things no longer need to be done by himself. But time is not forgiving.
, old age still creeps up on his cheeks and back. At this time, compared with Zhang Yan sitting opposite, he doesn't look like a person of the same generation at all.
"Zhang Er, my mother left much more peacefully than my father did. She had a smile on her face. Haha, this makes me feel a little better." Putting down the kuaizi, Zhang Shun picked up the ball.
The wine glass moved a little too loudly, spilling some wine, and then touched it with Zhang Yan and drank it in one gulp.
Then Zhang Shun said: "Thank you."
"Brother, what did you say?"
"Hey, ninety-nine percent of the Zhang family's current glory is due to you, Zhang Er. Otherwise, who would give face? How can business be so easy? They have been eaten alive so many times. They are famous as long as you are here.
I don’t dare to take another look at the Zhang family’s business.”
In fact, let’s not go too far, let’s just say that the national memorial ceremony held by Nanyuan Kingdom this time was to give Wang Lanping the greatest honor and honor. Isn’t it just looking at Zhang Yan’s face? Zhang Shun knew some things very well, but in the past he felt that brothers
There is no need to speak so clearly between the two of them, as long as they know it in their hearts. But now there are some things he has to say openly.
"Brother, do you have something to tell me?" Zhang Yan filled the wine glass for him.
Zhang Shun shook his head and said: "Explain? What can I explain to you? It's just that after so many years, the Zhang family and the Zeng family have almost achieved the ultimate in learning and business. You said that prosperity and decline
, I'm worried that this will be a choice that the Zhang family will face later. So I want to hear your suggestions."
Zhang Shun also knew in his heart that he couldn't trouble his second brother with everything. Moreover, the second brother's thoughts were never on the Zhang family's business. Even money and status, to put it mildly, were all in the second brother's eyes.
What the heck? In the face of real power, everything the Zhang family has is just a cloud, and will be scattered when the wind comes.
But the reason why power is dazzling is that it is difficult to obtain. The only person in the Zhang family who has been able to enter the cliff mountain for so many years is Zeng Youren, and there is no descendant named Zhang. However, the cultivation path has been liberalized later, and they have two children.
Although you can't enter Duoya Mountain, there is still no problem in practicing as a casual practitioner on your own.
However, some emerging small cultivating sects once approached the Zhang family and offered to recruit Zhang family disciples. However, Zhang Shun rejected them. Knowing that these people's motives were impure, they would inevitably cause trouble in the future.
The most reliable source of power for the Zhang family is still unable to get rid of Zhang Yan's influence. This is not a good thing. It is also a hidden danger that Zhang Shun has been trying to change. After all, Zhang Yan cannot protect the Zhang family for a lifetime.
Now that my mother has passed away, it can be said that most of the family's involvement with Zhang Yan is over. The grace of giving birth has been repaid. Although the relationship between brothers and sisters in the remaining family has not changed over the years, it is only limited to "brother-sister love."
Regarding the word "brother and sister", Zhang Shun could clearly see the indifference in Zhang Yan's eyes towards the younger generation behind him. He understood that once he and his younger sister were no longer around, the only way the Zhang family could obtain Zhang Yan's protection was
The only thing we can hope for is a marriage, which we can't really count on.
So taking advantage of Zhang Yan's return, Zhang Shun wanted to listen to his second brother's advice to plan the future direction of the Zhang family and the Zhang family's related interest chains.
"My advice? It is inevitable to rise and fall. Only by constantly extending your limits can you keep moving forward. But once you reach the top or you are unable to follow up, you must be mentally prepared to go down the slope.
.
Even if the descendants of the Zhang family fail to live up to expectations, they will be enough to enrich the five generations. As for the five generations after that, hehe, brother, don’t you think you can carefully consider the affairs of the Zhang family for generations and protect them, do you?”
In the Five Dynasties, this is the end given by Zhang Yan. One life has one love. Even if one becomes an immortal, it is impossible to protect the eternal prosperity of the generations.
Of course, Zhang Yan also understands the thoughts of his elder brother Zhang Shun. People all want to pass on what they have in hand to the next generation. Even if there is no way to make future generations powerful, then they can find ways to rely on external forces to protect Zhang Yan.
This immortal who seems to live for a long, long time is naturally the best choice.
[To be honest, I have been using Yeguoyuedu to read and catch up on books recently. I can switch sources and read aloud with many sounds. Yeguoyuedu is available for Android and Apple.]
"Haha, Zhang Er, that's right what you said. I've been alive for more than half my life, and it's boring to worry about all this. Come on, come on, drink!"
Although the conversation did not continue about the Zhang family, and the wine continued to drink, Zhang Shun knew in his heart that this was his second brother's answer. At most, it would only protect the Zhang family for the fifth generation, and it would be the most benevolent and righteous. As for after the fifth generation, then
It depends on the fate of future generations.
As a result, Zhang Yan felt that the Zhang family's strategy in the future would have to change. It could no longer spread out so much, but should shrink it as much as possible. The smaller the target, the more powerful it would be in resisting the wind.