Chapter 2 Is My Money Not Appealing?

With this Yuan Shikai silver dollar, he can go back and invite Manager Liu from Cuiyunju for a drink, and send his eldest son to become an apprentice

Under normal circumstances, a distance of over ten li would only require ten copper coins for a rickshaw ride

This is the Zhang Family Ancestral Hall

"How could one have seen it? If one had, would one still be alive?" The coachman, pulling the rickshaw, gasped for breath and said, "But some have seen it; that stench can be smelled from over ten meters away, it’s terrifying."

However, that is a matter of eighty years later. Now, Zhang Heng claims to be a descendant of Zhang Daxian who returned from Nanyang, and no one can refute it: "Uncle, there has been an epidemic in Nanyang, and I am the only one left in the family."

A large ocean, that is 100 copper coins, can buy 100 jin of millet, which is no small amount of money

The one pulling the cart is a middle-aged man with a bare back, wearing a pair of straw sandals on his feet

The middle-aged man supporting Zhang Dahai was even more familiar to Zhang Heng

Young man, who are you looking for

A considerable number of onlookers have arrived, and the main person has finally appeared

According to the true historical circumstances, Zhang Daxian fell ill and died shortly after going to Nanyang, and he was certainly not a wealthy merchant

Zhang Heng is certainly not a stranger to Zhang Dahai

Where are the descendants of Zhang Daxian

Is this the Zhang Family Ancestral Hall

Oh, he has been gone for decades, with no news at all. We thought he had died out there

According to the records in the family genealogy, it will not be long before the old clan leader resigns from his position, and in the future, Zhang Zhentian will become the clan leader of the Zhang family, leading the clansmen through this tumultuous era.

Is it true or not? Have you seen it?

Zhang Heng was taken aback

However, it is not surprising, as we are currently in a period of warlord chaos, and Yuan Shikai's declaration of himself as emperor and Puyi's restoration were events that occurred just two years ago

Zhang Heng wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, and soon tears streamed down like rain

Entered the town

The old patriarch nodded repeatedly: "Good, very good. The year when Daxian left was during the Guangxu era. At that time, we were very poor, and coupled with natural disasters, many people starved to death. Daxian was full of spirit, and with a firm resolve, he went to the South Seas. If I calculate carefully, it has been forty years in the blink of an eye, and I have always missed him dearly."

Once this pair is established, everything will be easier to discuss

Zhang Heng had already inquired about it while in the county town. Although this is the Republican era in a parallel world, many places still correspond to each other.

After speaking, she tightly grasped Zhang Heng's hand and asked, "How is your father? Is he still in good health?"

Although it feels somewhat awkward to refer to his own ancestor as "tangshu" (a term for a paternal uncle), he will gradually adapt. In the world of the Republic of China, he can only be known as Zhang Heng, the descendant of Zhang Daxian who returned from Nanyang, and he must avoid any self-inflicted troubles.

"What a death, it is alive, how inauspicious."

Zhang Heng was skeptical.

According to modern theory, Zhang Dahai is his ancestor, the father of his grandfather's grandfather

Zhang Heng does not mind; finding someone to make repairs will allow for temporary accommodation, and if needed, a new house can be built later

"It is not about the money; it is that there have been recent zombie disturbances. If I cannot return in time one night, I might lose my life out there," the coachman replied

It is merely unrelated to affluence; the entire town has only one main street that can be considered bustling, with some shops and similar establishments managing to sustain themselves.

However, by this time in the Republic of China, such matters were not taken so seriously anymore

Due to the current circumstances, the people of Daguo Town have not received the news of Zhang Daxian's death until after the millennium, when the Zhang family organized an overseas search for relatives and learned about this past in Malaysia

On the clan side, it is currently your paternal uncle who is in charge, and the affairs are managed by the elder members of the clan from the generation of the characters with large strokes.

Zhang Heng frowned

Because he had heard that during the Republic of China period, some people pretended to be corpse drivers to transport opium by taking advantage of superstition

In even the poorest of places, ancestral halls are constructed to look quite respectable; if even the ancestral hall is in disrepair, it indicates that this branch of the clan is not far from disintegration

Master Zhang, we have arrived at Dago Town

Zhang Daxian

The phrase "recognizing one's ancestors and returning to one's roots" should not be taken lightly during the era of clan lineage.

Hello, Uncle, I am Zhang Heng, the son of Zhang Daxian. I am a latecomer, and I just returned from Nanyang today, intending to acknowledge my ancestors and return to my roots

After turning left and right, Zhang Heng finally arrived at a somewhat decent place

The old house still stands, but it has fallen into disrepair over the years and has some leaks.

In such circumstances, some regions can change their county magistrates three or four times a year; today a warlord comes to power, and tomorrow a large group of county magistrates is replaced.

Once the elder chief nods, the remaining matters will be much easier to handle

Our Daguo Town is quite large, with a substantial population; however, everyone is united, and one cannot write two characters for Zhang in a single stroke

Seeing Zhang Heng's eyes redden, Zhang Dahai choked up and said: "It's good to be back, it's good to be back, this will always be your home"

A northern Beiyang government and a southern Republic government

Emaciated old men, bare-skinned children, women with a sallow complexion, and men as thin as reeds are seen everywhere

Zhang Heng sat in the car, with a suitcase beside him

Brother Heng, as you are new here, you may not be very familiar with the matters of the household

Yet one cannot articulate the reasons behind it; could this be fate?

Old Master Zhang, you are truly fortunate today to have encountered me; otherwise, as you leave the city this afternoon, it would be unwise for an ordinary person to take you on.

This is his great-grandfather, Zhang Zhentian, the grandfather of his grandfather. Zhang Heng has seen his photograph at home

Zhang Heng got off the cart and placed a Yuan Dato coin on it: "This is the fare for the cart, and the rest is a reward for you. Later, let's go to the tea shed at the town entrance for a cup of tea and take a break."

A large group of warlords unites under these two banners, today you hit me, tomorrow I hit you, and the constant change of the king's flag on the city wall is the norm

He did not know why, but the more he looked at Zhang Heng, the more he found him pleasing to the eye, and he genuinely liked this little cousin from the bottom of his heart

When my father was leaving, he held my hand tightly and repeatedly told me to return and rejoin the family lineage, for there are no roots for us overseas

The old patriarch seems to be speaking to someone else, yet it also appears as if he is speaking to himself

While repairing the roof, Zhang Zhentian was conversing with his younger cousin Zhang Heng.

Although apprentices do not receive wages, the restaurant provides food and accommodation, and every few days they can take home some leftover dishes. In this chaotic era, that is something to strive for.

What, is my money not valuable?

Because Zhang Heng, dressed in a white suit and wearing a gold watch on his chest, clearly appears to be a wealthy young master from a rich family

Looking at your name, it seems that it is not arranged according to the family tree; otherwise, you should be called Zhang Zhenheng instead

An elder of the clan, fearing that Zhang Heng might not recognize him, helped with the introduction: "This is Zhang Dahai, the clan leader of the Zhang family. By relation, you should call him your paternal uncle, as he is your father's cousin. Before going to Nanyang, your father was closest to him in the town."

Several elders

Three days later

The ancestral hall represents the dignity of the clan

It is evident that the people here cannot even have enough to eat

Zhang Heng has a very good impression of this elder

The day after tomorrow, a general will fall, and all the officials he appointed will no longer hold any significance

The officials change like a revolving lantern, and it would be strange if various harsh taxes and levies were to decrease

There is an old tree at the entrance of the ancestral hall, under which several elderly individuals are sitting to cool off

Zhang Heng carried the box and first made two rounds in the town

The town of Daguo during the Republic of China period is even poorer than I had imagined

Thank you, my lord, thank you, my lord

The coachman repeatedly expressed his gratitude and left with a heart full of joy

Zhang Heng first bowed respectfully, then spoke: "I am Zhang Heng, the son of Zhang Daxian who went to the South Seas. You must be the elders of the Zhang family. I kindly ask you to inform the clan that the descendant of Zhang Daxian has returned and wishes to acknowledge his ancestry."

After a bumpy journey, a small town came into view

Zhang Zhentian, in his middle age, at the age of thirty, speaks with great confidence and has a relatively loud voice

Zhang Heng

A rickshaw is running on a country road

In the entire Dago Town, which family's child could be dressed like this? It must be the descendants of Zhang Daxian, who became wealthy in Nanyang, returning home. It certainly cannot be some young master from the county town coming to the countryside to amuse this group of old men.

First, regarding the place of residence, before Zhang Daxian went abroad, he transferred the property to his clan

Zhang Heng found it quite strange

Those corpse drivers and so-called zombies are merely living people in disguise, and even the smell of decay on them is created in advance using dead rats

The further one goes, the poorer one becomes

The sky is vast and the earth is expansive, revitalizing the Chinese nation in this lineage, many people in the clan also do not use it, after all, it is difficult to choose a name

half an hour later

Zhang Heng is, in fact, a direct descendant of Zhang Dahai, and should refer to Zhang Dahai as his ancestor

Of course, it has been recognized as recognized

Among the clan members, Zhang Zhentian, the clan leader, is exceptionally good, known for his righteousness and steadiness in his actions. What is most commendable is his ability to treat everyone fairly, embodying a spirit of chivalry

Further down, there is the generation of the character "Zhen", followed by the generation of the character "Xing"

Now it is even more chaotic, with even two governments existing.

Thank you for your hard work

A few elderly individuals gathered together, murmuring among themselves

For example, there is Dagou Town, and within Dagou Town, there is the Zhang family. The current patriarch of the Zhang family is named Zhang Dahai

Indeed, the descendants of Da Xian have returned. Do not speak in such a manner. However, Da Xian should be over sixty this year, yet his son appears to be only in his twenties

No way, he came to the Republic of China to make money, how is it that the Republic of China here is so terrifying, with zombies appearing, has he come to the wrong place

In the afternoon, the house repairs were organized by the old clan leader's son, Zhang Zhentian

As for whether Zhang Heng is a descendant of Zhang Daxian, there is no doubt about it

Therefore, regarding the coachman's statement, Zhang Heng listened with three parts attention, believed two parts, dared not say he did not believe, nor dared he say he fully believed

This is Dagou Town during the Republic of China period, the ancestral home of the Zhang clan of Yangjiang

The population of Daguo Town is considerable, with over 20,000 people residing in the town itself, and including the surrounding villages, the total can reach around 40,000 to 50,000.

zombie

Zhang Heng, however, must not show any extraneous expressions, as the matter of time travel cannot be disclosed

Is that so