Chapter 10: Be Careful Not to Overextend Yourself

Alright, I will go now

In the wave of the term "patriarch," everyone was excited and flushed with emotion

Dinner is served

Zhang Heng nodded

There are indeed too many people. Zhang Heng estimated that today there must be twenty to thirty thousand attendees, some of whom even came specifically from several miles away upon hearing that there would be a banquet here.

After a brief pause, he said: "If you have the ability, do not decline this position of clan leader. Everything you have done these past few days has been reported to me by Zhen Tian. You are capable and have many ideas. Handing over the Zhang family to you will surely be better than keeping it in my hands"

It is better not to eat meat every day; having a few more meals of millet rice can help during a disaster, and it may reduce the number of people selling their children or daughters.

The shouts surged one after another, and even the onlookers from outside joined in, their voices soaring into the sky

Ordinary villagers eat millet rice and stewed meat with potatoes

Hiss, I have heard that he is very wealthy

The third tone brings forth a sea of people, and upon listening closely, one can hear no fewer than hundreds of individuals.

"You are a Li, not a member of the Zhang family, so why are you shouting along?"

In such circumstances, continuing to eat may lead to one's own demise from overeating. Throughout history, when it is said that someone has died from overeating, it often refers to situations where one has been chronically undernourished and then suddenly indulges in a large meal.

Enough

It seems that a piece of jade is sold for 80,000 dollars, and in one breath, several hundred guns are purchased back. These events have a significant impact on the old clan leader

In an instant, cries were heard everywhere: "Everyone, keep an eye on the children; they are gluttonous, and do not let them overeat."

Grandfather, I am still hungry

Zhang Zhenhu also understood the situation, put down his chopsticks and left immediately

However, automobiles are certainly possessed by foreigners, and this is also an important means for a foreign company to establish a comprehensive distribution network within a province

Even so, there are still two-thirds of the people who have not taken a seat at the table

Zhang Heng turned around and discovered that it was a pair of grandfather and granddaughter. The little granddaughter appeared to be around seven or eight years old, her gaze filled with a longing for food

Who would have thought that the old patriarch would launch a sudden attack, without any prior discussion, quietly stating his intentions in the ancestral hall

Patriarch

No wonder he became the king of the mountain and later the leader of the group; his level of awareness is indeed higher than that of others

The old clan leader waved his hand, calling Zhang Heng over: "There is fighting again in the north, this world is not good, we need someone who can hold the situation steady."

Eight people per table, generous portions at reasonable prices, and unlimited white rice supply

After a brief chat, Zhang Heng inquired about the serious matter

More people are shouting in the second tone

After Zhang Heng敬ed a few cups of wine, he began to circulate among the crowd

Zhang Zhenhu realized that it made a lot of sense; after all, not everyone possesses good drinking etiquette, and there are certainly many who cause trouble when drinking

Everyone can do some calculations

The old patriarch shook his head: "It's not enough. If it were a normal year, everyone could just tighten their belts and get through it. But what kind of year is it now? There are battles outside every day. Today it's General Chen, tomorrow it's General Zhang. We can't fight against them, so we can only endure and accept our fate. I have lived for over sixty years and understand one principle: sometimes it's not enough for you to endure; you also have to see if others can endure you!"

In the crowd, Zhang Zhenhu was the first to call him chief. Zhang Heng still remembered this sentiment, so he asked, "Huzi, how does the taste of the potato stew with meat compare? Is it acceptable?"

The sky is vast, the earth is vast, but eating is the most important

Zhang Heng smiled and said, "I intended to prepare some wine for you, but the clan elders disagreed. There are too many people, and if someone gets drunk and causes a disturbance, how would that be appropriate in front of our ancestors' spirit tablets"

Upon hearing the words of the elder patriarch, one of the clan elders choked with emotion and said: "Elder Patriarch, Zhen Tian is already doing well; it is difficult to strive for progress, and it is equally challenging to maintain what has been achieved"

Zhang Heng turned around and glanced, discovering that the person raising his arm and shouting was Zhang Zhenhu.

As I was speaking, the sound of conversation reached my ears

I have grown old, and it is only a matter of time before I make way for the younger generation

Elders, let us begin.

Having spoken, he then turned to Zhang Zhentian, who was standing beside him, and sighed: "Zhentian is my son; I know him well. He has a good heart, but unfortunately, he is merely a person who maintains the status quo"

Zhang Heng realized at this moment that in these times, everyone had been struggling with hunger for a long time. By setting up this banquet and allowing everyone to eat freely, it could very well lead to someone overeating to the point of death

This decision was somewhat sudden, but I hope everyone can understand

I am very excited, very exhilarated, I just like to shout, is that not allowed

He wants to become the clan leader, but he must wait until the old clan leader passes away

Zhang Heng stood beside the old clan leader, nodding in acknowledgment to each of the clan elders in the ancestral hall. He then walked to the entrance and shouted to the crowd: "I now command you, in my capacity as the head of the Zhang family, to loosen your belts and eat heartily!"

Patriarch, that is truly remarkable

Zhang Heng has always sought to gain control of the Zhang family

Those who saw him all greeted him, even the little children, with their mouths full of grease, imitating the adults by calling him the clan leader

He has been in the Republic of China era for a few days and has yet to see a car

fourth tone, fifth tone, sixth tone

The reality is that everyone is poor, and life is difficult for all. In years of famine, there is even no place to borrow money to get by.

After all, under prolonged hunger, the brain can give us the illusion that we are still hungry even when we are clearly full

The old patriarch spoke with resolute certainty

Patriarch

At this point, the old clan leader looked at Zhang Heng and said, "In another half month, it will be the autumn harvest. The grain tax from the county has increased by 10% compared to last year, and there is also a shortfall in the offerings from the mountains to the clan. I am prepared to take on the responsibility in a time of crisis and pass the position of clan leader to you. Do you have the confidence to ensure that not a single person from the Zhang family goes hungry this year?"

What do they say over at the foreign firm

"With hundreds of guns, it is no wonder that the old chief chose him; in this chaotic era, having a gun means having everything"

Ordinary villagers can only feel envy upon seeing it, and dare not harbor any jealousy

Zhang Zhenhu wiped his mouth and said softly: "It has already been ordered, the foreigner said the goods will arrive within three days, delivered by truck"

Fortunately, Zhang Heng has also gained experience in society, and despite his surprise, he managed to respond appropriately: "Old Patriarch, I do not dare to boast, but I can only say that as long as I, Zhang Heng, am here, the Zhang family will not starve."

Truck

However, he had not given much thought to the position of the patriarch, as in his memory, the old patriarch could still serve for another six or seven years

Others can only hold their rice bowls and find a place for themselves. At a glance, centered around the ancestral hall, there are densely packed heads of people everywhere

Zhang Heng, with a beaming smile, soon strolled over to Zhang Zhenhu's table

Zhang Heng can easily spend several thousand yuan on a meal for everyone, which clearly indicates that he is not short of money. If he were to become the head of the Zhang clan, wouldn't everyone be able to enjoy a better life

There are numerous discussions among the crowd

The open space around the ancestral hall cannot accommodate so many tables at all

Five hundred tables of banquet are lined up in a row, and bowls of millet rice with stewed potatoes and meat are being served.

A ladle of meat broth was poured over the millet rice, followed by several pieces of fatty meat and potatoes, and everyone hurriedly began to devour it.

beef, lamb, pork, poultry and fish

Patriarch

Lending and borrowing, you must also have a place to borrow from

The old clan leader patted Zhang Heng's hand and said, "In which year did a few people not starve to death in the town? With your words, I can rest assured"

Tiger, go over and greet the stove area; those who are serving rice should show their bellies, but be careful not to overfill anyone.

Grandfather, I still want to eat

"Chun Wazi, you cannot eat anymore, it will make you burst."

Not only that, I heard he also sent Xiao Huzi to buy guns, intending to form a militia, with several hundred guns involved

The elders of the clan, as well as the older generation with the character "Da" in their names, are more particular about their food

I wish to resign from the position of clan leader and hand it over to Zhang Heng

Zhang Heng, the son who returned from Nanyang, Zhang Daxian?

After all, those seated above are all our elders. Since ancient times, respecting the elderly has been regarded as a virtue in Huaxia. During the Republic of China period, many customs had not yet been discarded, and the heads of households were all elderly members of the family

Seeing that his table was better served, the clan elders and the older generation sitting in a circle around the ancestral hall were all beaming with joy, knowing that Zhang Heng was honoring them

Greetings, Patriarch

Indeed, a three-day banquet allowing tens of thousands to eat freely must cost several thousand dollars

Zhang Zhentian, Zhang Dadan, the Da Xiao Kui brothers, several bricklayers who have drunk with Zhang Heng, and a group of twenty to thirty men and boys who followed into the city together

Suddenly, someone shouted in the crowd

Zhang Zhenhu's mouth was full of oil as he said with a hint of regret, "If only there were meat and wine, it would be even better."

Patriarch