Wang Quan Baye turned around and bowed to this elder, but the elder stopped him.
"The old clan - head has passed away. The young clan - head should shoulder the heavy responsibility of the clan - head, protect Wang Quan Villa, and lead all of us clansmen to continue the glory of the old clan - head."
These just and honorable words made Wang Quan Baye's face turn cold. They were now standing in front of his father's coffin, but they had already started discussing the succession of the next clan - head. Even in the past, no one had ever talked about succession in the mourning hall.
"Uncle, let's discuss this matter later. The most important thing now is my father's burial. Please offer incense to my father." Wang Quan Baye made a gesture of invitation and ignored the look in that uncle's eyes.
That uncle was the brother of the old clan - head and also a member of the Wang Quan family. However, Wang Quan Baye thought that if such an uncle could think this way, let alone those clansmen with blood relations.
It was true that Wang Quan Baye was the young clan - head and should succeed to the position. However, Wang Quan Baye didn't want to hold the succession ceremony for the clan - head just a few days after his father's death, or even before the funeral was over.
"Huai Zhu, what do you think those uncles in the clan are thinking? Does the matter of the clan - head's succession have to be rushed at this moment?" Wang Quan Baye lay on the couch and asked gloomily.
Chu Ri Huai Zhu didn't say a word. She just quietly held Wang Quan Baye's hand. Then, the two of them huddled in the same quilt and quietly warmed each other up in the cold night.
The next day, when Wang Quan Baye came to the mourning hall, he saw the elders of the clan standing in front of his father's coffin. Their faces showed grief and an expression he couldn't quite distinguish.
"Young clan - head, please accept my condolences. The old clan - head surely wouldn't want to see you sad." Each person comforted Wang Quan Baye one moment, but then mentioned the family meeting the next moment.
"Young clan - head, after the clan - head's passing, it is only right for you to succeed. Do you think we should start preparing the things needed for the succession?"
An elder in the clan asked tentatively, with a hint of scheme in his eyes. The people beside him were all pricking up their ears to listen.
Wang Quan Baye didn't reply. He just stood there quietly, and the clansmen weren't in a hurry either, because the family meeting would be held the next day.
The next day, Wang Quan Baye sat in the main seat in plain clothes.
"Young clan - head, the mourning hall for the old clan - head should be set up for forty - nine days. During these forty - nine days, why don't we hold the clan - head succession ceremony so that those martial artists who haven't left yet will know that our Wang Quan family hasn't declined."
Hearing this, Wang Quan Baye frowned slightly. He hoped to hold the succession ceremony after the forty - nine days. After he expressed his thoughts, the elders looked strange. They looked at Wang Quan Baye and sighed.
"Young clan - head, this matter is not for your personal sake, but for our entire Wang Quan family. The clan - head succession ceremony won't take much time and won't delay the old clan - head's funeral."
Wang Quan Baye felt a bit uncomfortable. Just as he was about to retort, Steward Fei spoke up and refuted the elder's words.
"Elder Wu, we need to think this over carefully. If we have a funeral and a succession ceremony at the same time, people will laugh at us, thinking that our Wang Quan family is so shabby."
Hearing this, Elder Wu's face changed immediately, but he couldn't say anything. Steward Fei was the right - hand man of the old clan - head. He had a high decision - making power in many matters. Moreover, Elder Wu's proposal was indeed a bit inappropriate.
Seeing that the uncle in the clan had calmed down, Wang Quan Baye glanced at Steward Fei and asked him to convey what he had said before to these clansmen. Then, he left the family meeting and returned to the mourning hall to keep vigil for his father.
"Now start preparing the things needed for the succession, but the real ceremony will be held after the funeral. If anyone talks nonsense, don't blame the swords and blades for being merciless." After Steward Fei finished speaking, he invited the clansmen to go to the front to offer incense to the old clan - head.
Every day, besides keeping vigil, Wang Quan Baye practiced sword - fighting in the martial arts training ground. Chu Ri Huai Zhu accompanied Wang Quan Baye. When he was in a bad mood, she would practice sword - fighting with him or keep vigil with him in the mourning hall. However, Wang Quan Baye was still getting thinner day by day.
Seeing Wang Quan Baye getting thinner and thinner, Chu Ri Huai Zhu felt heart - broken. Regarding the passing of the old clan - head, all Chu Ri Huai Zhu could do was to accompany him quietly.
"Husband, go back and rest. It's getting late today. Come back tomorrow." Chu Ri Huai Zhu comforted Wang Quan Baye and helped him up from the ground. After they returned to the room, Chu Ri Huai Zhu took some medicinal liquor and wiped it on Wang Quan Baye.
The next day, Wang Quan Baye went to the mourning hall to keep vigil for the old clan - head, while Chu Ri Huai Zhu went to the kitchen again. She wanted to cook some appetizing dishes for Wang Quan Baye.
She hoped that Wang Quan Baye would be in a better mood and stop getting so thin. Thinking this way, Chu Ri Huai Zhu quickened her pace towards the kitchen.
"Everyone, I'd like to borrow the kitchen. Please understand." After Chu Ri Huai Zhu entered the kitchen, she explained her purpose to those people.
Those people looked at Chu Ri Huai Zhu and hesitated. She was the concubine of the young clan - head. Although her status was humble, the young clan - head doted on her. They were just servants and couldn't afford to offend her.
Just as they were about to lend the kitchen to Chu Ri Huai Zhu, the cook who had confronted Chu Ri Huai Zhu last time showed up again and refused her request.
"Why are you here again? Do you have a lover in the back kitchen? You keep coming here. A low - class concubine is just a low - class concubine. You don't understand any rules!"
The people beside tried to persuade the cook not to say anymore, but the cook got even more excited. After scolding Chu Ri Huai Zhu away last time, she was a bit scared. But since no one had come to trouble her later, she got a bit bolder.
Looking at the cook, Chu Ri Huai Zhu knew that she was deliberately targeting her. She didn't care about the cook last time, but this time, seeing Wang Quan Baye getting thinner and thinner, she couldn't bear it anymore.
"I wondered who was barking here. You're just a servant. How dare you talk like this!" Chu Ri Huai Zhu no longer restrained her aura. Although her internal energy was weak, she still had the foundation in her bones.
The teachings of the Dongfang family had made Chu Ri Huai Zhu polite, but they had also made her understand that some people would become more insatiable if you were kind to them. And this cook was a typical example.
"If you're not comfortable staying here, I can ask Steward Fei to send you to a more comfortable place, so that you don't keep gossiping about the master all day long."
As soon as Chu Ri Huai Zhu said this, the cook didn't dare to say anything more. Steward Fei held the power of life and death over her. If she was sold to a bad place, the cook was afraid that she wouldn't be able to survive.
Chu Ri Huai Zhu walked into the kitchen. The cook didn't dare to say a word and slunk away to the side.