Chapter 1250 – The War is About to Break Out (Part 11)
Since Hejian County fell to Huang Song, the Liu Clan had begun a life of seclusion, scrubbing away all activities and invitations without a trace.
Upon hearing that Jiang Pengji had established an independent branch, the reaction from the Liu Clan was surprisingly calm, even more so than the outside world.
The reason for this was clear: Jiang Pengji had hardly any contact with the Liu Clan over the years. She neither sought help during hard times nor uplifted her kin during prosperous ones. Initially, the Liu Clan felt a bit uncomfortable, but as time passed, they came to understand.
She had risen to prominence and clearly had no intention of sharing any benefits with the clan, so they naturally couldn’t shamelessly approach her.
A few clan elders were quite agitated, furious about Jiang Pengji’s actions.
The Liu Clan had not benefited from her success, instead, they bore the brunt of suffering, and now that trouble had arisen, she kicked the clan to the curb.
What a heartless woman!
One silver-haired elder sneered coldly, “Truly, like father, like daughter—Liu Xi’s parents, Liu Zhi, were exactly of the same ilk. They treat clan members like thieves! Liu Zhi and his wife never thought for a moment: without the support of the Liu Clan, could those two have swallowed the entire Bamboo Paper Workshop? And their daughter is just as much a treacherous wolf!”
Though the Bamboo Paper Workshop was established by Gu Min’s dowry, wasn’t the network and resources still from the clan?
Gu Min improved the existing crude papermaking technology, making Hejian bamboo paper a treasure sought after by noble families, with profits that were staggering.
They weren’t just eyeing the mere papermaking; it was the fact that Gu Min was pocketing all the profits alone—such a disgraceful display.
Logically, she should have given a portion of the profits to the clan.
Only with a strong clan could they protect their members.
“Why bring up such ancient affairs now?” another elder with gray hair frowned, “Although a bit heartless, Liu Xi’s actions were meant to preserve the whole clan. Even if separated, our ancestors remain our ancestors.”
Money, power, and status are precious, but when compared to one’s life, they’re insignificant.
“What do you mean we can’t bring it up? You, old man, of all people, should know the current situation of our clan!” the silver-haired elder rolled his eyes, still dissatisfied, “The assets of a mere second branch have surpassed the clan’s public property by how much? The clan has nurtured them for years, yet none of them reciprocate! Just recently, after a thunderstorm, the ancestral hall’s roof leaked, almost wetting the ancestral tablets. The situation at our clan school isn’t good either; my great-grandson even said the food there has started to taste off…”
The gray-haired elder replied, “That’s because the harvest from the clan fields has been poor and the clan has had years of losses, the clan head is also worried…”
“True, true, but if Liu Zhi and his daughter could lend a hand to the clan…”
Thinking of this, the elder became even angrier.
The clan raised them; they ought to give back to the clan.
Now, with one and all showing their fangs like ungrateful wolves, who wouldn’t feel heartbroken?
“Circumstances are stronger than people. Do you think you can force them?” the gray-haired elder scoffed, “Besides, the one who separated is Liu Xi, not the entire Liu Zhi family! She’s a woman, ultimately to marry someone—”
Upon hearing this, the silver-haired elder was even more infuriated.
“Marry? Then her assets will become someone else’s!”
“Are you suggesting she should marry within the clan? Come on, that would make outsiders think the clan covets the assets of its women. How disgraceful!”
Marrying within the same surname is against ethical norms.
The silver-haired elder was seething with pent-up frustration, feeling discomfort all around.
Noble families look splendid on the outside, but with limited resources within the clan, it’s impossible for every family member to live without worry.
As the generations continued, with more clan members being born, what could be distributed only became scarcer.
Many noble families have begun to decline, partly due to this reason.
A large population doesn’t provide support; instead, it becomes an unshakeable burden.
The Liu family isn’t even top-tier in Hejian County, just barely hanging onto the second tier.
The direct line lives relatively well, but the side branches beyond five degrees of relation are quite poor, and the clan can only barely extend some aid.
Liu Zhi is from the direct line’s second branch, and this branch’s wealth surpasses the clan’s public property, making other clan members green with envy!
If not for the fact that the industries belong solely to Liu Zhi and her husband, and if Liu Zhi herself weren’t capable, perhaps other clan members would force them to turn their property into clan assets.
Jiang Pengji is even more remarkable; after a few years she’s secured Northern Border land, and much of Dongqing as well, waiting only for the dragon robe to sit atop the world. If she wanted to, just a hint here and there could elevate Liu Clan’s talents, and everyone would rise with her!
Yet now she’s intent on splitting the clan, drawing clear lines—certain members of the Liu Clan had every reason to be irked.
With such wealth, why wouldn’t she lift up her clan members?
Jiang Pengji would eventually need to marry, wouldn’t benefitting her clan be better than benefitting outsiders?
Even if rationally they knew such thoughts were wrong and shameful, emotionally they could not accept it.
The two elders spoke a few words, worry etched deep between their brows.
While they fretted, Liu Ji, the clan head and Liu Zhi’s elder brother, was even more troubled.
Ever since Jiang Pengji and Huang Song stationed troops in the north and south of Hejian County, he had known trouble was brewing for his family.
He never expected that the trouble would strike so quickly and urgently, with the Zhang Clan of Hejian betraying them and selling out the Liu Clan, catching him completely off guard.
“Father… the younger generation within the clan is gossiping; do we truly need to intervene to stop them?”
Entering his thirties soon, Liu Heng frowned deeply, a faint crease forming between his brows. If Jiang Pengji were here, she might lament how time doesn’t spare anyone—once the elegant and witty Liu Heng was now a composed and mature middle-aged man.
“How can I explain?” Liu Ji fretted, “Just let them be.”
Liu Ji was significantly older than Liu Zhi, his hair already peppered with gray, making him appear somewhat aged.
Without his outstanding demeanor, he could easily be mistaken for even older.
“If we do nothing, our cousin really will distance herself from the family—”
Liu Heng still held fondness for this cousin, but after the incident during the Festival of Flowers when she was twelve, she had completely changed, no longer close to him, and they hadn’t exchanged gifts in recent years. The relationship between the main branch and second branch had grown as thin as plain water.
Liu Ji sighed with a bitter smile, “Distance herself? She’s long done that. Back then, when my second brother went to Hujun, it caused our family’s kin to move out of the clan lands… Since then, the exchanges have diminished. Lan Ting took this opportunity to sever ties with the clan; my father is not surprised at all.”
As they spoke, sounds of a cane tapping on the ground and many footsteps approached from outside.
“What? Now you’ve come to complain about me?”
An elderly woman with silver hair and a sprightly demeanor leaned on her cane, surrounded by maidservants, afraid she might trip.
