The territory of Nanyuan Kingdom has become different since three days ago. White clothes have begun to decorate the streets and alleys. Although not every house is crying, there is still a bit of sadness on the faces of passers-by. .
A country and a land are in mourning. Even Emperor Yang Sheng ordered all civil and military officials to be vegetarian for a month to express his condolences.
Who can die with such mourning and honor?
Langyuan City, Zhang Mansion.
One and a half months ago, Zhang Yan returned to his home after several years of absence. It wasn't someone who brought him back. But he rushed back in a hurry due to his own feelings.
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 talk about the current prosperity of the Zhang family, let’s talk about Wang Lanping. Wang Lanping's health had not been very good before Zhang Yan came back. I would be lucky to live past seventy. But now that his life span is over a hundred, he can definitely be called a longevity star among ordinary people who are neither monks nor warriors.
He relies on Zhang Yan's frequent supplements with elixirs, and even life-extending elixirs to increase his lifespan limit. Coupled with the Zhang family's now world-famous wealth and comfortable and comprehensive life, Wang Lanping lived far longer than her original lifespan, and she died without illness or pain, with a smile on her face.
Returning home more than a month early, Zhang Yan accompanied his mother on the last leg of the journey. The old man had a very keen sense and guessed the reason why 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 refused to leave. But the old man didn't say anything, he smiled and enjoyed what was perhaps the last filial piety he could experience.
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 also regrets. For example, the second son has not gotten married yet. It's just that she had understood this matter many 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. Who can stay with me?
The old man sent him away. A big obsession in Zhang Yan's heart that he inherited from the original owner of his body disappeared in an instant. I didn't feel this in the past, but now I feel a burst of lightness after I suddenly took it off.
"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 flourished over the years.
Zhang Shun asked his son to set up a small table with two appetizers and two pots of wine, and sat across from Zhang Yan. He waved away his son and grandson who wanted to stay and serve him. He grabbed the kuaizi on the table and motioned to Zhang Yan to start eating.
It had been years since the two brothers had eaten and drank together like this. And even though Zhang Shun has been living a leisurely life these years, he has basically started to focus on cultivating the next generation of shopkeepers, and he no longer has to do many things himself. But time is not forgiving, and old age still creeps onto his cheeks and back. At this time, compared to Zhang Yan who was sitting opposite him, he didn't look like a person of the same generation at all.
"Zhang Er, my mother left much more peacefully than my father did at that time. She had a smile on her face. Haha, this makes me feel a little better." Putting down the kuaizi, Zhang Shun picked up the 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 Nanyuan Kingdom’s national memorial ceremony this time was to give Wang Lanping the greatest mourning honor. Isn’t it just looking at Zhang Yan’s face? Zhang Shun knew some words very well in his heart, but in the past, he felt that it was not necessary for the two brothers to speak so clearly to each other, as long as they knew it in their hearts. But now he had to put some words out in the open.
"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 will lead to decline. , I’m worried that this will be a choice that the Zhang family will face in the future. 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 mind has never been on the Zhang family's business. Even money and status, to put it mildly, are nothing in the eyes of the second brother? In the face of real power, everything the Zhang family has is like a cloud, and will be dispersed 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 Duoya Mountain for so many years is Zeng Youren, a foreign relative, and there is no descendant named Zhang. However, the number of cultivation paths was liberalized later on. Although there were two children who were not allowed to enter the cliff mountain, they still had no problem practicing as casual cultivators at home.
However, some emerging small cultivation sects have sent word to the Zhang family that they are willing to recruit Zhang family disciples. Was rejected by Zhang Shun. Knowing that these people have impure motives will inevitably lead to disaster in the future.
The most reliable source of power for the Zhang family has always been Zhang Yan's influence. This is not a good thing. This is also a hidden danger that Zhang Shun has been trying to change. After all, Zhang Yan cannot protect the Zhang family for his whole life.
Now 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 is considered to have been repaid. Although the relationship between brother and sister in the remaining family has not changed over the years, it is only limited to the word "brother and sister". Regarding the juniors behind him, Zhang Shun could clearly see the indifference in Zhang Yan's eyes. He understood that once he and his younger sister were gone, the only way for the Zhang family to obtain Zhang Yan's protection was through marriage, and there was no real hope.
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 continuously 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 still be able to enrich themselves for five generations. As for five generations later. Haha, brother, don’t you think you can carefully consider and protect the Zhang family’s affairs from generation to generation, do you? "
Five generations, this is the end given by Zhang Yan. One life, one life, one love. Even if you become an immortal, you will not be able to protect your future generations forever.
Of course, Zhang Yan also understands what his eldest brother Zhang Shun thinks. 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 great, then they should find ways to rely on external support. Zhang Yan, an immortal who seems to live for a long time, is naturally the best choice.
"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 he did not continue the topic about the Zhang family. I continued to drink wine. But Zhang Shun knew in his heart that this was his second brother's answer. At most, he only protects the five generations of the Zhang family, and that is all he can do. As for after five generations, it depends on the fate of future generations.
As a result, Zhang Yan felt that the Zhang family's future strategy would have to change. You can no longer spread it so big, but try to shrink it as much as possible. The smaller the target, the more powerful it is in resisting the wind.
