139: Eliminate the family tree and create the ancestral hall

Hearing the sound from the entrance of the ancestral hall, Yang Fei, who was currently throwing a tantrum inside, immediately frowned and turned around.

Seeing Yang Dian walk into the ancestral hall, his tightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed:

"Whose child are you?"

"So disrespectful."

"When adults are talking, is there any place for you juniors to interrupt?"

The smile on Yang Dian's Face deepened:

"Fifth Uncle, weren't you just mentioning me?"

"What? After not returning for a few years, you don't recognize the biological son of your own Third Brother?"

Yang Fei was startled:

"You are Yang Yong's son, Yang Dian?"

"How did you grow up like this?"

"Tsk." Yang Dian clicked his tongue:

"My dad is your brother, after all. Calling my dad by his name directly, Fifth Uncle, do you still have any clan rules in your mouth?"

Looking disdainfully at Yang Fei, Yang Dian then reached out and pushed away the hand of Yang Fei's son, Yang Tian, who had reached out, and walked in front of the Grand Uncles:

"Third Uncle, Fifth Uncle, Sixth Uncle, Ninth Uncle-Grandfather."

After greeting them one by one, he half-turned and looked at Yang Fei and the others with a wolf-like gaze and an eagle's keen sight.

"Third Uncle, I heard the clan registry hasn't been updated for many years."

As soon as Yang Dian's words fell, the entire ancestral hall fell silent.

Yang Dian could have suggested updating the clan registry at any time.

But why did he bring it up at this particular moment?

The clansmen who were originally filled with righteous indignation now looked at Yang Fei and the others in the ancestral hall with expressions of anticipation for a good show.

Yang Fei's scalp tingled at Yang Dian's mention of updating the clan registry, the veins on his neck bulged, and his Face turned beet red from holding his breath:

"You, what do you mean?"

"Such a big matter as updating the clan registry, is it something a junior like you can decide?"

Third Uncle tapped the ground with his cane:

"Dian Zai's meaning is our meaning."

As soon as he spoke, the onlookers also chimed in:

"Speaking of which, the clan registry really hasn't been updated for thirty or forty years. It's time for a good update."

"Yes, some people haven't returned to the clan for over twenty years, and we don't know if they died outside or what happened. Whether they left descendants outside, whether they still recognize their identity, there must be an explanation."

"Some people are nowhere to be seen when something goes wrong in the clan, but when benefits are distributed, they come faster than anyone. These people have violated the clan teachings, haven't they? According to the clan teachings and rules..."

"They should be expelled from the clan registry!"

"Exactly, these leeches have been sucking the clan's blood for so long, they should all be removed from the clan registry. From now on, don't say they are people of our Taoyuan Yang family!"

"Not only should they be removed from the clan registry, but this matter should also be publicized. I heard that Yang Fei's family has used the clan's reputation to attract a lot of clients and earn a lot of money."

"You've heard too little! Yang Fei uses the cheapest materials for his renovations to make money. Last time, when I was drinking with a friend, my friend said he gave the job to Yang Fei out of respect for our clan's Face, but he didn't expect him to cut corners. I was so embarrassed I couldn't even lift my head!"

"Why didn't you say this earlier? If it had been exposed earlier, these people would have been removed from the clan registry long ago. Why endure until now?"

"Isn't it because we lacked a leader? Yang Fei is a member of the Seventh Branch, after all. Even if we don't give him Face, we still have to give Face to the other people of the Seventh Branch."

"Dian Zai's leadership is indeed good. I think this time, not only should we deal with people like Yang Fei, but also those who haven't had any news or contact for decades. We might as well sever ties completely!"

"That's right, not to mention asking those people to come back and worship their ancestors every year, but at least they can call back to report their safety, right?"

"They don't have us in their hearts, and if we keep worrying about them, aren't we just being pathetic..."

Listening to the clamor of accusations, Yang Fei was truly panicked this time.

He knew his own situation.

Without the clan as his backing, his renovation company would truly be ruined.

So he tremblingly pointed his finger at Yang Dian:

"Yang Dian, I'm your Fifth Uncle, after all. You want to remove me from the clan registry?"

"Are you worthy of your grandfather?"

Yang Dian sneered:

"Am I worthy of my grandfather?"

"Then let me ask you."

"Are you worthy of my First Uncle and Second Uncle?"

"Are you worthy of my dad?"

"Are you worthy of the clan?"

"Come, so many uncles and grandfathers are here, and the Grand Uncles are also here. You tell me, who are you worthy of?"

"You." Yang Dian pointed at Yang Fei.

"You." Yang Dian pointed at the person to Yang Fei's left.

"You." Yang Dian pointed at the person to Yang Fei's right.

"And all of you!"

He stretched out his hand and drew a large circle, encompassing everyone who had come to cause trouble today.

"If you can point out one person and say you are worthy of them, then the matter of updating the clan registry today will be dropped!"

Yang Fei looked around at the people pointing at him, feeling dizzy.

Who was he worthy of?

He was only worthy of himself!

"What, you can't find anyone?"

"Out of over a thousand people in the clan, you can't find one person willing to speak up for you?"

"Fifth Uncle, you've really failed as a person."

Yang Dian's mocking voice reached Yang Fei's ears, finally pulling him back to reality.

He scanned the crowd again, and suddenly, as if grasping at a lifeline.

"Big Brother!"

This cry of "Big Brother" was truly heartfelt, as if he had suffered an immense grievance, filled with the most sincere emotions of human despair.

If someone who didn't know the truth heard it, they would truly be saddened, and those who saw it would shed tears.

Yang Dian's First Uncle looked at his somewhat miserable younger brother, opened his mouth, but in the end, turned his head away.

Yang Fei's breathing hitched, and he shifted his gaze to his Second Uncle, who was standing beside Yang Dian's First Uncle.

This time, before he could even speak, Yang Dian's Second Uncle directly turned and walked away.

Losing his lifeline, Yang Fei staggered back a step, then suddenly thought of something and grabbed Yang Tian beside him:

"I am worthy of my son!"

Then he extended his other hand and grabbed Yang Fuyun, who had come with him to cause trouble:

"I am also worthy of Yang Fuyun."

"And him, him, him."

"I am worthy of all of them!"

"They are also worthy of me!"

After pointing around, he looked at Yang Dian again:

"I've pointed them out, so the matter of updating the clan registry is dropped!"

Yang Dian's lips curled into a sneer:

"Fifth Uncle, I think you're not thinking straight. You should go home and sleep."

With that, Yang Dian turned around and bowed to the four Grand Uncles:

"Grand Uncles, it's time to update the clan registry."

With Yang Dian leading the way, the onlookers also followed suit, bowing to the four Grand Uncles:

"Grand Uncles, it's time to update the clan registry."

Third Uncle, the eldest in seniority, let out a complicated sigh, took two steps forward, stood on his tiptoes, patted Yang Dian's shoulder, and then looked around at the crowd gathered inside and outside the ancestral hall.

"Good!"

"The will of the many is hard to defy, and the wrath of the multitude is hard to appease."

"Today, we shall update the clan registry!"

"Furthermore, Yang Fei, Yang Fuyun, and others have shown disrespect to their elders, have no regard for the clan, are not close to their neighbors, do not protect their brothers, and outside, they have used the clan's name to engage in deception and trickery."

"Today, they shall be removed from the clan registry. They are no longer people of my Taoyuan Yang clan."

"Inform the other clans that have ties with my Yang clan."

With that, he once again heavily tapped the ground with his cane, "Drive them out of the ancestral hall!"

"Good! I've been displeased with them for a long time!"

"It should have been done this way long ago. Is the ancestral hall a place they can come to?"

"Give me the carrying pole, I'll go first!"

Watching Yang Fei and the others being driven out of the ancestral hall amidst the excited crowd, Third Uncle, who had taken Yang Dian into the ancestral hall to light a few incense sticks, sighed again:

"Tell me, how many people outside are truly united in their hatred, genuinely unable to stand people like Yang Fei."

"And how many are trying to leave an impression on you, so that you will take more care of them?"

Yang Dian held the incense and bowed to Goddess of the Sea.

After bowing to Goddess of the Sea, he offered incense to his ancestors.

Finally, he answered Third Uncle's question:

"Admiration for strength, it's human nature."

"Actually, this is good too."

"In the past, the clan was united against outsiders on major issues, but on minor issues, each branch still only looked after its own."

"Now, when I speak, at least they will consider it seriously."

"Actually, isn't this pretty good?"

"Yes~" Third Uncle sighed again:

"Actually, this is pretty good too."

He didn't know if he was sighing that the clan had successors and wouldn't become a mere shell after the elders passed away, as he had once thought.

Or if he was sighing that the new waves were pushing the old ones forward...