Only five thousand? Not ten thousand?

The branch of Zhou Cheng's Family was not very populous.

After hearing his grandfather Zhou Daoming's stories from his youth last night, Zhou Cheng gained a deeper understanding of the Zhou Family's past.

His great-grandfather and great-grandmother fell ill and passed away when his grandfather was six, so they had no other children. After that, his grandfather Zhou Daoming followed a Taoist priest to a Taoist temple, where he studied the Dao from childhood and only came down the mountain when he grew up!

After descending the mountain, he married and had children, but he didn't have many—only Zhou Yuanbo!

Back then, having just one child was really too few, since other families had three or four, or even six or seven children!

Regarding this, because Zhou Daoming studied the Dao, he emphasized following one's nature and the natural way of the Dao, so he didn't force himself to have more children like others did at the time.

Thus, it wasn't until Zhou Cheng's generation that the population of Zhou Cheng's Family grew, resulting in four siblings.

While the Zhou Family's population wasn't thriving, other families were much more prosperous.

As such, in the ancestral hall, besides Zhou Cheng's Family, representatives from other major families had also come.

And not just from Zhou Family Village, but also from all the Zhou families throughout the entire town.

This meant that when Zhou Cheng entered the ancestral hall, he could hear lively chatter.

A huge crowd of people!

In his previous life, Zhou Cheng's Family was also in a central province, so he had experienced this kind of atmosphere before.

But back then, he had no money and no seniority, so he was always invisible, just listening to those big bosses or high-ranking Family members chatting away.

Zhou Daoming walked ahead with a cane, Zhou Yuanbo followed beside him, while Zhou Cheng and Zhou Feiyu trailed behind them, doing nothing in particular.

Zhou Cheng had long been accustomed to such scenes, but Zhou Feiyu hadn't, so he was even more curious about this Family culture than Zhou Cheng, constantly looking around like a curious baby, examining the carvings in the ancestral hall.

As the four entered the ancestral hall, someone immediately came forward to greet them.

And then came the earlier conversation.

Hearing this, Zhou Daoming didn't speak. When it came to money matters, he usually didn't interfere much. Whether Zhou Yuanbo donated or not, he wouldn't say anything.

He left it all to the younger generation to decide.

As for Zhou Cheng, hearing this, he furrowed his brows slightly.

He looked at the men in front of him. They were a few years older than Zhou Yuanbo, around their sixties, each dressed in Tang suits, looking quite presentable.

Clearly, these men had some means, with Family assets probably in the tens of millions, or even a small goal or two.

If not for Zhou Cheng's Family, each of them could be considered pillars of the ancestral hall, but with Zhou Cheng's Family here, their wealth paled in comparison.

Moreover, their words grated on Zhou Cheng's ears.

What did they mean by 'since your Family is rich'? So, how about your Family contributing fifty million this time?

Who asks for money so directly, so bluntly, and even so righteously expects our Family to pay up?

This ancestral hall isn't just our Family's, nor do we alone benefit from its Luck.

So how dare this old man so straightforwardly ask our Family for fifty million?

This is fifty million, not five hundred yuan! And certainly not five yuan!

Hearing this, Zhou Yuanbo also felt uncomfortable.

He had plenty of money. Fifty million was a lot to him, but it was just a number; contributing it wouldn't affect the Zhou Family in any way.

But hearing it put this way, he wasn't willing to give it!

And this wasn't about rebuilding from scratch, just repairs! That requires fifty million? Do they think I'm an idiot?

Or do they see me as a cash cow?

"Yuanbo, what's the matter? Having difficulties? We're all Family. Your Chenyang Group is worth trillions!"

"I even saw in the news before that your son spent twenty billion to acquire twenty percent of a shell company's shares. How come you're reluctant to contribute fifty million for the Family's ancestral hall repairs now?"

Seeing Zhou Yuanbo frown and remain silent, the old man who had just spoken immediately voiced his dissatisfaction.

"Uncle Seventeen, that's not what I meant," Zhou Yuanbo replied promptly.

Hearing Zhou Yuanbo's words, Zhou Cheng was slightly taken aback before realizing.

He hadn't expected this old man, who looked only about ten years older than Zhou Yuanbo, to be a generation senior to him.

Just as Zhou Yuanbo was about to explain, another person spoke up to him.

"Yuanbo, fifty million is indeed a lot, but the Family ancestral hall concerns the entire Family's future, especially for your Family."

"Think about it: back when you were a poor student studying in Shanghai, how did you meet the Miss Chen of the Chen Family, and how did you win her favor? Wasn't it all thanks to our ancestors' blessings!"

"Why did your Family rise to become a wealthy Family in Shanghai? Wasn't it because our ancestors exerted their power!"

"Do you forget our ancestors now that you've made it big!?"

This person was about the same age as Zhou Yuanbo, but unlike the previous one, he wasn't a generation senior.

"Yuanwen, what nonsense are you talking? I was the one who paid to build this ancestral hall!" Zhou Yuanbo couldn't talk back to Zhou Daotian earlier due to seniority.

But with his peers, Zhou Yuanbo had no such restraint!

He glared at Zhou Yuanwen discontentedly. Previously, the Zhou Family's ancestral hall wasn't here! It was in another village. After he became successful, he tore down the old ancestral hall and spent a fortune to build this new one here!

How can you say I've forgotten our ancestors now?!

Hearing Zhou Yuanwen's words, Zhou Cheng glanced at him indifferently.

Wow, all the hard work and struggles of his mother and Family in Shanghai were reduced to the ancestors' credit in his mouth.

He really knows how to find excuses to ask for money!

"Yuanbo, don't get upset. Who said you didn't pay to build this ancestral hall?" Zhou Daotian on the side quickly interjected when he saw Zhou Yuanbo getting angry.

"But it's been over ten years since it was built. Now we're talking about repairs!"

Then he looked at Zhou Daoming beside him: "Big Brother, how about you talk to Yuanbo?"

"Exactly, Uncle, we know fifty million is a lot, but only Yuanbo has the means now," Zhou Yuanwen also turned to Zhou Daoming.

But hearing this, Zhou Daoming waved his hand.

"This has nothing to do with me. I'm not in charge of my Family. If you want money, ask the one who manages the money."

After saying this, Zhou Daoming walked further into the ancestral hall.

Once Zhou Daoming was gone, they had no choice but to turn their attention back to Zhou Yuanbo.

And then a voice spoke up.

"Old man, I think what these Uncles say makes sense. Besides, our Family isn't short on money. How about I decide: our Family will contribute five thousand."

Before Zhou Yuanbo could speak, Zhou Cheng spoke first.

As soon as the words fell, everyone looked at Zhou Cheng!

Hearing this, Zhou Daotian and Zhou Yuanwen immediately beamed with joy.

They happily said to Zhou Cheng: "You're Yuanbo's youngest son, Xiao Cheng, right? You're so sensible."

Then they didn't forget to add to Zhou Yuanbo: "Yuanbo, did you hear that? Xiao Cheng said fifty million. Are you less sensible than a child?"

"Wait, elders, you've misunderstood. I said our Family will contribute five thousand," Zhou Cheng stopped them.

"What?!" Zhou Yuanwen and the others were stunned.

"Five thousand? No ten thousand???"

"That's right, just five thousand, no ten thousand!" Zhou Cheng shrugged.