Eternal Beast Taming Family

The villagers watching and the guests already at the banquet discussed and speculated about what was being carried.

Some of them were knowledgeable enough to answer questions for those around them.

"That's naturally the plaque. Newly promoted aristocratic families will have a plaque made by the town government to signify their officially recognized aristocratic status."

"Wow, the Chu family is something else. They were so quiet in the village before, but now they've suddenly become a powerful family. We'll have to flatter and fawn over them more from now on."

"No matter what, our Fuhe Village has done a great favor for the Chu family. It was our village that took them in back then. Now that they are doing well, we hope they will not forget their roots."

"We don't ask for great wealth or status; we'll be content if we can help the villagers as much as possible."

While some harbor ulterior motives, others are reasonable and understanding.

"Aunt Xu, what are you saying? The Chu family has already helped our Fuhe Village enough."

Before the Chu family came, we were just one of the villagers. It was the old man of the Chu family who helped us discover the mine and found us a job raising cranes.

Even during the last snowstorm, most of our village survived thanks to the reminder from Old Master Chu. We should be the ones being grateful.

"What you're saying isn't right. Doesn't the Chu family live on land in our Fuhe Village? If it weren't for our Fuhe Village, would the Chu family have even had a place to settle down?"

Upon hearing this, a soft chuckle came from the side. "Contract master families are extremely popular wherever they go. Why would they need you to take them in? Perhaps you've become unaware of your own status because you think they're so easy to talk to?"

The soft laugh and the words spoken made the woman with the cloth covering her head look quite unpleasant.

"Hmph, let's wait and see. Now that the Chu family has risen to power, they're going to look down on us common folk. Aren't they afraid of being gossiped about behind their backs?"

This makes it sound like the Chu family has done something ungrateful.

Those around frowned slightly upon hearing this. Even if they were jealous, they shouldn't have said it at this time.

If someone tells the master, we might let it go today, but will we be able to stop arguing with her in the future?

The surrounding villagers weren't fools either. Upon hearing this, they quietly moved away from the woman, leaving a large empty space around her.

Realizing that she was being ostracized by those around her, the woman's face turned pale and then red. She stiffened her neck, wiped her hands on her headscarf, and swayed her hips as she walked down the path.

This minor disturbance in a corner of the square did not affect the joyful atmosphere of the entire banquet.

Bai Liangshu directed the people carrying the plaques to settle in front of the door.

"Mr. Chu, I congratulate you on the auspicious establishment of your family. May your family prosper and rise ever higher from this day forward."

"Director Xie, let's drink until we drop later!"

"Definitely, definitely. Come on, let's hang up this plaque first. The town mayor will be here soon."

"If you don't mind, let me, the Stone Spirit, do it. They're the most suitable for this job." It was Shi Jinghan who spoke.

Chu Jingyu did not refuse, "Then I'll trouble you."

A three-meter-tall "Stone Spirit" beside Shi Jinghan held up the plaque covered with red cloth with both hands and gently placed it in the spot reserved in advance at the Chu family's gate.

After adjusting the plaque to a suitable position, Shi Jinghan finally allowed "Shi Ling" to leave the doorway.

"The plaque can be unveiled now."

The voice was soft, yet it carried with an overwhelming force to the ears of everyone in the square.

The entire environment fell silent instantly. Suddenly, two figures appeared a few meters above the Chu family's gate.

One of them was the town mayor, who rarely showed his face, and the other was Sun Chunchen, the owner behind the very famous Yaoxintang pharmacy in town.

The others couldn't immediately recognize the two, but seeing that they could stand upright in the air without relying on anything, they realized that the two were definitely not ordinary people.

Therefore, he dared not say much, for fear of offending the important person and incurring some punishment.

Although somewhat puzzled as to why the town mayor and Sun Chunchen knew each other and appeared at the same time, Chu Jingyu quickly explained:

"Please, Mayor and Brother Sun, unveil the plaque for my Chu family."

Tang Cheng and Sun Chunchen were already standing on either side of the plaque, so they probably had this idea in mind all along, which is why neither of them refused.

Instead, each person held one side of the red silk cloth covering the plaque, nodded to each other, and then tore the red silk cloth off the plaque.

The Chu Family

The two large, gilded characters shone brightly in the direct sunlight.

"The Chu family of Zhiyao County and Fuhe Village, Yuzhen Town, Qianling Prefecture, Jingyuan Dynasty, has been blessed by Heaven and has now been promoted to the ninth rank of commoner on the 3rd day of the 10th month of the Yuanhe calendar. It is hoped that they will strictly abide by the family's rules and protect the local area."

Chu Jingyu's face revealed barely suppressed excitement. After leading all the Chu family members to bow and pay their respects before the plaque, he said in a respectful voice:

"The Chu family will always remember its family rules and protect this region."

Tang Cheng nodded slightly, then raised his voice again:

"The Chu family became a poor family, and subsequently, the four villages of Chenliu, Fuhe, Qingsha, and Tuwo came under the jurisdiction of the Chu family. All important matters, large and small, within these villages were managed by members of the Chu family."

If the Chu family acts unfairly, the villagers under their jurisdiction can report it to the town mayor's office.

After these words were spoken, everyone except those who knew the inside story was stunned for a moment before exclamations of surprise rang out.

"Government of four villages, the Chu family must have quite a bit of influence."

"This means Yuzhen has gained another local tyrant."

"How much tax revenue should there be from the public land of the four villages? If I could have it all, wouldn't I be rich?"

"They come from a family of contract masters; do you think they'd even bother with that little bit of land and produce?"

Amidst the murmurs, Tang Cheng and Sun Chunchen slowly descended from mid-air.

Chu Jingyu stepped aside from the doorway and gestured for everyone to take their seats.

Tang Cheng and Sun Chunchen gestured to each other to invite each other in, and then entered the Chu family's courtyard side by side.

The table prepared in the Chu family courtyard was large enough, so there was plenty of room for the six members of the Chu family, the six members of the Shi and Zhang families, as well as Tang Cheng and Sun Chunchen.

After arranging for everyone to be seated, Chu Jingyu went to the courtyard gate again to ensure that everyone inside the courtyard and in the square outside could hear him.

"Today is a momentous day for the founding of our Chu family. To share this joy with you all, we have decided to offer three Spirit Awakening slots to our guests free of charge."

After the banquet begins, each person will be given a number card. Those with the character "Chu" on their cards will be entitled to one slot for spiritual awakening. Those who have a slot may use it themselves or pass it on to others as they see fit.

As he spoke, the three people Chu Jingyu had arranged in advance began carrying boxes and walking between the seats to ensure that everyone could draw a number.

Sitting in the seat closest to the Chu family's gate, Bai Liangshu held up his number plate and asked Chen Gengcai beside him, "..."

Did I win the lottery?