Chapter 23: The Young Clan Leader
County Magistrate Huang, his face grim, picked up his cup, took a few sips of tea, slammed the cup down, and looked at Li Wengang, asking in a cold voice, “Li Wengang, you know nothing about the actions of Li Wencai’s family in your clan, do you?”
“Li Wencai is in Xiao Li Village, I…” Li Wengang broke out in a cold sweat.
“Then let me ask you again, when Li Xiucai achieved this success, did you expect it, or not?” County Magistrate Huang continued to ask.
“I expected it, I didn’t, I didn’t expect it,” Li Wengang stammered.
“Li Xiucai’s family are orphans, with three sisters and one younger sister, he is the only male heir. He is only seventeen this year, still a child. I ask you, who from your clan accompanied Li Xiucai when he traveled to Hangcheng?” County Magistrate Huang looked at Li Wengang.
Li Wengang looked up at County Magistrate Huang, opened his mouth, but could not speak.
How could he know! He only found out that Li Xuedong had achieved success when he received the good news.
“Then who accompanied Li Xiucai to Pingjiang City for the Prefectural Examination in April?” County Magistrate Huang raised his voice, clearly very displeased.
Li Wengang bowed down, his head almost touching the ground.
“Then let me ask you again, Li Xiucai passed the County Examination in February, do you know about this?”
“I know, I know!” Li Wengang quickly straightened his upper body, nodding incessantly.
He truly knew about this.
“When did you know? How did you know?” County Magistrate Huang’s tone softened.
“It was just two days after he passed the County Examination. His Eldest Sister pushed him over in a cart, right in the Ancestral Hall, right there. We were all there. He said he came third in the County Examination and wanted to take the Prefectural Examination, so he came to ask for Copper Coins…”
Li Wengang’s words came to an abrupt halt.
Li Xuedong and his sister came to ask for Copper Coins, but they didn’t give them a single one.
“Mm, he asked you for money. What happened next, continue speaking.” County Magistrate Huang glanced sideways at Li Wengang and picked up his cup.
“Well, regarding the County Examination, I, in the clan, those who ranked first in the County Examination all passed, but none of them passed later. In recent years, our clan has not been well-off. I, it’s not just me, it’s everyone. This is everyone’s intention. They all said that the clan is poor, and we should wait until Xuedong passes the Xiucai examination, wait until…”
Facing County Magistrate Huang’s cold sideways glance, Li Wengang’s words became more and more vague.
“Mm, I understand everything now.” County Magistrate Huang slammed his cup heavily onto the Table, and pointed at the people kneeling all over the ground, “And you? Do you all understand?”
“Your clan leader, Li Wencai, harmed his fellow clansmen, instigated his descendants to commit violence, and seized property, and he knew nothing about it. He paid no attention to your clan’s scholarly seed, a prodigy like Li Xiucai, and even made things difficult for him, demanding that he first pass the Xiucai examination. Alas!”
County Magistrate Huang sighed deeply, pointed at Li Wengang, and said to the crowd, “With such a clan leader, it’s no wonder your Li Clan’s reputation is ruined and your descendants are unsuccessful.”
County Magistrate Huang sighed several times, swept his finger in a circle, “How many branches does your Li family have? Have the heads of each branch and family come? If so, step forward.”
“I ask you, do you want such a person to continue as clan leader, to continue to harm your Li Clan until he harms your entire clan to death, or do you want to reform and eliminate evil, and revive your family’s honor?”
“Naturally, we want to revive our family’s honor. We ask the County Magistrate for guidance.” Li Shikuan, a Clan Elder from the Wang character branch, quickly straightened up and replied loudly.
“Is this what you all mean?” County Magistrate Huang looked at the heads of each branch one by one.
The heads of each branch met County Magistrate Huang’s gaze and quickly nodded.
“To revive the family’s honor, you must elect a new clan leader and new clan elders. I think, let’s do it now. First, elect a clan leader, and then let the clan leader lead you to discuss and decide on a method to re-elect the clan elders. I will take some responsibility and be a witness for you.” County Magistrate Huang’s voice softened.
“I believe our Xiucai Scholar should be our clan leader.” A middle-aged man from the Man character branch bowed slightly to County Magistrate Huang, cupped his hands towards Li Xuedong, and said loudly.
Li Xuedong’s eyes widened, and his hands flailed like a windmill, “Ah? Me? No, no, no! I can’t! I can’t, I can’t!”
“Cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world – this is the duty of a scholar. Li Xiucai cannot only focus on his own self-cultivation. Your clansmen are your support, and also your responsibility.” County Magistrate Huang looked at Li Xuedong, his tone gentle, but his expression solemn and serious.
“Yes.” Li Xuedong, burdened by County Magistrate Huang’s grand pronouncement, dared not wave his hands anymore. These words left him no choice but to agree.
But how could he have the ability to be the clan leader? He had never even been a head of a household!
He was very scared.
“Although your clan has withered branches like Li Wencai and ignorant and foolish people like Li Wengang, there are also many who are sensible, wise, kind, and dutiful. These clan elders are not all ignorant and foolish. As clan leader, you must first learn to discern and use people.” County Magistrate Huang gently instructed Li Xuedong.
Li Jinzhu stood beside him, staring at Li Xuedong and blinking continuously. Li Xuedong subconsciously looked at his Eldest Sister, paused for a moment, and then, as if divinely inspired, said tremblingly, “Student, student often hears, hears, hears elders say that Tang Weng Weng of the Wang character branch is very sensible. Teacher also said that Tang Weng Weng of the Wang character branch is very sensible and very rare. That…”
Old Master Kuan stood among the clan elders, his head slightly bowed, a faint smile on his face.
Their Xiucai Scholar was very intelligent, just a bit young, and had no one to guide him before. To react like this under such pressure now, he would surely achieve great things in the future. This was the fortune of their Li family, and even more so, the fortune of their Wang character branch.
“Eldest Uncle is indeed sensible and just. We people from the Man character branch respect Eldest Uncle the most!” The middle-aged man from the Man character branch who had spoken earlier said loudly.
“Yes, yes, yes! In these ten miles and eight villages, who doesn’t say that Uncle is a good person!” Third Uncle Li Wenhua also quickly chimed in.
A chorus of agreement arose from the surroundings.
“Which one is it?” County Magistrate Huang bowed slightly, surveying the clan elders huddled together.
“I am Li Shikuan.” Li Shikuan quickly stepped forward and bowed to County Magistrate Huang.
“You should not refuse. Li Xiucai is young, and secondly, Li Xiucai’s most important task is to concentrate on his studies. I think, let him make the decisions on important clan matters, and as for the daily trivial matters, you can bear more for your grandnephew, so that he can concentrate on his studies. This is also beneficial to the family and the clan.” County Magistrate Huang said with a smile to Li Shikuan.
“Yes. I respectfully accept the County Magistrate’s instructions.” Li Shikuan replied respectfully.
“You must re-discuss and decide on a method, and elect clan elders. I’m afraid you will also have to rewrite the Clan Rules. These are detailed tasks, and I will not be watching over them continuously. Once you have elected the clan elders and revised the Clan Rules, have Li Xiucai write a notice for me to see.” County Magistrate Huang said to Li Shikuan, continuing with a smile.
Li Shikuan quickly bowed in agreement.
