Chapter 96: Those Were Just Words Spoken In The Heat Of Youth—how Could Anyone Take Them Seriously!
“Ah?” Lin Jing was stunned by this sentence, “Not interested in the clan? Does that mean she wants to leave the clan?”
“Would you be interested in a clan that’s only good for dragging you down and gossiping?” the Old Clan Leader asked.
“I······”
“These years, I’ve done wrong. I thought it was all for the good of the clan, but now it seems I’ve ruined the clan from the roots!” The Old Clan Leader seemed to have all his energy drained, visibly wilting, which scared Lin Jing badly.
“Dad, Dad, don’t scare me. Who said the clan’s roots are rotten? Everyone’s doing just fine, aren’t they? They all listen to you pretty well. Just say what’s wrong!”
The Old Clan Leader shook his head, opened his pair of turbid old eyes, and moved his body wanting to get out of bed.
“Dad, where are you going?” Lin Jing hurriedly supported his body.
“I’ll go sit at your Uncle Lin Six’s home.” After thinking, the Old Clan Leader added: “You come with me to listen too!” His tone carried an indescribable dejection.
Lin Jing supported the Old Clan Leader to Uncle Lin Six’s home.
“You’re here? This is chrysanthemum flowers that Xin Yatou picked and sent me. It clears heat. Have some!” Probably having anticipated their visit, Uncle Lin Six had put away the medicinal herbs and set out a rough teapot and teacup.
“Old Six,” the Old Clan Leader took a sip of the slightly bitter but sweet-aftertaste chrysanthemum tea, and said with full eyes of dejection: “Back then you said I only knew how to muddle along every day, and sooner or later I’d ruin the entire clan. Now I admit it, you were right.”
Uncle Lin Six waved his hand and laughed: “Those were just words said in the heat of youthful vigor, how could they be taken seriously!”
“What happened back then was indeed my fault to you. If not for me, you wouldn’t be alone and childless to this day. I······”
“Alright! What happened back then was so long ago, I’ve almost forgotten it. You don’t need to bring it up again! Come, drink tea. This tea is pretty good!” Uncle Lin Six stopped him from saying more and poured the cup full of pale yellowish-green liquid again.
“You don’t need to worry too much. Xin Yatou is a good girl, she won’t make it too hard for you. She’s given you face in those previous matters, hasn’t she? But if you keep making her swallow her anger, she probably won’t stand for it. If she’s really pushed too far, it won’t end well. And I think these people are targeting their family too; none of them are easy to deal with!” Uncle Lin Six also took a sip of tea and said slowly.
“But the clansmen······”
“Clansmen, clansmen, all you know is clansmen. You’ve lived half your life for the clansmen, and what did you get in the end? Those who cause trouble curse you behind your back, those who feel wronged blame you. Tell me, isn’t that the case!” Uncle Lin Six suddenly slapped the table and roared loudly, startling Lin Jing.
He suddenly realized he was especially prone to being startled today.
The Old Clan Leader fell silent. He actually knew the clansmen had plenty of complaints about him behind his back, but he felt he was doing it for the good of the entire clan. He hadn’t done wrong. Even when he caused his younger brother’s daughter-in-law to die along with the child in her belly, besides feeling sorry for his younger brother, he didn’t think he was wrong.
But now, he had to admit that his actions had emboldened some clansmen, making them think that no matter what happened, as long as he was the clan leader, there wouldn’t be serious consequences. Just like when it came out that Lin Xin’s grandfather was actually killed by Old Man Lin, the Old Lin Family was still living carefree in the village!
“Old Six, brother begs you one more time, you······”
“No need to say it. If you’re here to drink tea, fine. If it’s something else, then you should go!” Uncle Lin Six very straightforwardly shut him down; this was the second time today.
“I······ Sigh!” The Old Clan Leader let out a deep sigh, shakily stood up, and went home with Lin Jing’s support.
“Dad~” Lin Jing looked at his father who suddenly seemed to have aged several years, and called out heartbrokenly.
“Son, tell Dad the truth: do you want to continue being this clan leader?” The Old Clan Leader looked seriously at his son, whom he had groomed as successor for half his life, and asked.
“Dad, I······” Lin Jing lowered his head; he didn’t want to.
“Alright, Dad understands.”
The next day, Lin Xin received notice from the clansmen that they were selecting a new clan leader and asked her to bring Lin Nan to the ancestral hall.
“Why are they suddenly selecting a new clan leader?” Lin Xin heard clansmen whispering on the road.
“No idea! The Old Clan Leader is indeed getting old; probably wants Uncle Jing to take over!”
“Then why call all of us?”
“Who knows! We’ll see when we get there!”
Lin Xin narrowed her eyes. Could it be related to what she said to Lin Jing yesterday?
When they arrived at the ancestral hall, basically all the Lin Clan members were there. The Old Clan Leader sat in the main seat, with the other clan elders sitting on both sides respectively.
“Today I called everyone here to select a new clan leader. See if anyone wants to do it; you can nominate yourself or recommend someone. Speak up!” The Old Clan Leader gripped his walking stick, his gaze sweeping over every clansman’s face, then mockingly lowered his eyes.
The clansmen looked at each other, not knowing what to say. With the Old Clan Leader stepping down, shouldn’t the next clan leader be his son? Looking at Lin Jing standing in front of the crowd, this question popped into everyone’s mind at the same time.
“Uncle Jing, I propose the next clan leader be Uncle Jing. What does everyone think?” A slightly sharp voice rang out from the crowd. Everyone followed the voice and found it was surprisingly Lin Shu speaking.
As a girl, Lin Xin had no qualification to enter the ancestral hall, but Lin Nan was too young; she wasn’t reassured letting him go in alone. In the end, they chose a corner closest to the door, with Lin Nan standing just inside the threshold and Lin Xin outside.
And from her position, she could easily see that after Lin Shu spoke, quite a few people flashed discontent in their eyes, and some even wanted to say something but were stopped by those beside them.
Lin Xin couldn’t help shaking her head, not knowing what the Old Clan Leader would think if he knew about this situation.
“No, Lin Jing is my son. I don’t think he has the ability to lead the clansmen to good days, so the next clan leader won’t be him. You should select someone else!” The Old Clan Leader’s aged voice passed through the crowd into Lin Xin’s ears. She raised her brow; did her words have such a big effect?
With a “buzz,” the clansmen were all blown up by this one sentence. Suddenly all sorts of chatter erupted, noisy like a vegetable market.
“Since Uncle Jing isn’t continuing, how about Uncle Feng.” A Lin Clan member shouted loudly.
“Yes, yes, let Uncle Feng do it. I agree.” Another clansman followed.
“I agree too.”
More and more voices of agreement rang out. Lin Xin clearly felt the Old Clan Leader’s disappointment, Lin Jing’s relief, and several clansmen’s hesitation to speak. But Uncle Feng?
An image of a tall, sturdy, taciturn man appeared in her mind.
“Esteemed clan elders, what do you think? Do you feel Lin Feng can take on the clan leader position?” the Old Clan Leader asked the clan elders seated in two rows.
Uncle Lin Six was the first to voice support, and after the others exchanged glances, they also cast yes votes.
“Lin Feng, since everyone has nominated you, from today onward you are the new clan leader of our Lin Clan. In the future, you must manage the clansmen well and lead the Lin Clan to prosperity. Can you achieve that?” The Old Clan Leader waved his hand to quiet everyone, then said.
“Sure. As long as we all unite from now on, I guarantee I can manage the clan well.” Lin Feng’s tall figure stood out, saying in his deep, gruff voice.
The selection of the Lin Clan’s new clan leader was settled; Lin Feng was elected as the new clan leader.
Although to Lin Xin, this selection was like a farce, most of the clansmen seemed quite satisfied.
Thanks to caroletu, Song of the Goat and Story of the Eyes, Fallen Leaves Know Autumn-Ad, Mmy Dang, and Peace-aD for your votes, thanks to caroletu and Reader2023609337-ac for the tips. Thank you everyone for your continued support, many thanks!
