HBWnovel Chapter 94 First Encounter with Chen Wanyu
Chapter 94 First Encounter with Chen Wanyu
After seeing off the guests and taking a short rest, the most solemn part of the ceremony began – the ancestral worship at the ancestral hall.
The Ye Clan Ancestral Hall is solemn and dignified.
The enormous shrine was brightly lit by candles and filled with the aroma of incense.
The offering table is fully prepared with five kinds of sacrificial animals, fruits, pastries, incense, and candles.
The eldest grand-uncle, Ye Rongshan, presided over the ceremony, while his grandfather, Ye Dechang, and father, Ye Linzhang, stood solemnly on both sides.
Grandmother, uncles, and other relatives of the Gu family, as well as all clansmen, stood respectfully inside and outside the ancestral hall.
The master of ceremonies was an elder of the clan who was well-versed in etiquette. With a loud and clear voice, the great-uncle Ye Rongshan took the lead and stepped forward. Although his steps were slow, his expression was extremely solemn.
With Ye Linzhang's help, he lit three sticks of incense, bowed deeply three times to the ancestral tablets, and then Ye Linzhang placed them into the huge incense burner on his behalf.
Next, Grandpa Ye Dechang, Father Ye Linzhang, Mother Gu Ruoning, Ye Fan, and Ye Zhuyan stepped forward in turn to respectfully offer incense and pay their respects.
Ye Zhuyan's movements were meticulous, and her expression was solemn, showing her infinite reverence for her ancestors.
Ye Fan stepped forward and lit the incense.
The emcee proclaimed in a resounding voice, "Ye Fan, a descendant of the Ye family, has achieved the highest honor in the imperial examinations and returned to his hometown in glory, blessed by his ancestors. This is to inform our forefathers!"
Amidst the chanting, he gazed at the layers upon layers of memorial tablets, feeling a stronger call from his bloodline than ever before. He bowed deeply three times and carefully inserted the incense sticks into the incense burner.
The wisps of cigarette smoke carried his respect and promise.
The eulogy was read aloud: Grand Uncle Ye Rongshan dictated the main points, and the master of ceremonies read it aloud.
The memorial text reports the achievements and merits of the ancestors, praises their virtues, and prays for the family's prosperity and flourishing for generations to come.
The familiar local accent echoed through the solemn ancestral hall.
"kneel--!"
Under guidance, Ye Fan performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony.
Each time he kowtowed, his forehead touched the cold stone slab, making him feel the weight of his bloodline and the mission of passing on his legacy.
Grand Uncle nodded slightly, and Grandfather Ye Dechang, Ye Linzhang, Gu Ruoning, Ye Zhuyan, and all the Ye clan members present bowed deeply.
Ye Fan offered the sake to the ground and finally threw the gold and silver paper with the words "Top Scholar in the Imperial Examination" into the incense burner.
The flickering firelight illuminated the ancestral tablets and Ye Fan's young yet resolute face, as well as the gratified look in Grand Uncle's eyes.
The entire process was solemn and sacred.
Ye Fan held his breath the entire time, especially under the watchful eye of his great-uncle, which made him feel an even greater sense of responsibility.
He could sense the heavy expectations placed upon him by this elder of the family.
Ye Zhuyan stood quietly beside her mother, her expression focused and devout, silently keeping this family honor and responsibility in her heart.
After the ancestral worship ceremony concluded, the golden rays of the setting sun bathed the ancient lintel of the ancestral hall.
Supported by Ye Linzhang, Great-Uncle Ye Rongshan walked up to Ye Fan, patted his shoulder firmly with his wrinkled hand, and said in a voice tinged with barely perceptible excitement:
"Good boy! Excellent! You have brought honor to the family! You have lived a life of fulfillment! The future of the Ye family rests on your shoulders!"
Grandpa Ye Dechang also held Ye Fan's hand tightly, tears streaming down his face.
"Dad, Mom, you and Xiaofan should go back to Nanzhou tomorrow. He has things to take care of later."
Ye Zhuyan spoke first, her voice gentle yet carrying the composure of someone in charge:
"I stay home with my grandparents and take them around town."
Grandpa and Grandma were even more delighted to hear this:
"Yan Yan will stay? That's great! With Yan Yan around, it'll be lively!"
Gu Ruoning looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with relief:
"Okay, we feel relieved to have you here."
Ye Fan also sincerely said:
"Sister, thank you for your hard work. I'll leave things here in your care."
"Okay, don't worry, you go ahead and do your thing."
Ye Zhuyan smiled faintly, revealing the responsibility and composure of an elder sister.
That evening, the old house was warmly lit.
Ye Zhuyan chatted with her great-uncle, grandparents, maternal grandmother, uncle, aunt, and aunt in the main room.
She sat next to her great-uncle, patiently listening to him recount the family's more distant past; she chatted with her grandmother and aunts about everyday matters; and occasionally responded to her uncle's inquiries about her studies.
She doesn't talk much, but she always knows when to chime in or offer warm tea or soft, sweet pastries.
In the joyful atmosphere, her calm and thoughtful figure is the bond that maintains this liveliness and warmth, and she is the most trustworthy support in the eyes of the elders.
Watching her busy yet orderly figure, Grand Uncle sighed to Ye Dechang:
"Dechang, Zhuyan is like an old camphor tree, steady and reliable, the backbone of the family!"
The next morning.
Ye Linzhang, Gu Ruoning, and Ye Fan prepared to return to the city.
They prepared to depart amidst the reluctant gazes of their relatives at the door.
"Take care, Great-Uncle! Take care, Grandpa and Grandma! Take care, Grandma! Goodbye, Second Uncle, Aunt, Uncle, and Auntie!"
Ye Fan respectfully bid farewell to his elders once again.
Standing beside her great-uncle and grandmother, Ye Zhuyan waved to her parents and younger brother, her voice clear and melodious:
"Drive carefully, let me know when you arrive safely."
...
On the way back, familiar cityscapes flashed past the car window.
Ye Fan leaned back in his chair, took out his phone, and tapped lightly with his fingertips:
"You naughty auntie, you've got a job!"
Almost instant reply:
"Honey~ I'm overseeing the renovations at the company! It's all very noisy. What kind of work is it?"
Ye Fan's lips curled slightly as he quickly replied:
"I'm flying to Nanjing this afternoon, departing from Gaoqi at 12:45 PM and arriving in Lukou around 2:30 PM. Could you arrange a time to pick me up?"
Back in Jinling, Liu Ruyan, who was wearing a hard hat and supervising the noisy renovation site, was stunned when she saw the message.
She walked to a quieter corner, her fingertips flying across the paper:
"Huh? You're coming over now too?"
Ye Fan:
"right."
Liu Ruyan replied with a hint of happiness:
"Okay! I promise I'll be there on time! Looking forward to my husband's arrival~"
The three returned to Nanzhou. Ye Fan quickly packed his luggage, grabbed a small bag, and went out.
"Mom, I have to go out for a bit."
I hailed a taxi at the roadside.
Ye Fan said to the driver:
"Driver, to the airport!"
The journey to Takasaki Airport went smoothly.
Ye Fan is doing well now and has bought a first-class ticket.
Scan your boarding pass to enter a quiet and elegant space.
Soft lighting, comfortable sofas, and the subtle aroma of coffee and essential oils in the air create a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the waiting hall outside.
As soon as Ye Fan sat down, a young flight attendant dressed in a navy blue uniform with an elegant red leather belt around her waist walked gracefully over.
Her makeup was exquisite, her smile appropriate, and she exuded a well-trained affability. She bowed slightly before Ye Fan, her voice soft and pleasant:
"Hello Mr. Ye, your flight is ready for boarding now. Would you like me to take you there?"
She was good-looking, and with makeup, she was at least on par with the internet goddesses of later generations.
In his previous life, Ye Fan would have blushed and been at a loss for words after being in such close proximity.
But at the moment.
His expression remained calm and composed. He merely glanced at the time, then stood up calmly and said indifferently:
"Okay, let's go."
Money emboldens men.
Aside from real estate and shares, he still has over 40 billion in cash, enough to handle 99% of things.
"Okay, please come with me."
The flight attendant maintained a perfect smile, stepped aside to make room for her, and led the way with light steps.
Ye Fan boarded the plane directly through the exclusive VIP channel with almost no waiting.
Find your seat.
3A by the window.
The chair is as large as a single sofa, with enough space to fully stretch out your legs or even lie flat.
Ye Fan suddenly understood why rich people like to pay several times the price to fly first class.
At least he doesn't want to fly economy class anymore. He and Liu Ruyan flew a few times recently, but she bought the tickets and they always flew economy class.
I just fastened my seatbelt.
As I put down the small table to close my eyes and rest for a moment, a faint, pleasant fragrance of perfume approached, accompanied by light footsteps.
A flight attendant who was even taller stopped next to his seat.
Her long hair was tied up, revealing her delicate features.
She doesn't have the typical internet celebrity vibe; instead, she has just the right amount of baby fat, which adds a touch of adorable charm to her dignified demeanor.
What's most striking is her height, which appears to be over 1.75 meters, and her incredibly long, straight, and well-proportioned legs encased in classic black stockings.
Hmm! To paraphrase those bastards on the internet in later years: I could play with those legs for a year.
She straightened her skirt, half-squatted next to Ye Fan, and asked:
"Hello Mr. Ye, welcome aboard. I am Chen Wanyu, the chief purser for first class on this flight. It's a pleasure to serve you."
Chen Wanyu handed over a hot towel:
"Please wipe your hands with a hot towel first and relax."
Ye Fan took the towel.
He couldn't help but sigh again: such meticulous and thoughtful service, such pleasing demeanor, no wonder the profession of flight attendant is something many people aspire to.
Wealth brings not only material enjoyment, but also this kind of subtle and profound top-level experience.