In the suburbs of Huadu, Yunlan Mountain.
This day, was the liveliest day of the year on Yunlan Mountain.
Every household in Huadu City was empty, as all shops had closed for the day.
On Yunlan Mountain, shoulder rubbed against shoulder; it was teeming with visitors.
Zhou Changcun, "making a big splash as a newcomer to office," although he had been the Patriarch of the Zhou Family before, he previously was not involved in management, with authority falling by the wayside.
But now, after regaining control, he began a sweeping reform, and just from the overall scale of today's feast on Yunlan Mountain, one could speculate a thing or two.
The Double Ninth Festival this year had been arranged by Zhou Changcun to appear incredibly lavish.
The arrangements on the mountaintop more than two thousand meters high didn't need mentioning, remaining as luxurious as ever.
But starting from the base of the mountain all the way up, tables and chairs had been placed everywhere.
This was absolutely impossible in the past.
In previous years, the food for tonight's event was provided by a contracted family, but tables and chairs were only sparsely placed at the summit and halfway up the mountain, because accommodating seating for the tens of thousands of participants from the entire city was indeed too difficult.
However, now Zhou Changcun had almost achieved it.
The tables and chairs scattered all over the mountain were clear evidence of this.
There might still be some people without seats, but Zhou Changcun had done his best, and everyone saw it and kept it in mind.
For the common people, even a small kindness could be treasured for a long time.
When night fell, Yunlan Mountain was flooded with people.
It was a carnival for the whole city, a day of relaxation for everyone, because on this day, all businesses in Huadu were to close unconditionally, with no exceptions allowed.
Zhou Changcun and other members of the Zhou Family had already taken their seats at the pinnacle of Yunlan Mountain, quietly waiting for everyone's arrival, upholding the host's hospitality.
"The Patriarch of the Qian Family has arrived with the members of the Qian Family!"
"The Jin Family Patriarch has arrived with the members of the Jin Family!"
Just like in ancient times, whenever an important guest arrived, someone would loudly announce their identity so that everyone present could be aware.
It was the same now. The Zhou Family had sent out a Mastery-level expert of Internal Martial Arts, and whenever an important guest arrived, he would amplify his Qi Force to loudly announce their arrival. His voice had such penetrating power that it was even clearer than a loudspeaker to the ears of those who heard it.
With the arrival of one important figure after another, the time for the banquet to begin was drawing closer.
"The Patriarch of the Wu Family, Wu Yong, has arrived with the Wu family members!"
Following a loud call, the number one family of Huadu, the Wu family, had also arrived.
In the past, except for when the Wu family hosted the event themselves, they were always the last to arrive, signifying their status.
Being the last to arrive meant taking the final, most anticipated spot.
At this moment, a little girl asked, "Mommy, mommy, are we going to start eating now?"
As she spoke, her eyes were fixed eagerly on the delicacies laid out on the table.
From the clothing of her and her mother, it was apparent their family was not wealthy.
The chicken, duck, fish, seafood, and exotic delicacies on the table represented treats she might not even taste once a year. T@his cha&pt%e%r was o.ri$gi.nal!l!y# poste$d^ on *..
So her gaze toward the food was filled with longing.
The little girl's mother looked into the distance, shook her head, and said, "We can't eat just yet, because all the important people haven't arrived."
"Huh? Haven't all the important people of the Wu family arrived? Before, wasn't it that as soon as they arrived, we could start eating?" the girl asked confusedly, "Does that mean the Wu family is no longer the biggest family in Huadu?"
"Shh—! Mind your words!"
Immediately, someone warned next to them, "The Wu family members have all arrived; be careful with what you say, or you might bring disaster upon us."
The little girl's mother scoffed, "I don't believe the Wu family would be so unreasonable. They wouldn't take issue with a child of only three or four, would they?"
"Are you truly naive or just pretending? Of course the Wu family won't cause a scene with you, but... sigh!" The man didn't dare to continue, fearing that he might attract trouble to himself. Reminding the mother and daughter was the most he was willing to risk.
Although for the Double Ninth Mountain Climbing event, the Four Great Families generally followed the rules set decades ago, it didn't mean they were easy to talk to!
The Four Great Families, especially the dominant Wu family, were extremely tyrannical!
They moved unbridled through Huadu, feared by all, leaving desolation in their wake!
At this time, a few youths at the very end of the Wu family's procession just happened to overhear their conversation.
The group exchanged glances, then broke away from the Wu family's main group and headed straight toward the little girl.
The man who had advised the mother and daughter didn't utter another word, fearing he might be implicated.
In front of powerful and unreasonable forces like the Wu family, even the most prideful person had to bow their head.
Moreover, he himself was not a man of great pride. His warning had come simply because he knew the mother from their regular interactions, and possibly harbored other thoughts, so he had spoken kindly.
But when he saw the Wu family approaching with displeasure, he immediately fell silent.