Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 355 - 338: Han Family’s Mascot!

Chapter 355: Chapter 338: Han Family’s Mascot!

At the head of the Han Family’s main hall, three individuals were now seated.

Directly in the center, feasting heartily and even cutting lamb with a small knife, was none other than Zhang San.

To the left sat Han Baiwen, his face expressionless but his eyes filled with helplessness.

On the right sat the current Head of the Han Family, Han Mingshi.

Below them, although there were many seated and the tables were furnished with food, all were important figures of the Han Family and its most distinguished juniors.

But at this moment, the hall was silent, save for the scraping sound of the blade cutting through the lamb meat and scraping against the bone.

Zhang San cut off a piece of lamb, dipped it in the sauce beside him, and then placed the meat onto a small plate, passing it to Han Baiwen.

Han Baiwen’s eyebrows slightly furrowed as he glanced at Zhang San and whispered, "Brother San, it’s early in the morning to be eating this, can you even stomach it?"

Zhang San sighed and said, "I drank too much yesterday and didn’t really eat properly. In fact, I’m genuinely quite hungry now. You try it first, see how your family’s roasted lamb leg is?"

Han Baiwen curled his lips and said, "I don’t want to eat it."

"If you don’t want to eat it, I do! Hurry up and eat!"

"Then Brother San, you eat it yourself!"

"Isn’t this because I’m worried your Han Family might poison me? Otherwise, why would I ask you to eat first, even with sauce?"

At that moment, aside from Han Mingshi, all of the Han Family members in the hall cast unfriendly looks towards Zhang San.

When Zhang San and Han Baiwen were invited in just before, Han Mingshi had asked Han Baiwen to take the central seat, but Han Baiwen was unwilling.

Han Baiwen insisted that Han Mingshi sit at the center, but even Han Mingshi was reluctant.

As a result, Zhang San took a seat right in the middle.

Of course, everyone had considerable complaints about Zhang San, and had Han Mingshi not glared at them, many of the younger members might have started hurling insults then and there.

Now, with Zhang San speaking so bluntly about his fear of being poisoned by the Han Family, everyone was even more displeased.

Especially Han Yanqiu, who looked at Zhang San coldly and murmured, "If you’re afraid of being poisoned, then don’t eat!"

Han Mingshi glared at Han Yanqiu, frightening him into immediately lowering his head and shutting his mouth.

"Mr. Zhang San, I truly apologize. My grandson is ignorant. Please be forgiving."

Zhang San watched as Han Baiwen reluctantly took a small bite of the lamb and then stuffed the entire piece into his mouth, not only confirming there was no poison but also confirming that the roasted lamb leg tasted good.

"Family Head Han, you are too courteous. I, Zhang San, simply like to speak the truth. After all, if I am worried that your Han Family might poison me, I prefer to speak honestly about it. It’s certainly better than deceiving members of your Han Family to cause trouble for others, only to lead them to their deaths."

Han Mingshi realized that Zhang San was referring to the incident with Han Yanxia.

The reason the Han Family did not seek revenge on Zhang San was that Han Mingshi knew that the whole affair was the Crown Prince using the Zheng Family to drag the Han Family into a confrontation with Zhang San.

Whether successful or not, the affair would bind the Han and Zheng Families together.

And it was well known that the Zheng Family had sided with the Crown Prince.

But the Han Family pretended as if nothing had happened, much to the Crown Prince’s surprise, and even many renowned families within the Capital couldn’t understand it, some even holding it in contempt.

"Mr. Zhang San is straightforward. Today you even returned the Sixth Master of our Han Family to us, I raise a toast to you."

Zhang San picked up his cup, pondered for a moment, smiled at Han Mingshi, and then downed it in one go.

"Brother San, you’re not worried this cup of wine is poisoned?"

Zhang San laughed and said, "I was confused just now and said things that offended the Han Family; I apologize to everyone present. I’ve just realized, if I help your Han Family find your Sixth Master, and then someone poisons me to death afterward, let’s not discuss whether poisoning someone is a despicable act. Just the fact of repaying kindness with malice would make it difficult for the Han Family to hold its ground within Legalism, let alone in the Capital. So the matter with the lamb just now was purely me overthinking. Little Han, give me a piece of lamb! Not the fatty part, I like lean meat!"

Han Mingshi also raised his cup and looked towards Han Baiwen.

"Today marks the return of the Sixth Uncle, a grand occasion for our Han Family! The former Family Head had originally planned to pass the position to you, but you were unwilling to accept it and even left home. Over the years, I have been sending people to look for you without success."

"Now that the Sixth Uncle has returned, it’s time for me to relinquish the position of Family Head, restoring it to the rightful successor."

Upon hearing these words, many in the Han Family were visibly shocked.

After all, under the leadership of the old Family Head in recent years, the Han Family had not just prospered, but also developed quite well.

Handing over the position of Family Head to Han Baiwen, a True Core Realm individual who had been gone for years without knowledge of his doings, was something no one present could accept.

Han Baiwen sighed and said softly, "The reason I left was because I felt that sometimes our Han Family’s actions were too extreme! While we boast that our Han Family embodies the Great Achievement of Legalism and Technique, in reality, everything is for the benefit of the Han Family alone. Such conduct displeases me, Han Baiwen, and I do not wish to partake in it. My departure was precisely to avoid this position of Family Head. Not only do I have no desire to return, but even if I truly wished to come back, I would not take on the role of Family Head."

Zhang San listened while eating and understood the situation within the Han Family.

However, Han Mingshi continued to urge, "Only with a rightful claim can one speak with authority. Sixth Uncle, you were the chosen successor by the previous Family Head, it’s just that you..."

"There’s no need to continue, I will not agree to this. After this meal, I will leave with my Brother San."

Zhang San hurriedly shook his head and said, "Head of the Han Clan, you must not listen to Han spouting nonsense. The skill of your family’s cook is truly admirable. I reckon we will finish this meal by noon, so why not have lunch together as well. I have no intention of leaving before lunch is over."

Han Mingshi bowed to Zhang San and said, "Mr. Zhang San, since you are a close friend of my Sixth Uncle, I hope you might persuade him a bit."

Zhang San chuckled and glanced at Han Baiwen, then at the expressions on everyone’s faces in the hall.

He knew that Han Mingshi was just putting on a show. Having been the Head of the Han Family for so many years, could he really step down?

Even if he truly did step down, those below would stir up trouble. Giving Han Baiwen a title was meaningless and could even attract unnecessary trouble; sometimes, it could even result in him being scapegoated.

"Head of the Han Clan, I have always been amicable towards the Han Family, and I believe you can feel that..."

Clang—

Before Zhang San could finish his words, Han Mingshi’s cup had accidentally fallen to the ground.

It was your doing that took my grandson’s life!

Now you’re telling me you are friendly towards our Han Family, who would believe that?

"Everyone from the Han Family, you must certainly be aware of some rumors in the Capital," Zhang San continued.

"The Zheng Family has been troubling me since I entered the Capital. I won’t mention the death of Zheng Zaisuang; that newly returned good-for-nothing of the Four Young Masters of the Capital, Zheng Poyue, nearly died as well."

"The Wen Family insisted I was responsible for the death of Wen Ruchu and then troubled me, leading to Wen Rulie’s death. Of course, I wasn’t the killer; somehow he just died."

"The Baili Family previously provoked me. Guess how many died? Guess correctly, and I’ll tell you that six perished."

"So, compare for yourselves and see, aren’t my relations with the Han Family very good?"

At that moment, everyone from the Han Family fell silent.

Initially, many in the Han Family had not taken action partly because Han Mingshi had ordered not to lay hands on Zhang San, and also because the Han Family believed that even if they did not act, with Zhang San’s arrogant temperament, once he entered the Capital, he would be dead within seven days.

But what happened? Wen Rulie of the Wen Family died, and Zhang San was alive and well, even sitting at the main seat of the Han Family’s grand hall, eating and drinking.

"So, Han, look at it this way! Stay at the Han Family for me," Zhang San appealed.

Han Baiwen looked at Zhang San with a face full of rejection, remaining silent.

On the side, Han Mingshi immediately bowed to Zhang San in gratitude.

"Don’t rush, I didn’t say to make you Family Head. After all, not just anyone can handle being the head. So, Head of the Han Clan, I, Zhang, have a thought. Would you like to hear it?"

Han Mingshi immediately nodded.

"Please, speak."

"The Han Family has developed well under your leadership, so there’s no need to switch to a new head. Even if you insist on making Han Baiwen the head, he could pass the position back to you after his succession, so what’s the point of this redundant rigmarole, right?"

Han Mingshi said nothing verbally, but inwardly he was agreeing.

"However, Han Baiwen’s seniority among the current Four Gates of Legalism should be very high. After all, Shen Wei of the Shen Family has to call you ’Uncle’. I fear he would have to call Han Baiwen ’Grandfather’. The same goes for the Shen Family. The head of the Merchant Clan may be a generation below Han Baiwen, but that’s also a junior. As long as Han Baiwen is there, the Han Family can at least surpass the other three families in terms of seniority, right?"

Han Mingshi nodded repeatedly.

"Therefore, there’s no need for Han Baiwen to do any actual work. Even if he wants to do whatever he likes, if he opposes some of the Han Family’s actions, just give him money and let him come up with something different from the Han Family’s approaches. After all, he is still a member of the Han Family. With him present, the Han Family can suppress the other three families of Legalism. Moreover, if he makes a mistake, you are still there to handle the fallout. If he is right and proves some of the Han Family’s strategies to be unsuitable, it’s an opportunity for improvement. As for titles, whatever ’Supreme Elder’ or ’Deputy Head of the Family’, just give him one at random. After all, the Han Family will ultimately develop under your leadership. Han is merely a mascot, right?"

Zhang San’s words made Han Mingshi’s heart bloom with joy.

From the very start, Han Mingshi’s insistence on making Han Baiwen the Family Head was only for show.

Now, with Zhang’s rhetoric, when he looked at Han Baiwen again, and seeing Han Baiwen nodding,

Han Mingshi immediately announced to everyone present, "From today onwards, Han Baiwen will be the Supreme Elder of the Han Family, overseeing and scrutinizing everything within the Han Family. If any of you dare to cause trouble in the future and fall into the hands of the Supreme Elder, it will be pointless to come pleading to me!"

Zhang San realized that Han Mingshi was also an old fox.

While Han Baiwen held a high status in appearance, in reality, it was merely a supervisory role.

It seemed like powerful authority, but if mere surveillance was without the ability to punish, then it was nothing more than a figurehead capable of sharp talk but without real impact on the Han Family.

But the title sounded impressive, as if it came with a lot of power.

Double-edged and efficient, it has to be you!

"Then congratulations to Head of the Han Clan for welcoming back the Supreme Elder."

"This matter is largely thanks to Mr. Zhang San. Today’s event means the Han Family owes you a significant favor. Should Mr. Zhang San ever have a request, feel free to speak up," Han Mingshi replied.

Zhang San smiled faintly.

There, the money for the house seems to have found its way!