The Yu family of Shidai Village, Meihua Town, Lechang, traces its beginnings to its founding ancestor, Yu Bin, who in the year 1470 — the sixth year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty — journeyed from Shanghang, Fujian, together with his mother, to settle in this village and establish the family line. More than five and a half centuries have passed, and the clan endures.

As descendants of Yu Jing, the renowned Northern Song statesman posthumously honored as *Zhongxiang Gong* ("the Loyal and Virtuous Lord"), the family has long upheld his deep reverence for scholarship and education. In bygone days, rows of ceremonial flagpole stones stood before the ancestral hall — monuments erected to honor the many *jinshi*, *gongsheng*, and *xiucai* degree holders the clan produced through the imperial examinations, a proud testament to an unbroken tradition of learning.

In recent years, the Bin Gong Ancestral Hall has been beautifully rebuilt, and the clan's cultural heritage shines brighter than ever. The younger generation has devoted itself to study with remarkable diligence, and the results speak for themselves. Two young scholars now lead the way: **Yu Sihao**, of Shitang Village, Xinwang Town, Pingnan County, Guangxi, who earned admission to **Tsinghua University** with an outstanding score of 685 in the science track; and **Yu Qiliu**, of Dongtou Hamlet, Shixi Village, Meihua Town, Lechang, who was accepted into the **master's program in theoretical physics at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences**. Both are the 39th-generation descendants of Yu Jing — living proof that the ancestors' teachings continue to guide and inspire.

The news filled the entire clan with pride. The Clan Councils of the Bin Gong Ancestral Hall in both Shidai Village and Dongtou Village, Meihua Town, jointly extended their heartfelt congratulations. On August 5, 2026, clan members gathered at the Bin Gong Ancestral Hall for a joyous celebration — drums and gongs resounded through the air, lucky lion dances delighted the crowd, and relatives from near and far came together to witness the proud moment of the younger generation's success. The students were encouraged to carry gratitude in their hearts, keep striving for excellence, and one day serve their country, before posing for commemorative photographs with their elders.

Generation after generation, the Yu clan of Shidai has lived by the *Fengcai* spirit of Yu Jing — a legacy of integrity and distinction — and by the time-honored motto of *gengdu chuanjia*, "farming and scholarship handed down through the family," inspiring every new generation to pursue learning. It is the clan's heartfelt wish that these young scholars will follow in their ancestors' footsteps, continue to advance in their studies, and carry the family's devotion to education forward — contributing, in their own way, to society at large.