Family is the honor etched in one's bones.
For everyone, family is the root, the very foundation of oneself. No one can accept being removed from the family registry.
People live for their reputation, just as trees live for their bark. To be cast out from the clan is a lifelong disgrace, even if you achieve greater success. If you cannot return to the clan and fulfill the ultimate achievement of glorifying your ancestors, it equates to nothing.
And in this era where loyalty and righteousness reign supreme, if a person's own relatives cannot tolerate them, how outrageous is that? What would others think if they heard? Who would dare associate with them?
Unfortunately, Zhang Chen is from a later generation, where the concept of clan is meaningless.
Not returning to the clan? So be it! There's no throne waiting for him to inherit in the clan; working hard outside will lead to a good life too. Why go back to the clan?
In any case, he won't starve!
