At first, Jiang Sheng and Zheng Ruqian didn’t understand, it was only when they went to look at the land and buy it that they finally understood.
Although the Dayu Dynasty was vast and abundant, the common people didn’t own much farmland. Most of the fields were in the hands of landlords, who the common people called “yuanwai”.
The landlords bought up the fields from the commoners, then hired them back cheaply to work the land. After paying taxes on the grain, they could barely afford to eat their fill.
So after a while, the commoners were also wary in their hearts. Unless they had an emergency and needed money to save their lives, they were unwilling to sell their fields.
The siblings walked around half a day but managed to buy very little land. Instead they got many black looks, occasionally accompanied by a couple of wide-eyed stares.
This was clearly not going to work.
Zhang Qiquan suggested that they go back and take a look at Shili Village, where they at least had acquaintances. Perhaps someone would be willing to open the door for them.
Jiang Sheng and Zheng Ruqian looked at each other and nodded.
The wheels of the carriage continued turning as they went from Shili Town to Shili Village.
This small village was still extremely shabby. The dilapidated temple stood at the village entrance. Two years of wind and rain had made it even more run down, with collapsed corners in four places now.
Jiang Sheng felt somewhat sad. As usual she lit three sticks of incense and dusted off the Buddha.
That was all she could do.
Once they entered the village, there were many more familiar faces.
Zhang Qiquan was bold and unconstrained, waving to this person and that person, completely unconcerned that the Zhang family would find out he was here.
Jiang Sheng was so scared that she curled up like a quail in Auntie Zhang’s arms.
Even Liu Cui’s face showed some hesitation.
Only Zhang Xianglian, the gentlest and most timid woman, had a look of fortitude and courage in her eyes.
“Hey, the Zhang family’s third son and his wife have come back,” someone called out to Zhang Qiquan.
In the village, as long as you were capable, even if you didn’t handle things perfectly, you would still have considerable popularity.
Moreover, Zhang Qiquan had always been a capable person.
“Old uncle, you’re in good health!” He continued to call out greetings.
Finally they arrived at the head of the village’s house. Zheng Ruqian reined in the carriage, and Zhang Qiquan carried the sugar and wine to knock on the door.
Before long, a fat, red-faced man in his fifties opened the door.
He was the village chief of Shili Village, who was usually elected by the villagers themselves from among the most prestigious elders.
Seeing Zhang Qiquan, the village chief was first shocked, but quickly smiled. “Zhang Xiao San, you’ve come back.”
This manner of address could be considered intimate.
Zhang Qiquan also grinned. “Uncle Qian, after wandering outside for over half a year, I had to come back and see my family.”
Village Chief Qian laughed, then suddenly dropped his smile and jerked his chin in the direction of the Zhang house. “Aren’t you afraid of disturbing your parents by coming back so openly?”
Zhang Qiquan’s smile grew even wider.
When he had left Shili Village in distress with Liu Cui all those years ago, although he hadn’t expected to ever come back and live here again, he also didn’t want to leave with a reputation for unfilial conduct and curses. Therefore, whenever he met fellow villagers from Shili Town outside, he would deliberately complain about his grievances.
Over time, the villagers of Shili Village all knew why Zhang San had been bullied and how he had left in humiliation.
“Thank you for your concern, Uncle Qian,” Zhang Qiquan cupped his fists. “Ordinary commoners consider it a blessing to earn two or three taels of silver a year. Before my marriage, I gave my parents twenty taels of silver. When I left, I gave another twenty-five taels and didn’t have a penny left for myself. I’ve already fulfilled a lifetime of filial duty and have no regrets in this life.”
He said this loudly and boldly.
Village Chief Qian patted him on the shoulder. “Not bad for a lad from Shili Village. Go on, tell your uncle what you’re here for.”
Zhang Qiquan set down the gifts and told him about the Eastern master wanting to buy land.
Village Chief Qian took out his pipe and tobacco pouch. As he listened, he took a deep puff.
As smoke filled the sky, he said, “This will be tricky. The villagers are reluctant to sell land, but if I step in and put in a good word, I think some families might be willing to sell a bit.”
Zhang Qiquan was overjoyed. “When it’s done, I’ll definitely bring half a pig to thank Uncle Qian.”
A whole pig was around 200 jin. Half a pig was a quarter, around 50 jin. At 8 copper coins per jin of pork, 50 jin would come to 400 coins, close to half a tael of silver.
Casually adding some good wine, the value would easily surpass 1 tael of silver.
This was already an extremely high expression of thanks. Village Chief Qian demurred, but his eyes were full of unconcealable delight.
As expected, things went more smoothly with familiar people involved.
Village Chief Qian was puffing on his dry pipe, just about to go make announcements at the village entrance, when suddenly a clamor arose from the doorway.
Right after, someone started banging on the door.
People were shouting loudly, “Zhang San, Zhang Qiquan, you unfilial thing, do you know our parents are sick?”
Oh dear, the Zhang family was here.
Jiang Sheng was so startled she immediately hid behind Zheng Ruqian.
Zheng Ruqian comforted his sister while craning his neck to watch the commotion.
The Zhang family’s arrival was within expectations. Zhang Qiquan didn’t have any fear at all. He told Village Chief Qian “sorry for the trouble”, then took off his outer robe and handed it to Liu Cui.
Turning back, he patted Zheng Ruqian’s shoulder and said heavily, “Young Master, watch and learn how to deal with unreasonable people.”
He flung open Village Chief Qian’s door with a bold sweep of his arm.
Peering outside, he saw that both of his brothers had come, along with his parents, and the aunties and uncles from the village entrance who had greeted him earlier. At least half the village was here now.
How nice, this saved the village chief the trouble of making announcements.
Zhang Qiquan gave a cold laugh, then walked up to his two older brothers. “Father and mother are sick, so you should be taking care of them. What are you making a fuss with me for?”
“They’re not your parents anymore. We’ve been dutifully caring for our parents all this time. Now that you’re back, it’s right that you should be the one to care for them when they’re ill,” said the eldest Zhang brother gloomily.
Zhang Qiquan grinned. “Oh? Did the twenty-five taels of silver run out already?”
The eldest brother couldn’t get any words out.
The second elder brother stepped forward. “Do you even hear yourself speaking like a human being? Twenty-five taels, what’s that worth? Can twenty-five taels buy familial bonds and affection? When you were born, didn’t Father and Mother raise you with twenty-five taels? Could you have grown up without that?”
When it came down to it, he still wanted to use parental kindness as leverage.
Unfortunately Zhang Qiquan didn’t fall for this tactic at all. He said coldly, “How much do you earn in a year? How much have you given Father and Mother? I started working when I was thirteen and came back when I was twenty-three. I earned twenty taels and gave it all to Father and Mother. My wedding cost about two taels total, and afterwards I earned twenty-five taels from selling the tiger skin. I didn’t keep a penny for myself.”
“That’s forty-five taels of silver in total. I wonder if Eldest and Second Brothers together have given our parents forty-five taels? Or should we switch - I’ll serve our parents and you each give the family two taels of silver a year. What do you think?”
His words were incisive, coherent, and compelling.
The Zhang brothers were forced to retreat again and again.
Before long, they conceded the battlefield to the Zhang parents.
Mother Zhang walked up to Zhang Qiquan and slapped her thigh, spraying spittle everywhere. “So you’re capable now, are you? You didn’t drink my milk and grow up, did you? Now that you’ve earned money and gained skills, you don’t recognize your own parents? You can eat delicacies and drink fine wine outside, but let your parents eat bran and wild herbs. You really are such a filial thing!”
