Chapter 32 - Wooden-minded ◇

◎ Kin of the Same Bloodline ◇

Shangyi Village was poor, rarely seeing carriages entering or leaving, and even less often did outsiders visit. So, when the village chief, elders, and the highly respected Second Grandpa accompanied these strangers, many villagers followed them out of curiosity.

Someone asked Sanshu about the visitors, inquiring about their identity and purpose.

Sanshu, being honest and obedient to Second Grandpa, scratched his head and said he wasn't entirely sure. "From what I understand, their ancestors were from our Shangyi Village. They share the same bloodline with us. This time, they've returned home, and Second Grandpa personally led us to welcome them."

"But why does the village chief look so unhappy? His face is as sour as vinegar."

Sanshu replied, "Ah, well, the village chief just got scolded. How could he be happy after getting hit by Second Grandpa's cane?" Now he was being asked to give away land for free. The village chief was not only timid but also quite stingy; it must feel like a piece of flesh was being taken from him.

The two elders also had sour expressions on their faces. Upon arriving at the village, they folded their arms and left without wanting to look any further.

The villagers were somewhat confused. Second Grandpa led this family straight to his own home, as their new house was still under construction, leaving them nowhere else to stay. When they reached the doorstep, Second Grandpa's wife, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter-in-law were all gathered in the courtyard working and preparing dinner. Hearing the commotion, they quickly came out to greet them. Second Grandpa called out, "Hurry up and clean out a few rooms for our guests to stay in."

Second Grandpa's wife was a second spouse. He had had a child bride in his youth, but she passed away before they could officially wed. Busy with his scholarly pursuits, he delayed marriage until he was almost thirty. His wife was ten years younger than him. Though her hair was now white, she was still agile and nimble.

Upon hearing this, she wiped her hands and emerged, inquiring of her father-in-law, "Who is the guest, then?"

"Ask no more questions. Let our two granddaughters tidy up the rooms. The brothers can share one room, while the young lass will sleep with us. We must clear at least three or four chambers."

With a large family, they resided in a spacious courtyard, half of which was built with green bricks, the other half with mud. Despite its size, it was inadequate due to the number of inhabitants. Upon finishing his statement, a few daughters-in-law hesitated, contemplating voicing their concerns. However, at the wave of his hand, urging them to attend to the matter promptly, they dared not speak.

The elderly man, respected for his age and authority, was also an old scholar, holding a dominant position in the household. His word was law, and no one dared to refute him.

The second elder's wife, known as Second Grandma in the village, did not leave. Instead, she instructed her daughter-in-law and granddaughters to prepare the rooms while she personally fetched water for the guests. The second elder was pleased with his wife's attentiveness, inwardly acknowledging her understanding.

Second Grandma offered the water to the guests. Hua Zhan, being the junior, dared not allow such an elderly lady to serve her. She hastily took the bowls.

Second Grandma smiled and said, "You two exude elegance. You've surely enjoyed many fine things in life. Although our rural water lacks high-quality tea, it's sourced from mountain springs and tastes sweet when boiled. Do try it to soothe your throat."

Yu Lian also took a sip and detected a subtle, sweet aroma. Noticing her, Second Grandma exclaimed, "Oh dear, I've never seen such a beautiful maiden. You resemble a celestial being."

It was already noon, and villagers were returning from the fields, preparing for lunch. Hearing the commotion at the second elder's residence, they flocked over to witness the spectacle. It had been years since the village had seen such a grand display, complete with carriages and the second elder personally greeting the visitors.

In no time, a large crowd gathered, with most of the villagers present. The second elder even instructed his grandson to beat a gong and drum, summoning the entire village to hear his announcement.

After everyone had gathered, Second Uncle announced, "Our ancestors in Upper Village had a man named Hua Bajin. This ancestor passed the imperial examination and soon after was appointed to an important position in the court. He even returned to our village once, purchasing clan lands and establishing a village school. After that, he never came back. Now, his descendants are facing hardship and returning home. I've decided to let them settle here in the village. We'll find them a plot of land to build their house, and all of you will help when the time comes!"

He then took Hua Zhan's hand to introduce him. "This is their head of the family, Hua Zhan. They have eight people in total. From now on, treat them as fellow villagers and kin. There must be no bullying or mistreatment."

These words sparked a flurry of exclamations and discussions among the villagers. Had such an impressive figure as a jinshi really emerged from their humble village? And someone who was also favored by the court?

"Aren't they the legendary high-ranking official?"

Second Uncle confirmed, "Yes, that's the official. The village school was established by him, and the income from the ten mu of clan land is used for public and school purposes. Many of you learned to read and write at the village school when you were young. Don't forget the kindness shown to you."

"Second Uncle... Since their ancestors are from our village, they are our siblings, and it's only right for them to settle here. However, it's currently peak farming season, and we're all busy trying to plant before it's too late. If we delay, the seedlings won't grow well, and they might wither under the sun. Who has the time to help build a house?"

Disregarding these concerns, Second Uncle scolded, "If not you, then who? Here's what we'll do: Anyone whose children or grandchildren have studied at the village school, or have learned to read there, stand up. You must make time, no matter how tight your schedule is, to help them build their house. Otherwise, where will they live?"

The villagers fell silent. Someone muttered, "Didn't they say the village school was destroyed... The village chief said he won't allow the children to study anymore. What's the point?"

Upon hearing this, Second Uncle glared at the villagers. The village chief became the scapegoat. He slammed his cane into the ground a few times and cursed, "Ignorant fools! Listening to rumors and being afraid of death. We still need to reopen the village school; it's the only way out for the children. We can't shut off their only hope. If we do, our village will never produce someone capable in this lifetime!"

"Agreed. Starting from tomorrow, each family should spare some time and send at least one person to lend a hand. Be it selecting tiles, lifting bricks, cutting wood, or moving stones, do whatever you can. With everyone's combined efforts, how long could it take to build a single room?"

The old lady was quite moved by this. Initially, the village chief and the two elders had indeed treated them poorly. But considering their petty mindset, if they found out about the family's situation and wanted to distance themselves to avoid being implicated, that was only natural. Since the incident occurred, the people from the capital had shown their true colors, and she had seen the coldness of the world. It wasn't surprising, given that even the noble families behaved similarly, let alone ordinary villagers.

This Second Uncle was both reasonable and magnanimous. At his age, he was still willing to help them, which deeply touched her. If not for his assistance today, they might not have been able to enter the village at all.

The old lady publicly thanked Second Uncle, who modestly waved it off, saying it was nothing.

"I owe my education to Uncle Bajin. Without the village school he built, I wouldn't have known how to read a single character, let alone have this large family now. Helping you is only right. Besides, you are descendants of Upper Village, all bearing the same family name, Hua. There's no need for formalities."

Upon learning that the family all shared the Hua surname and were of the same lineage, the villagers' gazes became much warmer.

After finishing the important matters, Second Uncle asked the villagers to return home for lunch and to come back to help the next day. The village chief tried to leave, but Second Uncle stopped him. "Today, you should start clearing the land. Tomorrow, we'll finalize everything. If it's not done, I'll have a word with your father."

The village chief left with a grim face. His father was the previous village chief, and he had taken over the role from him. Though his father was no longer young, he was still a generation younger than Second Uncle. Normally, he would endure any scolding or punishment without complaint. If his father received any grievances from Second Uncle, he would vent them on the village chief by wielding a broom. It was truly a case of bigger fish eating smaller fish, and the smallest fry always suffered the most. What was the point of being the village chief in such circumstances?

Once everyone dispersed, Second Uncle led the Hua family into his courtyard.

It seemed that Second Uncle's house had undergone expansion later on. Half of it was made of mud, while the other half was constructed with blue bricks. A large walled courtyard connected the two halves together.

The second elder chuckled and said, "The longer one lives, the more descendants there will be. With more people in the family, the space becomes cramped. Don't mind the tight quarters. I know that the capital is vast. When I went to the provincial city for the exams, I was amazed. It must be even larger under the feet of the emperor. Unfortunately, after a lifetime of trying, I never passed the provincial exam, let alone qualified for the imperial examination in the capital."

"Ah, Hua Zhan… Ah, such an elegant name. In our countryside, we usually use nicknames. They sound more down-to-earth and easier to call. What's your nickname?"

Hua Zhan replied, "… I've never had one…"

The second elder looked at him and suggested, "Since you don't talk much and seem like a block of wood, how about I just call you 'Wood'?"

Hua Zhan remained silent.

Yuan Lian, who lagged behind, almost tripped over the doorstep when she heard this. She laughed silently, wondering what kind of trauma this was causing her father-in-law. This was the East Yuan Marquis, a villain who dared to rebel with his son!

The old lady also chuckled and added fuel to the fire, saying that the name suited him well. "From now on, Mother will also call you 'Wood'."

Hua Zhan's back stiffened even more.

The second aunt went to help in the kitchen. Although rice had already been cooking before the guests arrived, it was no trouble to prepare another pot. With a large family, their kitchen had more stoves and pots than most households.

The second elder then introduced his eldest son's family.

Second Uncle had three sons, and he had divided his household among them. Currently, he resided with his eldest son, Hua Qiushou. Otherwise, with all three sons already being grandfathers, living together in one house would have been chaotic due to the overcrowding.

Eldest Son had two sons and two daughters. The daughters were married off, but each of his two sons, upon taking a wife, had given birth to nine grandchildren… This was indeed a large, four-generation family under one roof.

Second Uncle's daughter-in-law brought along her two daughter-in-laws, saying that the rooms were prepared and that they could move the children into one room, freeing up three spaces.

"Wood, your family can settle down here comfortably. Once the new house is ready, we'll choose a good day for you to move in," Hua Zhan said.

"..."