Chapter 35: Seizing the Opportunity ◇

◎Blessed to Have Such a Granddaughter-in-Law◎

Upon entering, the village head noticed the cleanliness and his already sour expression darkened even more. He immediately asked, "Second Master plans to let them stay here? If they're going to live here, that's fine, but this house was initially built with the village's money and labor. It's only fair to charge some rent. I won't ask for much, just a reasonable price. How about one thousand copper coins per month?"

Second Master was so enraged that he almost threw his slipper at him. He refrained from doing so because of the crowd and instead tossed a dirty rag from the table, cursing fiercely, "Reasonable? One thousand copper coins per month? How can you even say that?"

One thousand copper coins equaled one tael of silver. Most villagers who relied on farming might not spend even one tael in half a year. The poorest could stretch it to a whole year. Yet, he dared to demand one tael per month. Was he trying to extort them?

"This house was built with the silver earned from the ten mu of land used for the village school. The labor was provided by the villagers as well. What does that have to do with you being the village head? You merely shouted a few orders, and now you think you deserve credit?"

"Well, if we're talking about fairness, that ten mu of land was purchased by Uncle Bajin. Now that you've discontinued the village school, shouldn't it be returned to its rightful owner? Wood and his family are direct descendants of Uncle Bajin. It's only logical for them to inherit the land. Do you really think it's fair to use that word?"

The village head was blasted, and he actually pondered over what Second Master said. He found himself agreeing with the logic and felt guilty. He quickly changed his tune, "Then... five hundred copper coins, is five hundred acceptable for a month?"

When these words were spoken, the villagers working nearby exchanged skeptical glances. Five hundred copper coins weren't enough? Just how arrogant had the village head become? He clearly didn't want this family to settle down.

Sanshu's wife, who had earlier helped the Huas bring their carriage into the village, chimed in, "If it's really about money, a hundred copper coins would be the absolute limit for this tiny, dilapidated house. The village head should be ashamed."

A matron chuckled beside them. "He's doing it on purpose; it has nothing to do with the money. He just doesn't want anyone to stay here."

Second Uncle finally took off his shoes. Instead of scolding the village chief, he picked up his footwear and headed for the door. "I'll go reason with Dog Egg."

Dog Egg was the village chief's father. His real name was Wen Gui. Once an aspiring scholar, he had failed to pass the exams despite trying for half his life. Eventually, he returned to his hometown to farm. At Second Uncle's recommendation, he became the village chief and later passed the position to his son. In this entire village, only Second Uncle dared to call him by his childhood nickname, Dog Egg.

The village chief, Dog Egg's son, turned pale. He quickly stopped Second Uncle. "How much do you think is fair?"

Second Uncle threw his shoe at him. "What's fair? Have you become so money-minded as a village chief? Are you deliberately making things difficult for people? Let me tell you, let our fellow villagers decide if I, your Second Uncle, am bullying others with my age or standing up for justice!"

The villagers present chimed in. "Tell us, Second Uncle!"

"Let me ask you, did Uncle Bajin purchase those ten acres of land for the village school?"

The village chief nodded, as did the villagers.

Second Uncle continued, "This house was built with the silver earned from that land, and our fellow villagers helped construct it. The family who lives here now are descendants of Uncle Bajin. Do you think it's right to collect rent from them? If you have any conscience left, since the village school is no longer operating, you should return both the land and the house to the rightful owners."

The villagers were still simple folk. After some thoughtful consideration, they agreed. It made sense. Although the land belonged to their ancestors and was given to the village school, since the school was no longer running, it was reasonable for the descendants to claim it back.

A voice timidly inquired, "Uncle Two, Chief, are you really not going to open the village school? What will happen to the children if they don't learn how to read and write?"

The chief's face fell. Concerned about losing those ten acres, he hastily replied, "Of course we'll continue! We can't let the children be illiterate and have no future."

Uncle Two glared at him, too annoyed to bother with this rogue.

With so many people watching, the chief felt embarrassed to charge rent for his house. Thus, he reluctantly agreed to waive it.

Seizing the opportunity, Uncle Two said, "Since you're determined to keep the village school running and not give away the land, you might as well gift them the house. It's only fair, besides, nobody lives here anyway."

The chief had already planned on granting the Huas land for free. Hearing this, he readily agreed, "Alright, consider that area allocated. No need for another permit." Calculating in his mind, he figured it didn't matter since the land was deserted and unused; granting it wouldn't make a difference. It wouldn't waste fertile fields, and it was a good deal.

Uncle Two, wise with age, could easily see through the chief's intentions. He turned to Mu Tuo, seeking their opinion.

Yu Lian, overhearing the conversation, tugged on her father-in-law's sleeve and whispered, "Father, I think this place is suitable, but the land is too small. We should acquire the entire riverfront area. Then, we can build our own estate, cultivate the land, and turn it into fertile fields. With the river nearby, it would be convenient for both living and irrigation. It's a great location."

Having been accustomed to power as a noble lord, Hua Zhan was more familiar with grand political strategies and global affairs than petty village matters. However, since this decision affected his family's future, he was willing to invest his thoughts into it and engage with the chief, a cunning and unpleasant figure.

Upon hearing his daughter-in-law's suggestion, he looked at his mother, who nodded in approval. Frowning, he said, "We could rent the house, but at a rate of one hundred copper coins per month. Could you please grant us a better piece of land elsewhere in the village? Our family consists of elders, women, and children, and my health has yet to fully recover. Living here long-term might be too remote. If wild boars were to descend, we wouldn't be able to handle them."

He was born with an honest and handsome face, which, when creased with a frown, made him appear genuine. When he said he was telling the truth or expressing his disdain, it seemed believable.

The village head, who was initially calculating whether giving away a house for free would be a loss, quickly responded, "There's hardly any land left in the village. What's wrong with this place? Besides, the house is already built, so you won't have to spend more to construct another one. You can move in right away."

Hua Zhan replied, "It might be safer to live within the village."

Seizing the opportunity, Yu Lian said, "Father, could we also reclaim the land that our ancestors allocated for the village school? After all, we're currently facing difficulties..."

Upon hearing this, the village head's eyebrows nearly shot up in anger. "That's impossible. It was agreed upon to be for the village school, and I'm planning to restart it soon. Hiring a teacher will cost money."

Second Uncle chimed in, "Then give them a decent plot of land, not just this dilapidated house. What's the point of that?"

Yu Lian then spoke up, "Father, establishing a village school is a rightful cause. We can make sacrifices so that the children can read and write, and perhaps have a chance at passing the imperial exams for a better future. Otherwise, could we ask the village head to allocate us more land by the river? With eight of us arriving here without land or a house, we can't rely solely on what we have. Although this land is remote, if we work hard to cultivate it, we can grow enough to sustain ourselves and avoid starvation."

Her words moved the villagers, making them feel both touched and ashamed. Initially, they had remained silent when Second Uncle asked for a prime plot within the village because the fertile land was limited, and taking more meant less for them in the future. However, Yu Lian's selfless concern for the children's education made them appear petty and narrow-minded.

Thus, the aunties and young wives present began to speak up in support, urging the village head to agree, "They're willing to give up those ten acres just for the sake of our village's children. We can't be ungrateful, Village Head. Please allocate the land to them quickly."

"Yes, do it promptly! The land is already quite remote; giving it to them won't hurt you."

The village chief, succumbing to the pressure from the villagers and Second Uncle, reluctantly agreed but realized it was indeed a fair deal. Reviving the village school would put an end to the dispute over the ten acres of land. Moreover, by granting them more of this remote area, he could silence Second Uncle and prevent him from bringing up the issue in the future.

With his decision made, the village chief led them to inspect the land. The villagers followed, acting as witnesses. Once the boundaries were set, they would all need to press their seals onto the deed.

Pointing to an area within a hundred-meter radius of the house, the village chief asked, "How about this piece? Will this be enough?"

The villagers shot him a disdainful look. Calling him a miser would be an understatement; a hundred meters could barely accommodate any crops.

Hua Zhan sighed and shook his head.

The village chief gritted his teeth. "I'll double it."

Hua Zhan remained silent and turned to his daughter-in-law. "Since you're now in charge of our household, speak up, my child. Your father will listen."

Yu Lian stepped forward, and the villagers were surprised to learn that this beautiful, fairy-like young woman was the one running Uncle Bajin's household. Initially, they had mistaken her for a daughter of the Hua family, but she turned out to be their daughter-in-law. Where was her husband? Why wasn't he present?

Confused by the Hua family's dynamics, the villagers listened as Yu Lian spoke up.

She pointed to the upper and middle reaches of the river and declared, "I want this stretch."

The house was situated on a gentle slope at the foot of a mountain, with a small river flowing right in front of it. Following the river downstream revealed vast expanses of land on both sides. To Yu Lian, this land, with its water source, was a treasure trove. Perhaps there would be no need to purchase additional fields; by cultivating the land moderately and planting crops, fruits, and vegetables, they could achieve self-sufficiency.

Building a new house here would be more desirable than squeezing into the village with other families.

The village chief pointed at her, his fingers trembling, "That much? Impossible!"

"You also can't demolish someone else's house just like that."

Yu Lian replied, "I heard from Uncle Two that this house is no longer inhabited. If that's the case, we're willing to compensate accordingly."

Coincidentally, one of the houses belonged to Sanshu's family. It had essentially been abandoned, as no one would come to live here, especially since they had already built a new house after relocating to the village. Thus, the old house served no purpose. Upon hearing this, Sanshu's wife immediately said, "Alright, we're willing to have our house demolished. Just give us a reasonable amount."

This decision now affected the other households with houses in the area. There were a total of five houses, including the one intended for the Hua family, which meant four families would receive compensation. Although the other three families were not present, their willingness was evident from Sanshu's wife's reaction. It was bound to cause some commotion.

The village chief's head throbbed. He rubbed his temples, pacing back and forth several times, reluctant to agree outright due to the financial burden. He procrastinated, saying, "Let me think about it overnight and we'll discuss it tomorrow."

Although the village chief postponed the decision until the next day, Sanshu's wife spread the news when she returned home that night. The rest of the villagers became aware of the situation. Other families didn't mind, as it didn't directly affect them, and they weren't interested in the village's prime land anyway. Thus, no one opposed the proposal.

However, the four households with houses along the river banded together and visited the village chief's house that very night, pleading with him to consent to the plan.

They spoke as if they were doing a favor, mentioning that the heir was a descendant of Uncle Bajin, whose ancestors had generously contributed to the village and were a source of pride. Caring for them a little wasn't much to ask, was it? Just allocating a piece of land? They weren't even asking for ten acres of fertile fields, so what was the big deal about giving them a plot?

The village chief calculated in his mind and realized that the land might actually exceed ten acres – it was a gross overestimation.

"What does the size of the land matter? Can it compare to ten ready-to-use acres of fertile fields? That land is overgrown with wild grass and trees; even if they cultivate it, it won't be an easy task. It would require great effort and hiring laborers. Otherwise, how could someone from a place like the capital be capable of such manual labor? You're not losing out, Village Chief. Approve it quickly."

Angered by their words, the village chief spat after they left. They were clearly rushing to persuade him just to get a small compensation, pretending to be noble while treating him as the villain – all for their own benefit!

Village Chief's father, Hua Wenguai, summoned his son and said, "Don't push too hard, or else Second Uncle will come knocking on my door for an explanation. If it's not excessive, just approve it. Otherwise, people will think you're stingy and ungrateful. How will you maintain your position as village chief in the future?"

The village chief nodded, acknowledging the advice, but then he turned to seek the opinion of two clan elders.

However, the clan elders refused to see him and ignored his request. Frustrated, the village chief reluctantly agreed after dragging the matter on for two days. The land technically belonged to the village, registered as uncultivated by the government. According to village records, if a villager reclaimed such land, no silver was required for the transaction, but taxes still had to be paid. This tax would fall on the Hua family to settle.

To complicate matters further, the village chief stated that the land was registered as a single unit. If they wanted it, they would have to take the entire plot, meaning Yu Lian would need to purchase any area beyond the initial ten acres. Although the price per acre was reasonable, the total sum was still substantial, not to mention additional taxes and fees...

Assuming this condition would deter them, the village chief was surprised when they returned and agreed, albeit with one condition: after signing the deed, the village chief must also sign a guarantee promising that Upper Village would treat them as part of the community, without discrimination, and ensuring that the village wouldn't interfere with whatever use they made of the land.

Reading the guarantee, the village chief felt ridiculed, believing it was a safeguard against him. Nevertheless, due to the incoming money, he reluctantly signed with a sour expression.

"Each family will compensate with two taels of silver, making a total of eight taels. In addition, the purchase of the land and the land taxes amount to ninety-eight taels and eight hundred sixty copper coins. The transaction will be finalized when the money is exchanged for the deed."

Yu Lian smiled and said, "Tomorrow, when Ming goes to the government office to register, they'll stamp it, and then you'll receive the silver."

The village chief awkwardly withdrew his outstretched hand and left in a huff. On the other hand, the other four women, elated, each received their two taels of silver from Yu Lian. To them, it was as if the silver had fallen from the sky. How fortunate that an abandoned, dilapidated house could fetch them such a sum! They could now afford some pork for the upcoming holidays.

The following day, Hua Zhan, accompanied by Sanshu and the second elder's grandson, went to the county office in a carriage with the village chief to register the land and pay the taxes. With the official seal stamped, the land officially belonged to the Hua family.

Hua Zhan held the deed, lost in thought. He had never paid attention to such trivial matters of peasant life before – the petty squabbles in rural areas. Back when he was still the East Yuan Marquis, his estate consisted of countless lands and manors, and he had never concerned himself with any of them, let alone a humble plot in the countryside.

Yet, at this moment, he felt a sense of grounding and a complex reality. His family had truly transformed from the noble East Yuan Marquis household into simple peasants in the countryside. This deed, representing ownership of the land, was the foundation of their new life here, their means of survival...

They had truly descended from the heavens to the earth.

Sanshu drove the carriage, feeling quite pleased, "Uncle Wood, why are you daydreaming? Let's go, we're heading back to the village."

Uncle Wood, Hua Zhan, expressionless, put away the deed and returned to the carriage without a word.

"...

By the time the formalities were completed, the small dilapidated house of the Hua family had also been renovated to a livable condition. The two grandsons from Uncle Two's family had helped fix the roof and doors, while the village aunts had weeded the courtyard, leaving it clean and ready for habitation.

While Hua Zhan was at the county office, Yu Lian moved the women and children from Uncle Two's place into their new home. There wasn't much to move anyway; each person had only brought a small bundle of belongings when they first arrived.

Grandma Two paid them a visit and observed, "Moving has its rituals. On the first day of occupation, you need to 'warm the house,' or 'heat the room.' Today, we'll light the fire in the kitchen and cook a meal. I'll invite some neighbors over to chat, eat some sunflower seeds, and have a meal as a way to welcome you and bless your new home. This will ensure your days here are prosperous."

This meant they needed to prepare many things, such as pots, pans, utensils, firewood, rice, oil, salt, and various ingredients. None of these were available in the Hua family's new home, so they would have to purchase them hastily.

Grandma Two reassured them, "No need to rush out and buy everything. With a pinch of salt from one neighbor, a handful of rice and vegetables from another, we can manage. I'll ask everyone to bring their own cooking supplies and ingredients. You can gradually replace them with your own as time goes on. There's no hurry."

Yu Lian pondered for a moment and suggested, "Let's visit the village butcher and purchase two pounds of meat to entertain our guests. This way, we can celebrate our relocation and also make a good impression on our fellow villagers since it's the first time the Huas have returned home. We want to establish friendly relations for the future, as we will all be neighbors and part of one community. It's also important to express our gratitude to the villagers and the Second Master's family for their assistance to ours."

Grandma Yeye's eyes crinkled with amusement. "You truly live up to your family's reputation, my child. Your words and manners show great upbringing. It's not easy to think of such things. But I've heard from your Second Uncle that times are tough for you. A pound of meat stewed with Chinese cabbage would suffice to give them a taste of something savory. There's no need to spend extravagantly. In the future, when you rebuild your home and cultivate the land, those will be the times when you'll need money."

Yu Lian shook her head and said, "Since our family moved here a few days ago, Second Master and Second Grandma have been of immense help to us. We intended to show our gratitude by presenting you with a pound of meat separately, but since Second Master declined, we decided to invite you both over for a meal instead, hoping you'll enjoy a hearty feast."

Maternal Grandpa looked at Grandma with a smile, praising her, "How did this child grow up to be so lovely? She's not only beautiful but also carries herself with grace and poise in everything she does. How could she be so admirable?"

The granddaughter-in-law was praised, and the old lady was also happy. She sighed and said to the second grandma: "Old sister, you don't know how much our poor son is so painful. After my grandson's accident, not only did she not leave him alone,I didn’t want to clear up the relationship, but instead I walked in alone with a baggage on my back. How heartbroken I felt. She was the concubine of Duke Wei’s mansion in the capital. At that time, the old lady of Duke Wei’s mansion was still planning her marriage, and the bride was also from the capital.Xungui's family is also a Hou family, and it is similar to our family before."

"Yet, out of her deep affection for our Hua'er, Lian'er was determined to join our family, even forsaking wealth and comfort. She endured hardships alongside us on this journey. Lian'er's character and integrity are impeccable. It was no easy feat, yet she managed every detail, ensuring our safety. When we were robbed and lost all our belongings, it was Lian'er who had the foresight to carry silver on her person, allowing us to continue our journey."

Unable to hold back her emotions, the elder lady dabbed at her teary eyes with a handkerchief. She wasn't merely flattering her granddaughter-in-law in front of others; her gratitude stemmed from the bottom of her heart. She was at a loss as to how to repay such devotion.

Though Lady Second was old and hadn't seen much of the world, living in the countryside all her life, her years of experience had given her a keen understanding of human nature. She could easily imagine the struggles a young girl must have faced, defying her elders to be with her beloved, and then leading an entire family on a long journey from the capital to this remote place.

Her eyes also reddened with emotion as she said, "To think such a thing happened. Recently, people have been inquiring about your family, wondering why you only have a daughter-in-law but no son. They now understand that something occurred, and Lian'er entered your household alone. This child has had a tough road. Treat her kindly, please."

"This child is indeed remarkable. Despite coming from a noble family, she carries no airs when interacting with a countrywoman like me. She speaks politely and knows how to build relationships with neighbors and fellow villagers. She is sincere and resourceful. Your family is blessed to have such a granddaughter-in-law."

The elder lady smiled warmly, "Indeed, she is."