Chapter 93 - An Agreement Established

◎ We've become the largest landowner in town! ◇

From the very beginning, Yu Lian had a plan for this.

Throughout history, power was paramount, and in these times, it loomed like a towering mountain. No matter how wealthy the local merchants were or how influential the local officials, they all feared the nobles from the capital the most.

Though the capital seemed far away, if one offended those in power there, it would be effortless for them to take action against you.

Yu Lian had previously deceived Lady Li into investing by leveraging the prestige of a powerful figure, and now she intended to do so again. As the old saying goes, a tactic need not be novel as long as it works.

Lady Li had already bought into Yu Lian's story, believing her to be the sixth young miss of the Wei Duke's residence, with a father who was the legitimate youngest son of the household. She knew that Yu Lian hailed from an esteemed background, one that could not be trifled with.

As for the fact that the Wei Duke's residence held a title without actual power, and that her father was a low-ranking official with a strained relationship with the family, these details were beyond Lady Li's reach to discover.

The name of the Wei Duke's residence carried weight in their rural town and distant county. By linking the land purchase to the prestigious household, no local magnate would dare to seize it by force, and the county magistrate would be too afraid to offend the high-ranking family in the capital by refusing the transfer of ownership.

It might even require exempting part of the land transfer tax to please the Wei Duke's estate.

Thus, Yu Lian imitated her parents' handwriting and wrote a letter, stating that her parents had entrusted her with helping the Wei Duke's family purchase land. In this age of private land ownership, land transactions were rampant, with numerous large and small landowners. Especially among the noble clans, it was common to acquire lands in various regions.

Yu Lian's explanation seemed reasonable, but it caused Lady Li to frown. She didn't doubt Yu Lian's words; instead, she was troubled because her family had already joined forces with other clans and the county magistrate to seize these lands. Now, an unexpected obstacle had appeared—what should they do?

At that moment, a young man behind Yu Lian spoke, "Sixth Miss, Madam has asked that you expedite this matter so I can report back to the capital."

Yu Lian looked at Lady Li with a troubled expression. "I have already approached Landowner Chen, but he seems to be facing difficulties. Lady Li is known for your astuteness—could you offer some guidance?"

Lady Li glanced at the man behind Yu Lian. He carried a sword, wore a black martial attire with the emblem of the Wei Duke's estate embroidered on the collar. This person was likely sent by the Wei Duke's family to handle the matter.

If only Yu Lian were here, Lady Li could have found an excuse or sought another solution. However, with the Wei Duke's family sending someone personally, if the purchase failed, and they complained, would the distant Wei Duke's estate send someone to deal with them?

Rumor had it that the Wei Duke's eldest legitimate son held a high-ranking second-class official position in the court.

It would be effortless for them to retaliate, and even the county magistrate couldn't afford to offend the Wei Duke's family.

A shrewd person like Lady Li understood that Yu Lian's subtle mention of Landowner Chen's difficulties hinted that he, fueled by his hatred for them, might have disclosed every detail. Both Yu Lian and this envoy from the Wei Duke's estate were likely aware that Landowner Chen couldn't sell his land due to their collusion with the county magistrate to acquire it at a low price.

She rubbed her temples in distress and forced a smile, saying, "Is that so? I was unaware. I'll speak to my husband about it and ask him to consult the county magistrate. If there are any difficulties, considering we're neighbors, we would be willing to assist, given Mr. Chen's family has been operating here for two generations."

Yu Lian smiled slightly and praised, "Madam Li truly embodies noble virtue. The Li family is indeed the scholarly merchant household that the common people describe, known for their benevolence."

After flattering Madam Li, she left the Li residence accompanied by her "servant from the Wei Duke's mansion," heading back to Upper Village.

The moment Zhu Ying stepped into the carriage, he tore off his disguise. A layer of artificial skin had concealed his true face, which was now revealed.

With excitement in his tone, he exclaimed, "Miss... Miss Lian, what a brilliant tactic!" He almost slipped and called her 'Young Lady.'

Zhu Ying secretly smacked his forehead and chuckled. "You are indeed remarkable!"

The plan was straightforward. The Young Lady had asked him to pretend to be an envoy from the Wei Duke's mansion to gain the trust of several influential families and the county magistrate, urging them to abandon their plans to hoard land. This way, she could quickly complete the land transfer and send the Chen family to the capital sooner.

Initially, the Young Lady hadn't intended for him to transform into someone else. However, Zhu Ying came up with the idea of using disguise. It would be less likely for them to be exposed, so he donned the disguise and accompanied the Young Lady in their staged performance.

The following day, Mr. Chen sent a messenger to find Yu Lian, urging her to proceed with the transfer promptly. The county magistrate had informed him that there were no issues with the land, and it was ready for sale.

Although Mr. Chen was unaware of the method Yu Lian employed, he knew that she hailed from an esteemed family and must have some influence. His priority was to sell the land and leave as soon as possible, avoiding any potential complications that might arise over time.

Yu Lian and her father-in-law spent the entire day running around, finally managing to transfer the land ownership. To their delight, Landlord Chen seemed to trust that she wouldn't abscond, transferring all his lands into her name with a private contract, giving her half a year to pay off the balance.

The county office didn't pose any obstacles either. Although the land was registered under Yu Lian's name rather than the Wei Duke's residence, it wasn't implausible for a daughter's family to provide some fields for their daughter who had married into rural hardship.

Considering this, Yu Lian's newfound importance made her even more untouchable.

If Yu Lian knew that County Magistrate Li and others were thinking along these lines, she might award them the Best Imagination Prize.

Landlord Chen's family had long packed their belongings. Valuables were sold, while indispensable items were brought along. They also sold their mansion. Initially, he had asked Yu Lian if she wanted it, but she declined. She lacked extra silver and didn't wish to take on more debt. Besides, the large courtyard in Upper Village suited her well, and moving to town would bring inconvenience and less safety.

The day after the transfer, Landlord Chen hired an escort from a security agency. Yu Lian bade them farewell. He bombarded her with questions about the capital, all of which she had already explained. Worried about forgetting, he repeatedly asked before hesitating to say something but ultimately keeping quiet.

What could he say? Could he ask if they could seek help from the Wei Duke's residence in case of trouble? He decided against it. Landlord Chen didn't have such influence. Not only did they end up in the countryside due to difficulties, but he and Yu Lian also didn't have a close relationship. Their connection was based on favors and business transactions. Moreover, Yu Lian had provided advice and information; logically, he owed her. He couldn't casually establish connections; otherwise, he wouldn't know how he'd meet his end.

As Landlord Chen's family departed, Yu Lian watched for a while. She didn't know if they would fuel the emperor's fire, but her purpose of buying land had been fulfilled. Her landlord's dream had been achieved in her second year here!

For a moment, even with her usual composure, the thought of owning thousands of acres lit her eyes with excitement, a captivating flush tingeing the corners.

She returned to the village and her home with light, joyful steps, her entrance carrying a touch of girlish playfulness.

The elder matriarch couldn't help but smile affectionately and inquire about the reason for her joy.

Yu Lian rushed over, embracing the elder's arm, and happily said, "Our family has become the largest landowner in town!"

"We'll have endless food to eat and countless clothes to wear. We no longer need to live in fear."

As she spoke, Yu Lian felt a slight tingling at the tip of her nose, and she suddenly realized the immense pressure she had been under. She had taken on the mess left behind by her original body, determinedly preparing to lead this large family of antagonists away from the troubles of the capital city to an entirely unfamiliar place.

Unconsciously, she had been under stress every day, focusing on how to earn money and survive in this era with dignity and ease.

Now that she had achieved her goal, those pent-up pressures were finally being acknowledged by her.

Silence fell after the granddaughter finished speaking, puzzling the elder. Looking over, she noticed her granddaughter's reddened eyes and the tears silently slipping down her fair and pretty cheeks.

Alarmed, she called out, "Lian'er, Lian'er?"

"What happened? Did someone wrong you?"

Yu Lian sniffled, feeling a bit embarrassed. With a rare display of vulnerability, she confided in her grandmother as a young girl might, "Lian'er just momentarily recalled the hardships our family faced when we moved here last year, and how, for this entire year, we had no land, no food, no home – everything required money, everything needed to be replaced. Lian'er is useless; I often couldn't sleep at night, fearing that Grandmother, Father, Mother, and my three younger siblings would go hungry, following me as we struggled through life... But now, we have so much land. Even if our business fails, it doesn't matter; we can still provide for all of you."

The old lady felt a pang of sadness in her heart, and she started to cry as well. She picked up a clean handkerchief to gently wipe her granddaughter-in-law's face before using it on herself. Holding Yu Lian's hand, she was overwhelmed with mixed emotions, looking at her with both affection and guilt: "Grandmother had no idea you were carrying such a heavy burden."

"Sigh... originally, it was already our fault that you came into this family, between your parents and me. Hua'er has wronged you, and now you've had to endure so much pressure. It's only now that you can finally catch a breath. Grandmother should not have let this happen."

She sighed, "Why must you suffer, Lian'er?"

By now, Yu Lian's emotions had somewhat stabilized. She replied, "It was Lian'er who suggested bringing all of you back to our rural ancestral home. If any of you were to suffer or go hungry without being able to live in peace, then that would truly be my fault."

These were Yu Lian's sincere words. She could order others around, exploit them, or deceive for her goals, but regardless, she would take responsibility for her decisions. She had brought these people to the countryside to escape the chaos of the plot and the complexities of the capital, to live a freer and more carefree life in this era. In her scheme, this family had become her allies, and thus, she had to take responsibility for their well-being, ensuring they survived with food and shelter.

Upon hearing this, the old lady clung tightly to her granddaughter-in-law, wondering what good deeds her family had done to deserve such a wonderful girl to love their grandson. Moreover, out of concern for Hua'er, she had taken great care of them all. She knew that if not for Lian'er, their family might have already been destroyed.

Meanwhile, Hua Zhan's eldest son, Hua Ji, who had been deeply worried, finally received the letter they had sent during the New Year. He immediately recognized the military code his father had taught him.

It's coming, it's almost over. The male lead will soon make his appearance.