Chapter 3: Farmland
The grain from thirty acres of farmland was generally enough to feed a dozen or so people.
The remaining money could be saved to buy an Inner Strength Manual.
Inner Strength Manuals also varied in quality.
A High Grade one cost one or two thousand taels, while an ordinary one cost seven or eight hundred taels.
Xu Chuan naturally wanted to buy a High Grade Inner Strength Manual to lay a good Martial Dao foundation for his family in the future.
As for the even more precious Innate Secret Manuals, that could only be considered after someone from the Xu Family became an Innate Martial Artist.
“It’s truly rare for a County Registrar to personally come down to handle affairs. Is it a struggle in the officialdom?”
After making up his mind, Xu Chuan chose the right time and went directly to the village entrance to wait for people.
At this time, Dongxi Village.
The common people were all busy with various tasks after harvesting the rice.
Wealthy households with ample savings, seeing the hot weather, preferred not to go out unless absolutely necessary.
At the entrance of Dongxi Village.
Xu Chuan saw two yamen runners in black uniforms and a scholar in a green robe approaching from a distance.
So he hurried forward, and after inquiring about their purpose, he expressed his desire to purchase the Yu family's rice fields.
“You want to buy fifty acres of rice fields?” the green-robed scholar asked in surprise.
“Yes, may I ask what Rank you hold, sir? Are you authorized to make decisions? If not, I will make a trip to the county yamen now.”
“I am the County Registrar of Qingjiang County. I came here specifically to handle the issue of the Yu family’s land after their deaths.”
“Greetings, County Registrar.” Xu Chuan quickly cupped his hands, thinking that it was indeed the County Registrar.
County Registrar Yang Zhao observed Xu Chuan, seeing his rough linen vest, and concluded that the person before him was likely an ordinary commoner from Dongxi Village.
Fifty acres of rice fields was no small sum for an ordinary commoner.
“Are you sure you can afford it? Don’t toy with me, or the consequences are not something you can bear.”
His mood was not particularly pleasant at the moment, and his tone carried severity.
“How would this humble one dare!”
Yang Zhao pondered for a moment, then said, “Since that’s the case, how about ten taels per acre for the rice fields?”
“No problem.”
Xu Chuan agreed without hesitation and then pulled out a silver note.
The August weather was truly unbearable.
Yang Zhao glanced indifferently, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and felt much better after completing half of the county magistrate’s assigned task as soon as he entered the village.
Although he knew this was the county magistrate intentionally targeting him, the newly appointed County Registrar, a higher official could easily suppress a lower one.
If he didn't complete it today, he would certainly be targeted upon his return.
“What is your name?”
“Xu Chuan.”
“Check it.”
“Yes, County Registrar Yang.”
The tall yamen runner took out the official land register to check Xu Chuan's Rank and property, while another yamen runner with a rounder face also took out the household register to find Xu Chuan's name.
“Found it, Xu Chuan, from Dongxi Village, should be twenty-six this year, with one wife and two sons.”
The round-faced yamen runner looked at Yang Zhao and pointed to Xu Chuan’s name in the household register.
“Sir, I’ve found it too. Xu Chuan, currently owns ten acres of rice fields and ten acres of mountain forest.”
The tall yamen runner also pointed out the information he found to Yang Zhao.
“Hmm, he is indeed from Dongxi Village and has the priority to purchase.”
Yang Zhao accepted the five hundred tael silver note, then helped Xu Chuan register and record it, and had him sign his name and press his handprint.
“This is your proof of purchase for the rice fields. From this moment on, the fifty acres of rice fields belonging to Yu Hou’s family are yours.”
“Thank you, County Registrar Yang.”
Xu Chuan carefully put away the rice field certificate against his body, and was about to leave when Yang Zhao unexpectedly called out to him.
“Xu Chuan, right? It’s fate that you and I met at the village entrance. Since you are from Dongxi Village, you know where all of Yu Hou’s family’s land is located, don’t you?”
Let me lead the way?
Forget it, I can’t afford to offend an official.
Xu Chuan nodded, offering to lead Yang Zhao and the others to inspect the land.
With Xu Chuan’s help, Yang Zhao completed the task assigned by the county magistrate in half a day.
The remaining thirty acres of High Grade paddy fields and thirty acres of mountain forest of the Yu Hou family all found their new owners.
“Alright, the matter is concluded. You don’t need to accompany us anymore.”
“I, Yang Zhao, will remember this favor. If you have any trouble, you can come to the Qingjiang County yamen to find me.”
“It’s just a small matter, County Registrar Yang doesn’t need to keep it in mind.”
“If I tell you to remember it, then remember it. I, Yang Zhao, am clear about favors and grudges. However, I must also say beforehand, if you violate the Great Wei laws or do anything heinous, there’s no need to find me.”
“If you dare to come, I, as an official, will be the first to have you arrested and thrown into prison.”
“This humble one remembers.”
Xu Chuan watched their retreating figures, muttering to himself: Is a County Registrar really that confident?
No!
It must be that his backing is strong.
Today, he acquired fifty acres of rice fields and unexpectedly gained a small favor, which could be considered a great harvest.
Upon returning home, Xu Chuan told Bai Jing about the day’s events.
“Fifty acres? Husband, weren’t you planning to only buy twenty or thirty acres before?”
“It’s fate and destiny.”
Xu Chuan said something mystical, then took out the rice field certificate.
Bai Jing took it and looked, her face also showing joy.
“That’s wonderful! For a long time to come, we won’t have to worry about grain, and we can even sell the surplus for silver.”
“Put it away, put it in the old place.”
In the afternoon.
Xu Chuan went to the threshing ground to check on the harvested rice.
He checked how well it was drying. If it was thoroughly dehydrated, it would be time to thresh it, remove Impurities, and then store it after drying.
Then he went to inspect his family’s mountain forest.
The qingyu pears here were of utmost importance; they could be harvested in a little over a month.
To prevent people from coveting and entering, he had initially planted a large number of thorny vines around the fields.
These vines were very easy to grow, and their sharp thorns, when they pricked the skin, had a numbing effect on the body.
The thorny vines Entanglement around bamboo poles, and after a few years, formed a thorny wall four or five meters high and about a foot thick, leaving only one entrance.
Xu Chuan had set up some simple mechanisms.
Every evening, after Xu Chuan’s last inspection, he would lock the door and activate the mechanisms.
At night, the mountain forest was pitch dark, and visibility was poor.
If anyone were to harbor ill intentions and forcibly break in, they would most likely fall into a trap.
— — — — — — — — — —
More than a month passed in a flash.
All the various processes for the rice had long been completed and stored at home.
Xu Chuan began to handle the fifty acres of rice fields he had acquired.
After deducting the portion to be paid as tax, the rest of the rice planted in the fields belonged to his family.
In the evening.
Er Gou suddenly ran to the rice fields in a hurry, panting as he shouted, “Chuan Ge, sister-in-law is going into labor!”
Xu Chuan's face lit up with joy, and without another word, he immediately ran home.
“No, let me rest first.”
Er Gou was out of breath, but seeing Xu Chuan run off, he could only brace himself and follow, scrambling like a dog with his front limbs swinging.
Before he even reached the door, he heard Bai Jing’s painful cries from inside the house.
Xu Yan, Er Gou’s wife, was helping and came out, just meeting Xu Chuan who wanted to enter, so she quickly stopped him.
“Cousin, the midwife has already arrived, so don’t go in.”
“It’s unlucky for a man to be present when a woman is giving birth.”
“Here, go and boil a few more kettles of hot water, the more the better.”
Xu Chuan just wanted to see Bai Jing’s condition, but now was not the time to dwell on that.
He immediately ran to the kitchen, lit the firewood, and began to boil water.
This was not Bai Jing’s first delivery.
But for women, no matter which time, it was a matter of life and death.
There was no saying that one would get used to it after having several children.
Xu Chuan naturally felt nervous.
After Er Gou arrived, he poured himself a bowl of water and gulped it down in one go.
Seeing the worried look on Xu Chuan’s face, he immediately said, “Chuan Ge, don’t worry, sister-in-law has always been healthy, and she will definitely give birth to the child smoothly.”
“Moreover, I also brought a Qi and Blood Pills from home, just in case.”
Er Gou handed the small porcelain bottle containing the Qi and Blood Pills to Xu Chuan.
“You’re thoughtful.”
Xu Chuan did not decline and accepted it directly.
Having had several experiences with Bai Jing’s childbirth, Xu Chuan himself had prepared some herbs to replenish Qi and Blood.
But compared to the Qi and Blood Pills, they were far inferior.
He felt slightly relieved and remembered something, asking, “Where are Shitou and A Yuan?”
“I took them to my house; they’re probably having a great time playing with my son.”
Xu Chuan nodded, looked up at Er Gou, “Er Gou, I’ve noted this favor. If there’s anything I can help you with in the future, just say so.”
“Actually, there really is something I’d like you to help me with, Chuan Ge.”
“But… right now, sister-in-law’s delivery is the most important.”
“Alright.”
Xu Chuan responded, his mind not on that matter.
Nothing in the world was as important as his wife giving birth!