Chapter 573 - 573: Selling Land to Her Parental Family

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Li Yu recalled what Judge Sun had said the other day. “Each of them was given 20 taels of silver. In addition to the fields they originally had, they were also given three acres of fertile land per family. They were given female households as an exception and were exempted from taxes for three years. They were left with one and a half years of rations for each of them. They won’t be able to finish the rations left behind in two years.”

These things were probably the reason why her family, who had originally ignored Xiang Xiu, was willing to let her return to her family!

Zhao Cai continued, “Auntie Ah Lian said that if they really left, she would find a descendant for those three families to carry on the family line, saving those families from having their bloodlines cut off. Xiang Xiu and the others didn’t agree. They said that Auntie Ah Lian had no right to control them. They said that they had already found a buyer and came back to inform them first. They also said that it was fine if they weren’t allowed to sell to others. They could sell the fields to Ah Lian and the others.”

Ruyi walked in and smiled. “They’re right. Ah Lian is neither the patriarch nor the village chief. She’s not qualified to control them. If the fat pig wants to enter the slaughterhouse, who can stop it?”

Zhao Cai burst out laughing. “You’ve also learned what Uncle Zhou said?”

“Uncle Zhou’s analogy is right. The fat pig is really going to enter the butcher’s house.” Li Yu looked at the two of them. “Why don’t I see Uncle Zhou, Little

Loach, and the others?”

Ruyi replied, “Uncle Zhou brought them to buy stone slabs and hire craftsmen. He also went to buy piglets. He won’t be back until the day after tomorrow.”

Li Yu nodded. “No wonder I didn’t see them. Everyone has been tired for a day.

Go and rest! Let’s talk about it tomorrow!”

The two of them agreed and returned to their rooms to sleep.

Li Yu returned to the house and saw that the two children were asleep. Granny Chen lay on the edge of the bed and looked at the two children. When she saw Li Yu enter, she smiled and stood up. She said softly, “They’re both tired. They fell asleep with their heads on the pillow.”

Li Yu smiled and said to her, “Yes! You’re tired too. Go and rest!”

After Granny Chen went out, Li Yu lay between the two children and touched their heads. She also closed her eyes and fell asleep.

The next day, Li Yu practiced two sets of boxing in the courtyard and ate with the two children. Just as she was about to go out for a walk, Ah Lian came with Yang Liu.

When Ah Lian saw Li Yu, tears flowed down her face. “Madam, I, I…

Li Yu asked Granny Chen to bring the two children out and looked at Ah Lian. “Zhao Cai told me about you last night. I want to ask why you don’t allow them to sell their fields and return to their families?”

Ah Lian wiped her tears and looked at Li Yu. “Madam, Xiang Xiu was only 15 or 16 years old when she married into Liang Village. When her man married her, he gave her eight taels of silver as a betrothal gift. She carried a small bag and entered the house in her wedding dress. Do you think such a family that sells their daughters treats her sincerely? I was worried that her family would coax her away with the money, so I stopped her from selling the land. Who knew that she didn’t appreciate it at all?”

Ah Lian’s tears fell again as she spoke.

Yang Liu said to Li Yu, “Madam, as soon as Lord Sun left, they made a fuss about going back to see their parents. At that time, we told her about these powerful connections. In my opinion, it’s difficult to persuade a damn ghost with good words. They like to leave the wolf’s den and enter the tiger’s mouth. We can’t stop them, nor do we have the right. While Madam is here, let her sell all the fields to Madam so that they won’t sell them to shady families and cause trouble in the village.”

Li Yu looked at Ah Lian. “Yang Liu is right, but you’re in no position to stop them. You can’t keep them here even if you force them!”

Seeing that Li Yu didn’t support her, Ah Lian could only nod. “I’ll listen to you. We can’t even finish planting our own fields. Can you buy the fields in their hands?”

Li Yu said indifferently, “Sure, let them find Ruyi.”

“Madam, we’ll go back first.” The two of them stood up and walked out.

Seeing Ah Lian’s worried expression, Yang Liu said, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry about them. Just take care of yourself. Why don’t you think about it? It’s different from before. Who can you control?”

When Li Yu heard Yang Liu’s straightforward words, she felt that Yang Liu understood.

In less than an hour, Ah Lian brought Xiang Xiu and two other women to the manor to sell the fields.

Ruvi said to them, “Madam said that she will add one tael to the official price of the fields and land. Do you agree?”

Xiang Xiu muttered, “An official price. Your family is also an official. Who knows how much you would buy the lands for?” Xiang Xiu looked at the other two and said, “Steward Zhou, tell us the price.”

Ruyi glanced at her. “Ten taels of silver per acre of fertile land. Seven taels of silver for the second-rate field and four taels of silver for the land. Also, we didn’t bring much food over. Are you selling those grains? We’ll buy them at the market price.”

“Alright, I’ll sell them all to you,” Xiang Xiu and the others said as they looked at Ruyi with bright eyes.

Ruyi took out the contract and read it to them. “You can look for Aunt Ah Lian, right?”

Xiang Xiu smiled awkvvardly. “Look at what you’re saying. How can we not believe you?”

Ruyi sneered. “I’ll save you the trouble of accusing my family of bullying others in the future.”

Ah Lian looked at Xiang Xiu and the others. “Yes, we can’t be ungrateful and do such a thing to play the blame game.”

Xiang Xiu looked at Ah Lian with a red face and said unhappily, “Second

Sister-in-law, what kind of person do you think we are?”

Ah Lian rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say you guys were like that. I just said we can’t do something like that.”

A round-faced woman tugged at Xiang Xiu. “Just let Second Sister-in-law say a few words! Hurry up and press your fingerprints. Go back and pack your luggage!”

Xiang Xiu turned to look at Ruyi. “Steward Zhou, let’s press our fingerprints.”

The three of them each pressed their fingerprints. Ruyi gave them the silver. Seeing them leave happily with the silver, he sighed. “People! I’m afraid it’s wishful thinking.”

Ah Lian followed them out and said to them, “I’ll tell you again. You have to tighten your grip on the money. Don’t be coaxed away. You won’t even have a place to cry then.”

Xiang Xiu looked at Ah Lian and felt that the silver was in her pocket. She was not a three-year-old child. How could the silver be coaxed away?

Thinking that Ah Lian was just being kind, she said reluctantly, “Second Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I know you’re doing this for my own good, but I really don’t want to live here. I feel terrible thinking about it. You have to be well after we leave.”

Ah Lian looked at them and knew that they didn’t take it to heart. Looking at their happy expressions, she hoped that she was thinking too much.

She forced a smile and said, “Alright, if you really have nowhere to go in the future, go back to Liang Village. As long as Sister-in-law is around, you’ll have a meal! The fields are busy, so I won’t send you off.”

“Okay, go ahead,” the three of them replied perfunctorily and busied themselves going back to pack.

Ah Lian looked at their eager expressions and sighed. She walked towards the field in a low mood..