Chapter 25: I Dare Not Take It
Linhai Town.
Next to the Maritime Tax Bureau, behind a two-story stone building, two rows of old houses formed a small courtyard. Compared to the colossal Maritime Tax Bureau, the small building and courtyard appeared quite insignificant.
This small courtyard was the He Ji Old Brand, which owned more than half of the warehouses in Linhai Town.
A simple cart with a slightly worn curtain stopped at the entrance of the He Ji Old Brand. The attendant placed the footboard, lifted the curtain, and He Chengzhe, the head of the He Ji Old Brand, alighted from the cart.
Inside the He Ji Old Brand, He Chengzhe’s eldest son, He Ruiming, ran out to meet him.
“Father, around noon, it seems the Young Lord came to our Linhai Town,” He Ruiming whispered as he approached his father.
“It seems?” He Chengzhe paused, his brow furrowed as he looked at his son.
“I didn’t see him. I went to check on the goods early this morning and just returned. It was Wu Shi from Zhaoyue Tower. Didn’t he accompany us to the Capital City to deliver New Year Goods once? He saw the Young Lord from afar. When I returned, Wu Shi was waiting and said that person ate lunch at Zhaoyue Tower today. He thought it looked like the Young Lord,” He Ruiming quickly explained.
“Mm,” He Chengzhe’s expression softened. He hummed and continued walking inside.
“I’ve already sent someone to inquire. They said he entered Linhai Town at the third quarter of the noon hour, entered Zhaoyue Tower at the first quarter past noon, ordered scallion oil steamed crab legs and stir-fried clams, some of Zhaoyue Tower’s signature dishes. He ate for nearly three quarters of an hour. After leaving, he walked along Xingyang Street all the way to the entrance of the Maritime Tax Bureau. He didn’t enter the Maritime Tax Bureau, just stood across the street and looked before leaving. It seems he was heading towards Pingjiang City.”
He Ruiming walked beside his father, He Chengzhe, speaking in a low voice, detailing everything.
He Chengzhe listened intently. After a moment, he hummed, “A message came from the villa. Two days ago, they received an urgent dispatch from Hangcheng saying the Young Lord would be staying at the Pingjiang Villa for a full year.”
“Ah? Then today’s person, was it really the Young Lord?” He Ruiming was very surprised. “Why did the Young Lord come to Pingjiang City? Wei Educational Commissioner is in Hangcheng. Besides, when people from the Prince’s Estate come, they always stay at the Hangcheng Villa…”
“Is this any of your business?” He Chengzhe interrupted his son.
“Yes.” He Ruiming lowered his head.
“Prepare yourselves. We’ll head to the Pingjiang Villa now,” He Chengzhe instructed.
………………………………
Li Xuedong was kept by Old Master Kuan at Li Family Market to discuss a host of clan matters, while Li Jinzhu and her sisters returned to Xiao Li Village.
Li Yin Zhu tended the stove, Li Yu Zhu cooked, Li Xiaonan sat close to Li Yin Zhu, resting her chin on her hands as she watched her tend the stove. Li Jin Zhu sat by the wall, watching Li Yu Zhu wash and chop vegetables.
As Li Yu Zhu scooped a ladle of water to pour into the pot, Li Jin Zhu instructed, “Stir-fry the vegetables. Add plenty of lard.”
“Shall we kill a chicken to eat?” Li Yin Zhu, seeing her Eldest Sister speak, felt instantly relieved and became cheerful.
“Tomorrow. Killing a chicken requires scalding and washing, which takes a while. Everyone is starving. A Nan’s stomach has been rumbling,” Li Jin Zhu said, a smile appearing on her face as she relaxed.
Ever since getting into that cart at noon, her heart and mind had been tightly wound.
“Our A Nan is truly amazing,” Li Yu Zhu said with a smile, praising her softly.
“Don’t mention it again, not even think about it. Forget it all!” Li Jin Zhu’s back straightened instantly, her voice stern.
“Eldest Sister, it’s alright now, it’s over,” Li Xiaonan quickly tugged at Li Jin Zhu.
Li Jin Zhu let out a long sigh, her back softening. She leaned back against the wall. After a moment, she reached out and hugged Li Xiaonan, “It’s all over, like a dream.”
“Me too!” Li Yin Zhu exclaimed, her voice soaring. “Eldest Sister, that ox, is it ours now? And the copper coins, twenty-four diaos! With so many copper coins, will he give them to us? Can we get them? It truly feels like a dream!”
“He wouldn’t dare not to,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“The fire is too big! You silly girl, you’re burning the pot,” Li Yu Zhu said with a laugh as she saw the fire growing stronger.
Li Yin Zhu quickly reduced the heat.
“Eldest Sister, Brother has a deadline to report to the Prefectural School. What should we do?” Li Xiaonan asked, looking at Li Jin Zhu.
“Us?” Li Yin Zhu poked her head over, her eyes wide.
What did A Nan mean by “what should we do”? Did they also have to go to Pingjiang City?
Li Yu Zhu, who was stir-frying, also paused and looked at Li Jin Zhu.
“It’s time to discuss it,” Li Jin Zhu patted Li Yin Zhu, indicating that the fire was about to go out.
“We never dared to imagine Xuedong could actually pass the Xiucai exam. Now, Xuedong has passed.”
Li Jin Zhu hugged Li Xiaonan.
“Xuedong has been assigned to the Prefectural School and needs to study in Pingjiang City. On the way, I discussed this matter with Xuedong and A Nan. Xuedong alone going to Pingjiang City is definitely not feasible. If our family of five is split into two places.”
Li Jin Zhu’s words trailed off.
Third Uncle was no longer in power, and the Village Head had also been removed. Now, leaving the second and third sisters at home, there was no need to worry about them being bullied by Third Uncle.
Li Yu Zhu and Li Yin Zhu held their breath, their four eyes filled with excitement and longing as they looked at Li Jin Zhu.
Li Jin Zhu looked at Li Yin Zhu, then at Li Yu Zhu, and raised her hand to wipe her face.
Forget it, leaving the two of them here in Xiao Li Village, she couldn’t bear it.
“A Nan’s idea is that we lease out the fields, and we all follow Xuedong to Pingjiang City…”
“Ooh!” Li Yin Zhu let out an excited yelp, her arm swinging and hitting the firewood by the stove, the firewood striking the bottom of the pot, sending sparks flying from the stove.
“You silly girl! You’ve dented the pot!” Li Yu Zhu laughed and cursed, looking at Li Jin Zhu. “How much rent can we get from these fields? Enough for us to eat and use? There are five of us!”
“We still have two oxen!” Li Yin Zhu quickly added. “And twenty-four diaos of money! A Nan said Third Uncle wouldn’t dare not to give it!”
“I’m not sure either. I was thinking, tomorrow, Yu Zhu and I will go to Li Family Market. This matter needs to be discussed with Wang Zi Fang’s Tang Weng Weng. A Nan and the third sister will stay and watch the house…”
“It’s not okay for them to stay home, especially A Nan,” Li Yu Zhu interrupted her Eldest Sister, saying solemnly, “Third Uncle’s family is unreasonable. What if something unexpected happens?”
“Then bring Yin Zhu and A Nan along too. We’ll all go together,” Li Jin Zhu nodded.
The next morning, Li Jin Zhu and her three sisters ate breakfast early and headed to Li Family Market.
Li Yin Zhu and Li Xiaonan played with Cui Ye, Li Wenhua’s eldest daughter, for a day. Li Jin Zhu and Li Yu Zhu, along with Li Xuedong, discussed Li Xuedong’s studies in Pingjiang City with the clan elders and the heads of each family in the Ancestral Hall.
After discussing for a while, Old Master Kuan sent someone to invite Mr. Gao. After Mr. Gao arrived, they continued their discussion until evening, finally settling the matter of Li Xuedong studying in Pingjiang City.
Xuedong, as a Xiucai scholar, was only seventeen years old, with boundless potential. Since he was to study in Pingjiang City, it was better for him to settle there, which would be more beneficial for Xuedong and the Li Clan. This was the common understanding of Old Master Kuan and the other clan elders, and Mr. Gao also strongly agreed.
Since Li Xuedong, as the head of the household, would be residing in Pingjiang City, his sisters would naturally follow him to Pingjiang City. This was only right.
Li Xuedong, as a Xiucai scholar, had fifty mu of tax-exempt land. Currently, Li Xuedong’s family only had over thirty mu of paddy fields. The clan would provide the money to make up the fifty mu, along with two oxen and five tiled houses, which Li Wenhua would manage.
Old Master Kuan’s intention was that the harvest from these fifty mu of paddy fields and the rent for the oxen and houses would all be given to Li Xuedong. The other clan elders strongly agreed. However, Li Jin Zhu firmly disagreed, insisting on collecting rent and ox fees according to the usual rules for leasing land. As for the five tiled houses, according to the rules for leasing land, they were for the tenants to live in for free, and their family would also abide by the rules, naturally not charging any extra copper coins for the houses.
Li Xuedong strongly supported his Eldest Sister’s opinion. Old Master Kuan and the clan elders could not persuade them, so they had to agree to the Li siblings.
Old Master Kuan proposed that the clan would give Li Xuedong five taels of silver each month for entertainment expenses and two taels of silver for writing brush and ink. The clan elders and heads of families all agreed. Li Jin Zhu once again firmly disagreed.
She and her sisters had hands and feet, could take care of themselves, and could also support Xuedong. Besides, Xuedong had a stipend, which was one and a half diaos of copper coins per month.
Li Xuedong steadfastly supported his Eldest Sister. Old Master Kuan and the clan elders could not sway them on this point either, and had to yield to the Li siblings.
Old Master Kuan proposed purchasing a three-courtyard house in Pingjiang City for Xuedong. Before Old Master Kuan could finish speaking, Li Jin Zhu shook her head and waved her hands, resolutely refusing.
Finally, Mr. Gao stepped in. Li Jin Zhu reluctantly compromised slightly. A house would still not be purchased, but the copper coins for renting a house in Pingjiang City would be paid by the clan.
After a whole day of discussion, Li Xuedong, along with his four sisters, moved to Pingjiang City. From the clan, they only received copper coins for renting a house.
The Li Clan placed great hopes on Li Xuedong, this seventeen-year-old Xiucai scholar. However, Li Jin Zhu and the others knew the reality of Li Xuedong’s status as a Xiucai scholar. The heavier the clan’s expectations, the more uneasy Li Jin Zhu felt. Every copper coin given by the clan came with expectations, how could she dare to accept it?
Regarding the copper coins for renting a house, Li Jin Zhu had already made plans. Firstly, the cheaper the house, the better. Secondly, once they were settled in Pingjiang City, they would pay for the house rent themselves.
