Chapter 90 - 89: Keeping the Appointment
Chapter 90: Chapter 89: Keeping the Appointment
After the four clan leaders from the other villages departed, Chen Li turned his gaze to Wang Shiming. As the Clan Leader of the Wang Family, also of Lingxi Village, Wang Shiming had been sitting quietly to one side all along.
"Clan Leader Wang."
Chen Li’s tone was steady. "Lingxi Village is required to provide four thousand stone. As is customary, the Chen and Wang families will each bear half the burden. The Chen Family will take on two thousand stone. I’ll have to trouble you to raise the other two thousand."
"Why not divide the amount equally among the villages? Why must Lingxi Village bear so much?" Wang Shiming’s face was grim as he couldn’t help but question him angrily.
The Wang Family of Lingxi Village had fewer than two hundred households. Even including the attached families of other surnames, they numbered only two hundred and thirty-seven households.
At this rate, each household would have to hand over nearly nine stone of grain—the entire annual harvest from three acres of fertile land.
Even though the Court had waived the Land Tax this year, this levy would nearly wipe out every family’s reserves.
Chen Li couldn’t be bothered to explain further. He simply tossed the question back lightly, "If Clan Leader Wang has objections, why don’t you negotiate with the other four villages on my behalf? Ask them to take on a larger share."
Wang Shiming was instantly speechless, his face turning pale. Finally, he ground out through clenched teeth, "I... will do my best. But if I really can’t collect it all, it has nothing to do with me!"
"Clan Leader Wang, your household currently has three thousand seven hundred stone of grain in reserve. Your clan brother, Wang Shihui, also has two thousand one hundred stone."
Chen Li spoke, his gaze boring into him like a torch. "I trust that with your abilities, Clan Leader Wang, you’ll know how to raise the funds."
Hearing this, Wang Shiming’s expression changed drastically, and a cold sweat instantly beaded on his back.
’How could he know the details of my family’s grain reserves so well?’
’Could it be that he truly possesses some unfathomable, supernatural power?’
He recalled how he had encountered a Hanged Ghost right after moving against Chen Li. Now, as he looked at Chen Li again, his eyes were filled with unconcealable terror.
He didn’t dare say another word, and he rose hastily to leave.
After seeing Wang Shiming off, Chen Li didn’t rest.
That evening, he summoned all the members of the Chen Family to the ancestral hall for a meeting.
Once the clan members had gathered, Chen Li sat at the head of the ancestral hall. His gaze swept over his relatives below as he calmly announced that the Chen Family was required to contribute two thousand stone of grain for military provisions this year.
The moment he spoke, it was like dropping cold water into hot oil—the ancestral hall erupted in an uproar.
"Two... two thousand stone?!"
A white-haired, wrinkled clan elder shot to his feet, his voice trembling so much he could barely stand. "Clan Leader, how... how is this possible? Many families barely have enough grain in their storehouses to feed themselves! Where are we supposed to find so much extra grain to hand over?"
"That’s right, Clan Leader!"
A dark-faced, middle-aged man shouted after him, the veins on his forehead bulging with anxiety. "Two thousand stone! You’re asking us to scrape our granaries bare! This will be the death of our entire clan!"
"Heavens above... How are we supposed to live after this..."
"If we give up what little grain we have, what will we eat..."
"Isn’t this a death sentence..."
The ancestral hall was in chaos.
Chen Li remained seated above them, his expression grave. He didn’t immediately try to silence them, allowing their panic, anger, and helplessness to vent for a moment.
Only when the noise had subsided slightly did he speak. "Everyone, please be calm."
His voice wasn’t loud, but it instantly quelled all the clamor.
Chen Li looked around at the crowd. "Uncle Yongxiao met with misfortune, and the surplus grain in his name currently has no heir. It can be used to solve this urgent crisis. I propose that the two thousand stone required of the Chen Family not be divided among each household. Instead, we will pay the entire amount directly from the grain reserves in Uncle Yongxiao’s home."
He paused, then continued clearly, "Any grain remaining in Uncle Yongxiao’s home will also be moved to the clan’s public granary, to be managed centrally for the clan’s future public expenses and emergencies. This way, we won’t harm the livelihood of any family in our clan, and we can still comply with the Government Office’s strict order. What do you all think?"
The ancestral hall first fell into a dead silence. The clan members could hardly believe their ears, staring at one another in disbelief.
"Yes! Yes! That’s right!"
"That’s exactly what we should do!"
"This is great! This is great! Brother Li really has a way!"
Immediately, sounds of relieved celebration erupted.
The immense burden had vanished into thin air in an instant, so naturally, the clan members had no further objections.
"There is one more thing."
Chen Li paused before speaking again. "Uncle Yongxiao left behind six hundred and thirty acres of land. When we reported it to the authorities, the Government Office only registered it and didn’t say how it would be handled. For now, I will lease this land. I will pay one stone of grain per acre to the clan’s public granary each year. What does everyone think?"
He paused briefly, his eyes sweeping over the crowd as he added, "Of course, if anyone else in the clan wishes to lease it, they can also make an offer under the same terms: a payment of one stone of grain per acre to the public granary each year."
Although some clan members were tempted by the idea of leasing the land...
...a quick calculation showed the profit was meager. An acre yielded only about three stone a year. After paying one stone for the Land Tax and another to the public granary, a year of hard work would only leave one stone of surplus grain.
In addition, no one wished to go against Chen Li, so they all remained silent, with no one speaking up to object.
...
「The twelfth month.」
A biting wind swept through Lingxi Village, making the bare branches whistle and moan.
Chen Li was in his study, cultivating the Five Grains Spirit Nurturing Technique.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The knocking interrupted him.
"Enter."
The study door was pushed open, and a gust of cold wind took the opportunity to slip inside.
Liu Yuejin strode in, bringing a chill with him. "Boss. The grain collected from the five villages has all been prepared, totaling ten thousand five hundred stone. The clan leaders of the four villages have all sent men to ask when the grain should be transported to the county government granary."
"Thank you for all your trouble."
Chen Li had entrusted the entire matter of collecting the grain to Liu Yuejin, leaving himself with more free time.
Hearing the news, he showed little surprise. "Please inform them to delay the transport. The grain should remain in each village’s own granaries for now. Everything will wait for my arrangements."
A flicker of confusion crossed Liu Yuejin’s eyes, but he didn’t ask any questions. He replied, "Yes! I’ll go inform the clan leaders at once."
He turned to leave, but Chen Li called out to him again. "Brother, one more thing."
Liu Yuejin immediately stopped and turned back. "Your orders, Boss?"
Chen Li mused, "Please select a few of your hired hands and have them go to a nearby market to purchase one hundred live pigs. They must be healthy and strong. Pay a deposit first, and once I’ve decided on a time and place, have them delivered to me."
"One hundred live pigs?"
This time, Liu Yuejin was truly taken aback.
With the new year approaching, the price of pork was high. Purchasing one hundred live pigs at once was no small expense. Besides, what did the Boss need so many live pigs for? Even for curing bacon, you wouldn’t need that many.
"I have my own use for them," Chen Li said with a smile, offering no explanation.
After Liu Yuejin left with his orders, Chen Li went to the rear courtyard. He saw his eldest son, Shouheng, practicing his punches intently under a tree and called him over.
"Shouheng, get yourself ready. You’re coming with me to Jingshan Pier." Chen Li’s tone was calm, but it held a faint, almost unnoticeable smile.
Shouheng stopped his movements and stood straight, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He asked, puzzled, "Dad, what are we going to the pier for?"
Seeing his son’s bewildered expression, Chen Li couldn’t help but grin. "To keep an appointment."
"An appointment?" Shouheng was even more confused. "Whose appointment? Dad, when did you arrange to meet someone at the pier?"
When Chen Li saw he still hadn’t caught on, he shook his head with a laugh. "The other day at our front gate, didn’t someone tell you she would be staying at Mirror Mountain for a while? What, you’ve forgotten?"
Shouheng’s face flushed crimson in an instant. He wished he could find a hole to crawl into. "Dad... how did you hear that?"
Seeing his son’s reaction, Chen Li clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, it’s getting late."