Chapter 37: Brothers turn against each other and split up
Gu Youan and his group returned safely, and both the Gu and Tian families were very happy. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Gu and Tian families, as well as the Zhang family, celebrated the festival together.
The three families agreed to get together in the evening, and in the afternoon the Tian family and the Zhang family came over.
Mrs. Bai said that they would eat rice cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival at their home. Mrs. Bai, Mrs. Du and Mrs. Liu took the little girl Axuan and started busying themselves in the kitchen.
In the main room, Gu Wen and Tian Qingde were talking about the harvest in the fields. There was still not much rain this year, but fortunately, a network of canals had been built in the neighboring mountain villages and surrounding areas over the past year. Combined with the use of water trucks and the nourishment of river water, it was estimated that the harvest in Ping'an Town this year would be 20% to 30% more than last year.
Uncle Du was surprised and said, "Just adding a canal can increase the harvest so much?"
"Don't underestimate the canals. Last year, the canal network near Ping'an Town was not yet fully built, and many fields far from the Ping'an River suffered severe drought and reduced yields."
"Last year's harvest was poor, but this year's harvest is better. Comparing last year and this year, it seems this year's harvest has increased significantly."
"To be honest, if we compare Ping'an Town with the other towns under the jurisdiction of Dongyuan County, we are still not as good as them." Gu Wen knew this clearly.
Uncle Du said, "You can't compare them like that. Dongyuan County has been established for ages. It has a network of rivers and streams, is densely populated, and has been cultivated for many years. The land is also well-maintained. These Ping'an towns can't compare."
Tian Qingde smiled and said, "That's exactly the truth. We just need to compare ourselves to ourselves. As long as Ping'an Town gets better year by year, the officials in Ping'an Town will naturally have a bright future."
Tian Qingde's words were suggestive, and Tian Erlang was quick-witted. He stopped eating the peanuts in his hand and asked hurriedly, "Dad, are you and Uncle Gu going to be promoted?"
"You were just appointed to official positions this spring, and you can be promoted so quickly?" Tian Jilang was both confused and expectant.
Tian Dalang shook his head: "Not so fast. Although we have made some achievements, most of the credit will definitely fall on the officials above us. It would be great if Dad and Uncle Gu could record the credit."
Tian Jilang frowned: "What a loss."
"It's not a loss. Songjiang City is such a small place. Dad and Uncle Gu have made great contributions. The people above can see it clearly, and the people below are not stupid either."
"Both our families were exiled. Although Dad and Uncle Gu were high-ranking officials in the past, their status as criminal officials is clear. If we rashly come forward, we will be criticized."
"Suffering a small loss is a blessing. The superiors who have taken advantage of the subordinates will always take care of them. Dad and Uncle Gu should wait for the right opportunity. It is the right thing to do to accumulate strength and then make a breakthrough."
Tian Dalang pointed at his younger brother and said, "Master Su is still counting on Dad and Uncle Gu to help him. When the time is right, there's no need to tell me. Master Su will find a way to promote Dad and Uncle Gu."
Tian Qingde glanced at his eldest son and said, "You've made a lot of progress after studying at the academy for half a year."
Tian Dalang smiled faintly and said, "I don't dare to accept my father's praise."
Before he was exiled, Dalang was very good at reading, but at that time he was just a simple scholar and his behavior was very ordinary. Now, after experiencing a lot of hardships, he looks at things and thinks about problems much more deeply.
Gu Wen looked at Tian Dalang with admiration and said, "Next year, Dalang will take the exam. Brother Tian, you don't have to worry about him anymore."
Tian Qingde did not follow Gu Wen's words to praise his son, but only said: "Be modest and cautious, and keep up the good work!"
"Yes, son, I remember it."
Putting aside the issue of Gu Wen and Tian Qingde's official positions, Gu Wen mentioned another matter: "After the autumn harvest this year, the rules regarding the farmland in Songjiang City will be changing."
"How?"
"The higher-ups think the progress of Songjiang City's land reclamation is too slow. A message has come from the agricultural officials: starting this autumn, in addition to the land allocated to the people by the government, if the people want more land, they can reclaim it on their own. The land they reclaim will be tax-free for five years."
"Exempt from five years? Is that true?" Zhang Shinan asked.
Gu Wen: "That's right. The news came from the agricultural official, so it must be correct."
"Prince Qi has offered quite a bit of good. This news has spread to the interior of the country through the caravans. Next spring, many landless people will surely come to Songjiang City to reclaim the wasteland."
As the arable land in Songjiang City gradually expands, food security will be better guaranteed. As long as there is enough food, the government can spend money to buy food even if taxes are not collected.
In short, as long as the food is in Songjiang City, Songjiang City will remain stable no matter what tricks the court may play.
Gu Youan wanted to understand the whole story and asked her father, "There are so many people coming from inside the pass. Will Shanhaiguan restrict people from leaving?"
"Probably not for now. It's not time to fall out yet."
Even if they fall out, as long as the benefits are sufficient, the people will find ways to come outside the Great Wall and cannot be stopped.
Gu Youan asked again: "Can our family spend money to buy people from the interior to open up the wasteland?"
Tian Erlang said with a smile: "Oh, our shopkeeper Gu wants to be the local landlord."
"I have money, what can I do?"
Tian Erlang poked Gu Wenqing: "Look, look at your sister, she's amazing now, she's become rich and her words are even more arrogant."
Gu Wenqing brushed his hand aside and said with a smile, "Don't make trouble."
Du Qing agreed most with Gu Youan's words: "An An is right. This business is risky. Holding the land is the safest option."
Gu Wen said: "The government's policies are the same for everyone. You earned the money yourself, so you can decide how to use it."
Tian Qingde said plainly, "In addition to attracting ordinary people from the interior to reclaim wasteland in Songjiang City, the government is also targeting people like An An who have money in their pockets. I predict that the slave trade in Songjiang City will flourish in the future."
Zhang Shinan thought about it carefully and said, "Then our family can also hire people to open up wasteland and leave more land for future generations, which will benefit them."
Tian Dalang said, "This government policy benefits both wealthy families and ordinary people. In fact, it is also beneficial to Dad and Uncle Gu."
Gu Wen smiled and nodded: "Yes, there is more arable land, and we need to build more canals."
Only by doing more work and making more achievements can you build the ladder for promotion.
Several members of the Du family who were sitting silently on the side also had this idea. As the situation outside the Great Wall was getting better and better, perhaps they could also get a piece of land in Songjiang City as a retreat for their descendants?
It seems that I will have to come to Songjiang City more often in the future.
Before it got dark, the rice cakes were already ready in the kitchen. A-Xuan brought out a large plate and called out as she walked, "Daddy, come and eat some rice cakes."
With so many people in the room, one plate of rice cakes was definitely not enough to share, so Tian Erlang quickly went into the kitchen to find something to eat.
In the neighboring mountain village, the Gu family was having a lively time eating rice cakes.
The Han family in Songjiang City was also bustling and noisy.
When Manager Han went to Luoyang to do business, he not only failed to make any money but also lost a lot of capital because his elder brother Han Jiangbei's manager acted carelessly and on his own initiative.
Out of brotherly love, Shopkeeper Han didn't criticize his eldest brother. However, his wife wasn't one to tolerate indignation. She sneered, "Brother, you're so arrogant! My son Erlang works so hard out there doing business, and you're so comfortable at home that you don't even think about helping him. You shouldn't be holding him back like this, right?"
"Being on guard against us, not only did you not use the family money to purchase ginseng, but you also made my husband make a wasted trip, and you even stuffed a fool into the caravan. Is this because you're afraid that the Han family won't fall fast enough?"
The Han family's eldest lady retorted, "Who knows whether the money he made from the business was lost or was embezzled by his second brother?"
Han Sanlang and Han Silang originally stood on the side of the second brother, but after hearing what the eldest sister-in-law said, their hearts leaned towards the eldest brother again.
To be honest, if they were the eldest brother, in order to hold on to the Han family's money, they would definitely not spend a lot of money to purchase ginseng and ask the second brother to go trading. Who knows if the money spent is a waste of money?
If they were the second brother, knowing that the eldest brother was going to get most of the Han family's wealth and was still on guard against him, they would definitely do something about it.
Mrs. Han was so angry that she suddenly stood up and said, "Sister-in-law, please speak with conscience. If you have the guts to go to Dad's grave and tell him, I'm afraid Dad will be so angry that he will crawl out of the grave and slap you twice."
Han Dalang frowned: "Let's talk about business, why involve Dad? Second brother, take care of your wife."
Shopkeeper Han laughed out loud in anger, saying, "Brother, let's split up today. After all, we're brothers. There's no point in being so defensive."
"Second brother, as your eldest brother, there's no way you're dissatisfied with me. Just say it. Why bother saying something so hurtful as dividing the family?"
It’s not easy to divide this family. After thinking about it, Han Dalang decided that it’s better not to divide the family.
Mrs. Han Er seemed to have heard a huge joke and found it ridiculous: "Brother, don't you feel embarrassed when you say that?"
Han Dalang didn't blush, but Shopkeeper Han didn't want to beat around the bush with him and said, "Let's divide the family. If this family isn't divided clearly, it's not a big deal if brothers turn against each other, but it would be bad if it ruins the family and separates relatives."
This was the first time Shopkeeper Han had threatened someone like that since Old Man Han's death. Han Dalang was shocked. "How could Second Brother say such a thing? Don't you care about our brotherhood?"
"It is precisely because of our brotherhood that I say this. Let's part ways in peace."
Shopkeeper Han stared into his eldest brother's eyes and said, "Brother, you used public funds to bribe your nephew into an official position. And mother and sister-in-law go to the silver shop every other day. They've bought a lot of gold and silver jewelry in the past few months, and they also paid for it with the Han family's money."
Shopkeeper Han glanced at the third and fourth sons, two fools. "The money you spend in a month is probably not enough to cover what my sister-in-law spends on a single trip to the silver shop. The public treasury's money goes into the eldest wife's pocket, and you two don't even know about such a big thing."
Han Lao San and Han Lao Si were both shocked: "Brother, is this true?"
Han Dalang was reluctant to discuss the matter openly. He avoided the main point and frowned, saying, "Second brother, if you want to divide the family, just talk about it. Mother has worked hard all her life, and you think it's worth it for her to spend a small amount of money to buy a few pieces of jewelry? That's rather unfilial."
Shopkeeper Han remained unmoved and simply said, "Brother, you should know that I also have a copy of the family account book. Would you like to take it out and reconcile the accounts?"
Han Lao San and Han Lao Si immediately said, "Second brother, take out the account book and let us take a look."
Han Dalang was forced to be speechless, and finally he could only say: "Since you want to divide the family, then divide it, but there is one thing, while mother is still alive, we four brothers cannot be unfilial, we need to leave some money for her in her old age."
"You are the eldest brother, do as you wish." Shopkeeper Han threatened again: "If the division is unfair, I have other ways to seek justice for myself."
The third and fourth brothers quickly echoed: "The eldest brother is like a father. If the eldest brother is unfair, he should be struck by lightning."
Boss Han gritted his teeth. These two bad and stupid guys didn't have him, the eldest brother, to plan for the family. He wanted to see how long they could live a good life after the family split up.
Boss Han glanced at the second brother, his eyes darkening. The lowly creatures born to foreign women were all ruthless and cruel.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
