Chapter 6 Demanding Land Property
The midday sun before spring plowing is warm and pleasant.
Lin Changning was squatting in front of her house, sunbathing, wearing Liu Lang's old padded jacket. Last time she fell into the water, her only thick coat was torn, and she hadn't had time to mend it yet because she had been busy these past few days.
Fortunately, I've been wearing my older brother's and younger brother's clothes these past few days.
She's been coughing much less today, and after three doses of medicine, she's the one who recovered the fastest.
Once she was able to move around, she would take advantage of the good weather to go out and bask in the sun.
Chang was still resting in bed. Liu Lang had a fever for half the night and was given ginseng soup before falling asleep at dawn.
My sisters-in-law have been very busy these past two days; they're cooking on the stove right now.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the ridge of the field.
Lin Changning squinted and saw Lin Erniu leading five men across the irrigation ditch, their cloth shoes collapsing the newly built ridges of their neighbor's field.
"Is Liu Lang feeling better?"
Lin Erniu used the handle of his sickle to lift his straw hat, revealing a smile.
"I heard your father and the others didn't come back this time, so I brought some people over to see if we needed any help. Where's your mother? The funeral needs to be held; we can't let my brother and two nephews be left without a grave..."
Lin Fengtian, who was following behind, suddenly kicked over a manure bucket by the field, splashing the foul water onto the newly sprouting wheat seedlings.
When Wang rushed out of the thatched hut, the hairpin in her hair caught on the door curtain.
She was still holding a kitchen knife in her hand, so she must have rushed out the door when she heard the noise while she was chopping vegetables.
"What are you doing here!..."
Lin Erniu feigned grief as he watched Wang Shi shield Lin Changning behind her.
"What are you saying, niece-in-law? I just heard that my brother and nephews have passed away, so I came to see if there's anything we can help with..."
"Bah! If it weren't for your family's sabotage, how could my father-in-law, my eldest son, and my second son have been conscripted into the army! Stop strutting around like that, do you think I don't know what your family's plans are?!"
Lin Erniu's face darkened: "Hmph, the person isn't coming back anyway, but the funeral still needs to be held. I've already invited a middleman. They're all villagers anyway; selling the land will make things easier. Nephew's wife, don't be ungrateful..."
"Several families chipped in and managed to scrape together twenty taels, which should be enough to hold a respectable ceremony."
Lin Fengtian made a clicking sound as he turned the abacus beads.
"Your thirty mu of paddy fields in Dongwa will do the job perfectly."
As Lin Changshi leaned against Niu Shi as she stepped over the threshold, she saw Lin Fengtian spouting rotten words.
Seeing a pack of jackals and tigers drawn by the scent, Madam Lin pointed her finger and cursed:
"A mu of good paddy field costs four taels of silver, but you want thirty mu of my paddy field and are only offering twenty taels? Aren't you afraid the villagers will gossip and curse you behind your backs?!"
"My husband and son's bodies are barely cold, and you're already rushing to bully me, a widow and orphan. Aren't you afraid they'll stand by your bedside in the middle of the night and take your lives?"
Several clansmen who had followed her knew they were in the wrong and avoided Lin Changshi's gaze.
Only Lin Erniu's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "That's not how it works, sister-in-law. Right now, my brother is busy with the funeral arrangements, and he needs to sell the paddy fields urgently. Since he needs to sell them urgently, he naturally has to lower the price a bit. They're all from the village anyway, so it doesn't matter who he sells them to, right? Besides, even if you want to sell them, other families might not be willing to buy them!"
Lin Changning, who understood the hidden meaning in Lin Erniu's words, supported Lin Changshi, who was panting heavily, and looked at Lin Erniu.
"Second Uncle, I will take care of my father's funeral, but you don't need to worry about it."
Whether it can be sold, and for what price, is none of my second uncle's business.
You made my elder brother take the place of my third and fourth cousins in military service, and caused my brother to lose his life at the hands of the Tartars.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that our two families are mortal enemies. I'd rather give this land away for free than let it fall into your hands!
Lin Erniu looked at Lin Changning, who was wearing Lin Changping's padded jacket, and sneered: "Sixth Brother, you shouldn't worry so much. Be careful you don't live long."
Lin Changning was taken aback, and immediately realized that Lin Erniu had mistaken her for someone else. She was wearing Liu Lang's clothes, and her hair was just loosely tied up. She and Liu Lang looked almost identical, no wonder Lin Erniu would mistake her for someone else.
Realizing this, Lin Changning said loudly, "The men in my family are not all dead yet. I said I wouldn't sell, and that's final! Second Uncle, please!"
Lin Erniu snorted coldly, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared at Lin Changning.
"I refuse to believe any company would dare to take over your land!!"
Lin Changning was also furious. He grabbed a broom from the yard and swung it at Lin Erniu and a few clansmen in front of him, hitting them squarely.
"Get out!"
After a few sweeps, many people dispersed. Those who had been watching the commotion at the door saw Lin Changning waving a broom and, fearing they might get hurt, turned around and went home.
After moving a few times, fine beads of sweat appeared on Lin Changning's forehead, and his coarse cloth clothes were soaked with sweat.
This body is vastly different from her original physique.
She was still holding a grudge after she had just driven away several people who wanted to take advantage of her and drive down the price of her family's paddy fields.
Those people always liked to take advantage of others, and seeing that the Lin family was now in a weak position, they thought of taking advantage of the situation.
He angrily threw down the broom and strode into the yard.
As she entered the courtyard, her eyes glanced around and she spotted a furtive figure crouching behind her kitchen.
The figure was hunched over, head bowed, seemingly engrossed in something, completely unaware of Lin Changning's gaze.
Lin Changning's heart tightened, and he unconsciously slowed his pace, his eyes fixed on the figure.
As she got closer, she recognized her as Lin Erniu's youngest daughter, Fu Bao, the heroine of the original story.
Lin Changning's mother also walked over shakily at this moment. Before Lin Changning could help her mother sit down, a nameless anger suddenly rose up, and she rushed directly towards Fu Bao.
At this moment, Fu Bao was intently digging at the soil next to the stone slab under her family's woodpile, her little hands digging again and again with great effort.
The soil next to the stone slab had been dug up, and a corner of a wooden box was vaguely visible.
When Lin Changning saw this scene, his heart skipped a beat, and the scene in the original text where the female protagonist dug out a box of silver coins when she was young immediately came to mind.
"Lin Fubao!!!" Lin Changning shouted, his voice echoing in the courtyard.
Fu Bao was startled by the sudden sound. Her round eyes instantly filled with panic. She turned her head and saw the menacing Lin Changning. She stammered, "Sixth...Sixth Brother!"
Ignoring Fu Bao's panic, Lin Changning glanced at the box, which was already mostly dug out, and made up her mind.
The money was probably hidden by the original owner's father. His anger intensified, and he grabbed Lin Fubao's coat collar and pulled him back forcefully.
Fu Bao stumbled and almost fell when he pulled her like that.
"Get out! The father is a robber who tries to drive down the price of our paddy fields, and the daughter is a thief who steals from our house. Your family is truly a den of snakes and rats!"
Lin Changning said through gritted teeth, his face full of anger.
Fu Bao was being pulled along by him, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not cry out loud.
Lin Changning grabbed Fu Bao by the back of his hand and strode towards the outside of the courtyard.
Fu Bao's little feet kicked wildly in the air, her little face looking extremely aggrieved.
"Get out! You're not welcome in our house!"
Lin Changning threw Fu Bao to the gate of the yard and shouted loudly.
Fu Bao pouted, looking extremely aggrieved. She glanced at the woodpile in the kitchen, as if she wanted to say something.
But seeing Lin Changning's fierce and menacing appearance, she swallowed back the words she was about to say.
Lin Changning looked at Fu Bao's expression and sneered inwardly.
It turns out that the silver coins the female protagonist dug up in the original story came from their house, which explains why Chang's mother sold dozens of acres of prime farmland.
It seems the older one was preventing people from buying, and the younger one stole the money that Lin's father had hidden. This family is truly a den of snakes and rats!
Lin Changning recalled that in the original story, this family rose to prominence rapidly. Now it seemed that it was not good fortune at all, but rather that they had changed their appearance by sucking the blood of the original owner's family.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and her disgust for Fu Bao's family grew even stronger.
Fu Bao stood at the door, hesitating, her eyes glancing into the yard every now and then, as if she was still thinking about the wooden box.
Seeing her like this, Lin Changning picked up the broom next to him again and waved it at Fu Bao: "Get out or not! Do you really think I don't know what you said that day?"
Fu Bao's eyes suddenly widened, her face full of unease.
She remembered what she had said that day, and felt a pang of guilt, fearing that Lin Changning would really hit her with a broom.
She dared not linger any longer, and hurriedly turned around and ran back, her steps frantic, almost losing her shoes in the process.
Lin Changning watched Fu Bao's departing figure, but the anger in his heart did not subside in the slightest.
Back in the courtyard, looking at the wooden box that had been dug out halfway, I felt a mix of emotions.
It seems that Lin Fubao stole the money that Lin's father had hidden, which forced Chang's mother to sell the land. As a result, Lin Erniu's family was able to afford to send Lin Sanlang to the provincial capital for the imperial examination and also send him to a better academy.
Lin Silang used this money to start a business. Later, when the world was in chaos and the King of Chu rebelled, he made a fortune, which enabled Lin Erniu's family to rise up.
With money and power, Lin Fubao finally had the opportunity to marry into the Marquis's mansion and become the mistress of the house.
The family's smooth sailing was achieved by stepping on the blood and bones of the Lin Changning family.
Lin Changning felt a mix of emotions.
She crouched down and gently dug out the wooden box. When she opened it, she found it was indeed filled with gleaming silver coins.
These coins were painstakingly saved by the original owner's father. He originally planned to hide them for when he returned, fearing that his mother and young son would not be able to keep them. However, before he returned, Lin Fubao stole the money.
"Mother, there's a box of silver coins where Fu Bao just dug."
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