Chapter 166 Arranging a Way for Descendants
Xi Lanfang sighed and said solemnly, "The price of one mu of good farmland is between three and five taels. Fifteen mu of land is indeed not a small amount."
The old lady sat on the armchair in the main hall, her wrinkled face etched with deep worry. She said slowly, "Lan Fang, you know, although our family is not poorly financed, it's really unsettling to have to pay out so much money all at once. What if there's an emergency in the future? How will we handle it?"
Xi Lanfang nodded slightly, her expression heavy as she spoke, "Mother is right. I know this is a considerable expense. But those fifteen acres of farmland are in an excellent location, with fertile soil. If we buy them, our harvest will at least double. This way, we can live a better life."
The old lady frowned and said worriedly, "But, Lan Fang, you have to know that the price of these fifteen acres of fertile land is not fixed. If someone maliciously speculates on the price, won't we suffer a great loss?"
Xi Lanfang gently held the old lady's hand and comforted her, "Mother, don't worry. I've already made inquiries, and the price of these fifteen acres of fertile land is indeed within a reasonable range. Moreover, I've already negotiated with the villagers who are selling the land. As long as we are willing to pay in one lump sum, they can give us some discounts."
The old lady breathed a sigh of relief, but she was still a little worried: "What if we buy the land and encounter some natural disaster or man-made disaster? Wouldn't we lose everything?"
Xi Lanfang said confidently, "Mother, I've already thought of a plan. We can plant a variety of crops in the fields. That way, even if one crop is damaged, the others can make up for the loss. Furthermore, I will personally take care of the land to ensure a good harvest."
The old lady looked at Xi Lanfang's determined eyes and couldn't help feeling deeply moved.
The daughter-in-law was a determined person, but she was still a little worried: "Lan Fang, are you really sure? This is related to the livelihood of our entire family."
Xi Lanfang gently patted the old lady's hand and smiled, "Mother, please believe me. I will do my best to make this land bring us a rich harvest. Moreover, I have already discussed with the villagers, and they will help us with farming. This way, we can reduce a lot of burdens."
After hearing Xi Lanfang's words, the old lady gradually calmed down. She knew that her daughter-in-law was a responsible person. Since she had made up her mind, she would go all out. So, she nodded and said, "Since you have considered it so carefully, I am relieved. However, Lanfang, you must be careful and don't let us down."
Xi Lanfang nodded solemnly: “Mother, don’t worry, I will do my best to make this land bring good luck to us.”
One day, Xi Lanfang came back from the fields with a happy smile on her face. She excitedly said to the old lady, "Mother, guess what I found in the fields today?"
The old lady looked at Xi Lanfang curiously: "What did you find?"
Xi Lanfang smiled mysteriously and said, "I found a spring in the field. The spring water is clear and suitable for irrigation. This way, we don't have to worry about the drought problem."
The old lady exclaimed in surprise, "Really? That's wonderful! Lan Fang, you are truly our lucky star."
Xi Lanfang smiled and said, "Mother, it's all thanks to you that we have this land. I will cherish this opportunity and make our lives better and better."
…
The old grandfather looked at the worried old lady and said with a reassuring smile, "Madam, don't worry about the money. I have contacted a student from my early years. He sent me 200 taels of retirement silver, which is enough for us to buy land."
Upon hearing this, the worry on the old lady's face gradually dissipated, replaced by joy and gratitude. She tightly grasped her grandfather's hand and said, "Master, this is wonderful! Our family finally has hope for the future."
The old grandfather smiled slightly, and seeing the tears in the old lady's eyes, he couldn't help but feel deeply moved. He said softly, "Madam, this disciple has a high status in the court. His willingness to help us shows that our Tu Su family's reputation outside is not completely lost."
The old lady nodded, a glint of anticipation flashing in her eyes: "Yes, if this disciple can arrange a good relationship for our descendants in the court, then our Tusu family will have a chance to restore the family reputation."
The old grandfather was silent for a moment, then asked in an ambiguous tone, "Madam, do you think we should let our descendants know about this?"
The old lady was taken aback for a moment, then understood her grandfather's intentions. She pondered, "Master, we must be cautious about this matter. After all, we don't know the true intentions of this disciple. If we tell our descendants too easily, we might make them overly dependent and lose their motivation to improve themselves."
The old grandfather nodded in agreement. "Madam, you are right. We still need to observe this student's intentions. However, I think we can test the attitudes of our grandchildren first to see if they are willing to serve the Western Wei."
The old lady smiled slightly and said, "Then let's do as the master wishes. Let's not tell them about this for now and see how they behave during this period."
After saying this, the old lady turned and walked towards the inner room to gather her children and grandchildren. The old grandfather sat in the hall, waiting quietly.
Soon, the descendants of the Tu Su family came into the hall one after another. They saw their grandfather and old lady sitting at the top with serious expressions, and they couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
The old lady coughed and said, "Children, do you know the current predicament of our family?"
The descendants all lowered their heads and remained silent.
The old lady continued, "Your grandfather has contacted a former student who is willing to help us overcome this difficult time. However, we still need to observe your attitude and see if you are willing to serve the Western Wei."
Upon hearing this, the descendants raised their heads, their eyes flashing with expectation and determination.
The old lady clapped her hands, revealing a look of great anticipation. She began to mutter to herself, "Ting'er, look at your second brother. He's a talented man in our family, but he's only working as an accountant. I always feel that he should have a better future."
Tu Suting, sitting on a nearby armchair, frowned upon hearing this. He put down his teacup and said seriously, "Mother, my second brother's job in the accounting office is already stable, and our father's disciple even offered us aid in our time of need. This is enough to show their care for us. We shouldn't ask them to take on any more risks for my second brother."
After hearing this, the old lady's face suddenly darkened. She widened her eyes and said in a stern tone, "Stable? Do you know what stability means? It means your second brother's talent is buried! He should be a teacher, or have a better livelihood, instead of being trapped in that small accounting office!"
Tu Suting shook his head and patiently explained, "Mother, those are just your own thoughts. Have you ever considered how my second brother feels? He might just like his current job. Besides, that student has already helped us a lot, so we can't push him any further."
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