Chapter 23 The Persimmon Tree Dispute
October is the golden autumn season for persimmons. Some fields are covered with red flowers, and this is the time to pick persimmons.
The families in the village who had previously planted persimmon trees all had a good harvest this year. When Tian Xin led everyone to start making persimmon cakes, they were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling.
Processing dried persimmons is physically demanding. They must be processed immediately after picking and not left out for too long. Over time, they become soft, and soft persimmons cannot be processed into dried persimmon cakes.
So, these days, as soon as the persimmons were picked, she took a group of women to the wheat field to learn how to make persimmon cakes.
"Come, everyone, look! First, fold the stalk of the persimmon into a T-shape." Tian Xin picked up a persimmon to demonstrate.
"Like this! It will be easier to tie knots when hanging persimmons later. Check it first, and if it's not, break it again. Pay attention when the new persimmons bear fruit next year." She demonstrated step by step to everyone.
"Is that so, Xinxin?" Aunt Li folded one and waved it towards her.
"Yes, that's it. Everyone, get moving! Be careful, this step is crucial!"
Seeing her serious expression, everyone started teasing her:
"Oh, Xinxin, you're talking too much, you're treating us like three-year-olds?
"That's right, after Xinxin became a village official, she was like a teacher, afraid that we wouldn't be able to learn." Aunt Liu also echoed.
"Aunties and ladies, I just want everyone to master this technology as soon as possible!" Tian Xin explained with a smile.
Most of the people in the village were very welcoming. Tian Xin felt very happy every time she was with them, especially the older women. They were very open in their conversations and often made her laugh!
Today was no different. It didn't take long for her to teach everyone the first few steps to make it. Then she told everyone to take it home and make it.
The crowd was gradually dispersing. Tian Xin finished cleaning up the trash in front of her and was about to walk back when a man ran over in a panic and shouted at Aunt Li: "Aunt Li, you need to go back quickly! Your husband and Old Man Liu are arguing in the field!"
Tian Xin recognized the man as Zhang Zengmin, who lived across from Aunt Li.
"What's wrong? Why are you arguing?" Aunt Li asked, and without waiting for Zhang Zengmin to answer, she hurriedly picked up the basket and walked back.
"Hey, it can't be explained in a few words. You should go to the fields and take a look." Zhang Zengmin said behind him.
Are you arguing?
Why did they start arguing when everything was fine?
Tian Xin immediately packed up her things and followed the two men out: "Uncle, where are they?"
"In the private plot at the north end." After saying this, Zhang Zengmin and Aunt Li hurried away.
Resolving conflicts among villagers is also part of her job. Since becoming a village official, she has settled several such "lawsuits" every month and has become accustomed to it!
Therefore, when Zhang Zengmin said that someone was arguing, she had already guessed why they were arguing!
She hurried home, put down the basket, and walked towards the place Zhang Zengmin said.
When we arrived at the place, Aunt Li had already joined the verbal fight, and there were a few nosy villagers standing beside her.
The couple unanimously cursed the outsider with some very harsh words. The person who was cursing with her was Old Man Liu from the east end of the village.
Old Man Liu is an old man living alone in the village. He is a miserable man. His wife died of illness at an early age, leaving behind only one son.
He had raised his son with great difficulty. But unexpectedly, an accident took his son away from him. He had not even enjoyed a single day of happiness before he had to endure the pain of "the old man dies the young man".
The old man worked hard all his life, but in his twilight years he had nothing and his life was extremely difficult.
"You shameless old man, this tree has been here since I got married. It has been on my land for so many years. What gives you the right to say it's yours?" Aunt Li scolded the old man with a red face and spit flying everywhere. She was completely different from the way she was just now.
"Aunt, you should speak with conscience. This tree has been on my land for a few years. The water washed away the land, and it looks like it has reached your land. I am still planting on this land, how can you lie with your eyes open!" Old man Liu argued weakly, his face dejected.
After hearing this, Tian Xin realized that the reason for the quarrel between the two families was an old persimmon tree growing on the edge of their land.
This tree has been growing for decades. Originally, many people fought over it because persimmons were not valuable in the village and no one liked to eat them.
This year, Tian Xin suggested that persimmons could be made into persimmon cakes and sold for money. Everyone fenced off the persimmon trees they had planted before, hoping to increase their income.
The newly planted persimmon trees will not bear fruit until next year. In order to let everyone learn the technique of making persimmon cakes as soon as possible, Tian Xin used persimmons from old persimmon trees to test the waters this year.
Few families in the village originally had persimmon trees, and many wouldn't be able to earn the same amount of money this year. She knew many people were upset, but she hadn't expected a dispute to arise just at the beginning.
"She's right. I remember this tree. It was there when my father was alive." Aunt Li's husband yelled at his wife and Old Man Liu.
"It was yours when your father was alive? Why don't you say that this piece of land belongs to you! You two should stop going too far!" Old man Liu was very angry.
He was a man of few words and a mild temper. Ever since his son's death, he had lived a secluded life, rarely getting into arguments or getting angry. But now, driven to despair by the couple, he actually started shouting too!
Tian Xin looked at the old man, who was so skinny and still arguing, and she felt sorry for him. If this tree was theirs, she would give it to the old man for free!
But Aunt Li and her husband clearly disagreed. Tian Xin saw that the situation was getting difficult to handle, so she said, "Grandpa Liu, Uncle Li, Aunt Li, please stop arguing. Since you all claim the tree is yours, think carefully about who planted it and when?"
“…” After this question, both families fell silent.
"Who can remember this clearly? This tree is at least thirty years old. Who can explain this clearly when you ask this question? My father has passed away! Who can prove it?" Uncle Li said speechlessly.
"Grandpa Liu, do you remember?"
"I don't want to talk about it! Forget it, I don't want it! Give it to them!" Old man Liu wiped away his tears and suddenly shouted that he wanted to go home.
Don’t want it anymore?
Why do you suddenly not want it anymore?
"Wait, you can't leave. Everyone is watching us here! If you leave, it will seem like we are bullying you. Explain yourself first before you leave." Aunt Li was relentless.
"I've already said, I don't want it anymore, okay? I'll give all the persimmons to you." Old man Liu cried as he spoke, wiping away his tears.
Tian Xin was shocked. She didn't expect that just one question she asked would make the old man cry.
"Grandpa Liu, please don't cry yet! Let me ask you clearly. Can I solve this matter for you today?"
"Xinxin, don't worry about it. Grandpa won't make things difficult for you. I don't want this tree anymore!" Old man Liu burst into tears and sobbed.
"You said it yourself. It's you who doesn't want it anymore. We're not bullying you! Don't you all agree?" Aunt Li spat at the crowd.
"Aunt, you are wrong. Xinxin is still here, you should let Xinxin speak. And Uncle Liu, if you don't explain things clearly, there will be quarrels in the future! Why bother?" A villager couldn't stand it anymore and said to the two of them.
"You really talk as if we are bullying others? This is a matter between our two families and has nothing to do with you. Go away and stay out of it!" Aunt Li scolded.
The man was scolded innocently and was so angry that he pointed at Aunt Li and cursed: "You crazy woman!" Then he turned and left.
Aunt Li was about to start yelling and cursing, but her husband stopped her: "Stop yelling, let Xinxin talk. Xinxin, please give us some justice."
justice?
Of course, she still had to host it. As a village official, although her eloquence was average, she was not shy as long as she had a solid argument.
"Well, since no one can explain it clearly, how about picking half of the persimmons from this tree and giving each family half? What do you think?" she suggested.
Aunt Li was furious when she heard this: "That won't work. How do we split it half and half? Is it half this year, or half every year? I can't tell!"
"Uncle Li, what do you think?"
"I listen to your aunt."
"Grandpa Liu, what do you think?"
"Xinxin, grandpa listens to you!"
"No, this will cause trouble every year. It's better to make it clear all at once today." Aunt Li insisted on arguing.
"That's it. Each family takes turns harvesting the fruit once a year. Is that okay?" Tian Xin suggested again.
"No, the market conditions are different every year. Who knows if we can get a good price when it's our turn? Your method won't work." Aunt Li yelled, her spit almost flying onto Tian Xin's face.
"This won't work, and that won't work! Then what do you think we should do?" Tian Xin was so angry at Aunt Li that she wanted to roll her eyes.
"Stop shouting! If it really doesn't work, once the persimmons are picked this year, we can cut down the tree and sell the boards. We'll split the money in half." Uncle Li suddenly came up with a dirty trick.
ah?
Are you crazy?
"No!" This time it was Old Man Liu's turn to object: "The trees cannot be cut down, they cannot be cut down, Xinxin, tell me, the trees cannot be cut down. Li family, I don't want the persimmons anymore, I'll give them all to you, I only ask you not to cut down the trees, I'll kneel down in front of you..." Old Man Liu burst into tears and was about to kneel down in front of Uncle Li and Aunt Li.
Seeing this, everyone panicked...
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