Chapter 4: Land Holdings
The grain produced from thirty mu of farmland was generally enough to feed more than ten people.
The remaining money could be saved to purchase an internal strength manual.
Internal strength manuals were also divided by quality.
A superior-grade one cost one or two thousand taels of silver, while even an ordinary one required seven or eight hundred taels.
Wentian naturally wanted to buy a superior-grade internal strength manual so that, in the future, his family members could lay a solid foundation on the martial path.
As for the even more precious Xiantian manuals, those could only be considered after someone in the Jianyi family gave birth to a Xiantian martial artist.
"A registrar personally coming down to handle matters in the countryside… That really is rare. Is this because of official infighting?"
After thinking things through, Wentian waited until the right time, then went directly to the village entrance to wait for them.
At that moment, in Dongxi Village, ordinary peasants were all busy dealing with the various tasks that followed the rice harvest.
As for the wealthy households with solid family foundations, seeing how hot the weather was, they were unwilling to go out unless absolutely necessary.
At the entrance of Dongxi Village, Wentian soon saw two yamen runners in black uniforms walking over from a distance, accompanied by a scholarly man in a blue robe.
He hurriedly stepped forward.
After asking about their origins, he immediately expressed his desire to purchase the rice fields that had belonged to Old Yu's family.
"You want to purchase fifty mu of rice fields?" the scholarly man in the blue robe asked in surprise.
"Yes. May I ask what official position Your Excellency holds, and whether you have the authority to decide this matter? If not, this humble one will immediately make a trip to the county yamen."
"I am the registrar of Qingjiang County. This trip was made precisely to handle the issue of the Yu family's land after their deaths."
"Greetings, Registrar."
Wentian hurriedly cupped his hands.
As expected, it really was the registrar.
Qingjiang County Registrar Yang Zhao sized Wentian up. Seeing that he wore coarse cloth and a rough hemp vest, he judged that the man before him was most likely an ordinary peasant of Dongxi Village.
For an ordinary peasant, fifty mu of rice fields was no small amount.
"Are you certain you can afford it? Do not play tricks on this official. Otherwise, the consequences will not be something you can bear."
His mood at the moment was not exactly pleasant, and his tone carried a hint of severity.
"How would this humble one dare?"
Yang Zhao thought for a moment, then said, "In that case, the rice fields will be calculated at ten taels per mu. How about it?"
"No problem."
Wentian agreed at once, then took out the silver notes.
The weather in August was truly unbearably hot.
Yang Zhao glanced at the silver notes, then wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had only just entered the village and had already completed half of the task assigned to him by the county deputy. His mood improved considerably.
Although he knew that the county deputy was deliberately making things difficult for him, a newly appointed registrar, an official one rank higher could crush a man to death.
If he failed to complete the task today, he would certainly be targeted after returning.
"What is your name?"
"Jianyi Wentian."
"Check it."
"Yes, Registrar Yang."
The tall yamen runner took out the official land register and began searching for the property recorded under Wentian's name.
The other yamen runner, whose face was somewhat rounder, also took out the household register and began searching for his name.
"Found it. Jianyi Wentian, a resident of Dongxi Village. He should be twenty-six this year. He has one wife and two sons."
The round-faced yamen runner looked toward Yang Zhao and pointed out Wentian's name in the household register.
"My lord, I have found it as well. Jianyi Wentian. Under his name, there are currently ten mu of rice fields and ten mu of mountain forest."
The tall yamen runner also pointed out the information he had found to Yang Zhao.
"Mm. He is indeed a resident of Dongxi Village and has the right of first purchase."
Yang Zhao accepted the five hundred taels in silver notes, then helped Wentian register the transaction and create the official record. After that, he had him sign his name and press his fingerprint.
"This is the certificate proving your purchase of the rice fields. From this moment onward, the fifty mu of rice fields belonging to Yu Hou's household are yours."
"Many thanks, Registrar Yang."
Wentian tucked the certificate close to his body and was just about to leave when Yang Zhao unexpectedly called out to stop him.
"Jianyi Wentian, was it? Since you and this official happened to meet at the village entrance, it can be considered fate. Since you are a resident of Dongxi Village, you should know where the Yu family's fields are located, correct?"
He wants me to lead the way?
Forget it. An official could not be offended.
Wentian nodded and took the initiative to offer to bring Yang Zhao and the others to inspect the fields.
With Wentian's assistance, Yang Zhao completed the task assigned by the county deputy in half a day.
The remaining thirty mu of high-quality paddy fields and thirty mu of mountain forest belonging to Yu Hou's household all found new owners.