parentshiftbook Chapter 9 Mingzhi
Chapter 9 Mingzhi
It was already evening, and the sunset in the west had dyed half the sky red.
Old Chen's house also had mud-brick walls, and the main room was an earthen house. Only the east wing was a brick and tile house, which had been there for many years.
Qingyu usually lives in this brick house. According to Qingyu, although the brick house is respectable, it is cold in winter and hot in summer.
There was a walnut tree and a persimmon tree in the yard, both old trees. Meng Chen remembered that Old Chen said they were planted when he was young.
It was still hot when Old Chen set up a low table under the walnut tree, laid out a plate of fried soybeans, and brought out two small, chipped wine bowls.
Old Chen picked up his wine gourd to pour wine for Meng Chen, but Meng Chen quickly took the gourd, poured some for Old Chen first, and then poured some for himself.
"You've been shoveling manure all day, you must be tired and smelly, I'm sure you've had a hard day," Old Chen said.
"It's not tiring at all. I've been like this since I was a child. I studied in town for two years, but I didn't miss any farm work." Meng Chen took a sip of wine, which had a slightly sweet aftertaste. The taste wasn't bad. He then picked up some fried soybeans to eat.
After crunching a few fried soybeans, Meng Chen had already drunk three bowls of wine.
"You're a reliable worker, just like I was back then." Old Chen picked up a soybean, then put it back. He looked at Meng Chen and said, "I was thinking, why don't you come and farm for my family from now on?"
Meng Chen stopped drinking, while Qingyu raised an eyebrow, stole a glance at Meng Chen, then got up and left, saying, "I'll go cook."
It's no wonder the two reacted this way; Old Chen's words were not without reason.
In rural areas, there is a customary way of caring for the elderly, especially for people like Old Chen who have no children but own houses and land.
Usually, it is the descendants of the same clan or village who provide support, and they also need to help cultivate the fields. After the person passes away, they also need to act as filial sons and grandsons to attend the funeral. In the end, the fields and houses belong to the person who provided support.
This is why, ever since Old Chen took in this granddaughter who didn't share his surname, people have been constantly trying to arrange a marriage for her. They weren't interested in the dark-skinned, thin girl, but rather in Old Chen's land.
Everyone understood that once Old Chen left, Qingyu would definitely not be able to hold onto the family; they would need a strong man to manage it.
"I should have left long ago, but I was held back by the bluefish I found two years ago." Old Chen was old, but he was in good spirits. "After I leave, this land will be yours. By then, the bluefish will be all grown up. If you're willing, you can arrange a marriage. I've already asked the girl, and she has no objections."
In the countryside, marriages are arranged entirely by parents and elders, and it's common for couples to be three to five years apart in age. Moreover, people in the countryside can't be picky; as long as the person can work, isn't lazy or cunning, and isn't unattractive, it's considered a good match.
Hearing this, it would be a lie to say that Meng Chen wasn't tempted. If he agreed, and then took over the twenty-odd acres of land from Old Chen's family in the future, that would be enough to live a good life.
Even if the grass carp are still a bit small now, they can be raised for a few years.
Besides, although that girl is a bit dark-skinned, it's from being in the sun all day; she's not bad-looking. Once she's fairer and dressed in more suitable clothes, she'll definitely be presentable enough to take out in public.
However, Meng Chen is currently burdened with a murder case. Although the investigation may not find him in the immediate future, there is no guarantee that something might happen.
If he is indeed taken down, it will implicate others for no reason.
Moreover, ever since the wheat harvest this year, Meng Chen has been having nightmares every night. Whenever he looks into the distance during the day, he feels that those rows of land and acres of fields are like cages, where farmers can only wait in the endless wheat fields until they die.
Now that the land has been plundered, the sickle is broken, and the cage has been breached from the outside, it's time to step out of the wheat field and go out to see what's going on.
Seeing that Meng Chen remained silent, Old Chen patiently said, "I'm thinking, neither of you are lazy people. After you have a child, and then a grandson, that would be wonderful!"
He then added, "We're all farmers. As long as we're hardworking and down-to-earth, why should we be afraid of not having a good life?"
"Old Chen, you've been a farmer your whole life, skilled at every kind of farm work. I also know that you go to check on your land and your deceased wife's grave every day, rain or shine." Meng Chen said in a low voice, "But the land passed down from my ancestors is gone, and the sickle passed down for three generations is broken. Tell me, am I still a farmer, still a son of a farmer?"
"When did your sickle break?" Old Chen suddenly asked.
"...That day, Yan Bao came to my house to seize the land deed, and it was broken." Meng Chen said with great certainty.
Old Chen nodded and asked again, "You didn't like Qingyu, did you? Tell the truth. If you really don't like her, then you don't have to marry her. Wait a few years, find her a husband, and you can be her family. At least you can protect her."
"I wouldn't even dare to dream of getting a wife for free, how could I possibly complain?" Meng Chen was very honest.
"So what are you thinking?" Old Chen asked.
"I want to take back my family's ancestral land," Meng Chen said.
Old Chen remained silent.
Meng Chen continued, "I know that as long as Yan Long is around, my family's land will never be taken back. The only way I can think of is to follow in Yan Long's footsteps, instead of working hard for a year only to have my land easily seized by someone else, without even a chance to resist."
It was dusk, and the cicadas were chirping loudly.
When Old Chen heard Meng Chen say he wanted to learn from Yan Long, he already understood what Meng Chen meant.
Yan Long was not only famous in Daze Township, but also a well-known figure in the entire Qingshui County. Some even said that Yan Long was the number one martial artist in Qingshui County.
This man came from a farming family and began learning martial arts more than twenty years ago. He gained fame within a few years and was later appreciated by a nobleman, allowing him to leave Qingshui County and become an official in the prefectural city.
In fact, the villagers didn't know how high Yan Long's martial arts skills were. They only heard that Yan Long used to eat leftovers, wear tattered clothes, get up earlier than chickens and go to bed later than dogs. He was extremely diligent and hardworking, which is why he has achieved his current success.
Because of this, Yan Long was regarded as a role model by the villagers, who believed that anyone who could endure more hardship than him would surely rise above others.
Therefore, in recent years, many people in Dazexiang have followed the story of the Yan family, emptying their family fortunes to support their children and grandchildren in learning martial arts. However, no one has become the second Yan Long, but this has raised the prices of martial arts schools in the county town considerably.
"I understand. Learn from Yan Long!" Old Chen took a sip from his small wine bowl and laughed, "I've seen too many of these young people in Daze Township over the years. They all think they'll end up like Yan Long, only to end up like worms."
"We'll only know if it's a dragon or a worm if we try," Meng Chen said in a low voice.
"When do you plan to leave?" Old Chen stopped trying to persuade him. He could see the determination in the young man's eyes and knew that if the young man didn't hit a wall, he would never turn back.
"I'll leave tomorrow," Meng Chen said firmly.
"Yu-ya-tou?" Old Chen called out towards the kitchen.
Qingyu came out immediately. She lowered her head, seemingly a little embarrassed. She walked to the walnut tree, took out two eggs, gave one to Old Chen and the other to Meng Chen, and said, "These are freshly boiled. You can have them with your drinks."
It was dusk, and the slanting rays of the setting sun cast long shadows. Fine beads of sweat glistened on Qingyu's nose, her face was tanned dark, but her eyes shone brightly. She said, "Brother, you must drink less. We have to get up early tomorrow to continue shoveling manure!"
"Bluefish, I'm going to the county town tomorrow." Meng Chen didn't accept the boiled egg.
"What are you going to the county town for?" Qingyu asked blankly.
"Learn martial arts, and you'll have a bright future." Meng Chen stuffed the still-warm boiled egg back into Qingyu's hand and said, "If you can make something of yourself, I'll take you and Old Chen to live in the county town."
Qingyu immediately understood. She stared blankly up at Meng Chen and asked, "Aren't you going to farm anymore?"
"I'm not planting anymore," Meng Chen said with a smile.
Qingyu paused for a moment, then stuffed the boiled egg into Meng Chen's hand, saying, "I've heard that practicing martial arts is very tough, even tougher than farming. You should eat more."
"Go and call Boss Niu over here," Old Chen said kindly, patting Qingyu's hand gently.
That Boss Niu is the village head.
Qingyu was very obedient. He ran out of the house and soon returned with the village head.
"Why are you serving wine?" The village head asked with a grin as he sat down.
"He wants to go to the county town to learn martial arts," Old Chen said.
"This child, is learning martial arts really that easy? Does he really think just anyone can become Yan Long?" The village head immediately became serious. He looked at Old Chen and asked, "Uncle, do you want me to persuade him?"
"No, that's not it. I invited you here to act as a middleman." Old Chen chuckled. He went back into his house and brought back some loose silver. He looked at Meng Chen and said, "Keep this money. If things don't work out in the county town, come back honestly. After all, our roots are in the fields."
Old Chen pushed the silver towards Meng Chen and said, "If you break even, you can pay Yu Yatou back. If you can't, then stay home and farm with her."
When the village headman saw that Old Chen had actually given him money, he said to Meng Chen, "I've been seeing you working at your uncle's house these past few days, and I thought you were going to become his grandson-in-law! Since your uncle has given you money, just keep it. No matter how successful you become in the future, don't forget your uncle, and don't forget Yu Yatou."
Meng Chen dared not accept the apprenticeship, because he himself did not know whether he could master it.
"I've lived alone for decades, and I've still managed to save some money." Old Chen stuffed the silver into Meng Chen's hand.
Meng Chen stood up, kowtowed to Old Chen, and then put away the silver.
Old Chen chuckled but didn't say anything. Qingyu stood under the walnut tree, unsure of what to do with his hands, completely lacking the lively energy he used to have when catching cicada shells.
The village head also expressed his feelings and gave a lot of advice, mostly about not going astray and working hard.
The next morning, Qingyu came to call him for breakfast.
After finishing his meal, Meng Chen shouldered his bundle, put on his straw hat, and, thinking that the journey was not short and to prevent rain, wanted to bring his bamboo hat, but he couldn't find it and didn't know where he had lost it.
Since that was the case, Meng Chen stopped looking and bid farewell to Old Chen and his grandson.
"When you get to the county town, go and inquire about your father's whereabouts." Old Chen had many connections, and he said, "There's a man named Li Jingcheng in the county government office who's in charge of repairing the river and walls. He's a good official. Ask him; it might help."
If someone is in charge of both managing affairs and repairing rivers, then they must be a clerk in the Works Department of the county government.
"You know people like that?" Meng Chen asked curiously.
"That was more than ten years ago. Li Jingcheng came here to visit Laolongtan. He heard that I had lived a long life, so he came to see me. I treated him to a meal. He was very considerate and even left me some money, saying that I should come to him if I had any difficulties," Old Chen said with a smile.
"Okay, I'll ask when I get to the county town," Meng Chen agreed.
"Take these flatbreads with you. Eat them all today, they won't keep in this heat!" Qingyu stuffed a few flatbreads into Meng Chen's bundle, then added, "Come back when you're free. The dates at your house are almost ripe, don't forget to come back and pick them!"
Meng Chen gently patted Qingyu's head, said no more, and immediately walked away.