An Opportunity to Learn Martial Arts

It was useless for the noble person to come; the work in the manor didn't decrease by half.

Manor Head Li and his son sent out another batch of chicks and ducklings, and also slaughtered a pig. But the villagers only ate some offal; the two sides of meat were taken away.

The cesspool, which had been a source of frustration for a long time, was also dug up by half by a group of outsiders. Meng Yuan, Tie Niu, and other young men were even forced to help dig the manure.

These matters were neither big nor small, but they were not enough to bring down Manor Head Li.

After seven days, Manor Head Li went crazy for some reason. He gathered people to go outside the manor to turn the soil and fertilize.

That land was about ten mu, and it was already cultivated land, but it wasn't planted with winter wheat. Manor Head Li said it was land newly acquired by the Princess Consort, so they had to plow it now and plant spring wheat when spring arrived.

Meng Yuan was shocked. Winter was a time for rest, and even diligent farmers didn't work the fields.

But Manor Head Li didn't treat the villagers as people at all. Moreover, he was afraid the oxen would be thin and wouldn't sell for a good price, so he didn't allow them to use the plowing oxen.

Including Meng Yuan and Tie Niu, a total of eight people worked, all of whom had relatives and family.

"If I work as a hired hand, how can I be rich and noble?" Meng Yuan still preferred castrating testicles and didn't want to plow the land.

"Brother, when you become rich and noble, don't forget Tie Niu," Tie Niu sniffled.

Meng Yuan smiled and agreed.

That evening, after finishing work and returning to their dwelling, Old Man Jiang sighed incessantly.

"Manor Head Li is not kind. How can he order around skilled craftsmen like this?" Old Man Jiang's face was full of guilt. He said, "It's me and Tang'er who are dragging you down. Otherwise, you are in your prime; where couldn't you go? You wouldn't have to be exploited here."

"It's okay, it's nothing for me to work more when I'm young," Meng Yuan comforted him, then whispered, "Old Man Jiang, when you go out to work in the manor these past few days, inquire about the origin of that piece of land."

Meng Yuan had also inquired with passing villagers while working, but they didn't know whose land it was, only that it belonged to a wealthy family in the town.

Manor Head Li said the land was newly purchased by the Princess Consort, but near the New Year, who would sell land for no reason? Either they couldn't make ends meet, or they were forced by others.

And looking at the Princess Consort's previous actions, implementing the three-meal system, personally distributing rewards, and allowing nearby villagers to enter the mountains, it was clear she pitied the poor and cherished the weak, that she understood the ways of the world, and was not faking benevolence.

Therefore, Meng Yuan felt that this land was probably not the Princess Consort's, but was forcibly taken by Manor Head Li and his son using the name of the Royal Residence.

That evening, Meng Yuan was in Jiang Tang's room teaching her to read when someone knocked on the door.

The visitors were Zhao Datou and his son, both with joyful expressions.

"You're already sleeping with your little wife?" Zhao Datou was very surprised to see Meng Yuan come out of Jiang Tang's room.

"How old is she? I'm teaching her to read," Meng Yuan explained, and asked, "Uncle Datou, is there something you need coming so late?"

"There's good news." Zhao Datou and his son pulled Meng Yuan into the room and sat down with Old Man Jiang.

Jiang Tang wanted to come and listen, but Meng Yuan glared at her and sent her out.

"Uncle Datou, what good news?" Meng Yuan asked curiously, and Old Man Jiang also listened attentively.

"Someone from the Royal Residence came this morning, and I happened to meet them. They said there was a civil unrest in the town north of Songhe Prefecture a few days ago, and many wealthy families were robbed. Our Princess Consort has become vigilant and plans to select some people to go to the Royal Residence to learn a few moves and techniques, so they can also guard the manor."

Zhao Datou lowered his voice, "They said that young people from all the manors and shops can go. If they learn well, they can stay in the Royal Residence as guards in the future."

"Everyone can go?" Old Man Jiang asked.

"Regardless of whether they are born into the family or not, as long as they have family members, they can go." Zhao Datou grabbed Meng Yuan's hand and said, "I've been with Manor Head Li for five years, and I've seen through it long ago. There's no hope in the manor; you have to go out. My son Tie Niu is very stupid, but you, Xiao Meng, are clever, and Tie Niu listens to you. I was thinking, you two can go together so you can look after him."

Meng Yuan's heart was moved.

Now trapped in Pasture Manor, Manor Head Li and his son had absolute power, and various things could not be done, making it impossible for people to move around.

If he could go to the Royal Residence to learn martial arts, not to mention whether he could succeed, at least the food would be much better, and he could better nourish the Essence Flame in his body. At that time, there might be other wonders.

Furthermore, in this world, everything is fake; only the knife is real. Learning more life-saving methods is beneficial and harmless.

This was an excellent opportunity that must be seized tightly!

"You two father and son discuss it," Zhao Datou finished speaking, pulled Tie Niu up, and said, "I've made up my mind. I'll go find the Manor Head now and talk to him."

After Zhao Datou and his son left, Old Man Jiang sighed again.

"I can see it, Xiao Meng, you have a quick mind and know how to do things. The suffering you are enduring now is because Tang'er and I are holding you back. If you were in another place, you would probably have already made a name for yourself, much better than being a castrator." Old Man Jiang saw Meng Yuan deep in thought, took out some silver from hisin one's arms, and said, "Let's use some silver and ask Manor Head Li for help. The manor won't miss one less person, and he can get silver for free, so he won't refuse to help."

"Someone like Manor Head Li is stingy and greedy, with an insatiable desire. He'll likely take the silver and not do anything," Meng Yuan felt it wasn't appropriate, but if he went directly to Miss Xun Mei, she might think he was being redundant and develop a bad impression.

"Now we can only find Manor Head Li. We have to try," Old Man Jiang said earnestly, and then calculated the money.

The deed of sale got nine qian, and the previous reward from Xun Mei was three liang, totaling three liang and nine qian.

Taking two liang, Old Man Jiang insisted on pulling Meng Yuan out. Jiang Tang wanted to follow, but Old Man Jiang scolded her back.

It was already dark now, and someone in the manor was leading a dog and beating a gong to patrol at night.

Manor Head Li lived behind the manor's main hall, in a separate courtyard, where the lights were still on.

Knocking on the door and entering, they saw Manor Head Li, his eldest son Li Dabiao, and his second son Li Xiaohu eating.

"Good evening, Manor Head," Old Man Jiang spoke, somewhat restrained, with a forced smile, and said, "I heard that the Royal Residence plans to recruit some children to learn martial arts. My grandson-in-law is also capable, and I want to ask if he can go and learn something? Then he can come back and protect our manor."

"Old Man Jiang, it's not that I'm not giving you face."

Manor Head Li put down his chopsticks and said, "The manor is already short of people. If I let someone go, I'm afraid the work won't be finished."

"We all see how hard the Manor Head works to take care of the manor," Old Man Jiang took out money from his sleeve and said, "Please trouble yourself more."

"Alright! It's not easy for you either! I'll report the little castrator's name. You go back and work hard, and just wait for my news!" Manor Head Li took the silver, his face originally beaming with joy, but then suddenly changed color. He picked up his chopsticks and hit his second son Li Xiaohu's hand, angrily saying, "Look at the salted fish and eat a mouthful of rice. Why are you putting your chopsticks there?"

Li Xiaohu said angrily, "My brother only takes a bite after looking at it twice, and you don't even manage him?"

"You eat yours, he deserves to be choked to death!" Manor Head Li cursed angrily.

Meng Yuan and Old Man Jiang exchanged glances. This Manor Head Li was so greedy and took so much, he could eat meat and eggs every day without a problem, but he was not only stingy with the villagers, but also with his own family.

Another five days passed. Meng Yuan worked hard outside the manor every day, turning the soil and fertilizing. More than half of the ten-plus mu of land was done, but Manor Head Li still hadn't given any news.

Returning from outside the manor that day, back to their dwelling, Old Man Jiang mysteriously pulled Meng Yuan aside.

"I met a traveling peddler outside today, and I asked about the land," Old Man Jiang said in a low voice, very cautiously.

It turned out that the ten-plus mu of land belonged to a wealthy family named Yan in Clearwater Town. After autumn, the man of the Yan family died of illness, leaving only his widowed wife and young daughter, and the land was left fallow.

The deceased man's elder brother wanted to take advantage of the family's misfortune and also wanted to buy the manure from the manor at a low price, so he colluded with Manor Head Li. Manor Head Li was naturally willing, so he used the name of the Royal Residence, found a familiar corrupt official, and finally bought the land at a low price, and also found a buyer for the manure.

"That widowed mother and young daughter have nowhere to go now. Everyone in town says the Royal Residence forcibly bought the land, and they say our Princess Consort is hypocritical," Old Man Jiang sighed.

Meng Yuan saw clearly that even if the Princess Consort was hypocritical, she would never let a manor head of a pasture manor do something like annexing fertile land. This must have been Manor Head Li acting on his own initiative, borrowing the influence of the Royal Residence.

However, Manor Head Li was truly cunning. This matter didn't go through the hands of the people in the manor. If it weren't for his greed for the few coins Old Man Jiang earned from going out, it would have been really hard to detect. If a few more months passed, perhaps no one in Clearwater Town would mention it anymore.

Meng Yuan was thinking about how to use this matter to deal with Manor Head Li when he saw Jiang Tang run over and say that Zhao Datou and his son had arrived.

Zhao Datou's eyes were red, and Tie Niu also looked wronged.

Meng Yuan first asked Jiang Tang to go out, and then asked Zhao Datou what had happened.

"Manor Head Li is dishonest. He took the money but didn't do anything," Zhao Datou was very angry. He said furiously, "His second son, Li Xiaohu, has already gone to the Royal Residence! And the children of a few patrolmen have also gone! I went to reason with him, but he said the Royal Residence doesn't need anyone anymore!"

"This..." Old Man Jiang's eyes widened, and he asked, "Did he return the money?"

"How could he return it? He just sees that we're easy to bully. He said he spent money to help, and I even owe him one tael!" Zhao Datou's eyes were red.

Old Man Jiang coughed repeatedly in anger and sighed, "They say you are what you eat. People like us who can endure hardship can't become superior people; you have to eat people."

Zhao Datou sighed and clenched his fists after hearing this, finally leaving with Tie Niu helplessly.

Jiang Tang came in at this point. Seeing that neither Meng Yuan nor her grandfather were speaking, she also remained silent obediently.

After a long time, Old Man Jiang said, "Little Meng, the manor head is the biggest in the manor. Even if we know some of his dark deeds, we can't fight him. I think we should just endure this time. Being a gelder won't make you rich, but it can provide enough to eat and wear."

Meng Yuan shook his head slightly.

If you are controlled and bullied once, and then you become docile and submissive, not daring to resist, and swallowing your anger, what is the difference between that and a castrated pig or sheep?

Meng Yuan had done a lot of work in the manor and never slacked off. But since Manor Head Li wanted to block his path to advancement, Meng Yuan could only overturn this broken manor!

Meng Yuan decided to geld Manor Head Li.