Trading Land for Grain

Wang Ying heard that Li Youde had come to ask him for help, but he did not rush to respond.

He picked up a piece of piping-hot tofu from the pot with his chopsticks, blew on it, then put it into his mouth.

Then he took another satisfied sip of wine.

Watching him, Li Youde's Adam's apple bobbed. Ever since he had used his savings to arrange a match for Li Xiao, he had not touched wine again.

After a long while, Wang Ying slowly turned his head.

"Borrow grain...

Old Li, you know how hard times are these days.

No family has much surplus grain. Look at my household—I've got a whole family depending on me to feed them."

There was meaning behind his words, and his eyes unconsciously flicked toward Li Youde's injured leg.

The Li Family's affairs had practically spread throughout the village, and they had nearly become a laughingstock.

The Li Family had counted among the better-off households in the village, so plenty of people had envied them in ordinary times.

On top of that, Li Xiao had a rotten reputation in the village. Quite a few people secretly cursed that they deserved it.

And Li Youde coming to borrow grain was, to Wang Ying, an opportunity as well.

Li Youde looked at the pickled vegetables and tofu boiling in the pot, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

He might have believed it if another family said they were struggling, but the Village Head's family was drinking grain-brewed wine and eating tofu. This was clearly just an excuse.

He realized this hurdle would not be easy to clear and edged closer.

"Village Head, please show some leniency. You know my family's situation.

Once my leg heals a little, I'll be able to go hunting in the mountains.

When the time comes, my fields will have a decent harvest too, and I'll repay it soon. I swear..."

"Mm, I'd forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it." The Village Head cut him off.

"How about this? Your little bit of land is fairly good. I'll give you three shi, and you give me that mu of land at the eastern end. What do you say?"

So it really was about the land!

Li Youde's heart clenched. He had known the Village Head was no good.

The moment he opened his mouth, he set his sights on Li Youde's most fertile plot.

The Li Family's yearly harvest depended on that plot.

"Village Head, that is the foundation of the Li Family's survival. It cannot be touched."

Suppressing his anger, Li Youde spoke with a trace of pleading.

"Survival?" Wang Ying gave a mocking snort.

"Your family won't even make it through this winter, and you're still thinking about survival?

You're about to run out of food, so what are you guarding that land for?

That leg of yours is nearly crippled. Who are you counting on to till it?

Who doesn't know that your Li Xiao has never touched a drop of spring water with all ten fingers?

Better trade it for some grain and make it through this winter."

Wang Chen chimed in from the side as well.

"That's right, Uncle Li. My dad's doing this for your own good. If you really starve into something terrible, won't that land still end up belonging to someone else?"

Li Youde was torn inside.

The Village Head was plainly kicking him when he was down.

Three shi of grain would be enough for his family to eat for quite a while. If they rationed it carefully, getting through the winter would not be a problem.

But land was the foundation—the foundation that kept them alive.

Its value was far beyond what grain could compare to. Even after paying taxes,

a mu of prime farmland could yield more than ten shi a year.

The Village Head had calculated that their family could not borrow grain elsewhere, and was using this to hold them in his grasp.

Wang Ying continued eating the pickled vegetables and tofu beside him, in no hurry to press Li Youde for an answer.

Other than his family, no one within dozens of miles could lend out so much grain.

"Ah, sorry to disturb you."

Li Youde shakily rose to his feet, already having made his decision.

He picked up his crutch and was about to head outside.

"Wait. If that plot won't do, then I'll take a loss and trade for another one."

Wang Ying suddenly spoke.

When he had demanded the most fertile plot, he had already guessed that Li Youde would not agree.

That old man had a stubborn temper.

Li Youde stopped in his tracks, and a faint wavering rose in his heart.

He turned around, looked at Wang Ying, and waited for what came next.

Wang Ying set down his chopsticks, wiped the corner of his mouth with a cloth, and said unhurriedly:

"If you won't give up that mu at the eastern end, then trade me the one on South Slope instead.

It may not be as fertile as the eastern plot, but it's still passable.

I'll give you four shi of grain. How about it?"

The plot on South Slope truly was poorer. Its soil was sandy, and whenever drought came, yields would fall. But it was still Li Family land.

Li Youde's grip on his crutch tightened. Four shi of grain... enough to feed the family for some time. If they could hold on until spring, perhaps there truly would be a turn for the better.

He raised his head to look at Wang Ying. The calculation in the other man's eyes was impossible to hide.

How was this taking a loss? He was clearly pressing forward step by step—first using the best plot to drive down the price, then settling for the next best thing, making him feel as though he had gained an advantage.

"Village Head," Li Youde said hoarsely, "even if the South Slope plot is poor, it is still the root of my Li Family. Four shi is too little. At least... at least seven shi."

Wang Ying snorted as if he had heard a joke. "Old Li, you're bargaining with me?

That South Slope plot is worth no more than four shi of grain. I'm already being as generous as I can be.

If you won't agree, then leave now. I won't stop you."

Wang Chen spoke in a mocking, sarcastic tone from the side. "Uncle Li, don't be foolish.

Seven shi of grain? Do you think that land is made of gold?

My dad is only offering four shi out of consideration for our fellow villagers."

Li Youde's face went red, then pale.

In the end, he could only nod helplessly.

"Now that's more like it. Old Li, go back and bring the land deed.

Chen, go pack the millet.

Pack a little extra—we're all fellow villagers. When the time comes, get a few people to help Uncle Li carry it back."

Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Wang Ying smiled.

"Got it, Dad. Uncle Li, go get the land deed. Take it slow on the road."

Wang Chen smiled too as he headed toward the back room.

Li Youde let out a deep sigh, pushed open the door, and walked out. The wind and snow gradually swallowed his retreating figure.

"Dad, you should've held out a little longer. Maybe that old bastard would've given us the plot at the east end of the village!"

Wang Chen said from the back room at that moment.

Wang Ying leisurely took a sip of wine, then picked up another piece of tofu. It tasted utterly delightful.

"What do you know? I understand Old Li's temperament. He would never agree to give up that plot at the east end of the village.

I had already calculated that he would refuse. Once I brought up the South Slope plot, he would feel that I was making concessions too, and only then would he agree.

Aim for the highest, and you may gain the middle. Learn it, you brat."

Wang Ying laughed and cursed again.

After Old Dad's guidance, Wang Chen understood the crux of it as well.

He stuck his head out and gave Old Dad a thumbs-up.

"Brilliant, brilliant—Old Dad's still the most brilliant."

"Hmph, of course. Otherwise, how could I have built such a large family estate?"

His son's flattery pleased him greatly, and his old face bloomed like a chrysanthemum.

"Come to think of it, Li Youde is fairly capable. It's just a pity he gave birth to a wastrel like Li Xiao.

And ended up in this state."

Wang Ying sighed as well. Though Wang Chen was disappointing, his eldest son Wang Biao was a Martial Master.

Wang Chen nodded too. He and Li Xiao were both well-known idlers in the village.

But his own family had deep coffers and could withstand far more squandering than the Li Family. That was the importance of being born into a good family.

"But Dad, isn't four shi too much? We should press him down a little further. In our grain storehouse..."

Wang Chen felt somewhat pained.

"Idiot. Press him any lower, and Old Li will turn around and leave. That is his bottom line.

That mu of land on South Slope is good land too. And it borders ours, so when the time comes, we can join them into one stretch.

Whether for planting or irrigation, it'll all be much more convenient.

If you think it's a pity, just mix some bran and husks into the millet."

Wang Ying turned his head and rebuked him sharply.

"You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child.

That boy from the Li Family used to be an unruly rogue, but who knows whether he might change someday?

While they're down, take the land into our hands and settle it once and for all.

Once your eldest brother returns in spring, have him go to the County Office and complete the paperwork. Then the land will truly be ours. When the time comes, we'll harvest a few more shi of grain—what does this little expense amount to?"

He looked again at the tofu in the pot, picked up a piece, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Besides, with that old bastard Li Youde's leg injured so badly, it's still uncertain whether he can survive this winter.

If his son stays as muddleheaded as before, it won't be long before we find a way to get our hands on the remaining two mu of land too."

Only then did Wang Chen come to a sudden realization. He chuckled. "Dad, you're still the shrewdest!"

"Enough brown-nosing."

Wang Ying waved his hand. "Hurry and pack the grain. Once Li Youde brings the land deed, get this done quickly. Don't let anything go wrong."

"Right!" Wang Chen answered, turning toward the grain storehouse in the back room.