Sell the Land

Looking at the pale blue translucent panel before him, Lin Qing suppressed the turmoil in his heart and swiftly sorted through his thoughts.

This cultivation panel was his greatest reliance for surviving in this world. Yet he had no cultivation techniques in hand, so he could not make use of the system at all.

If he remained in this remote village, he would struggle to ever rise above his station. Now that he had the system, going to the county town to learn martial arts was the best choice.

The silver and land deeds his father had left behind were the capital he needed to head for the county town.

As he pondered, a jumble of footsteps suddenly sounded outside the courtyard, followed by the courtyard gate being kicked open.

Lin Qing looked up and saw Lin Hu's family.

Having practiced martial arts, Lin Hu was rather brawny. His face still carried a trace of arrogance. His parents followed behind him, their eyes gleaming as they stared fixedly at Lin Qing.

Lin Hu's family's behavior in the village was already common knowledge. They did not need to say a word for Lin Qing to know they had come for his family's fields.

They were still in the village, after all, so the three did not act too outrageously. After entering, they simply stood where they were and did not come any closer.

Lin Hu spoke first, his tone carrying a hint of condescension:

"Lin Qing, we came today because we have something to discuss with you."

Lin Qing's brows drew together slightly. He ignored the three of them; he already had a plan in mind.

Seeing that Lin Qing had not answered for a long while, Lin Hu's mother stepped forward. Her face was piled with a fake smile as she got straight to the point:

"Qingzi, your father has only just passed. You're still half-grown and weak besides. You definitely can't work those two mu of poor fields at home. It would be such a pity to let them go to waste."

Lin Hu's father chimed in from the side. Though he wore a smile, his tone was exceedingly forceful.

"Lin Qing, you know it too. Our Huzi trained at a martial arts school in the county town, and all that strength of his has nowhere to go. Our family happens to be short on land."

"Transfer those two mu at the east end of the village to us. We'll value them at five hundred copper coins per mu. As long as you agree, we can find the village head to witness the deed transfer right now and pay you on the spot."

At market price, one mu of farmland cost at least two taels of silver. Five hundred copper coins per mu was absurdly low. Lin Hu's family was plainly taking advantage of his being alone and without anyone to rely on.

Seeing that Lin Qing still said nothing, Lin Hu walked up before him, looked down at him, and said in a deep voice:

"With those little arms and legs of yours, you won't be able to tend the land well even if you keep it. And if your luck turns bad and wild beasts damage the fields, not only will several months of your effort go down the drain, even surviving might become a problem."

"Now that we're willing to spend money to buy your land, I think you'd do better to obediently agree. At least then you'll have some silver to keep yourself fed."

What Lin Hu meant was that if Lin Qing refused to sell, he would go cause trouble in Lin Qing's fields and leave him with no harvest.

Though Lin Hu was strong and sturdy, he was not a martial artist after all, and did not dare openly violate the rules by seizing Lin Qing's fields outright. But if he used underhanded methods to make things difficult for Lin Qing, Lin Qing would have no way to deal with him.

Lin Qing silently sighed to himself. He had not expected to be bullied the moment he transmigrated here.

Though he had already planned to sell the land and go to the county town to study martial arts, he would never let them slash the price however they pleased.

Faced with their overt and covert threats, Lin Qing showed no panic. Instead, he spoke calmly:

"I can sell you the land, but not at that price."

"You know perfectly well that this land is the only property my father left behind. If this gets taken to the village head, I'll say that you came to bully me the moment my father died."

"Then it won't be so easy for you to get the land."

Lin Hu might have been physically strong, but the village head was an official person in the end. If matters truly reached the village head, they would indeed gain no advantage.

Lin Hu's family fell into hesitation. They had come to exploit Lin Qing precisely because he was alone, hoping to take advantage of the fire to rob him and acquire his land at a low price. But if they paid too much, would there be any bargain left for them?

Lin Qing saw their hesitation and continued to press them:

"I can sell this land, but you must offer a fair price. Otherwise, I'd rather let it lie fallow than sell it off cheaply. If you want to pick up a bargain at a low price, don't even dream of it."

"If you really push me too far, I'll take it to the village head, then go door to door through the village and tell all the neighbors exactly how you've bullied me."

Lin Hu's family's faces instantly darkened. They were already in the wrong. If this truly went to the village head, their already poor reputation would stink to high heaven. Lin Hu had not even found a wife yet!

Lin Hu's mother's face turned green, then white. Gritting her teeth, she finally relented.

"Then tell us. How much will you sell for?"

"One and a half taels of silver per mu. Three taels for both mu. I won't sell for one copper coin less."

Lin Qing named his price. It was still far below market value, and he was ultimately the one taking the loss, but it was already three times their initial offer. Besides, Lin Qing himself was in a hurry to sell the land. If he insisted on market price, it might not be so easy to find a buyer.

Lin Hu had originally wanted to press the price down further, but seeing the determination in Lin Qing's eyes, he ultimately nodded hard.

"Fine. Three taels it is. We'll go find the village head and change the land deed right now!"

Though the price was far higher than they had expected, their family was still getting an enormous bargain.

Lin Qing let out a breath. Though the price was low, he had at least gotten through this hurdle. All he needed now was to get this silver and head to the county town, where he could begin pursuing the path of martial arts.

As for Lin Hu's family, he would see once he became stronger! Right now, his body was frail and he had no other power to draw upon. He simply could not do anything to Lin Hu's family.

If he succeeded in martial arts later and still could not let go of what had happened today, he could return and deal with them then.

After the price was settled, Lin Qing followed Lin Hu's family to find the village head, signed the land deed transfer document, and received three taels of silver.

Weighing the silver in his hand, Lin Qing turned and returned home, where he began packing his belongings and preparing to leave for the county town.