Fang Yue Returns Home (Please Follow and Bookmark)

Land Donation?

Donating land?

Who were they donating land to? Donating land to Fang Yue's family?

"Master Liu, did you misspeak? That boy from Fang Mu's family only got lucky and passed some Martial Scholar examination. A scholar can only exempt his own family's land tax. Why would we donate land to his family!"

Fang Clan Elder Fang Suo felt that Scholar Liu must have misheard. Fang Yue was a Martial Scholar, not an Imperial Martial Candidate.

"Oh, I see."

Upon hearing this, Scholar Liu looked around at the surrounding Fang Clan Members and understood something in an instant.

He smiled and did not bother with Fang Suo, this Fang Clan Elder, any further.

He usually showed respect only because the other man could be considered "lofty in virtue and high in prestige"—local village elders were much the same.

But clearly, Fang Suo had brought the Fang Clan Members to Fang Yue's home today not to offer congratulations, but rather to cause trouble.

"Perhaps you all do not yet know that Martial Scholars are specially granted exemption by the Imperial Court from taxes on three hundred mu of land."

Having said that, he no longer paid Fang Suo any heed.

Instead, he turned to speak with Fang Yue's parents.

With Scholar Liu's words, Chen Shi immediately invited him into the courtyard. As for Clan Elder Fang Suo, Chen Shi drove him out.

"Fang Mu, I was muddleheaded for a moment. I only saw how difficult life was for the clan members, and that was why I did such a foolish thing."

Tax exemption for three hundred mu of land—this benefit alone could directly make most of the Fang Clan Members flock to them.

Even if Fang Yue, this Martial Scholar, could not yet become an official, becoming a tax-exempt landed master was already set in stone.

If that happened, he likely would not even be able to remain clan elder, and the public fields' support would no longer have anything to do with him.

How could Fang Suo not be anxious!

"Go, go, go! My family doesn't welcome you!"

But how could Chen Shi give him the chance? Waving the broom in her hand, she drove Fang Suo and the others out, leaving only Scholar Liu and his party behind.

Then, with a bang, she shut the courtyard gate.

The Fang Clan Members were left staring at one another. Naturally, quite a few of those Fang Suo had called over to "lend support" now looked at Fang Suo and the others differently.

That afternoon,

Chen Shi hummed an unknown tune at home as she prepared all kinds of delicious dishes she was best at making.

And she made every one according to Fang Yue's preferences.

"Mother, why are you making so much? How can we finish it all?"

Fang Cheng returned from outside and saw his mother cooking as soon as he entered.

She had already made dried bamboo shoots with meat, chicken stewed with mushrooms, twice-cooked pork, and stir-fried greens.

Varied dishes that they normally might not eat even once in several days—Chen Shi had made more than ten dishes in one go!

"Your younger brother has become a scholar now. He'll definitely be coming back, and all this is for your brother. You mustn't sneak any!"

Mother Chen Shi glanced at Fang Cheng and warned him, "Everything made this time is for Zhi'er. You mustn't take any to your 'wife' again."

At once, Fang Cheng pulled a long face. "Mother, there isn't even the first stroke of the character eight yet."

Hearing this, Chen Shi snorted coldly. "You're the older brother of a Martial Scholar now. Can't you show a little promise? As long as you've taken a fancy to her, this matter is sure to work out."

Fang Cheng blushed, though his complexion was rather dark, so it did not show much. "Mother, I just remembered. Uncle Fuquan gave me an old mountain ginseng root. He said he was lucky to dig it up in the mountains years ago."

"Not bad. It'll be perfect for nourishing Zhi'er. They say mountain ginseng is best for replenishing the body, and Zhi'er needs it for martial training."

Chen Shi snatched the ginseng from Fang Cheng's hand.

The resentment in her heart toward Uncle Fuquan's family faded considerably.

Old mountain ginseng was precious, after all. The mountains were far too dangerous, and ordinary people took enormous risks going in.

For their family to bring out a treasure kept at the bottom of their chest showed their sincerity. Her foolish son, whose elbow bent outward, had not given them so much grain for nothing.

It seemed she could find a matchmaker to discuss this marriage.

"All right, don't just stand there like a fool. Hurry over and help! Do you want to exhaust your mother to death by herself?"

After putting away the ginseng, Chen Shi spoke to Fang Cheng, who was still standing there foolishly.

Of course, once Fang Cheng began cooking,

Chen Shi was free. She took the chance to rest for a while, sitting at the entrance and watching to see whether her Zhi'er had returned.

Not long after she sat down,

Chen Shi heard the sound of bells jingling, then saw an ox cart returning in the distance.

Soon, Father Fang came into view.

"Has Zhi'er returned?"

Chen Shi hurriedly sprang to her feet and rushed to the ox cart, speaking breathlessly.

As she spoke, her gaze searched the ox cart, but it was completely empty.

"Fang Mu! Why did you come back alone? Have you forgotten what I sent you to do?"

"You came back by yourself without bringing Zhi'er home, and you still dare come back!"

Chen Shi immediately became angry. She had made delicious food at home, while Father Fang had naturally been dispatched by her to fetch their son.

Based on the previous few times, their Zhi'er should have returned this afternoon.

Although she did not know whether Zhi'er would stay a few more days in the County Town after passing as a Martial Scholar,

there was no harm in starting to wait and prepare now.

As long as she waited, even if he did not return today, then tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or on one of the remaining days of this month, there would surely be a day when Zhi'er came home.

The sky had not even grown dark, yet Fang Mu had returned without Zhi'er.

Wasn't that the same as not going to fetch him and simply coming back alone?

Naturally, Chen Shi was very "angry"!

As she spoke, she prepared to smack Father Fang a few more times and help him "remember."

"Ah, listen to me, listen to me."

Hearing this, Father Fang immediately knew that Chen Shi had misunderstood.

And Chen Shi clearly intended to "teach him a lesson." How could he dare wait any longer? Taking advantage of the gap before Chen Shi could continue speaking, he hurriedly began to argue for himself.

Ah, no, he should say explain himself.

"I picked him up! I picked up Zhi'er!"

"You still dare spout nonsense! Then where is Zhi'er? Why don't I see my Zhi'er?" Chen Shi snorted coldly. She had not seen him, yet Father Fang still dared claim that he had picked him up.

Not only had he failed to handle the task she gave him properly, he even dared to tell "lies" with his eyes wide open.

"Ah, listen to me. Zhi'er went to Fang Hu's house. He'll be back shortly," Father Fang hurriedly said.

He had indeed picked up Fang Yue today, but at the village entrance, Fang Yue said he wanted to first visit Fang Hu's home and tell Fang Hu that he had passed as a Martial Scholar.

So Father Fang had returned alone.

"Then why didn't you bring Zhi'er's luggage back? You're making Zhi'er carry his luggage himself. What if Zhi'er gets worn out?"

Once Chen Shi learned the truth, she was no longer angry. Still, she was unwilling to "let Father Fang off."

But before Father Fang could speak, she continued, "In a while, go to Fang Hu's house. Bring several more dishes, and take two jars of the wine Scholar Liu sent today—no, take three jars."

She had remembered that Fang Yue was going to thank his teacher, but Fang Hu's family surely could not prepare any proper dishes.

Her family had just finished cooking, so she could send some over while she was at it.

Who knew how long Zhi'er would stay there?