Chapter 157 – The Yan Family’s Internal Strife
At the Yan family estate.
Yan Shuxiu, who had confidently gone to Tian Qingquan’s house to buy the land, returned with a face full of sorrow.
Ms. Li and her daughter, as well as Ms. Hu, were waiting for her at the entrance. Ms. Hu was expecting her to return triumphant with the land, while Ms. Li and her daughter were waiting to see the defeated look that now adorned her face.
Seeing her disheartened demeanor, Yan Shujing and Ms. Li exchanged a knowing glance; they instantly understood that Yan Shuxiu had failed to purchase the land.
“Second Aunt, Mother, look, Shuxiu has returned,” said Yan Shujing.
Ms. Li, with a hint of smugness, chimed in, “Shuxiu took so long to return; she must have bought the land. The old master has had his eye on those fertile three acres at the village entrance for a long time. Now that she’s acquired it, the old master will surely be overjoyed.”
If the land hadn’t been purchased. They were ready to watch the old master rage and scold the second branch of the family.
Sensing something was amiss, Ms. Hu stepped forward, grabbed Yan Shuxiu’s wrist, and asked anxiously, “Shuxiu, did you buy the three acres of land from the Tian family?”
As she asked, Ms. Hu noticed a servant carrying a bag of silver, her expression darkening as she pressed Yan Shuxiu for an answer, “Shuxiu, you didn’t buy the land? What happened?”
The old master of the Yan family, who had been waiting at home for news, came out leaning on his walking stick just in time to hear Ms. Hu questioning Yan Shuxiu and to see the servant hand over a bag of silver to Ms. Li.
“Second Madam, the three acres of land from the Tian family were sold to Yan Xiaosi,” the servant reported.
“What? Tian Qingquan sold those acres to Yan Xiaosi?” The old master bristled with anger. He had long coveted that well-located and fertile land, which yielded high grain production every year. He was furious at missing such an opportunity.
“Shuxiu, what exactly happened? How did that brat Yan Xiaosi get the money to buy Tian Qingquan’s land?”
Seeing the old master furiously banging his walking stick on the ground, Yan Shujing quickly went to support him. “Grandfather, please don’t be angry; it’s bad for your health. Let’s listen to what Shuxiu has to say first.”
Ms. Li glanced at the disheartened Yan Shuxiu and said, “Father, I said Shuxiu is too young to handle such matters properly. Shujing should have gone. If Shujing had been the one to negotiate, Yan Xiaosi wouldn’t have been able to buy the Tian family’s land.”
Hearing Ms. Li’s biting remarks, Yan Shuxiu, already upset from her failure, exploded in anger. “Aunt, it’s easy for you to say. If you could handle Yan Xiaosi, why didn’t you get her to come when Grandma was sick?”
Her words struck a nerve with Ms. Li, who glared at Yan Shuxiu. “Is this how you teach your daughter in the second branch? To speak to her elders in such a tone? If she behaves like this after getting married, she’ll bring shame to our Yan family.”
Ms. Li’s insinuation that Yan Shuxiu would shame the family if married off in front of the old master was a direct attack on her reputation, leaving Ms. Hu fuming with anger.
Ms. Hu, not one to be pushed around, retorted, “Elder Sister-in-law, Shuxiu isn’t married yet, and here you are making a scene at the entrance. What are your intentions? Do you want to ruin Shuxiu’s reputation and make it impossible for her to get married? Your intentions are indeed malicious.”
The old master, already on edge, watched as his two daughters-in-law quarreled fiercely, turning red in the face with anger. In a fit of rage, he threw his walking stick at Ms. Li and Ms. Hu. The stick narrowly missed them, leaving both women pale with fear and trembling as they turned to face the old master.
The old master glared at them and thundered, “If anyone makes another sound, pack your bags and go back to your parents’ home.” Being sent back to one’s parental home was a great disgrace for a woman.
Ms. Li and Ms. Hu’s hearts skipped a beat, and they quickly shut their mouths.
With the scene quieted down, the old master of the Yan family, still angry, turned to Yan Shuxiu, “Shuxiu, tell me, what exactly happened?”
Yan Shuxiu, trembling and feeling guilty, glanced at the old master and said, “Grandfather, the Tian family’s three acres were selling for fifteen taels of silver. I don’t know where Yan Xiaosi got fifteen taels from. I had already threatened Tian Qingquan, and he had decided to sell the land to our Yan family. But then Yan Xiaosi somehow cured Tian Baogen’s illness. Seeing his son’s condition improve significantly, Tian Qingquan ended up selling the land to Yan Xiaosi. Grandfather, I really did my best. It’s all because Yan Xiaosi is too cunning.”
After hearing this, the old master’s expression turned colder. No wonder the third branch of the Yan family had the nerve to refuse to return to the Yan estate; they had some silver in hand. Now that they had spent fifteen taels on the Tian family’s land, there couldn’t be much left.
Yan Shuxiu, having suffered a setback and holding a grudge against Yan Xiaosi, somewhat wished to incite the old master against Xiaosi. “Grandfather, when I was at the Tian’s house, I told Yan Xiaosi that you were interested in that land. But he still refused to give it up. He, as a junior, dared to openly compete with you for property. That’s utterly disrespectful. Grandfather, you must not forgive him easily.”
The old master was indeed angry, but instead of erupting, he suppressed his fury and said, “Let’s leave this matter as it is for now.” He then motioned for a servant to help him back to his room.
Yan Shuxiu watched the old master’s departing figure, her face etched with disappointment. “Grandfather, are you just going to let go of those three fertile acres?”
The old master didn’t respond to her but just gave a cold laugh. He had been eyeing those three acres for a long time; how could he just let them go? If his guess was right, the third branch urgently bought the land to build a house. Once they had built it and ran out of money, he could involve the authorities to reclaim the land, leaving them empty-handed and desperate. Then, Yan Xiaosi would have no choice but to rely on the Yan family.
Back at the cave in Big Sister Peak, Ms. Zhong and her daughters anxiously awaited Yan Xiaosi’s return. Hearing footsteps at the entrance, Yan Shuxue hurried out and saw Yan Xiaosi, excitedly calling back, “Mom, Big Sister, Xiaosi is back!”
“Xiaosi, did you manage to buy the land?” asked Ms. Zhong.
Yan Xiaosi took out the land deed from her bosom and waved it, “Second Sister, when I personally take on a task, is there ever anything I can’t accomplish?”
Yan Shuxue took the deed and saw the government’s seal on the yellowed paper – a genuine land deed.
After years of poverty, their family finally owned land. With this land, as long as they cultivated it well, they would no longer go hungry in the future.
