In feudal society, due to social productivity and social environment, it is difficult to gain a foothold in society relying on individual strength. Only by uniting together can we protect our own interests from being violated to the greatest extent. This is the so-called ethnic concept. The more united the family, the more

The stronger the ethnic concept, the greater the power of the clan leader.

As the patriarch of Xujia Village, Xu Deming had supreme authority among the villagers. Even when Xu Jin's scholar father was still alive, he was in awe of Xu Deming.

Because of this, Xu Deming found it strange that the little brat Xu Jin was still so calm and composed in the face of his own anger, so he did not hit him with the crutch he raised.

Xu Jin straightened his back and stood in front of Xu Deming, with a calm expression on his face: "Clan leader, my grandnephew dare to ask, does selling land violate the national law?"

Before the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, land was not allowed to be bought and sold. During the Warring States Period, the ban on land buying and selling was somewhat loosened. Later, Qin Shiwang unified the six kingdoms and explicitly allowed the circulation and buying and selling of private land. All dynasties since then have allowed the sale of land.

The Ming Dynasty was no exception. Except for official land, military land, public land, permanent tenant land, etc., all private land was allowed to be bought and sold.

Xu Deming snorted coldly and did not answer. Xu Jin asked again: "Dare I ask the clan leader, does it violate the clan rules for my grandnephew to sell his land?"

Naturally, there are no clan rules in Xujia Village that do not allow the sale of land, and looking back, this is not the first time that Xujia villagers have sold their land.

Xu Jin's two consecutive questions focused on the vital points, which made Xu Deming speechless. However, when he was questioned like this by his younger generation, he couldn't stand it anymore. He was so angry that his hands kept shaking, and the crutch might be smashed down at any time.

Xu Youcai felt secretly happy. The little boy was very sharp-tongued, but unfortunately he was still a bit young. He actually humiliated the clan leader in public, making him unable to step down. Even if you were reasonable today, you would be unreasonable. Without the permission of the clan leader, no one would dare to sell your land.

purchase.

Xu Jin seemed not to notice that Xu Deming was on the verge of going berserk, and continued: "The grandson dares to ask again, where did the fields passed down from the ancestors of the Xu family come from?"

Xu Deming was stunned for a moment. He couldn't keep up with Xu Jin's thinking. But if he couldn't answer three questions from his descendants in a row, where would the patriarch's face be in the future? He snorted coldly: "The Xu family in Shangrao County originated from Jianghuai

In this area, our ancestors moved south to Huguang to avoid the war in the late Yuan Dynasty and settled in Shangrao. The property of our ancestors was naturally accumulated by the hard work of the Xu family's ancestors generation after generation."

When Xu Deming said this, he stabbed the ground with his crutch and said angrily: "As the leader of the Xu clan, I will never allow unattractive descendants like you to ruin the foundation that our ancestors built with their blood and sweat!"

If the label of "prodigal boy" were firmly applied, Xu Jin would probably have to bear the stain on his back for the rest of his life and be ridiculed by others.

Xu Jin was secretly angry and said calmly: "Clan leader, don't get excited. As you just said, the Xu clan did not always have land, but only gradually accumulated it later.

The grandnephew lost his father when he was ten years old, and the eleventh family lost their mother. The family was in a state of decline, and they were left alone and helpless. They had no way to survive, so they had no choice but to sell their land to finance their studies.

Although my grandnephew is not talented, he sold his land and is determined to go out of the countryside. When he is in high school next year, he will buy a land and a house to make our Xu family prosperous."

Xu Deming suddenly fell silent. If Xu Jin mentioned the laws and regulations of the country before, he was arguing for reasons, but now he is moving people with emotion. To put it more bluntly, he is trying to win sympathy. Then he expressed his determination and made a big pie, saying that he would go to high school in the future.

Then buy back the land, and buy it ten times or a hundred times, to honor your ancestors.

"Oh, yes, Brother Jin's parents died early and he is all alone. How pitiful it is!"

“Look at Brother Jin’s house, they are still wearing worn-out straw sandals in the middle of winter!”

Most of the surrounding villagers showed sympathy and whispered, and the balance of public opinion naturally began to tilt towards Xu Jin.

Only then did Xu Youcai realize that something was wrong. Although the clan leader did not say anything, his attitude was obviously relaxed. He sneered hurriedly: "Old Shi, stop pretending to be pitiful and sympathetic. Who can blame me for being lazy and lazy?"

"That's right!" He quickly agreed: "Chief, don't let Lao Shi deceive you. All the lies about being proud of your ancestors after high school. Shi Hua hasn't even touched upon it yet. Look at Mr. Guo from the next village. He took the exam.

In my whole life, I haven’t even found a scholar!”

Xu Jin sneered in his heart. He had wanted to deal with this couple for a long time. Since he brought his face up to them, he was welcome.

"Fourth brother, don't you feel sorry for what you said?" Xu Jin said with "sadness and indignation" on his face: "The patriarch, my grandnephew lost his parents when he was young. The patriarch thought that I was young and didn't know how to work, so he gave up my six acres of paddy field.

I entrust it to my fourth brother to farm, so that my fourth brother can provide me with daily necessities, so that my nephew and grandnephew can study with peace of mind and inherit my father's legacy.

However, the fourth brother did not fulfill his original promise. He would not send me a grain of food every other month or even half a year. He came to me to ask for food and refused in every possible way. My grandnephew had no choice but to pawn off his belongings to make ends meet. Now his family is completely destitute and destitute.

Now the fourth brother actually says that I am too lazy to do anything. In front of the clan leader, I want to ask the fourth brother whether he feels guilty or not and whether he is blushing!"

As soon as this statement came out, there was an explosion all around, and the villagers accused Xu Youcai and his wife of being shameless.

Xu Youcai and He's faces turned red. The former said with a smile: "Don't listen to Old Shi's nonsense. This year's harvest is not good. What can I do? And I only gave Brother Shi a bucket of rice half a month ago!"

Xu Jin said coldly: "This year's harvest is not good, so last year's harvest and the year before were not good? I was seriously ill a month ago and my family ran out of food. Xiaowan went to your house several times to ask for food, but was rejected. In the end, Xiaowan gave up his winter clothes.

The clothes and wedding clothes were all pawned in exchange for money to buy food.

Half a month ago, I went to your house to ask for grain, and I saw that your family was secretly eating meat, but you refused to give me a grain of grain. Later, I said that I would take back the fields next year, so I reluctantly gave me a bushel of rice!"

The villagers were in an uproar, and some even called Xu Youcai and his wife bastards, worse than animals, and so on.

The clan leader Xu Deming raised his crutch and hit Xu Youcai with a stick, scolding: "You bastard, this is how you take care of your clan brothers!"

Xu Youcai covered his shoulders and screamed. Xu Deming wanted to hit him again. He hurriedly protected her husband and shouted: "Head of the clan, it is Lao Shi who sold the land and ruined the family. Why are you beating me, the head of the family!"

Xu Deming was furious and cursed: "It's all you pickled woman who instigates bad men!" As he spoke, he hit He on the forehead with a cane, causing his head to bleed immediately.

Xu Jin's eyelids twitched. This old man was so cruel. He couldn't help but feel scared. If Old Man Xu had hit him on the head with a stick just now, he might end up like He.

"Ouch!" Mr. He covered his head and screamed like a pig. Xu Deming wanted to beat him again. Several elderly villagers quickly stopped him and shouted at Xu Youcai and his wife to leave.

Xu Youcai and his wife didn't dare to stay. They left the yard as if they were running away. Xu Youcai even fell down and broke his lip when they went out. One of the couple covered his mouth, the other covered his forehead, and ran away in embarrassment.

Xu Deming was still angry and slammed his crutches. In fact, Xu Deming had selfish motives when he gave Xu Jin's six acres of paddy field to Xu Youcai for cultivation. Because Xu Youcai was his grandson, he was also the one who later failed to supply Xu Jin with food on time.

With one eye open and the other closed, as long as Xu Jin didn't complain to him, he would pretend he didn't know.

Only now that Xu Jin was shaking it out in front of the villagers, in order to maintain the authority and justice of the clan leader, he had to show off and break He's head.

After everyone's persuasion, Xu Deming slowly "calmed down" his anger and glanced at Xu Jin who was watching the show with some dissatisfaction. Originally, if this kid was willing to say a word of forgiveness, he would have been able to do it.

It's downhill, so you don't have to worry about it for so long.

"Brother Jin, although you are willing to sell your land, it is ancestral property after all. Selling it would be a disgrace to your ancestors. Are you really determined to sell it?" Xu Deming asked in a deep voice.

Xu Jin nodded and said: "The patriarch Mingjian, my grandnephew's period of filial piety has expired, and he plans to take part in the county examination next year, but the family has no money, so we have no choice!"

Xu Deming nodded and said: "I can ask the village to collect some money for you to use temporarily, and then return it slowly later!"

Xu Jin did not want to owe this favor, so he shook his head and said: "The patriarch's kindness is appreciated by his nephew, but as the New Year is approaching, everyone is not well off. What's more, if his nephew is lucky enough to pass the county examination, he will have to take the government examination, the hospital examination, and even the year after next.

The rural examination costs a lot of money, so we can’t let the village pay for it all!”

Xu Deming has a toothache. If you can get it, he might want to pass the imperial examination in one go. Except for a few monster-like characters in this dynasty, no one can do it.

Although I am not optimistic about it, young people who are ambitious still need to be encouraged. Xu Deming nodded and said: "Okay, Brother Jin is ambitious. I agree to sell your land, but there is a condition. If you pass the examination to become a scholar within two years,

Otherwise, I will expel you from my Shangrao Xu clan."

"Ah!" Xie Xiaowan's face turned pale instantly. If being labeled a "prodigal" is a stain in life, then being expelled from the family can destroy a person. Unless he moves to a distant place to live, otherwise he will never have a chance to live.

You can't get a foothold, and don't even think about leaving the imperial examination, because no matter how well you do in the examination, you will not be admitted, and you will even be deprived of the qualification to take the examination.

Therefore, Xu Deming’s move can be said to be ruthless!

"Clan leader, this seems a bit much!"

"Yes, at least the period should be longer. I think five years is suitable!" A group of clan elders expressed their pleas.

Xu Deming didn't really want to force Xu Jin to death, but this kid dared to challenge the authority of the patriarch, so he naturally had to teach him a lesson. As long as Xu Jin showed a little more submissiveness, he would go down the slope and take back what he just said.

Unexpectedly, Xu Jin said calmly: "My grandnephew will definitely disappoint the patriarch!"

Xu Deming was stunned. He really didn't expect Xu Jin to be so stubborn. He felt a little regretful, but he couldn't take back what he said at this time.

"Okay, okay, he is indeed a good son of Wen Xu (Father Xu)!" After Xu Deming finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves and left with a cane.

All the villagers also shook their heads and dispersed. Alas, Brother Jin is still young and energetic!

"Ms. sir, why don't you admit your mistake to the clan leader?" Xie Xiaowan said worriedly.
Chapter completed!