Chapter 22: Ploughing and Fertilizing Fields and Getting Thin
At this time, Zhang Dachun was still thinking about marrying Yi Ting for his son, and he downplayed the fact that he had embezzled the land rent from his master's family for many years——
Zhang Yuan waved to Zhang Cai, who approached and asked, "Master, what are your orders?"
Zhang Yuan handed the thin booklet at hand to Zhang Cai: "Your father is illiterate. Read it to your father."
Zhang Cai agreed, took a few steps back, opened the book and read: "I made a tenant agreement with Xie Qifu, and the tenant will get 40 acres of paddy field in Zhang Dachun. The land is located in the east of Jianhu Lake, and the annual payment is 20 shi for wheat and 40 shi for grain -"
Zhang Cai was not sure about the private contract signed between his father and the tenants, so he read aloud.
Zhang Dachun reacted immediately, interrupted his son's chanting and shouted: "Nonsense, there is no such thing!" He took a step forward, bowed to Zhang Yuan and said: "Master, I have been in the Zhang family for many years. When the master was born, he was so old.
The slave came and took care of the farmland. He was never lazy. He did not dare to neglect the farm tools and utensils of the master's family. The land rent contract was made by the master when he was in Shanyin. The old slave collected the rent on behalf of the master's family. He was always loyal and diligent.
Selfless, but because the field is close to Jianhu Lake, which often floods, the harvest often fails. Grandma is kind-hearted and agrees to reduce the field rent. Master, please don’t listen to other people’s gossip - Master, isn’t it?
What did the humble maid Ting say to the young master?"
Zhang Dachun's words of love were quite sincere when he confessed, but when he mentioned Yi Ting, his face showed a fierce expression.
Zhang Yuan said calmly: "Uncle Zhang, let Zhang Cai finish reading the booklet. It's best to make things clear. Zhang Cai, read it."
Zhang Cai looked at young master Zhang Yuan and then at his father Zhang Dachun. He didn't know if he missed it or not -
Zhang Dachun snatched the booklet from his son's hand and said loudly: "These are all nonsense to sow discord between master and servant in my family. Young master, you are still young and don't understand these things. You'd better ask grandma to come out. The old slave will make it clear to grandma in person."
.”
Zhang Yuandao: "Uncle Zhang, don't you think I have grown up? If others don't know it, you have to do nothing yourself. You made a private contract and withheld the land rent. You were able to hide it for a while, but you can't keep hiding it. My mother said
After that, Uncle Zhang has been in my family for many years and is quite respectful. As long as the withheld land rent for nearly three years is returned, there will be no further pursuit. Uncle Zhang should think about it carefully."
Zhang Dachun rubbed his eyes and looked at Zhang Yuan carefully. Zhang Yuan basically stayed in the study room in the inner courtyard after suffering from eye disease. He rarely saw Zhang Yuan. In his impression, although this young master could not be said to be a waste, he was not
He seemed to be promising, but today he pressed him so calmly and calmly about the land rent, and his very calm demeanor actually made him a little scared——
Although Zhang Dachun was illiterate, his mind was not slow. He thought to himself: "If we can return the withheld land rent for three years, it will be almost 150 taels of silver, and Ada's white wax shop will be in vain."
, No, the money can never be returned."
Zhang Dachun said: "Young master, I don't know whose gossip the young master has listened to and slandered the old slave. The old slave's family of three has joined the Zhang family and has only been asking for food and clothing for so many years. The young master wants to fabricate this large amount of rented grain out of thin air to let the old slave."
If you want to repay the slave, you might as well kill the old slave." As he said this, he knelt down straight and acted shamelessly.
Fan Zhen said to Zhang Yuan: "Master Jiezi, this slave lard has deceived his heart and he has no idea how to repent. Let's call the three tenants in to confront him."
Zhang Yuan knew that this matter could not be settled easily, so he said: "Let them come in."
Xiao Xinu Wu Ling ran out quickly, and soon a group of people came in. Four of them were male servants from Xi Zhang, and the other three were tenant farmers who rented Zhang Yuan's family's land. The tenant farmers were honest and thought they had entered the government.
At the Yamen, he bowed his head and bowed. The tenant farmer named Xie Qifu, who was still able to speak a few words, shouted: "Master, Master, I have paid the rent for my land. It was Butler Zhang who asked me to complain about the flood and the bad harvest.
In fact, not even a penny was missing, and it was all handed over to Butler Zhang."
When Zhang Dachun saw that the three tenant farmers had been summoned to confront him, he knew that something was wrong. This matter could not be concealed. He hurriedly said: "Master, this old slave was confused for a moment. I am willing to return the three years' rent. I will raise the money right now."
Go get the money." He trotted out and went out. Zhang Cai also wanted to leave, but was grabbed by Jian Nu from Xi Zhang.
Zhang Yuan said: "Let him go."
As soon as the two Kinnus let go, Zhang Cai quickly chased his father.
Fan Zhen said: "I'm afraid this naughty slave won't be so honest in handing back the three years of withheld land rent, and won't just run away."
Zhang Yuan said: "You won't be able to escape if you run away. I think he has to find someone to find a solution. He has to meet with an official. I can't just sit here. I'll go to Xizhang's clan uncle and ask for a message, so as not to be caught off guard when he arrives."
.”
…
Zhang Dachun trotted all the way to Yao Xiucai's house by the Fu River. Zhang Cai ran fast and caught up with him. The father and son came together to see Yao Xiucai.
Yao Xiucai was a well-known litigator in Shanyin County. He had the reputation of being an official, and he had also worked as an official. He was familiar with the laws of the Ming Dynasty. He could write pleadings for others, make excuses and instigate people. He was known as Mr. Knife and Pen. When ordinary people saw this Yao Xiucai, they would avoid him.
He left, for fear that if he accidentally offended him, he would be sent to the county government with a complaint. Litigation consumes time, money and manpower. The common people cannot afford to file a lawsuit, but some people make money from lawsuits. As a Shaoxing proverb says, "It is better to file a lawsuit than to till the fields."
"Thin", Yao Xiucai would always find trouble to instigate people to complain, so naturally he was kind and cheerful to Zhang Dachun who came to his door and listened patiently to his words——
Yao Xiucai listened for a while and interrupted: "Wait a minute, do you think the master's house is in Xizhang or Dongzhang?"
"Dong Zhang, my family advocated Ruiyang." Zhang Dachun replied.
"Dongzhang." Yao Xiucai nodded: "Well, keep talking." He thought to himself: "I dare not interfere with Xizhang's affairs. As for Dongzhang, there is still a way. I have seen Zhang Ruiyang before. He is not a ruthless person.
The character, oh, is still away from home for many years."
After Zhang Dachun explained the matter clearly, Yao Xiucai squinted his triangular eyes, twirled his goatee, and said: "You ask me to help you, what benefits can you give me?"
Zhang Dachun hesitated for a moment and said: "If the lawsuit can be won, I am willing to reward Mr. Yao with twenty taels of silver."
Yao Xiucai said slowly: "My rule here has always been to determine the remuneration based on the amount of money involved in the case, and choose one of the three."
Zhang Dachun's cheeks twitched and his flesh ached. He gritted his teeth and said, "Mr. Yi, I have one more condition. I don't want to be a slave in the Zhang family anymore. I want to take this opportunity to leave the Zhang family altogether. Please help me find a way."
"
Yao Xiucai said: "It's easy to say, now that the lawsuit has been filed in court, it is obviously impossible to maintain the status of master and servant in the future - why, you have found a new master?"
Zhang Dachun said in confidence: "Yes, I have a relative who works in Mr. Dong's house in Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture. He sent a message to summon me to run errands."
"Mr. Dong from Songjiang Huating?" Yao Xiucai sat up straight and asked, "Is this Dong Qichang and Dong Hanlin?"
Zhang Dachun didn't know whether Mr. Dong was Dong Qichang or Dong Hanlin. He was just trying to embolden himself. Seeing that Yao Xiucai looked a little in awe, he nodded and said: "Yes, it is Mr. Dong Hanlin and Dong Hanlin."
Yao Xiucai said: "That's good. You are going to climb a high branch. Let me ask you, how much silver is the total value of Zhang Ruiyang's son asking you to return the land rent withheld in the past three years?"
Zhang Dachun said: "It's only eight or ninety taels of silver."
Yao Xiucai: "Don't hide it from me. You will have at least three hundred taels of silver in three years. If I help you win the lawsuit, you have to give me one hundred taels of silver."
Zhang Dachun shouted: "Mr. Yao, the Zhang family only has a few acres of land. It's only a hundred acres. How much can the villain deduct? The total is only one hundred and twenty taels in three years."
Yao Xiucai said: "That's all, I won't argue with you. Just give me eighty taels of silver and I will help you win the case and leave the Zhang family."
Naturally, Zhang Dachun was unwilling to pay so much, so he bargained several times and settled on fifty taels of silver, with twenty taels to be paid first and the rest to be paid after winning the lawsuit.
Zhang Dachun waited here for Yao Xiucai to write the petition, and ordered his younger son Zhang Cai to go to his elder son's wax shop to get twenty taels of silver.
Yao Xiucai started writing the paper with great energy. In less than two seconds, the paper was finished. He blew the ink on the paper and said, "Why hasn't your son got the money yet? The young man is so lazy. Wait a minute."
His legs must be broken."
Zhang Dachun thought Yao Xiucai was joking, so he laughed and said, "The villain will scold him when he comes later."
Yao Xiucai said: "I'm not joking with you. He has to break his leg. To win the lawsuit, one of you and your son will have to break his leg. Only in this way can the lawsuit win. If you feel sorry for your son, then you can break his leg."
, I am afraid that my bones will become brittle in old age and I will become disabled even after my recovery."
Zhang Dachun blinked his soy eyes and guessed Yao Xiucai's clever plan, and said: "Is it possible to break my hand? If my leg is broken, I will not be able to walk for a hundred days. It will be uncomfortable."
"No." Yao Xiucai flatly refused: "You have to break the leg and carry it to the court. This will make it look miserable and it will be useful."
Zhang Dachun thought it made sense and had no choice but to agree.