After the rain, on the south bank of the Qiantang River, grass and trees grow, green to the eye, and the wind blows with it. The mountains beside Mingsheng Lake are like beautiful women's buns, and the vast blue lake seems to be held up by these beauties and dedicated to the heaven and earth.
between--
Although the mountains and rivers were beautiful, the Chu family, father and son, uncle and nephew were in a bad mood, and there was no way they could enjoy anything. Looking back at Chenjiawu, the huge circular dock seemed to be weighing heavily on the three of them, making them extremely depressed.
"Dad, since Chen Caozhi is not willing to tell Wang Neishiguan on behalf of my Chu family, why should he give him twenty hectares of land!"
These words were stuck in his throat, Chu Wenbin had wanted to say it for a long time.
Chu Jian glanced at his son, but asked his nephew Chu Wenqian: "Wenqian, what do you think?"
Although Chu Wenqian was also confused and aggrieved, he was calmer than Chu Wenbin after all. He said: "My uncle has a long-term plan, and he must have a deep meaning in doing this."
Chu Jian said "hmm" and said in a deep voice: "If Mrs. Chu wants to get through this difficulty, it will all be on those twenty hectares of land. Hey, let's see in two days. As long as Mrs. Chen doesn't take away those twenty hectares of land."
Just return the land deed book."
Chu Wenbin sneered and said: "How dare you return it? Dad didn't see that old man named Chen Man. He heard that we were going to give twenty hectares of land to the Chen family. His eyes were all bright!"
Chu Jian smiled and said: "Things are planned by people, and things are accomplished by God. There is only this much I can do. If Chen is involved, I, Chu, will have hope of escaping. Otherwise, I will be in danger."
How did Chu Jian know that the three of them ferried to the north of the Yangtze River, and when the ferry rocked back, Chen Shang was waiting for the transition on the south bank. In the oxcart was the deed book of the twenty hectares of land sent by Chu Jian. This was to
It was sent to the office of Wang Shao, the internal historian of Yangzhou.
At this time, in the Chenjiawu Ancestral Hall, the heads of the four floors of the southeast, northwest and four floors gathered in the "Youxu Hall" to discuss important matters. Ding Youwei also came, because Chen Cao stayed in the house to guard the tomb, so Ding Youwei took charge of the Chen family in the west building.
Chen Xian, the old patriarch, said: "Cao Zhi just came back today. Let's discuss how to distribute the twenty hectares of official land and twenty shade households."
Chen Man didn't say anything, thinking: "What I say doesn't matter anyway, it just depends on how you divide it!"
The head of the Donglou family is Chen Xian's second adopted son, Chen Mo. Naturally, it depends on what his father Chen Xian and his sixteenth brother agree on.
Seeing that Chen Man was silent, Chen Xian knew that he was reluctant to part with the twenty hectares of land given by Chu Jian, and thought to himself: "The sixth brother is really too small-minded. He only focuses on some immediate interests, but he doesn't understand that I, the Chen family, have become a scholar."
After registering, there will be self-cultivating farmers, so twenty hectares of land is not that rare, right?" Then he asked Ding Youwei: "Youwei, first tell me, how should the land and shade households be distributed?"
Farmers are worried about natural and man-made disasters and bankruptcy. In addition to paying land rent, tenants also have to pay taxes to the government and perform corvee service. However, gentry households do not need to perform corvee service or pay taxes. They only serve the master's family. As long as the master's family is not too harsh, then
Possessing a shadow household is the dream of most farm tenants who have settled down and relocated. Therefore, when the news about the registration of the Chen family as a noble family in Qiantang came out, many nearby tenants were eager to become tenants of the Chen family. They came to Chenjiawu to inquire and recommend themselves.
Laifu's in-laws Zhao Tenhu and Huang Tenhu both came to beg Ding Youwei, hoping to become the shelter of the Chen family in the west building. Ding Youwei suggested that the matter should be decided after her husband came back. At this time, the old patriarch asked her and said: "Let Cao Zhi
Tell me, Cao Zhi seems to have considered this matter." As she spoke, she looked sideways at Chen Cao Zhi, who was kneeling beside her, and nodded with a smile.
Chen Xiandao: "Well, Cao Zhi considers things carefully, but Cao Zhi can speak out."
The elders of Chen Cao's family gave a salute, sat down and said: "Four uncles, sixth uncles, sisters-in-law, and eighth brothers, Cao Cao thinks that I, the Chen family of Qiantang, should take a long-term view. Twenty hectares of land will be easily divided, and twenty hectares of land will be easily divided.
The shade house should be chosen carefully, as this is very important for the prosperity of the Qiantang Chen family. I have a proposal for my two uncles, my sister-in-law, and my eighth brother. Do you think they are okay?"
Chen Xian said: "Please tell me."
Chen Cao said: "Now that the Chen family in Qiantang has been registered as a scholar, we should strengthen the unity of the clan. In the future, the four branches of the southeast, southeast, northwest and northwest will be eliminated when the clan reproduces. We will build another Wubao and establish a large manor. Let's not talk about these for now.
, step by step, of the twenty hectares of land, twelve hectares will be left as family farmland, and the remaining eight hectares will be divided equally among the four buildings. What do the two uncles think?"
Although Chen Man was a little disappointed that he was only allocated two hectares of land, he had nothing to say since everyone on the fourth floor was treated equally. According to Cao Zhi, Chen's Wubao and the manor will be expanded in the future, and the Doliu clan's land should also be expanded.
, then nodded and said: "It's a matter of consideration."
Chen Xian was very happy. He looked at Ding Youwei and Chen Mo. Naturally, they had no objections. Chen Xian said: "Okay, the matter of dividing the fields has been decided. Let's talk about how to allocate the shade households."
Chen Cao said: "For the twenty shady houses, twelve shady houses will be shared by the clan, and the other four buildings will each have two shady houses. The two shady houses on each floor will be determined by the family owner, but the shady houses shared by the twelve clans must be
They have special skills, so recruiting them from across the county cannot just be a favor."
Chen Man also knew that the West Building and the South Building were responsible for this recruitment, and should be allocated two more shade houses. He originally thought that the North Building should be able to allocate four shade houses, and he had already promised these four shade houses to
There were two in-laws and two households of capable tenants. Unexpectedly, there were only two households, so he asked: "There are too many shady households shared by the clan. What are they for?"
Chen Cao's way: "I, the Chen family, need a family of blacksmiths, a family of weavers, a family of potters, a family of brewers, a family of tea farmers, a family of papermakers, a family of medicinal farmers, and a family of philanthropists.
There are fishermen who raise and fish, a fruit farmer, a carpenter, a merchant who is good at farming and trading, exactly twelve households, and other craftsmen and workers, slowly recruiting them."
Chen Xian nodded repeatedly after hearing this. This is the scale that a noble manor should have to be self-sufficient. Even Chen Man was fascinated by the prospect of Chen's manor and no longer spoke out against it.
Chen Mo said in admiration: "My sixteenth brother has been studying hard behind closed doors for many years, but he knows everything about these manors, which is really admirable."
Seeing that there was no objection, Chen Xian said happily: "Then it's settled. Without further ado, Laifu will handle the matter of recruiting shade households. The final decision is that the clan fields and clan property will be reported to the county at the end of the month."
My sixth brother and I will take care of it together."
The important matter was agreed upon, and Chen Caozhi returned to the west building with his sister-in-law Ding Youwei. Xiaochan and Yuyan were waiting outside the ancestral hall and went back together.
Ding Youwei asked as he walked: "Xiao Lang, there are only two shady houses in the west building. Now Laifu's family counts as three. In the future, Laide will have another family, and it will be another house. Who should these two households be given to?"
Chen Cao said: "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I have already thought about it. I will go and tell Laifu right away that my sister-in-law will go with me."
Ding Youwei said "hmm" and asked Xiaochan to summon Laifu and his family to discuss matters in the living room on the ground floor. Laifu, Lai Gui, and Laizhen arrived soon. Laide naturally couldn't come because they were in Yuhuang Mountain.
Chen Caozhi told Laifu and his son what had just been discussed in the ancestral hall. Laifu heard that there were only two shade houses in the west building and felt a little disappointed. However, the Chen family in the west building had never treated him badly.
A family, come to Fu, but it depends on the husband's arrangement.
Chen Cao said: "Uncle Laifu must be one of the two shady households in the west building, but as for the other one, I plan to leave it to Laide——"
Lai Gui and Lai Zhen knew that their third brother, Lai De, had a good relationship with Xiao Langjun, so it was reasonable for him to give this shelter to his third brother. But no matter what, they still felt a little uncomfortable. Originally, their in-laws wanted to become Xilou.
As for the Chen family's shelter, now they are not even separated from each other, so it is inevitable that they will be unhappy.
Chen Cao said: "As for Lai Gui and Lai Zhen, the Chen family will pay the taxes on their behalf, and the government servants can also pay for others to serve on their behalf. In the past, the Chen family in Xilou could protect you, but after becoming a scholar, can't they not?"
Compared with Yinhu, your family just has less status."
Laifu quickly glared at Erzi and shouted: "Why don't you thank me young man quickly?"
Lai Gui and Lai Zhen smiled happily and bowed together and said, "Thank you so much, young man."
Zeng Yuhuan on one side came over and saluted Ding Youwei and Chen Caozhi and said: "Young mistress, Xiaolangjun, didn't you say that you want to recruit blacksmiths, fruit farmers and other craftsmen as shade households? Huang Tenant, the father-in-law who comes to Zhen, is good at growing fruit trees."
, I wonder if I can copy it?”
When Chen Caozhi looked at Laifu, he immediately said: "It's true that Lao Huang can grow fruit trees. The peaches, plums, apricots, oranges, and loquats that are supplied to Xilou every year are all grown by Lao Huang. Don't all the old mistresses praise him?"
."
Chen Caozhi nodded and said: "Those fruits are indeed good. They were grown by the Huang tenant. Well, even if he is one household, Uncle Laifu must recruit the other eleven households as soon as possible. Be careful not to recruit unskilled craftsmen in a hurry.
Come in and visit more than once. If you can compete on the spot, compete on the spot. If you can't compete on the spot, just listen to the reputation of the neighbors. As long as the craftsmanship is good, it doesn't matter if the character is poor——"
Ding You pursed his lips and smiled, thinking: "Xiao Lang is following the meritocracy of Emperor Wu of Wei's "Order for Seeking Talents"."
Laifu responded: "Don't worry, young man, Laifu will go to various parts of the county tomorrow to publicize this matter. Lai Gui, Lai Zhen will go with me. I believe there will be a lot of people applying. I, Mr. Chen from Xilou, have a reputation for benevolence and righteousness."
The old mistress has always done good deeds, so many farmers want to become tenants of the Chen family, let alone tenants of the Chen family, and I’m really afraid that the crowd will break their heads.”
Run'er and Zongzhi had long heard that Uncle Chou was back. The little brother and sister were practicing calligraphy in the study, waiting for Uncle Chou to come up and praise them. After waiting for a long time, Uncle Chou didn't come up. Only Ran Sheng came up and said that Uncle Chou had gone to Zu.
It’s time to discuss matters in the hall.
Run'er climbed on the railing and looked downstairs, asking: "Xiao Sheng, is Uncle Chou coming back just to discuss matters in the ancestral hall?"
Ran Sheng shook his head and said: "No, the young man came back because today is the birthday of the young mistress and the young lady Run'er. It happened to be a meeting -"
Run'er's bright little face suddenly bloomed with a sweet smile like a spring flower, and she said to Zong Zhi: "Brother, Run'er is right, uncle Chou will never forget Run'er's birthday -"
Zong Zhidao: "That's because today is also my mother's birthday. Putting the two together, Uncle Chou will definitely remember it."
Run'er said: "Brother's birthday is June 18th. Uncle Chou will definitely remember it. Uncle Chou has the best memory and is very attentive."
Just as he was talking, Chen Caozhi and Ding Youwei came upstairs together.