Chapter 3

In the village of Hengshi, the Wang family, led by the eldest son Wang Min, held a prominent position.

Wang Min's most illustrious ancestor was Wang Zongyi of the Zhengde era. Wang Min was the third-generation direct descendant of Wang Zongyi. Relying on his great-grandfather's legacy, Wang Min had always served as the head of the Wang family, enjoying a revered status within the clan.

However, Wang Min's scholarly abilities were far inferior to those of his great-grandfather. He struggled in the imperial examinations for over a decade, failing each time. After turning thirty, seeing no hope in the imperial exams, he bought a position as a supervisor and focused on being a wealthy gentleman.

When Wang Kefan arrived at Wang Min's residence, he was left waiting in a side hall for more than half an hour.

The tea was steeped and drunk, then steeped again, so pale it had almost no color. If it were a young, inexperienced youth, he would have become restless and anxious after waiting so long. However, Wang Kefan remained calm, sipping the bland tea slowly, as if it had endless flavor.

This must be a show of power, indicating that today's matter is not simple...

A series of footsteps approached, and the door curtain was lifted as Wang Min finally appeared.

"Nephew pays his respects to Uncle." Wang Kefan stood up and bowed deeply.

Wang Min nodded in acknowledgment, seated himself at the head of the table, and maintained a stern expression, exuding the authority of an elder. His eyes, however, coldly appraised Wang Kefan.

Wang Min and Wang Kefan's father, Wang Rui, were cousins. They had a close relationship in their youth. However, as Wang Rui achieved success in the imperial exams, Wang Min faced countless criticisms and humiliations. His jealousy and resentment grew, and the brotherly bond had long since vanished. He even wished that Wang Rui would be killed by Li Zicheng's rebel army, so that his late father could see the downfall of the unscrupulous.

"Dear nephew, have you heard from your father recently?"

"The north is in turmoil, and Li Zicheng is causing chaos. My father has not sent any letters for a long time," Wang Kefan shook his head.

"When Li Zicheng occupied Shanxi at the beginning of the year, all the officials there surrendered...," Wang Min paused, then raised his voice and glared at Wang Kefan, "I have received reliable information that your father has also surrendered to the rebels! This is a crime punishable by the extermination of the entire family. Do you know that?!"

Scaring a child? Unfortunately, he picked the wrong target. Wang Kefan firmly responded.

"My father is outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, steady and resilient. I am willing to stake my life on the fact that my father would never surrender to the rebels! Such rumors are detrimental to our family. I ask you, Uncle, to be cautious in public." This statement carried a subtle warning. They were all surnamed Wang, and if Wang Rui was defamed, it would not benefit the entire family.

"Ridiculous! You are just a young man who has just come of age. What gives you the right to vouch for your father?"

Wang Min frowned, trying to look sad, but his eyes betrayed his excitement. "If the court investigates, the entire Wang family will face punishment! I have made my decision. To ensure the safety of our family, I must expel your father from the clan!"

Facing the overwhelming pressure of the entire clan, the authority of an elder, and the accusation of treason, Wang Kefan was not intimidated.

Wang Kefan's eyebrows twitched slightly. The other party had clearly planned this in advance and acted with ruthless determination.

"Since that is the case, how will my family be taken care of?" He asked calmly, knowing it was not the time to confront the issue head-on.

"The women and children in your family will be safe and will remain in the old house. However, as the eldest son, you should leave to avoid trouble."

"What about the family's land and property?"

"The land and property will remain as they are. Your mother will continue to live in the old house without disturbance," Wang Min said kindly. "However, for appearances, the clan land will be temporarily managed by me, and it will be announced that it has been returned to the clan."

Wang Kefan nodded. The other party's true intentions were clear. Wang Min had gone to great lengths to seize the family's land.

Expelling his father, Wang Rui, and driving him away, while taking control of the clan land, was a well-planned move. Under such relentless pressure, they intended to gradually devour the family's assets!

It was laughable that this uncle, with his cunning schemes, was shortsighted. With the Qing army advancing south, Huguang would soon be plunged into long-term warfare. In the midst of such chaos, what use would these lands be?

"My father's innocence is as clear as the moon. The truth will eventually come to light. If you insist on expelling my father from the clan, I will go to Chongyang County and seek the judgment of Magistrate Xu."

Wang Kefan's voice was calm and steady, conveying an unwavering resolve. Wang Min was taken aback, his face turning red with anger.

Magistrate Xu Bingzhong of Chongyang County was a scholar from the seventh year of Chongzhen and had a connection with Wang Rui. If the matter reached his attention, Wang Min would not fare well. Relying on his own scholarly achievements, he could barely stand up to the magistrate, and he considered using force.

Unexpectedly, Wang Kefan suddenly changed his tone.

"However... since my father's whereabouts are unknown, leading to rumors, I understand your difficulties. It would be best to handle this matter more flexibly."

With chaos on the horizon, Wang Kefan had no interest in competing with a local landlord for family property. Since Wang Min had stepped forward, it provided him with an opportunity to use his strength.

"Expelling my father from the clan can be handled discreetly, and we can delay it for now. The situation in Shanxi will be resolved within a few months, and my father's innocence will be proven. If he truly did surrender to the rebels, I will have no objections to your handling it according to clan rules."

Wang Kefan made a solemn promise, without any psychological burden. In a few months, the situation would be different. Even if Wang Rui had surrendered to Li Zicheng, Wang Min would not pursue the matter if he were not foolish.

"Hmm, anything else?" Wang Min took a sip of tea, more concerned about Wang Kefan's other conditions.

"To prevent any involvement of the entire clan, I plan to move with my mother to Chongyang County."

"This... might not be a good idea. Your mother is frail and should rest at home," Wang Min said, though he felt relieved. Wang Kefan, being young and proud, was easily offended and wanted to move the entire family. How childish and ridiculous! This was a good move to clear the relationship. If Wang Rui had truly surrendered, the Wang family would have an explanation for the future.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. Chongyang is strategically located, making it easier to gather information about my father," Wang Kefan suddenly frowned and hesitated. "However, there is one more issue. After we move, the family's land will be unmanaged, and the tenants might become lazy, which is a problem..."

Under Wang Kefan's subtle诱导, Wang Min felt a shortness of breath and a racing heart.

Land was the most important asset in this era. Few people, except for the destitute, were willing to sell their land. On the contrary, landlords never had enough land and would always try to acquire more whenever possible.

Wang Min had gone to great lengths to seize a few dozen acres of clan land from his cousin Wang Rui, but now, according to Wang Kefan, he was willing to give up his private land as well!

Wang Rui's private land amounted to two or three hundred acres, mostly prime paddy fields. Such a large and tempting offer made Wang Min's heart race.

"Dear nephew, you are right. Those tenants are lazy and deceitful, and they will ruin good land in just a few years. It is absolutely unacceptable to leave them unmanaged!" Wang Min gestured to a chair and smiled. "Dear nephew, please sit. If you trust your uncle, I will help manage these lands."

Only at this point did Wang Kefan have a seat. He sat down calmly and said, "I trust my uncle, but before my father's name is cleared, it would be best to avoid suspicion. I dare not trouble you, Uncle."

The sharp words stung Wang Min, who blushed and was left speechless, feeling a wave of regret.

In his haste, he had shown his greed too openly!

Two or three hundred acres of prime paddy fields were worth thousands of silver taels. With Magistrate Xu Bingzhong in the picture, he could not simply take them for free. Did he really think the magistrate was a mere figurehead?

These prime lands were too valuable. He could spend some silver to persuade Wang Kefan to sell them to him...

"Since you are determined to move out of Hengshi, it would be best to sell these lands. In my opinion, whether it's private or clan land, it should all be sold at a fair price."

"Uncle, you are right. My father is in trouble, and my mother and I need money. Selling the land is a good idea, but I am concerned about getting a fair price and receiving the silver in full."

"With your uncle here, how could you be cheated? If you sell all your land to the clan, I will guarantee that you receive the full amount in silver."

...

After Wang Kefan left, Wang Min remained excited for a long time.

A preliminary agreement had been reached. The land prices in Huguang were high, and there was a shortage of land. Wang Kefan's family had about three hundred acres, mostly paddy fields, and the initial price was not too high. It was a great deal.

Land was the foundation of a family's prosperity. How could it be sold so easily? Wang Kefan, this wasteful young man, was selling the family's land to save face. Even if Wang Rui had not died at the hands of Li Zicheng, he would be driven to death by his son!

Wang Min was confident he had seen through Wang Kefan—clever but young and impulsive, lacking in social skills, and bound to face many setbacks in the future.

Such a wasteful son should not be spared. If not for his uncle to take advantage of him, others would!

The only thing that annoyed him was that he had underestimated Wang Kefan, thinking he was young and inexperienced, and would easily be intimidated. Instead, Wang Kefan brought up Magistrate Xu Bingzhong, causing an unexpected complication.