Chapter 8

In the early summer of Hengshi, the afternoon was quite hot.

The scorching sun seemed to be like a blazing fire, and the green stones on the courtyard wall appeared to be oiled, shining brightly in the sunlight. The embroidery tower was silent, with only the frogs in the pond croaking incessantly. Fu Shihua leaned by the window, staring blankly at the pond in the courtyard, her pretty face tinged with worry.

This was the embroidery tower of Wang Kefan's sister, which had been empty since her marriage. Fu Shihua had moved in, but in a few days, the whole family would be moving to Chongyang County.

Moving was nothing unusual, but what Fu Shihua was most worried about was her husband, who had actually gone to Wuchang Prefecture to join the army!

What a headache! What was her husband thinking? Would the soldiers bully him? Had he been sick these past few days? And, not knowing the military rules, would he get into trouble and be punished with the cane? ...

While she was lost in these thoughts, a surprised and delighted voice suddenly came from downstairs.

"Madam, Young Lady, the Fourth Young Master is back!"

Pushing open the willow-leaf lattice, lifting the privacy screen, and hastily poking her head out of the window, she leaned on the railing and looked out. Wang Kefan was walking in with a smile, wearing a seventh-rank military official's uniform, exuding a heroic aura...

Wang Kefan returned to Hengshi not only with the documents and orders issued by Niu Zhongxiao but also with several soldiers to transport goods, over a thousand taels of silver, and more than four hundred bolts of Hankou cloth. This was the resettlement silver for recruiting soldiers. To show his support for Wang Kefan, Niu Zhongxiao had advanced the full amount of silver and cloth and sent a few personal guards to help with the escort. As long as he recruited able-bodied men, he could return to the camp and settle accounts.

Liu Shi was delighted to see her son, without a single word of reproach. On the contrary, Wang Kefan felt guilty and took the initiative to explain his reasons for joining the army, but his words were incoherent and the reasons sounded very weak.

The mindset of a穿越者 (time traveler) was too different from that of a normal person, making it impossible to explain.

Liu Shi listened patiently to his explanation and sighed, saying, "A grown son is no longer under his mother's control. If you are determined to join the army, I can't stop you. However, the final decision must be made by your father. If he opposes it in the future, you must not be disobedient."

"Yes," Wang Kefan reluctantly accepted the condition. It was already good that Liu Shi had this attitude.

But this was a tight constraint, which could flare up at any time. If Wang Rui didn't show up, it would be fine, but if he did, he would definitely oppose his joining the army, causing another big trouble.

Let's take it one step at a time. As long as he could quickly achieve something in the army, there would be nothing to worry about.

When he asked about the family affairs in Hengshi, the topic naturally turned to Mr. Zheng, the secretary.

Mr. Zheng was very enthusiastic about selling the land. After staying in Hengshi for two days, he had almost completed the transaction and returned to Chongyang. However, land transactions were very complicated, and Mr. Zheng would have to come back in a few days. It would take some time to receive the silver from the sale of the land.

With the situation in Huguang deteriorating, the price of land would definitely plummet. Selling it now would not be a loss. This silver would be given to Liu Shi to support the family and ensure their survival in troubled times, lightening Wang Kefan's burden.

"Fan-er, how long can you stay this time?" Liu Shi said, "So many things have happened at home. You should also tell your brother. Find a convenient time to go to the Valley Academy."

Wang Kefan has one sister and one brother. His sister had married a few years ago, and his brother, Wang Kebin, was seventeen and studying at the Valley Academy.

"This time I'm here on official business, so I'll have to stay for a few days. I was just planning to visit the academy..."

While they were chatting, a servant came in to report that the third young master of the Wang family, Wang Sheng, had come to visit.

"Oh? He's still standing at the main gate? I'll go to welcome him." Wang Kefan stood up and walked out.

Wang Sheng was the eldest son of the eldest branch of the Wang family, Wang Min, and was considered his clan elder. They were close in age and had been friends since childhood, unaffected by the elders.

Liu Shi shook her head and smiled, "Ah, Young Master Sheng is always so formal. We're all family, why not come in directly?"

"He's always like that, a young Confucian scholar, how could he barge in rashly?" Wang Kefan answered as he walked out of the inner quarters, through the hall, and to the main gate, where he saw Wang Sheng standing solemnly.

Wang Sheng was of medium height with a broad frame, not looking like a pampered young master but more like a loyal and honest peasant's son. His face, however, was unusually serious. Seeing Wang Kefan come out, he hurried forward, bowed deeply, and did not raise his head.

"Yuntao, I have come today to apologize on behalf of my father!"

"Confucian scholar, what are you doing? Get up quickly!" Wang Kefan hurriedly helped him up.

"Alas—, the news of your family selling the land has spread, and the neighbors are talking. I know the whole story, and my father, my father really shouldn't have done that..." A son should not speak ill of his father, and Wang Sheng was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Hey, you've got it wrong. Those lands are what I want to sell. In fact, your father has done me a great favor," Wang Kefan said with a smile.

"Who would sell their land if everything was fine? Fourth Brother, you're just fooling me! Do you really think I'm a pedantic Confucian scholar?" Wang Sheng's expression was very serious. "Take me to see Auntie, I will kowtow to her and apologize."

"Alright, alright, you really don't need to worry about it..."

The two walked into the house and sat down in the living room. Wang Kefan explained, "We are moving to the county, and the land is a burden. It's better to sell it to the elders of the clan. Well, I am now a seventh-rank battalion commander in the Gongyi Camp and won't return to Hengshi anymore. What's the point of keeping the land?"

"Yuntao, I appreciate your kindness, but I know right from wrong. There's no need to say more."

Wang Sheng was a straightforward and righteous man, but his father was a selfish and opportunistic person. Growing up in this confusing and contradictory environment, he developed an introverted and stubborn personality. Once he made up his mind, he wouldn't easily change it, like a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Wang Kefan closed his mouth and didn't argue with this stubborn guy. Wang Sheng looked him up and down curiously and asked, "I was just wondering, why are you dressed as a military officer? Are you planning to follow Ban Chao and abandon your pen for the sword?"

"Exactly. Since we started our studies, we have been studying the Five Classics and the Four Books, writing essays for the imperial exams, and spending over a decade immersed in ink and paper. But the world is now in chaos! I am determined to emulate the sages of the Han dynasty, to serve the country with valor and restore the glory of the Ming dynasty!"

"Fourth Brother, what a grand ambition!" Wang Sheng asked with interest, "Can you tell me more about the military? The more detailed, the better, please be thorough..."

Wang Kefan nodded and began to recount his experiences from the day he saw the recruitment notice at the Chongyang County office, detailing everything that had happened in the past few days. Wang Sheng listened with great interest, asking repeated questions about anything he didn't understand, not missing a single detail.

"So, Fourth Brother, you didn't just act on a whim. Your decision to join the military is actually a grand ambition!" Wang Sheng's expression was quite excited, and he asked, "Do you have specific plans for recruitment? Do you need my help?"

"You are the eldest son of the eldest branch of the Wang family. Without your help, it won't work! Come, let's discuss it properly..."

Wang Kefan had already thought it through and explained his plan in detail.

Just as they were discussing, a commotion came from outside the main gate, and Xicui ran in in a panic.

"Fourth Young Master, please go and see. Many tenants are outside, making a lot of noise and demanding to see you. We can't stop them!"

...

Outside the main gate, dozens of tenants were gathered, shouting at the guards. The leader was a sturdy man in his thirties, with a full beard and bulging muscles, clearly the result of years of hard labor. He was trying to force his way in, but his father, Shi the Blacksmith, held him back.

"A Da, we are here to plead with the Fourth Young Master. Do you think we would cause trouble? I'll break your legs if you do!"

This man was Shi the Blacksmith's eldest son, a poor family without a proper name, known as Shi A Da since childhood. Despite his height and strength, he didn't dare to defy his father, standing still and trying to explain, "Father, how could I be disrespectful to the Fourth Young Master? But they won't let us in, and we can't even see him..."

The imposing man looked like a victim, which was somewhat amusing.

"What's the rush? Wait a bit... Look, isn't the Fourth Young Master coming out?"

Wang Kefan and Wang Sheng walked to the gate together, and the tenants rushed forward, kneeling in a crowd.

"Fourth Young Master, don't sell the land!"

"Yes, how will we live in the future?"

"Fourth Young Master, are you really moving away? Can you take us with you?"

...

Wang Kefan quickly helped Shi the Blacksmith up and looked around. These were all his family's tenants. After a detailed inquiry, he learned that they had come because of the sale of the land.

In the late Ming dynasty, land consolidation was severe, and rent was the heaviest burden on the tenants. If they had a harsh landlord, it could mean the end of their livelihood. The Wang family was known for their kindness, while Wang Min had a reputation for exploitation. These tenants were worried about their future and opposed selling the land to the eldest branch.

Wang Kefan sighed and bowed, explaining, "Fellow villagers, you must have heard that my father is missing in the war, and we have no choice but to sell the land and move. Please understand our difficult situation!"

Wang Kefan's attitude was sincere, and his reasons were compelling. The tenants were momentarily speechless. After a brief discussion, they chose Shi the Blacksmith to speak on their behalf: "Fourth Young Master, your family is moving to Chongyang County, and we will have to stay in Hengshi. The new landlord might be difficult to deal with. Please give us a way out!"

"Um, I do have a good place. As long as you are obedient and work hard, you can earn money to support your family..." Wang Kefan looked at the sturdy Shi A Da and smiled, "Shi A Da, are you willing to join the army with me?"