Chapter 6

Lao Liu told his son about this family secret, but he certainly did not mean for his son to seek out his relatives.

But what Liu Jun was thinking about at this moment was precisely how to recognize and connect with the Liu clan, to embrace that golden leg.

In his previous life, Liu Jun had struggled and fought all his life, but in the end, he was only a village representative and a county committee member. There was no other reason; his starting point was too low. Years of hard work had long taught him a lesson: a man cannot go a day without power, and where does power come from? Besides his own efforts, it is even more important to rely on his father.

Well, this life, relying on his father probably won't work. Lao Liu had only been a repeatedly failed old scholar for many years.

But fortunately, there was still a paternal uncle to rely on. A Jinyi Du (high-ranking official), damn, it was really too good. Not recognizing such a central committee-level uncle and still trying to struggle on his own, wouldn't that be foolish?

He believed that if his father could recognize his ancestors and return to the clan, even if he couldn't pass the imperial examination, he could at least become a juren (scholar-official). Even if he couldn't become a juren, he could at least be a county clerk, which would be better than being a teacher.

Liu Qiao, Liu Xiu, Liu Feng, and Liu Jun, just by looking at the names of these two generations of two families, one could tell that they were truly one family.

It was now the twelfth year of Chongzhen. In five more years, the Ming Dynasty would fall, and the Manchus would take over China. Although the late Ming Dynasty struggled hard, it could not last many more years. The Hubei E Dong area would soon fall into the hands of the Manchus.

As the saying goes, "Keep your head, lose your hair; keep your hair, lose your head." The brutal massacres and the ignorant rule of the Manchus were something that a person from the future could not accept.

Well, before the Manchus came, the E Dong area was also a target for the peasant armies to plunder.

But Liu Jun was not one of those middle school students. He knew early on that the peasant revolutionary heroes Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, and Hong Xiuquan, as promoted in the textbooks of the future, were merely propaganda for certain ideological needs.

In essence, they could not be revolutionaries, let alone righteous armies or heroes. They were just farmers and deserters who could not survive, and they were not leading the people in revolution but were just robbing and plundering. They were no better than the corrupt government troops. As an ordinary person, there was no way to survive under the Manchus, and there was no way to survive under the bandits, who would massacre and plunder.

Especially for the gentry class like the Liu family, it was even more dangerous, as they were always the targets of plunder and suppression.

Damn, I have traveled back to the Ming Dynasty, and I don't want to be oppressed by the government, plundered by bandits, or massacred by the Manchus!

The best way out would be to move now, to migrate to Jiangnan, but that would not be safe for many years. The best would be to migrate to Southeast Asia or Europe. But this was just a thought. The attachment to their homeland, which the Liu family had, made no one willing to migrate.

Not to mention, even if they had a reason to explain it to everyone, even if everyone was willing to go, it would be impossible to migrate to a foreign land with the transportation of this era. If they couldn't leave, they could only stay, but if they didn't want to be a loyal subject of the Manchus, didn't want to be beheaded by bandits, and didn't want to be exploited by the government, they needed to have the ability to protect themselves.

First and foremost, they needed to find a way to connect with the Liu family. With the Liu family as a backing, they could at least have a few years of protection. As for the future, they would see as they went along. After some thought, Liu Jun made a decisive decision.

He said what he thought and did it. On that day, Liu Jun took the 100 taels of silver he had extorted from the butcher's family and went on a shopping spree in Xibayi, buying many gifts. He was very high-profile during the purchase, not avoiding questions, and openly said he was going to the Liu family in Suokouhe.

Liu Jun chose a good time. Three days later was the 70th birthday of Liu Qiao's father, Lao Taigong Liu Chengqi. Liu Jun could take this opportunity to visit.

As the saying goes, "Many gifts do not offend." Even though Liu Chengye was expelled from the Liu family many years ago, now that Liu Jun was personally coming to offer gifts and celebrate, would Lao Taigong Liu Chengqi refuse?

When Lao Liu knew that Liu Jun was going to the Liu family in Suokouhe, his expression was very complicated. In his heart, he also wanted to recognize his ancestors and return to the clan, which was also the unfulfilled wish of Liu Chengye. But as a scholar, he had a sense of shame, feeling that he had no face to return after his father was expelled. Although he did not approve of his son going to celebrate and offer gifts, he did not stop him.

On the opposite side of the Liu family, the butcher Zhang had a broken arm and was lying on a bamboo chair, sighing. He had exchanged 100 taels of silver for a dead pig, and his third son's nose was broken, his right hand was dislocated, and his servants were bruised and swollen. Not to mention the pig's blood that had splattered all over the house, and he had been so scared that he had wet his pants in public. Thinking about these things, Zhang felt as if he had swallowed a fly.

But the arrogant attitude of Liu Erle that day, acting without fear, made him feel afraid. He was not afraid of one Liu Erle, but if this Liu Erle was related to the Liu family in Suokouhe, a family of Jinyi, then this matter would be troublesome. He did not dare to seek revenge and even had to worry about the Liu family's retaliation.

For several days, he did not dare to leave his house, not even going to his favorite teahouse or watching plays, just staying at home. He did not immediately send someone to find his son-in-law, the county magistrate. He was carefully observing. If the Liu family in Xibayi was really related to the Liu family in Suokouhe, any action on his part could bring disaster.

"Sir, sir, Liu Erle is buying a lot of gifts in the market, such as ginseng, bird's nest, shark fin, and pearls. The total value is no less than 100 taels of silver," a servant reported the latest developments of Liu Erle.

Zhang felt a toothache. This was all his own silver. But he found it a bit strange, "Why is Liu Erle buying so many gifts?"

"I heard from the merchants in the market that Liu Erle said he was buying gifts because in three days, it would be the 70th birthday of Liu Jinwu's father, Lao Taigong Liu, and he was going to celebrate and offer gifts. He also said that Liu Jinwu was his paternal uncle, and Lao Taigong Liu was his great-grandfather."

"Did he really say that?" Zhang suddenly became excited, standing up and asking loudly.

"Liu Erle did indeed say that, and he said it to many merchants."

Zhang suddenly wilted, shrinking back into the bamboo chair. He felt very tired.

He had initially suspected that Liu Erle was lying, but now that Liu Erle had said it to many merchants in the market, it was likely true. The Liu family in Xibayi was really related to the Liu family in Suokouhe, and they were of the same clan. But damn, he had been neighbors with the Liu family for decades, and he had never heard of this before.

But no matter what, he had to wait and see. He could not afford to offend the Liu family in Suokouhe.

"Go to the Liu family in Suokouhe yourself and keep an eye on Liu Erle. I want to know every move he makes at the Liu family's birthday celebration," Zhang said after a long pause, somewhat reluctantly.

"I understand, I'll go right away."

Liu Jun went on a shopping spree in the market, spending the 100 taels of silver he had extorted from the butcher's family, which was quickly spent on various gifts.

100 taels of silver was not a small amount. In Jiangnan, where land prices were always high, and in E Dong, where there were many wealthy gentry, an acre of good paddy field often cost 20 to 30 taels of silver.

In contrast, one tael of silver could buy two dan of rice, and a young maid could be bought for 4 to 5 taels of silver. A 16-17-year-old skilled maid could be bought for 20 to 30 taels of silver. 100 taels of silver could buy 4 to 5 acres of good farmland, or 20 young maids, or 4 to 5 skilled maids.

But since it was a gift, there was no reason to be stingy. You can't catch a wolf without risking your child. Giving gifts was an investment, and Liu Jun understood this. As long as he could connect with the Liu family, 100 taels of silver was worth it, even if he had to raise another 100 taels.

After preparing the gifts, Liu Jun led out the large blue mule from his home, mounted it, and set off. Xibayi was southwest of the county, and the Liu family in Suokouhe was 25 li northwest of the county, a journey of more than 50 li. It would take most of the day to get there on a mule.

(Does anyone want to give a reward of one or two dollars to support me?)

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