Chapter 78

As he heard them enter, a group of uncles, grandfathers, and brothers all put on humble smiles, making Wang Gui feel at a loss. Wang Xian saw that they all held land deeds and immediately understood what was going on.

Upon entering the main hall, he saw Uncle San Gong and his father sitting in the main seats, with a group of clan elders sitting on either side.

"You came just in time," his father said to Wang Xian. "Quickly draft some documents."

"Yes," Wang Xian nodded calmly. Wang Tong brought him a chair, and Wang Jin ground the ink for him. Wang Xian sat down steadily and said, "Please give me your instructions, Father."

"First, draft three adoption documents," his father coughed and said, "then draft several land transfer documents."

"Who is adopting whom?" Wang Xian glanced at his father, thinking, How could you make such a big decision without consulting me!

"Cough, cough," his father coughed again. "Wang Jie, Wang Ling, Wang Jin, come and meet your father."

"Ah," three young men obediently came forward, kowtowed to Wang Xian and Wang Gui, and called out, "Father..."

"Cough, cough, cough..." Now it was Wang Xian's turn to cough, almost unable to hold the pen.

"What are you saying, Father?" Wang Gui widened his eyes. "Wang Xian hasn't even married yet."

"It doesn't matter..." his father waved his hand. "These children of your brothers will be adopted into our family. Two will recognize you as their father, and one will recognize your younger brother as their father."

"Why?" Although Wang Gui usually submitted to his father, he was still stunned.

"Cough, cough," his father glared at him. "More children mean more blessings. Why so many questions?" He then looked at Wang Xian and said, "Look at Xiao Er, he doesn't ask why."

"Wang Gui, it's like this," Uncle San Gong explained. "These three boys are all studying. To study, they need to be registered in the government's household register, but once registered, they have to serve in the corvée... To let them focus on their studies and bring glory to our clan, they will be adopted by your brothers."

"Oh..." Wang Gui finally understood. It was about the exemption from corvée. In the Ming Dynasty, the higher the official rank, the greater the privileges. For example, a first-rank official in the capital could be exempt from 30 shi of grain and 30 people, decreasing layer by layer, until a ninth-rank official, who could be exempt from 6 shi of grain and 6 people, with half for officials outside the capital. Therefore, his father had the privilege of being exempt from 3 shi of grain and 3 people. As a regular official, Wang Xian could also be exempt from 1 shi of grain and 1 person...

Thus, the four of them could be exempt from 4 people in total, not including themselves. Wang Gui naturally had to take one of the spots, and the remaining three were already coveted by the people of Wang Family Village... Although they could avoid taxes and corvée by being unregistered, without legal status, they would not enjoy the various rights granted by the Ming Dynasty, such as participating in the imperial examinations, serving as officials, or even being reported missing. Because there would be no record of them in the household register!

For poor people, just getting by was enough, regardless of whether they had a record or not. But wealthy households needed legal status to protect their property, scholars needed legal status to participate in the imperial examinations, and merchants needed legal status to conduct business. However, once registered, they had to bear the heavy burden of corvée... After the autumn harvest and before the spring, they had to serve the government for one to four months, which was extremely arduous.

Were there people who could enjoy legal status without serving corvée? Yes, the royal family, nobles, officials, juren (candidates for the imperial examinations), and xiucai (scholars) were exempt from taxes and corvée, often exceeding their required burden. This extra privilege naturally became a target for other classes.

Zhejiang had no princely fiefs or noble residences, but there were countless officials and scholars. Common people often became slaves to officials, but scholars could not, as slaves and their descendants for three generations could not participate in the imperial examinations. Another method was to be adopted, but this was looked down upon as it meant renouncing one's ancestors for fame.

The best situation was when a clan produced an official. Everyone shared the same ancestors, so there was no disgrace. Moreover, there were few scholars in Wang Family Village, and the three were just right... It was quite normal, as it took three generations to support a scholar, and having three scholars in a village was quite a lot.

Therefore, Uncle San Gong and Wang Xingye discussed and decided to have the three boys adopted. Wang Xingye could not refuse unless he was prepared to break with the clan. Thus, there was no need to consult the two sons, and they directly adopted the three grandsons.

---

"Adopter Wang Jia, hereby agrees to adopt his second son Wang Jie to his clan brother Wang Gui as a son. This is to prevent any disputes, and this document is proof. Dated the first day of the first month of the tenth year of Yongle, with witnesses Wang Jichang and guarantor Wang Jiyeh."

"Adopter Wang Zhen, hereby agrees to adopt his youngest son Wang Ling to his clan brother Wang Gui as a son. This is to prevent any disputes, and this document is proof. Dated the first day of the first month of the tenth year of Yongle, with witnesses Wang Jichang and guarantor Wang Jiyeh."

"Adopter Wang Ba, hereby agrees to adopt his third son Wang Jin to his clan brother Wang Xian as a son. This is to prevent any disputes, and this document is proof. Dated the first day of the first month of the tenth year of Yongle, with witnesses Wang Jichang and guarantor Wang Jiyeh."

As a clerk in the household registry office, Wang Xian naturally drafted these documents with ease. He then drafted three more documents to prevent future disputes over inheritance:

"Wang Jie is adopted by Wang Jia and Wang Gui. If Wang Gui has other children, Wang Jie cannot inherit, but he must still support his adoptive parents. Witnesses Wang Jichang and guarantor Wang Jiyeh."

"Wang Ling is adopted by Wang Zhen and Wang Gui. If Wang Gui has other children, Wang Ling cannot inherit, but he must still support his adoptive parents. Witnesses Wang Jichang and guarantor Wang Jiyeh."

"Wang Jin is adopted by Wang Ba and Wang Xian. If Wang Xian has other children, Wang Jin cannot inherit, but he must still support his adoptive parents. Witnesses Wang Jichang and guarantor Wang Jiyeh."

The parties signed and stamped where necessary, and the remaining procedures would be completed after the New Year when Wang Xian returned to the household registry office...

But it wasn't over yet. This was just the first half—besides the four people exempt from corvée, there were also four shi of tax to consider!

Although it wasn't much compared to high-ranking officials, four shi of grain tax was a significant amount. A poor household paid only five dou of grain per year, and the Wang family could exempt seven other households from tax.

Moreover, once they were exempt from tax, they would also be exempt from the various additional taxes and fees! This was the true reason for the clan's enthusiastic and fawning behavior.

Seeing the adoption completed, the clan members outside rushed in with their land deeds, surrounding Wang Xingye and clamoring, "Fourth Grandfather, take our land!" "Fourth Uncle, our land is the most fertile!" "Fourth Uncle, I watched you grow up..." "Damn it, Old Seven, your family is so rich, why are you competing with us!" "What, I've been friends with Fourth Grandfather since childhood!"

"Shut up, are you embarrassing yourselves?" Uncle San Gong hit the ground with his cane and scolded, "It's just 3.5 shi of grain. I and Fourth have already discussed it. We will help the most needy first, and the rest will have to wait. In two years, when Fourth and Wang Xian are promoted, we will take your land."

The clan leader still had considerable authority. Uncle San Gong selected eight poor households, and although the others were disappointed, they did not dare to argue.

Wang Xian had to continue drafting the land transfer documents. Of course, it wasn't a real sale; Wang Xingye did not pay, and the land still belonged to the original owners. It was just a transfer in the government records. The original owners would nominally rent the land, and as a return, they would pay half of the tax grain as rent to Wang Xingye.

Thus, the government's interests were harmed, but Wang Xingye and the original owners benefited. Wang Xian did not like this, as he was a public official responsible for the county's land and household registry, and these people were asking him to help them evade taxes, which made him uncomfortable.

But everyone, including his father, thought it was perfectly normal, so he had no choice but to comply...

After lunch, the family was about to take a boat back to the county, of course, the three sons would not go.

On the way back, his father noticed that Wang Xian was somewhat gloomy and patted his shoulder, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy about the trivial matter of a few dou of grain?"

"No," Wang Xian shook his head. "I'm not ready to be a father yet..."

"Get lost!" His father almost kicked him into the river and ignored him.

Wang Xian, of course, did not tell the truth. He was just thinking about how the Ming Dynasty treated officials and scholars well, yet they still had no integrity and undermined the state, leading to the increasing land consolidation, the depletion of state taxes, and the displacement of the people, ultimately causing the fall of the Ming Dynasty.

Was this treatment effective? It was completely useless and even harmful. Unfortunately, he could not meet Emperor Yongle, and even if he did, the stubborn emperor would not listen to him. Unless he could convince the emperor that the Ming Dynasty would fall because of this, which would certainly lead to his own family's destruction...

Thinking of this, Wang Xian laughed to himself. Why should I worry about such things? The Ming Dynasty still has over two hundred years left, and it won't be a problem until my grandchildren's generation. I should just focus on my own life...

Lost in thought, he smelled the fragrance of chrysanthemums and looked up to see Lin Qing'er looking at him with concern, asking softly, "Is there something troubling you?"

Wang Xian looked at her beautiful face, feeling warmth in his heart, and said, "Sister, our little nest is almost ready. Let's go and see what we need to buy..."

Lin Qing'er's face turned slightly red, and she felt a surge of excitement, but she said, "Is buying household items so troublesome?"

"Yes," Wang Xian nodded.

"Then let's just do it casually..." Lin Qing'er's eyes dimmed.

"Sister, you misunderstood me again," Wang Xian smiled. "I meant there are so many things I want to buy, but the house is so small, making it hard to choose!"

"Annoying!" The beauty pouted, and his worries vanished...

---

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends