Chapter 24

While it was still dark, the village of Hongshan was already filled with the smoke of cooking fires.

From the next room came the sound of rustling and the gentle clinking of pots and pans. Lin Yanchao woke up, knowing it was Auntie San from next door preparing breakfast for her husband who worked in the fields.

The region of Min is close to the Tropic of Cancer, and the sun is scorching. Even in early autumn, the midday sun can burn the skin. Therefore, the men who work in the fields usually start at five in the morning and work until eight or nine, sometimes ten, before returning home for lunch and a nap. They then work again in the late afternoon, taking advantage of the cooler temperatures before the sun sets.

For centuries, the villagers have worked this way, so Auntie San has to get up at four to prepare breakfast.

And now, as the main woman of the house, Lin Qianqian also has to get up at four to cook for Uncle San, who will soon be heading to the fields. In the past, when Grandma was around, she would sleep until late morning, but Lin Qianqian has been cooking breakfast since she was nine.

Lin Yanchao also got up. If Qianqian could do it, he couldn't stay in bed.

Studying means burning the midnight oil and getting up with the rooster!

To change the current situation, advancing in studies is the right path. Additionally, protecting the family's safety and having a place to shelter while he is not yet strong enough is crucial.

Xie Laohu is the biggest threat at the moment, lurking nearby. Lin Yanchao thought, "There's no thief who can steal for a thousand days, but there's no one who can guard against a thief for a thousand days." Sitting at home, waiting for others to come and attack, is too passive. He needed to find a way to remove Xie Laohu from his position as the village head.

Lin Yanchao continued reading until almost noon when a voice suddenly came from outside: "Is Lin Pusi at home?"

"He's on duty at the post office. What can I do for you, sir?" Uncle Da replied from outside.

Lin Yanchao perked up his ears, guessing that the matter of the miscellaneous corvée might not be over. Xie Zongjia must have come up with some other scheme.

"Who are you to him?"

"His eldest son."

"Good, your name is also on this summons. This is a warrant from the county office. The magistrate has ordered you and your father to appear in court the day after tomorrow."

"What kind of warrant?" Uncle Da's voice was full of panic.

Lin Yanchao immediately went out and saw a bailiff with a feather in his hat, dressed in a dark blue robe, and a sword at his waist, talking to Uncle Da.

Uncle Da's legs trembled at the thought of seeing the magistrate. In this era, common people were already intimidated by officials, let alone when it seemed they were in legal trouble.

The current magistrate, Zhou, was known as the "family-ruining magistrate." Uncle Da forced a smile and said, "Brother, you must be tired. What's your name? Do you know Headman Huang? I work under him and call him Grandpa."

"Damn, a mere helper, and you think you can connect with me?" Uncle Da was openly despised.

"You handle the summons, so you must be from the black-robed class. You serve the magistrate every day, how could I possibly connect with you? But I'm confused, could you tell me why the magistrate is summoning me?"

Flattered by Uncle Da's flattery and a bit of money, the bailiff's expression improved. "You talk well. Let me tell you the truth, your family is in trouble! The village head has filed a complaint with the magistrate, accusing you of taking their dowry land."

"What, the dowry land of my wife? What's going on?" Uncle Da's face turned pale.

"Talking to me won't help. Tell your father to think about how to explain to the magistrate the day after tomorrow. I've delivered the message."

With that, the bailiff left. Uncle Da, holding the summons, looked worried and kept saying, "What are we going to do? What are we going to do? I have to go to the post office and tell my father."

"What's the matter, Uncle Da?" Lin Yanchao walked over.

Uncle Da, at a loss, handed the summons to Lin Yanchao. "Take a look, we're in trouble."

Lin Yanchao looked at the summons and said, "This is the magistrate's official seal! How rare!"

Uncle Da complained, "Yanchao, at a time like this, you still have the leisure to say that."

Lin Yanchao smiled confidently. "Uncle Da, don't worry. I was just thinking of how to deal with Xie Zongjia. Now that he's come to us, it's his own fault!"

That night, Lin Gaoshan hurried back from the post office.

In the Lin family's house in Hongshan Village, the oil lamp cast a faint red light on the faces of Lin Gaoshan, Uncle Da, Uncle San, and Lin Yanchao.

Lin Gaoshan smoked his water pipe, filling the room with smoke.

Uncle San said, "Father, I think Xie Zongjia is in for a fall this time."

Everyone was surprised. Uncle San, who usually had no ideas, was now so confident.

Uncle San laughed. "Listen to me. According to the law, matters of household, marriage, and land disputes cannot be taken to the officials. They must be resolved by the village elders. If they go to the officials without the elders' decision, the complainant will be given sixty strokes. Xie Laohu went to the magistrate, so we can accuse him of not going through the village elders first, and he'll get sixty strokes. Ha ha!"

Uncle San thought his plan was brilliant, but no one else agreed.

Uncle San stopped and asked, "Is there something wrong with what I said?"

Lin Gaoshan, after a puff of smoke, knocked on the table. "Old Three, what kind of idea is this? Xie Laohu is the village head. Matters of household, marriage, and land in his family can be taken directly to the officials, not considered as overstepping."

Uncle Da also mocked Uncle San. "Xie Laohu is the head, he knows the rules inside out."

Uncle San, looking aggrieved, said, "Brother, I'm just thinking for the family. What's your idea?"

Uncle Da said, "Father, Brother Three, it's just five acres of dowry land. It originally belonged to the Xie family. Give it back, I don't care. We can settle this privately, and they can withdraw the complaint. It's better not to make a big deal out of it. A day of marriage is a hundred days of kindness; I can't let the neighbors say I don't care about past feelings."

"Brother, you're so spineless," Lin Gaoshan scolded. "If it's over, it's over. What's there to think about? A man doesn't lack for a wife. I can find you a better one."

"Father is right. I don't think there's anything wrong with what Father did," Uncle San chimed in.

Hearing this, Uncle Da lowered his head. Lin Yanchao noticed that since his wife left, Uncle Da had become much more haggard.

"Fifteen years of marriage can't be cut off so easily," Uncle Da said sadly. "Yanshou has been looking for his mother for a month. I have no excuse. I'll go to the Xie family and apologize. If she comes back, we'll let it go, and we'll swallow our pride."

"No!" Uncle San firmly opposed. "I don't want that sister-in-law back!"

Lin Gaoshan sighed. "Family harmony is important, but if she comes back, it will be hard on Yanchao and Qianqian. Even if we agree, the Xie family might not."

"Then give her the five acres. I'll consider her no longer my wife, and Yanshou will have no mother," Uncle Da said, gritting his teeth.

Uncle San immediately said, "Brother, that's not right. I've put so much effort into those five acres. I've poured countless loads of manure, treating it like my own son. I can't bear to give it up. If they want the land, they must return the dowry money we gave them, and we'll be even."

Uncle Da, hearing this, burst out in anger. "This won't do, that won't do. What do you suggest?"

"Brother, don't be angry!" Uncle San laughed awkwardly and didn't answer.

Lin Gaoshan picked up his water pipe and looked at Lin Yanchao. "Yanchao, what do you think?"

Uncle Da said, "Father, Yanchao is just a child. What does he know? Don't involve him."

Uncle San said, "Brother, Yanchao is a child, but don't forget how we escaped the corvée this time. It was because Yanchao won the favor of the inspector."

Lin Qianqian added, "Yes, Uncle, I think Yanchao has become much more capable since he was ill." She gave Lin Yanchao a confident look.

Uncle Da said, "Fine, fine, Yanchao, what do you think?"

Lin Yanchao said, "Grandfather, Uncle Da, Uncle San, if Xie Laohu wanted to settle this privately, he wouldn't have gone to the county office without telling us. He wants to make a big deal out of this, determined to take us to court. He wants not only the five acres but also to ruin our reputation. He's been the village head for years, so he must know the ins and outs of the county office. He might even have a clerk supporting him."

"Then we can't go to court!" Uncle Da said, looking worried.

"Uncle Da, if Xie Laohu thinks he has a sure win, would he let us off privately? Even if we give back the five acres, it won't help. If we offer to settle, the neighbors will look down on us, and Xie Laohu will take advantage of us again."

Lin Yanchao's words made everyone think deeply, finding them reasonable.

Lin Gaoshan asked, "Yanchao, what should we do?"

Lin Yanchao said, "Grandfather, we Lin family members don't usually cause trouble, but when trouble comes, we don't fear it!"

Lin Gaoshan stood up. "Well said! When trouble comes, I, Lin Gaoshan, have never been afraid of anyone. If Xie Laohu wants to fight, I'll fight with him! Let's get a good night's sleep and go to the county office to fight the case!"

"Father, I get weak at the knees at the sight of the county office. Can I stay and work in the fields?" Uncle San said, lowering his head.

"Spineless!" Lin Gaoshan scolded.

"Grandfather, Uncle San is busy in the fields. Let him stay. I'll go in his place! If we lose the case, I'll go to the inspector's office and ask for justice."

Lin Gaoshan looked at Lin Yanchao and nodded. "Good!"

On the day they went to the county office, Lin Qianqian got up early, made duck soup, and cooked noodles with duck eggs. Lin Gaoshan, Uncle Da, and Lin Yanchao all ate heartily.

Because they were going to see the magistrate, Lin Gaoshan and Uncle Da dressed formally, while Lin Yanchao wore an old robe. Lin Qianqian said, "Brother, why are you wearing your old school clothes?"

Lin Yanchao smiled but didn't answer.

Lin Gaoshan looked at the rising sun and said to Uncle Da and Lin Yanchao, "Let's go to the provincial capital!"

PS: Some readers mentioned that Chapter 24 was missing. I've re-updated it. The platform has some bugs.

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