Chapter 6

Sun Shugong, seeing so many people talking, also stepped forward and said, "Baiming He is my Sun family's son-in-law. Whether he has the right to interfere in Sun family matters is not for outsiders to worry about. The elders of the Sun family will decide!"

"Then may I ask, is Master Bai speaking as a member of the Guanzhong Bai family or as the Sun family's son-in-law?"

The other party seized this opportunity to press further.

At this moment, Baiming He recalled a profound saying from the future: "If not a god-like opponent, then a pig-like teammate."

In the moral hierarchy of the Ming Dynasty, whether it was commoners, scholars, or the nobility, filial piety was always the top priority. There were even laws stating that a son should not report his father's crimes, which, in simpler terms, meant that if a father committed a crime, the son did not have to report it to the authorities and could even help him escape or hide. Even if discovered by the authorities, the son would not be held accountable, as this was considered filial piety!

The Ming laws specifically stipulated that this principle of mutual concealment among relatives applied to all crimes except treason.

Baiming He did not intend to handle this matter as the Sun family's son-in-law to avoid being bound by the constraints of filial piety.

The issue of reputation, trust, and righteousness already put some pressure on Baiming He. Adding filial piety would mean that some actions could be taken, but many others could not.

For example, making sacrifices for the Sun family or making concessions in ancestral property.

Or, seeking forgiveness and assistance from the twenty-eight villages in Qili, which would be impossible if the Sun family elders had to admit fault.

Forget it. Baiming He slowly raised his head a bit and said loudly, "Since I, Baiming He of Guanzhong, have taken on this matter, I cannot just talk about it. I only have one question. Is this water issue a matter for all the people in Bali, or just for me, Baiming He?"

"The water issue is naturally a matter for all thirty-two villages in Bali, but solving it is a noble act by Master Bai!" This time, it was not the old scholar who spoke, but a shabby old man who whispered from the side.

Baiming He laughed heartily, "That's a good point. Why don't we put it in writing?"

"Put it in writing, what will Master Bai write?" The old scholar did not dare to treat Baiming He as an incompetent person.

Anyone who dared to make such bold statements and claim to solve the water issue for the thirty-two villages in Bali must have some ability.

"Put it in writing that after I solve this issue, the benefits will be mine, and those who did not participate will not get any benefits. Moreover, anyone who causes trouble must give me, Baiming He, an explanation."

When Baiming He said this, everyone was stunned.

Was there any benefit in this dead-end situation? Was this young scholar just bluffing?

The old scholar did not immediately respond, signaling others not to speak. After some thought, he said to Baiming He, "Those who cause trouble will be against the thirty-two villages in Bali. I will guarantee this and put it in writing. But regarding the benefits, may I ask, does Master Bai plan to sell water after solving the issue?"

Mentioning selling water, the old men had mixed thoughts.

One, they felt this young scholar might really have a solution. Two, they thought it was another bluff.

Someone then said, "A scholar is a title earned after ten years of hard study, blessed by ancestors. The county magistrate is a jinshi from the imperial exams. A scholar is one in a thousand, and a jinshi is one in a thousand among scholars. How capable must one be? Several county magistrates could not solve this issue because it is a dead-end!"

What a good speech, Baiming He thought to himself.

Without mentioning the title of a juren, the implication was clear: you are just a juren, barely above others. But a jinshi, a dragon among men and a county magistrate, could not solve it, and you are here talking big.

What else could it be but a bluff?

From start to finish, he did not mention any solution, who could believe him?

Baiming He smiled coldly, "Bring me paper and pen!"

Someone immediately fetched the writing materials, and Baiming He whispered a few words to Sun Shugong, who nodded and left.

When the writing materials were brought, Sun Yuanjun also entered.

"First, write the document. When I, Baiming He of Guanzhong, solve the water issue for the thirty-two villages in Bali, anyone who causes trouble must give an explanation. I need the signatures and seals of the eight village heads and thirty-two clan leaders. After it's written, I, Baiming He, will also give you an explanation."

The elders looked at each other; they could not refuse this document.

"Write!" Baiming He did not write it himself. He called Sun Yuanjun to write for him. The first reason was to find someone to write for him.

Writing was a real challenge for Baiming He, a modern person. His ballpoint pen writing was barely passable, but he could not write with a brush at all.

The elders had no objections when they saw Sun Yuanjun writing.

Sun Yuanjun, a female teacher, was well-known not only in the thirty-two villages of Bali but also in Zhuozhou City. She was skilled in calligraphy, poetry, classics, and painting, and her reputation was high.

Her calligraphy was elegant and concise, each word a gem.

The document was quickly completed, and forty signatures and seals were affixed.

Baiming He asked Sun Yuanjun to keep the document safe and then took out an envelope.

He slapped it on the table, "This is my explanation to the thirty-two villages of Bali."

The envelope was opened, revealing a floating ticket (an ancient examination certificate). Baiming He said, "This is for you. Is this an explanation?"

Surprisingly, someone really spoke up, "Perhaps Master Bai is afraid he won't pass, so..."

"Rubbish!" A loud shout interrupted, and to Baiming He's great surprise, it was the shabby old man. The old man angrily scolded, "Nonsense! As a scholar, the imperial exams are a major event. You, a lowly servant who only knows how to steal chickens and dogs, are disgracing the scholarly community. If you say another word, I'll make sure your nephew doesn't take the exam!"

Baiming He was truly shocked.

The person who spoke apologized and retreated. He had not thought much about it, just habitually not wanting Baiming He to have the upper hand.

Sun Yuanjun explained, "Old Zhao once passed the jinshi exam but was not allowed to take the palace exam due to his ugly appearance. Although he retained the title of jinshi, he never had the chance to serve in office."

Baiming He understood why the old man was so agitated.

It seemed being a scholar had many benefits, and he needed to study it seriously. However, the person who pointed out the flaw was right; he was confident he would not pass the imperial exams, which was why he dared to bring out the floating ticket.

"Never mind, it's a small matter. I, Baiming He, have a few more things to say. Selling water will never happen. Solving this dead-end issue is not easy, but if successful, the benefits will be significant. My suggestion is to divide the benefits based on the effort contributed."

Baiming He started with a bold, arrogant tone but ended with a humble one.

First, he established credibility with the floating ticket, then mentioned the benefits, making it hard to doubt him.

"Fine, we'll follow Master Bai's suggestion. Those who contribute more will get more, and those who contribute less will get less." The old scholar gave Baiming He a response on behalf of everyone.

Another small victory, but Baiming He pushed further, "How about this: for specific tasks, I, Baiming He, will assign them, and each village will do its best. Then, we will record the contributions and distribute the benefits accordingly."

"Agreed!" With so many conditions already accepted, there was no reason to refuse this one.

More signatures and seals were added to the document.

This was not the end. Baiming He made another request, "If we need to temporarily requisition some land, such as for digging channels, there should be a plan. Whose land is used, and who will be compensated. I, Baiming He, will only use it, and the compensation will be handled by the villages. Is that acceptable?"

More signatures and seals were added to the document.

Finally, as they escorted the elders out of the village, Sun Yuanjun carefully placed the signed and sealed documents in a brocade box and held it close to her chest. At the village entrance, Sun Xiucai stopped and said, "There is one more thing, a private matter and a public one. I hope Master Bai will not refuse." Before Baiming He could ask, Sun Xiucai continued, "On the tenth day of the first month, during the Lantern Festival in Zhuozhou, I hope Master Bai will take the young people from the thirty-two villages of Bali to see it!"

This...

Baiming He genuinely wanted to refuse but could not find a reason, so he reluctantly agreed.

Watching these people ride their donkeys or sit in carts and slowly disappear into the distance, Sun Yuanjun said to Baiming He, "Husband, you are truly extraordinary. They came to cause trouble, but in the end, they did not ask how you would solve the issue, did not set a deadline, and did not mention how to divide the water for the spring plowing. Instead, they signed so many documents!"

The other Sun family elders also exclaimed in surprise.

Upon reflection, it was indeed true, but they could not understand how Baiming He had achieved this.

In Xiaquan Village, Baiming He, the juren, was a hero and a role model for the younger generation, whether they were scholars or not.

This revered figure gazed at the setting sun outside the village and felt a sense of reflection.

A juren, such a prestigious title, would be at least a double degree from a 985 university in the future. In the moral standards of the Ming Dynasty, the second priority was reputation. Reputation was an infinite wealth. Baiming He, looking at the setting sun, pondered how to establish himself in this unfamiliar place.

"Husband, let's go home for dinner!" Sun Yuanjun called softly by his side.

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