There was no talking all night, and until dawn, Fang Yingwu got up and stood at the door and looked outside for a few times. The door to his uncle's house in the west wing was closed tightly, but there was a faint noise in the house.
Maybe they were eating breakfast secretly behind closed doors? Fang Yingwu was not afraid to speculate with the greatest malice. He could even conclude that as long as he didn't beg for mercy in a low voice, his uncle's family would definitely not take the initiative to ask him to go to dinner. What kind of mentality is this?
Relatives who are too generous are really annoying.
Do you think you, a high-achieving student, should bow your head to such a little person who can only calculate a few bowls of rice? This is simply the shame of a time traveler!
Faced with the cruel fact that he was unable to eat or was forced to become a farmer with sweat, Fang Yingwu finally put aside the air of "the bird can only know the ambition of the swan" for the time being, and began to consider a very practical problem, how to solve the "bird's nest" in front of him.
.
Now, if you don't put aside your dignity to argue with the little people, and even eating is a problem, what else can you talk about? As the saying goes, "If you have enough food and clothing, you will know honor and disgrace; if you have enough food and clothing, you will know etiquette."
He does have great interest and motivation to pursue progress and experience the history of emperors and generals that were used as research materials in his previous life. But if he can't even eat, it is a joke to think about those things...
Fang Yingwu does not believe in Buddhism and does not know what Buddhist enlightenment feels like, but now he feels that he has a feeling of enlightenment. People can look up at the stars, but they also have to step into mud puddles. Both are indispensable.
However, he said that the uncle of the second room, Fang Qingtian, was active in the courtyard. When he was about to call Fang Yingwu to work in the fields, he suddenly heard some inexplicable laughter coming from the east wing. This made him couldn't help but become suspicious. Could it be that his eldest nephew was
Starving?
If this is true, it will be difficult to explain. Although my brother who has disappeared for two years is an easy nerd to deal with, and I will not care about taking advantage of him, no one will forgive his son becoming stupid.
My own, just in case my brother comes back suddenly one day.
Just as he was thinking about it, Fang Qingtian saw his eldest nephew coming out of the house again. He looked normal, which reassured him. He stepped forward and urged: "It's urgent today, don't waste time in the room, hurry up and follow."
I’ll leave quickly to go to the fields!”
Fang Yingwu was confident and did not get angry or upset when he heard the words. He cupped his hands with a calm expression and said: "Wait a minute, don't worry, I have to spend half a day. My nephew has something to say. Since the elder uncle is unethical and unkind, then I
My nephew has no choice but to be unjust."
"What do you want to say?" Fang Qingtian frowned. He didn't understand why his nephew seemed to be a different person overnight, which made him feel very strange. Compared with the restlessness yesterday, the calm look in front of him was a bit indifferent.
, even more disturbing.
"There are some things in this world that both parties must agree to, such as partnership; and there are some things that only one party is willing to do, such as disbandment."
Fang Qingtian didn't know a few Chinese characters and his understanding ability was limited. He didn't understand his nephew's meaning for a moment, so he said impatiently: "What do you mean? Please explain it clearly and clearly, don't beat around the bush."
"The meaning is very simple, separate the families!" Fang Yingwu said flatly.
The words "separation of family" can be said to be a direct blow to the bottom of the pot, and Fang Qingtian's face instantly turned ugly.
Of course he understood very well that the eight acres of land was nominally owned by two families. In fact, because his brother was away from home all year round and was indifferent to family affairs, their second wife had been fully responsible for taking care of it and enjoyed all the output. They only took care of the nephew's oral interests.
Food.
It can be said that this is a confusing account where the two of them took advantage of each other. Once the families are separated, they will become brothers to settle the accounts. If you want to take advantage, you should not do it blatantly.
Thinking of this, Fang Qingtian didn't even bother to work in the fields. He glared and said sternly: "You junior, do you want to be lawless? The family property was passed down to me and your father from our ancestors! My brother has never spoken, so what qualifications do you have?"
Propose a separation!"
Fang Yingwu had made up his mind, how could he be frightened by his uncle who deliberately showed a fierce attitude? "My father left a letter and entrusted his nephew with the matter of the eldest son's house, so he could naturally make up his mind. As for whether my uncle is willing or not,
It doesn’t matter. It’s like a partnership in business. If one party refuses to continue, the partnership will naturally break up. How can there be any reason to be forced into a partnership?”
Did his brother keep this thing? Fang Qingtian didn't expect that he would never look through the few tattered books in his elder's house, and he was illiterate, so he naturally didn't know about the paper.
When it comes to debating, even the ten Fang Qingtians are no match for Fang Yingwu. If he wants to take action but is worried about causing trouble, he can only say with an angry face: "It's up to you! Just don't regret it!"
Then his little calculation started quickly again. If the separation of the family was irreversible, he would try to get as much benefit as possible.
When it comes to family separation, it is customary to seek coordination among the elders of the family until all parties are convinced. If they still disagree, the only option is to file a lawsuit.
Everyone in Shanghuaxi Village has the surname Fang. When Fang Yingwu and his uncle wanted to separate their families, they had to find the second uncle. He was the only one in the village who could shoulder the important task of coordination.
The second uncle's name was taboo, so he knew the etiquette. When he heard this, he couldn't help but sigh a few words, knowing that this was a difficult matter to handle.
The reason why it is difficult to handle is very simple. The requirements of both parties must be contradictory, and one party must be dissatisfied with the final result, so there will almost be a complaint. Thinking of this, Fang Zhili excused himself: "There is no real reason for the dispute over money and property.
The old man and I have made it clear that I and you are all relatives, and it is inconvenient to favor one over the other."
The so-called "lizhong elder" refers to the civil dispute resolver set up by the government in the countryside. Most of them are served by prestigious elders in the village, commonly known as "xianglao".
Although the village elders were not officials, they were also important members of the grassroots organizations of the Ming Dynasty. They had simple judicial power and could visit the county magistrate at any time.
The village elder in Huaxi is in the neighboring village of Huaxi Village, but Fang Qingtian is not willing to go to him to decide the matter of family separation. He is not familiar with this village elder, and he is not sure that the superior village elder will favor him. So he
Keep saying that you must know how to preside over the ceremony.
In this case, the second uncle Fang Zhili had no choice but to agree. Fang Yingwu was very indifferent to this. In his eyes, it didn't matter who made the decision.
Fang Qingtian was secretly happy when he saw this. Although the eldest nephew had become tough and decisive, he still had too little experience in the ways of the world and did not understand the mysteries. He dared to say that the second uncle's attitude would definitely lean towards him.
Fang Zhili had indeed made up his mind, and in accordance with the concept of respecting elders and younger ones, he would slightly favor Fang Qingtian.
The truth is obvious. The younger generation should be courteous to the elders. Otherwise, if they all behave like a junior like Fang Yingwu, wouldn't the world be in chaos? As long as the favoritism for Fang Qingtian is not too outrageous, it is fair. Even if Fang Qingzhi comes back, it will be unfair.
There is nothing to say.
So Fang Zhili led Fang Qingtian and Fang Yingwu to the ancestral hall, and at the same time called a dozen key figures in the village to attend, in order to bear witness and share his own pressure.
Fang Yingwu glanced at everyone in the ancestral hall. They were all acquaintances in the village, and there was only one stranger. Most of them were people from other villages visiting relatives, so Fang Yingwu didn't pay attention.
As the initiator of the family division, Fang Yingwu spoke first and said to Fang Zhili in front of everyone: "The two houses of my family are now in separate families, and it is difficult to separate the public and private property. Therefore, I want to divide the family. Please make a clear decision from my second uncle."
After that, he took out the "power of attorney" left by his father and passed it to the literate people in the crowd. After confirming that it was correct, he proved that he was qualified to separate from his second uncle.
Someone loudly said: "It's very simple. You two have half of all the houses and fields, and you can make an oath to each other. It's more serious to end it as soon as possible. I have to go to the fields to plant rice later, so we can't delay the farming season!"
Fang Yingwu was still as calm as ever. But Fang Qingtian was extremely dissatisfied. He was afraid that he would be judged according to this method, so he quickly said politely: "You can't do half the job for one person. I have other details and ask my second uncle to uphold justice."
"
"Say." Fang Zhili nodded.
Fang Qingtian then said plausibly: "My father asked my brother to study all the time, while I worked at home and farmed. My brother spent a lot of money to study and take exams. All the money came from my father-in-law, and it took a lot of money to provide for him.
I passed the examination to be a scholar, but I got nothing. Could it be that these are not included in the calculation?"
Fang Yingwu raised his eyes and looked at his uncle in surprise. It turned out that he was not unprepared. He probably had some small calculations.
Then I heard my uncle continue to say: "My family had twelve acres of paddy fields at the beginning, and we sold four acres for my brother's study exam. If we don't sell the land, I should be allocated six acres if the family is divided now. I have no other requirements, as long as
The four acres sold will be borne by the head of the house, and I will be given the six acres I deserve."
According to this plan, out of the existing eight acres of farmland, the second house will be allocated six acres, and the eldest house will be left with only two acres.
Fang Yingwu calculated that it was impossible to allocate two acres to himself, and he would not be able to get out of production. In other words, if he rented out two acres of land, the rent he would get back would not be enough to feed himself, unless he went to work in the fields himself.
Fang Yingwu secretly sneered a few times, his uncle simply took the word "careful" to the extreme. This plan must have been premeditated, but it was a pity that it was a little cleverness used in the wrong place, a little cleverness that made a big difference.
However, Fang Yingwu remained calm and watched his second uncle as the judge with cold eyes.
But Fang Zhili thought about it for a moment and weighed the two sides several times. This kind of separation caused by internal conflicts will always have someone who loses. Fang Qingtian is sometimes a muddled person and not broad-minded. If he is dissatisfied
, it will also be a headache for me to stir up trouble in my own family from now on.
In contrast, the eldest brother Fang Qingzhi is a decent scholar after all, and Fang Yingwu is young, so he probably won't act like a scoundrel like Fang Qingtian. He is relatively easy to deal with, so it doesn't matter how much grievances he feels.
In other words, it is better to offend a gentleman than a villain. After thinking about it, he knew the etiquette and said: "What you said makes some sense, so you can act accordingly. What do you think, Brother Qiu?"
More than a dozen other people in the ancestral hall looked at Fang Yingwu, but they saw him unexpectedly smile brightly when he heard the words, and bowed to the other party in a free and easy manner: "The elders have made the decision, how can I not be dissatisfied with this kid? Just follow it."
Just do it."
Everyone was surprised, how could this Fang Yingwu be so happy? How could a young man who looked so smart become so confused? He would suffer such a loss so easily?
But Fang Yingwu changed his subject and asked: "But I also want to confirm that my uncle was allocated four acres more land than me, which can be regarded as getting back the money he spent on my father. So, can we think that my father's fame is Have you had nothing to do with your uncle since eight years ago?"
This question left everyone confused, wondering why Fang Yingwu suddenly mentioned this.
But Fang Yingwu didn't expect anyone else to answer, and talked about it alone: "The imperial court is kind to scholars. Every year, students can be exempted from the family's money and grain for two dan, and they are exempted from two dan's corvee service. For the past eight years since my father was admitted as a scholar, my uncle has been free of money and grain." Are you exempt from taxes and servitude? This is the special care our eldest house gives to our second house!
Now the boy boldly declares on behalf of the eldest brother that since the second brother-in-law has taken back the four acres of land he spent on his fame, the eldest brother will also revoke this special treatment from now on!
Not only will the future be revoked, but the previous care will also be recovered. How much food and corvee my uncle's family has been exempted from in eight years, please convert it into silver and return it to the eldest brother!"
As soon as Fang Yingwu said something, it was like a strange peak rising up, and the whole hall fell silent. Only then did he realize that although they lived in the same village, Fang Yingwu's family was different from them.
Another victim, Fang Qingzetian, was dumbfounded. He had indeed forgotten all this. Selfish people always habitually forget the benefits they have received.
As a researcher of Ming history in his previous life, Fang Yingwu was well aware that the Ming Dynasty was a social system with strict hierarchies and strict rules. Each level has its own privileges, and the higher the level, the greater the privileges. The road to fame is actually an eternal road. The road to privilege that never stops, until you can go no further.
Although the scholar is at the bottom of the privileged class, his privileged power is enough to crush the villagers. With his uncle's self-righteous little calculation, he is destined to suffer a bloody blow in the face of the privileged rules.
As an authorized privileged agent, if he still cannot subdue villagers like his uncle and second uncle, then he should just jump into the river as soon as possible, and there will be no future in this world.