Wazi Township, Yang Family Village, noon.
The February sun carried a slight chill, filtering through the gaps in the branches to fall upon the stone table in the courtyard.
When Old Man Yang carried his hoe into the yard, his shoes were still caked with fresh mud, his pant legs rolled up to his knees.
"Father, you're back. Rest up, we'll eat soon," Liu Cuiling shouted from the kitchen.
Grandmother Qin was inside helping her.
Old Man Yang responded, leaned the hoe against the base of the wall, then sat on the wooden stool at the main house entrance and slowly pulled out his tobacco pipe.
Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.
Qin, who had just finished sorting the vegetables, walked out from the kitchen and went to the gate. She peeked through a gap in the door panels, then pulled it open.
"Mother."
Outside the gate walked in a woman in her mid-thirties carrying a basket. She resembled Qin somewhat, only much younger. This was Yang Jing's aunt, Yang Yan.
"Why did you come over?" Old Man Yang tapped out the ash and looked at his daughter.
"I happened to have some time today," Yang Yan said with a smile, then greeted her second sister-in-law, Liu Cuiling, who was busy in the kitchen.
Liu Cuiling's attitude was neither warm nor cold; she gave a soft "hm" in response.
She still harbored resentment toward this sister-in-law.
Her son, Yang Jing, had previously accepted Yang Yan's invitation to go to the Shi Family's old estate to look into a matter, then fell unconscious and spent half a month recuperating at home.
Yet during that half month, Yang Yan and her husband had not shown their faces even once, which left Liu Cuiling quite furious.
It was only because the Ning Family had set their sights on those two mu of fertile land up north, and the Shi Family had some connections with a steward of the Ning Estate. They might still need Yang Yan and her husband for this matter, so Liu Cuiling had no choice but to swallow her dissatisfaction and keep up appearances.
Yang Yan took out two white flour mantou and six or seven mixed-grain wotou from her basket, placing them on the stone table. She chatted with Old Man Yang, who sat beside her smoking his pipe, and gradually the conversation turned to those two mu of fertile land the Ning Family coveted.
"Ever since Feng Lei was killed, the Ning Family hasn't sent anyone over, nor have they mentioned buying our two mu of fertile land again. Could it be that the Ning Family no longer plans to take our land?" Old Man Yang said, smacking on his pipe.
Qin, who was sweeping the courtyard nearby, nodded repeatedly at these words. "If that's the case, that would be truly wonderful. Our family is relying on those two mu of fertile land to survive right now. If we lose them, our family will truly be left drinking the northwest wind."
But Yang Yan frowned upon hearing this and shook her head slightly. "Father, Mother, I don't think it's that simple. I heard from Yunlin that Master Ning is an infamous iron rooster in Wazi Township. Whatever he sets his eyes on, he'll definitely get his hands on, by any means necessary."
Yang Yan paused slightly, then continued:
"The Ning Family has bought so much land in Wazi Township. Quite a lot of the land north of our village has been bought up by them. Our family's two mu happen to sit right within that large tract of theirs. Master Ning definitely wants to connect the land into one continuous piece. I reckon he still has designs on our two mu of fertile land."
Yang Yan's words made sense.
As Old Man Yang and Qin listened, their hearts involuntarily sank.
"You mean it? We really can't keep those two mu of fertile land?" Liu Cuiling had walked out from the kitchen at some point. Hearing the three of them talking, her expression darkened as she spoke.
Yang Yan sighed.
She had heard from her husband that Master Ning had always acted overbearingly. They were nothing but farmers who toiled with their faces to the yellow earth and backs to the sky—what could they possibly use to resist the local magnate Ning Family?
The atmosphere in the courtyard was as heavy as a waterlogged cotton wad. Old Man Yang knocked his pipe against the table, ash rustling down onto the blue-brick ground. He had no mood to refill it.
Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the courtyard gate.
There were hurried footsteps and the whinnying of cattle and horses—it sounded like quite a few people had arrived.
The few of them exchanged glances, their hearts thumping with foreboding.
They had just been talking about this; could it really be coming true so soon?
Old Man Yang abruptly stood up.
Yang Yan's face paled. "I'm afraid it's the Ning Family?"
Before the words had even finished.
The courtyard gate was knocked upon with loud thuds, and a slightly respectful voice came through: "This is Li Zhong, steward of the Ning Estate, here to pay a visit."
The Yang Family members grew even more alarmed and uncertain upon hearing him identify himself.
Old Man Yang's expression shifted. Suppressing his panic, he raised his voice. "The gate is unlocked. Please enter."
The gate was pushed open.
A middle-aged man with a smile on his face walked in, leading two servants. Behind him followed a sturdy yellow ox, with a brand-new blanket draped over its back.
Li Zhong's face was all smiles as he cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Master Yang, Madam Yang, and Lady Yang."
His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Old Man Yang, Yang Shouzhuo.
"I heard that your estate's plow ox was sold before the new year. Spring plowing is busy right now; you can't manage without an ox. My master specifically had me send one over for your estate's use."
Li Zhong's manner of speech was somewhat literary.
But as soon as these words came out, the Yang Family members were all frozen in place, as if immobilized by magic.
Yang Yan hurriedly stepped forward. "Uncle Li, my father-in-law is Shi Yunlin. This is my maiden family. Might I boldly ask if you have made a mistake?"
Li Zhong nodded in realization and looked at Yang Yan before him. "You are Yunlin's wife. Is this old gentleman named Yang Shouzhuo? Is he the grandfather of Young Master Yang Jing?"
Yang Yan was startled, then nodded.
Yang Shouzhuo was also taken aback, then nodded and said, "This old man is indeed Yang Shouzhuo, and I do have a grandson named Yang Jing, I wonder..."
"Haha, then there is no mistake, Old Master. This plow ox is indeed a gift for you." Li Zhong hurriedly said with a smile.
"Ah? T-this... Steward Li, we wouldn't dare accept this plow ox. The matter from earlier hasn't even been settled yet; please ask Master Ning not to blame us."
"Oh my, what sort of talk is this, Master Yang?" Li Zhong hurriedly waved his hand, his tone growing increasingly polite. "Before, us subordinates were ignorant and disturbed your estate. My master has already disciplined us."
At this point, Li Zhong's voice paused slightly, his tone dropping even lower, "Young Master Yang has achieved success in the martial arts and is now the prized disciple of Master Sun. His future is boundless. My master said that since we are all fellow villagers, we should look out for each other even more in the future."
Li Zhong's face was full of smiles as he bowed and cupped his hands. "If your estate has any needs in the future, just tell me. What can be done will absolutely not be delayed."
As he spoke, he signaled the servants to tie the ox to the post in the corner of the courtyard, then pulled out a small cloth bundle from his bosom. "This is a bit of silver—it's a token of my master's regard. Buy some nourishing supplements for the old master and old madam."
The actions of Li Zhong, this steward of the Ning Estate, left the Yang Family completely bewildered.
Liu Cuiling blinked, her mouth moving, but no words came out.
Yang Yan, standing to the side, was so shocked her jaw hung open.
Her husband's family had some dealings with this Steward Li; she knew this all too well.
Li Zhong was an old steward of several decades in the Ning Estate and held considerable status there. Normally he showed a degree of arrogance even toward the Shi father and son. When had he ever been so meek and deferential to any household?
Now he was actually being so respectful to her maiden family, even using an address like "Young Master"...
Seeing their hesitation, Li Zhong smiled again. "Since the gift has been delivered, I won't disturb you further. I must return to report to the master. If your estate encounters any difficulties, send someone to the Ning Estate at any time to let us know."
Having said that, he cupped his hands again and quickly left with the servants.
The courtyard returned to quiet. Only that plow ox remained, leisurely swishing its tail.
The members of the Yang Family looked at one another, still not coming back to their senses for a long while.