Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: Old Thinking
Chapter 304: Old Thinking
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Seeing her fleeing back, the previously unpredictable man’s eyes gradually softened, and a slight smile tugged on his lips.
Everyone had arrived save for Zhou Hengyang. Li Youcai was so anxious that he almost got someone to look for him. No sooner had he decided on a course of action than he noticed Zhou Hengyang standing at the door. “Hengyang, you’re finally here!”
“Something bad has happened; I just heard the news.” Li Youcai pulled Zhou Hengyang aside, worry coloring his words, “I’m afraid Little Wen might have bitten off more than she can chew.”
They had discussed this matter mere days before. Indeed, in the time since, Zhou Hengyang managed to deal with the other notable families in the village. Not only had he settled the matter regarding the division of land, but he also pushed for greater support for his newest plan. It was not a bad plan by any means. Other than the food handed over to the country as tax, the surplus belonged to individual households.
As long as one had a pair of hardworking hands, one need not fear starving.
The people in the village had been farmers for generations. If the land were distributed to their families, they would be willing to work hard and suffer. They would not need to fight with those who fished in troubled waters once the land was divided.
Naturally, no one objected to the plan or that they would need someone to take the lead. Zhou Hengyang promised to take charge of this initiative, bringing Trinity Village and the entirety of Canter Village – Greater and Lesser – under his management. The water supply of these three villages would be diverted accordingly.
Zhou Hengyang’s promise carried a lot of weight.
Lesser Canter Village was infamous for being unreasonable and overbearing, and its reputation was well-known throughout Clear Water County. The people of Lesser Canter Village alwavs ignored the countv insDectors whenever thev came around to conduct inspections. Every spring, when rice was sown and required water, the people of Lesser Canter Village would dam up the Clear Water River.
The villages downstream would immediately lose most of their water supply.
Trinity Village only got some water when Lesser Canter Village had had its fill.
The situation improved after Zhou Hengyang’s arrival the previous year. With him around, Lesser Canter Village no longer dared to bully Trinity Village. Zhou Hengyang’s promise benefited the village, so everyone supported his suggestion and, eventually, leadership.
This matter had kept Zhou Hengyang and Li Youcai busy the past few days.
Since Li Youcai said something bad had happened, it must mean some people were up to old tricks again.
“Please speak.” Zhou Hengyang’s reacted to Li Youcai’s news with calm restraint. Compared to Li Youcai’s anxiety, Zhou Hengyang might have seemed indifferent.
“The rest of the Su family has joined forces against Su Wen!” Li Youcai sighed. “They’re eyeing the land. After Su Qing and the others get married, the rest of the land will belong to Su Wen alone; her share is greater than anyone else in the village.”
“What about Liu Erniu and your third cousin’s families?”
The two families that Zhou Hengyang mentioned had more daughters than sons. Liu Erniu’s family had five daughters and only one son. In the future, when all five daughters were married off, all that land would belong to his only son.
Li Youcai’s third cousin’s family was in a similar situation, but his family had seven daughters and one son. The land that one son would get far outstripped Su Wen since it did not include the shares belonging to Li Youcai’s grandparents, parents, daughters, and granddaughters combined. The total land area they possessed was more than 100 mu.
“This… Does your family have a son?”
Zhou Hengyang sneered. “It’s still bullying even though Su Wen’s family has not produced a son!”
“I agree, but neither can I blame them. It’s all the fault of old-fashioned thinking. Don’t they know the era we’re now living in? Women can hold up half the sky, but those stuck to the old ways will hear nothing of modern ideology. There’s nothing I can do about them..”