As soon as it was dawn, four carriages drove out of Pingling Village and headed south. Of the twenty-three members of the family, except for Shi and his father, everyone else left and went to Pingshan Town, Xinqi County, Texas. I didn't bring any pots and pans at home, so Jiang Anyi promised to go to Pingshan Town, buy a house, and return 100 acres of fertile land.

Jiang Gongzi's words are credible, the family can settle down in Texas and live a good life, but people are cheap when they leave their hometowns, and Grandpa Shi is full of melancholy when he sees his family go away. He took a deep breath of the cigarette, and the thick smoke puffed out of his nose, blurring the wrinkled face.

"Ahem", the stone standing downwind was choked by the smoke and coughed, and Grandpa Shi hurriedly used his hand to fan the smoke. Helping Jiang Gongzi this time will inevitably offend Uncle Yi Yongbo and the Li family at the same time, Renzhou can't stay anymore, Jiang Gongzi has a university question, follow him, and the children and grandchildren may not have to farm like themselves in the future. knocked off the soot from the bamboo pole, and Grandpa Stone let it out.

The spring night in the hibiscus tent was warm, it was already the hour, and the Yanchun Building was still silent, Li Dongjie pushed the arm that was pressed on his body away, and got up in his clothes.

"Master Li, what are you doing when you get up so early, and then sleep with the slave family for a while." The powder arm snow in the silk tent is delicate.

Li Dongjie turned around and touched the snow-white skin, and said with a smile: "Master has something to do today, come and toss you little goblin at night." ”

People come and go on the street, carts are burdened, "cooking cakes" are being sold, and pedestrians are hurrying. Li Dongjie stretched his waist for a long time, stretched out his hand to wipe his face, and walked towards the yamen with high spirits. The county government has already opened the door, and Wan Lao Wu is standing at the door of the yamen and looking around.

"Old Five." Wan Lao Wu turned around when he heard the voice, and said with a sneer: "Master Li, you are here, I talked about it all yesterday, and finally let that old man He agree to hang Tian in Lord Li's name." ”

"Well, it's good, how much rent is the old man willing to pay?"

"Eight cents." Wan Lao Wu replied with a smile: "The rich man in the countryside, he couldn't stand the fright, and at first he promised nine cents, but the nephew next to him refused, so I reluctantly agreed to eight cents." ”

According to the normal name, it is mostly six or seven cents, of course, there are honest people who suffer, and there are also eight cents and nine cents. Li Dongjie touched his chin and became greedy, and said, "When did you ask him to change the contract?" ”

Wan Lao Wu pointed to the teahouse next to him with his hand and said with a smile: "This morning, I made an appointment to meet at this teahouse." ”

"Don't be in a hurry, you can see him again in an hour, let the old man be a little anxious, and then come to beg you, see if it can be set at nine cents, and it will be good for you." Old Five, you haven't eaten yet, come with me to Jinfeng Tower to eat something. Li Dongjie took Wan Lao Wu to the Jinfeng Building at the end of the street.

In the Yiyong Bo Mansion on West Street, the rising sun shines on the plaque, shining with dazzling golden light. As soon as Steward Tian stepped out of the corner gate, Grandpa Shi and Jiang Anyi greeted him.

Uncle Yiyong's family has a big business, in addition to the internal and external housekeepers, there are four stewards, Tian Yilei is just a small steward under the big steward of Zhongzhang. Last night, Tian Yilei reported to Steward Zhang that someone wanted to hang 200 acres of fertile land in the mansion, and Steward Zhang naturally would not come forward for such a trivial matter, so he told Tian Yilei to do it according to the rules.

I received a secret deed prepared in advance from the bookkeeper, and only the name and quantity were filled in the blank space. Tian Yilei was very happy, yesterday he said seven centi, the rules in the house are six centi, and the extra centi can't be obtained by himself, but you can talk to Old Man He about it and ask for benefits.

When he went out and saw Old Man He coming over, Tian Yilei was very satisfied, this old man was very sensible, and he didn't help him in vain. After a few words, Jiang Anyi and the others were about to go to the teahouse for breakfast, when a carriage galloped over and stopped at the gate.

The curtain was raised, and a man came out. Du Gongzhi, Jiang Anyi recognized it at a glance, lowered his head, and avoided his gaze.

Tian Yilei trotted forward to help, Du Ye's legs and feet were not dexterous, and this opportunity to shoot the horse was not available at any time. Although Du Ye is only the shopkeeper of Jinyufang, the two big housekeepers in the house have to nod their heads when they see him, and the young master has to call Uncle Du when he sees him, if he can tie up with this master, he can say a word for himself, and the position of the chief steward is not easy.

After getting out of the car, Du Gong shook off Tian Yilei's hand and said with a smile: "Okay, Xiao Tian, don't help." What are you doing so early, is there anyone who wants to hang the land in the house, the wind has been tight lately. Be careful,"

Seeing Du Gong step straight into the door of the mansion, a group of people stepped forward to greet the cold and ask for warmth, Tian Yilei scolded "a group of sycophants" in his heart, straightened his waist, held his head high and said to Old Man He: "Let's go, what's so beautiful." ”

After eating early, Jiang Anyi handed over the deed to Tian Yilei, and at the same time asked to come over to the secret deed, borrowed pen and ink to fill in the store. He Dongshui, the person who made the deed, is willing to put 200 acres of land outside the east gate of the county seat (from Baiyanping in the east, to Lushui Bridge in the west, connected to Chen Pingqing's house in the south, and connected to the avenue in the north) to negotiate and hang it in the name of Yiyongbo's mansion, and pay 6% rent every year. The land is actually owned by the He family, and there is no deed to prove it in the future. "There is the seal and handprint of Yang Xiangqing, the third brother of Uncle Yiyong, on the secret deed.

Yiyong Bofu, Yang Huaizhong has returned to the army, and it is Yang Xiangqing who is in charge of the house. Hearing that Du Gongzhi was looking for something to do, Yang Xiangqing didn't dare to slack off, he knew that Du Gongzhi was his brother's cronies, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was like a brother.

In the main hall, Du Gongzhi stood up with difficulty and saluted Yang Xiangqing, and said, "I've seen the third master." ”

Yang Xiangqing was just over forty, full of wealth, and his body was about to tear the silk clothes on his body. He smiled and waved his hand, and said, "Lao Du, don't come with me, if you have something to say, I will kowtow to you next time I stand up." ”

"Etiquette should not be abolished." Du Gong took a sip of tea directly and said, "I have something to tell the third master." Huang Laogen, a dilapidated settlement in the county, owed a debt of 1,000 taels of silver to the casino, and said that if he didn't pay it back for a month, he would use 200 acres of land in the east of the city to pay off the debt. I thought that the land was good, and secretly asked people to stare at him so that he could not sell the land. I was stunned, and I bought it without saying a word. The kid I sent to see Huang Laogen didn't pay attention, and actually let the guy surnamed Huang take the money and run away. ”

Yang Xiangqing didn't make a sound, one thousand taels of silver is not a trivial matter, why is Du Gongzhi so careless.

Du Gong saw it directly, and he was very unhappy, if he changed the marshal, or the young marshal, he would laugh and make fun of himself, and the matter would be gone, the third master is a scholar, and his strength is small. How much silver did my Lao Du save for the house in a year, what is this thousand taels.

Yang Xiangqing suddenly remembered that this morning, Steward Zhang told him that there was a 200-acre piece of land hanging in the east of the city, could it be this land. As soon as he said it, Du Gongzhi remembered that he met Xiao Tian in front of the mansion, could it be this land.

Du Gongzhi stood up, arched his hand and said: "The bell must be untied, this matter is caused by me, I will personally go to see what is going on?" ”

Yang Xiangqing saw that Du Gongzhi's face was full of unhappiness, so he hurriedly got up to stop him, and said with a smile: "Old Du, you are still so quick tempered, how dare you work for this little thing." Someone came and asked Zhang Ziliang to go to the yamen and ask Tian Yilei about the 200 acres of land in the east of the city. ”

The county yahufang, after receiving the land deed, the Qin scribe was embarrassed, Wan Lao Wu had already greeted him, saying that he had transferred the land to Lord Li, why did the Bofu come to the house, this land was hung in the name of the Bofu, and the two families had robbed each other for the land, but it was difficult for the people to do things.

The Qin scribe knew the Tian Steward, warmly beckoned him to sit, and was busy boiling water and making tea, the Tian Steward enjoyed this feeling of being taken seriously, and did not urge the Qin Steward. Taking advantage of the gap in carrying water, the Qin scribe called a servant and said, "Go and find Li Tou, or find Wan Lao Wu, and say that there is a problem with the 200 acres of land." ”

The official left in a hurry, the Qin scribe returned to the house, and inked for a while, Tian Steward was a little impatient, and said with a smile: "Okay, Lao Qin, I'll talk about it later, I'll do the business first, and my brother will have something to do later." ”

Unable to offend both sides, the Qin scribe had to take the land deed, pretending to ask Old Man He, and said, "Old Man He, have you thought clearly, this land was only bought yesterday, will it be transferred to Bofu?" As he spoke, the Qin scribe squeezed his eyebrows at Grandpa Shi with the steward of Tian behind his back, but unfortunately the pretty eyes were shown to the blind man, and Grandpa Shi lowered his head and smoked vigorously.

"Of course, Bofu only collects six cents." Jiang Anyi interjected recklessly. Qin scribe couldn't wait to block Jiang Anyi's mouth, how could this secret matter be put on the table, fortunately, there was no one else.

Scribe Qin glared at Jiang Anyi and shouted, "Don't talk nonsense. ”

Afraid that Jiang Anyi would open his mouth, Qin scribe took the deed to the table to register, and the two sides drew a pledge, and when they were about to deliver, Li Dongjie ran in with Wan Lao Wuyi sweating and shouted: "Wait." ”

Tian Yilei was stunned for a moment, got up and said with a smile: "It was originally Master Li, I don't know what to advise." ”

Li Dongjie recognized Tian Yilei, but he didn't dare to put on too much of it, and said with a smile: "Steward Tian, I'm really sorry, this old man said yesterday that 200 acres of land will be sold to me, and I pay attention to doing things first, first come, first come, this land cannot be sold to your uncle's mansion." ”

Raising his leg and kicking Wan Lao Wu next to him, Li Dongjie said: "If this kid hadn't been delayed early, the formalities would have been completed." ”

Wan Lao Wu was very hurt, who said that he had to wait, on the surface, he could only nod again and again, and said: "It's all my fault, Old Man He, didn't we say yes, I signed the contract this morning, how can you talk and not count." ”

Tian Yilei frowned, the ownership of 200 acres of land is not a big deal, but the chief steward Zhang already knows about this matter, and he also praised himself a few words, if he messes up, let the chief steward see himself, you must know that there are many people in the mansion who are staring at their position.

Thinking of this, Tian Yilei set his eyes on He Dongshui and said sharply: "Old man He, what's going on?" ”

Wan Lao Wu also shouted majestically on the side: "Old man He, you can think clearly before answering, it doesn't matter if I already told you yesterday, don't be confused." ”

Grandpa Shi trembled, his mouth trembled and he couldn't say a word for a long time. Jiang Anyi couldn't help it, and said: "What is there to say about this, the deed is in our hands, and if you want to sell it to us, don't treat us as fools, whoever has a good price will naturally sell it to whom." ”

That's right, Tian Yilei came to the spirit, what am I afraid of Tian Qi in my hands, when will our Uncle Mansion be afraid of the Li family. Tian Yilei smiled and said: "Master Li, I'm sorry, what this little brother said makes sense, this Tian family voluntarily sold it to Bofu, don't stop it." ”

was actually teased by the old farmers in the countryside, Li Dongjie lost this face, and shouted loudly: "No, this field has to be sold to our Li family." ”

Tian Yilei was also angry, and said with a sneer: "Master Li wants to suppress people with power, and he can see people clearly before speaking." ”

Qin scribe and Wan Lao Wu hurriedly persuaded each other, and the house became a commotion.

"What's wrong? It's like a mess, is it still a yamen, it's become a vegetable field. There was a shout in front of the door, and the Ma County Order appeared.