Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

The sound echoed throughout the entire courtyard.

Zhang Sanlang walked up to Zhang Shouren, almost touching his chest, and said, "Let's go to the yamen. No one's going home today until we get to the bottom of this."

He reached out and grabbed Zhang Shouren's wrist, the same arm that Old Sun had grabbed earlier.

Just as Zhang Shouren was about to shake him off, his father had already placed his hand on his shoulder, pulled Zhang Shouren behind him, and asked him in a low voice what he wanted to do.

Zhang Sanlang spoke as if he were reporting official business in the clerk's office: "Those who sever ties with their relatives and then seize their land shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane and one year of penal servitude according to the law. Forging household registration documents is also a crime according to the law, and making false accusations will result in an additional thirty strokes of the cane."

"If an investigation is conducted in court, the original letter of severance, the household registration records, and the testimonies of the clan elders must all be laid out in the open and recorded in the case file."

"This case will be handled according to the facts no matter which level it goes to. Even if it is reported to the prefectural government, what will be written on the case file that was copied back? It will say that he severed ties with his relatives to protect his career and forced his father to abandon his elder brother."

He loosened his grip on Zhang Shouren's wrist, saying, "Old Zhang, you should weigh the consequences yourself. Zhang Silang will be holding the provincial examination next year, and according to regulations, candidates must report their relatives for three generations. This case file regarding familial ties will stay with Zhang Shouzhi for life."

The courtyard suddenly fell silent.

After a while, Zhou Qing took two steps forward from the steps, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang's father, and said with a smile, "Uncle Zhang, Grandpa Zhang, Third Brother Zhang, we are all family after all. If you have anything to say, please sit down and talk slowly."

He first bowed slightly to Zhang's father, then turned to Zhang Sanlang and nodded. "I heard a bit about what happened today. The matter of the ancestral land is, in the end, still a family matter for your Zhang family. Although the kinship has been severed, we are still all related by the same name."

"Family matters are best discussed behind closed doors by family members. Spreading them around doesn't look good for anyone. It might not only attract the attention of the authorities, but it would also embarrass the neighbors. Why bother?"

"Brother Zhang is a government official, and he knows the law best. Old Man Zhang is also a respected figure in Juancheng; he's run his shop for decades. If Grandpa Zhang takes over the shop, he'll still be doing business on the street. If things get ugly, it'll be so awkward if we bump into each other on the street."

He then turned to Zhang's father, lowered his voice, and spoke as if he were speaking from the heart to someone he would only say to his own family, "Uncle Zhang, Third Brother Zhang is not an unreasonable person."

"Look at what he just said; every word he uttered was meant to save face for your Zhang family. If he really wanted to escalate things, why wait until today?"

"Severing ties is for the sake of the fourth branch's future, while replenishing the ancestral property is for the livelihood of the third branch. Since ties have been severed, let's part amicably, go our separate ways, and not interfere with each other. Why damage our harmony?"

As he spoke, his eyes darted back and forth between Zhang's father and Zhang Sanlang, a smile always on his face, his lips moving swiftly, managing to please both sides perfectly.

After he finished speaking, he stepped back and stood on the steps, trying not to offend anyone.

Zhang's father blurted out that he wanted to sue the authorities, because he thought his son was still the same Sanlang who would only bow his head when scolded.

But the person in front of me spoke in a tone that was neither angry nor flustered, and looked at people with the same eyes as someone reading a case file that had nothing to do with him in court.

He knew better than anyone else what caused the severing of ties.

For Silang's future, the Zhang family has already sold off their old house.

Even if it meant giving up another ten acres of land, I couldn't risk Silang's reputation.

Having thought it through, he reached out and pulled Zhang Shouren's shoulder back a little. "Fine, give him Zutian. Dalang, let's go."

Zhang Shouren turned around and his lips moved.

Zhang's father didn't look at him, but only at Zhang Sanlang. The anger he had shown when he entered the door was gone, replaced by a cold scrutiny. He slowly turned to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Upon hearing this, Zhang's father stopped in his tracks.

Zhang Sanlang sneered, "Since you're here, let's take care of something at the same time. The old deed for the ancestral land is still in the Zhang family's hands. The severance of kinship has been signed, the household registration has been changed, and the red deed has been stamped. Leaving a copy of the original deed is useless to you."

"This land belongs to me, and the old deed should also belong to me. Old Zhang, go back and get it now, and let's get things settled tonight. If it's not in my hands by tonight, I'll go to the county government tomorrow to file a complaint and get the ownership of these ten acres of land completely settled."

Zhang's father had his back to him, his shoulders trembling slightly.

He didn't turn around, but just turned his head to the side. "Big Brother, go back and get it."

Zhang Shouren widened his eyes and continued to argue.

Zhang's father raised his hand to stop him, his voice hoarse like sandpaper, "Bring him the land deeds of the ancestral land."

Zhang Shouren had no choice but to grit his teeth and stride toward the alley entrance.

The night wind blew so hard that his sleeves were filled with air. He subconsciously rolled up his sleeves and his fingers touched the red mark on his wrist, which was from when Old Sun pinched him.

"That old dog, he's got some strength." He spat and strode toward the main street.

There was no one else in the alley, only the crunching sound of his footsteps on the gravel. The sound bounced back and forth against the walls on both sides, as if someone was following behind him.

The east side of the city is a poor man's den. The old house is in a dilapidated courtyard. The location is remote, the house is old, and someone has died there. Even if you sell it properly, you can't get twenty strings of cash.

Now, the monthly rent of four hundred cash is nearly five strings of cash a year, which is equivalent to half a month's net profit of the shop.

The ten mu of ancestral land yielded nearly five guan in rent each year, a guaranteed income regardless of drought or flood.

The two incomes combined amounted to about ten strings of cash a year, equivalent to the shop's monthly net profit, and were simply given to the third branch of the family. From now on, these two entries could be wiped off his books.

This is really painful!

He mentally calculated that Silang's future was more valuable than ten acres of land; if he could really pass the imperial examination, he would get his money back with interest.

But what if you don't win?

He dared not think any further, and tripped over a pebble, stumbling a step.

The old house and the ancestral field have already been fed dogs, so we can't afford any more problems with Shiro's side.

He gritted his teeth and continued walking forward.

When Zhang Shouren returned about half an hour later, he was clutching an old cloth bag in his hand.

The cloth bag was yellowed, the edges were frayed, and a faded silk rope was tied to the opening.

He walked into the courtyard, didn't look at anyone, and put the cloth bundle directly on the table in front of Zhang Sanlang.

"for you."

Zhang Sanlang untied the hemp rope and opened the cloth bag.

Inside were several neatly folded sheets of mulberry paper; though the paper was old, the writing was still clear.

He flipped through them one by one; the ancestral land deeds, the lease agreements from previous years, and the handwriting of several generations of the Zhang family were all on them.

The last page is signed by Zhang Shiqing.

He folded the contract again and put it in his pocket.

Zhang Shouren stared at him. "The old contract for ten acres of ancestral land, along with this dilapidated house, is all yours. From now on, you go your way, and I'll go mine. We're severing ties completely, with no further connection whatsoever."

Zhang Sanlang patted his chest. "Don't worry, Uncle Zhang. Even if I, Zhang Shouli, were to beg for food in the future, I would avoid the Zhang family's gate and never come to their door."

Zhang Shouren glanced at him, then turned and left.

Mr. Zhang stood at the gate of the courtyard, leaning on his cane, his shadow stretched long and slanted by the moonlight.

A suppressed cough was carried by the night wind, which turned a corner in the empty alley and then dissipated.