Free Web NovelChapter 51: Chapter 51: Trivial Matters
Da Liushu Village.
The second son of Fang Mu’s family had become a Martial Scholar. And a Martial Scholar was different from a Civil Scholar; they seemed more prestigious, even qualifying for an exemption of three hundred mu of land tax and the poll tax for ten people.
His family only had a dozen or so mu of land and a household of four.
This meant they had over two hundred mu of land tax exemption and a poll tax exemption for six people to spare.
The leftover poll tax exemption wasn’t much, so no one really thought about it.
But the remaining tax exemption for over two hundred mu of land had become the talk of Da Liushu Village for the past ten-odd days.
Countless members of the Fang clan wanted to commend their land to him.
By doing so, they could farm without paying taxes, only needing to pay rent to Fang Yue’s Family.
Judging by the situation with Master Liu’s family in the village, the rent for such commended land was only thirty percent of the former tax.
And that was thirty percent of the tax *before* the imperial court raised it.
If they commended their land, they wouldn’t have to pay so much in land tax anymore. Life wouldn’t be so hard.
Fang Yue’s family were fellow clansmen, so even if they commended their land, they certainly wouldn’t be treated harshly. They wouldn’t have to worry about their property being "seized through trickery and force."
However, because of what happened that day, many Fang clansmen who had originally been close to the family were now too embarrassed to visit the Fang Family, so they naturally couldn’t bring up the matter of commending their land.
"Husband, I heard that Fang Bazi next door commended all twelve mu of his paddy fields to the family of Fang Zhi... oh, I mean, the young master Fang Yue.
I also saw them steam a huge basket of cornbread buns today. They said they were finally going to have a proper, filling meal."
In Fang Liang’s home, his wife was deeply envious, but then her thoughts turned to their own current situation.
Their neighbors, who used to be worse off than them, could now eat their fill.
A pang of bitterness struck her heart. She glared at her husband. "This is all your fault! If you hadn’t gone to join in on the trouble that day, our family could be stuffing ourselves with cornbread buns today too!"
"But... but Clan Elder Fang Suo forced me!"
Fang Liang was filled with regret. Although he had entertained the idea of taking advantage of the situation at the time, he hadn’t said a single word during the incident.
He never expected that the Fang family’s second son, Fang Yue, would actually make something of himself, quietly going off and returning as a Martial Scholar.
He had become a Scholar Master, a Martial Scholar Master at that, whose status and position were no less than Scholar Liu’s.
"Forced you? Someone forced you? Your legs are on your own body! If you hadn’t gone, how could he have forced you!"
"Shut up! Don’t say another word!"
"You’re the one who made the mistake, and now you dare to yell at me?"
Hearing this, Fang Liang’s wife immediately lunged at him.
For a moment, the house was filled with the rising and falling sounds of wailing.
~~~~~~~
This sort of thing wasn’t limited to Fang Liang’s family in Da Liushu Village. It could be said that many of the families who had participated that day experienced a similar scene.
However, none of this had anything to do with Fang Yue.
Another ten-odd days passed, and the weather grew colder.
The north wind howled, signaling the imminent arrival of winter.
Fang Yue’s life returned to its peaceful routine. Just as before, when he wasn’t focused on his cultivation and training, he would go into the mountains every so often to hunt fierce beasts and gather some herbs and other mountain goods.
This trip to the county seat to be assessed as a Martial Scholar had changed his family’s life. Their status in the village had risen to the point where it was nearly on par with the family of the established landlord, Master Liu.
As for the Fang clan elder, Fang Yue hadn’t even had to teach him a lesson himself; he had already been dismissed by numerous furious Fang clansmen during a clan meeting.
Then, a close relative of his father, Fang Mu, was chosen as the new clan elder.
In reality, this was only because Fang Mu had adamantly refused the position. Otherwise, he would have been the one chosen.
From this, one could see just how immense an impact a change in status could have on one’s life and position in this ancient society.
One day, early in the morning, specks of snow began to fall on the houses of Da Liushu Village. Winter had arrived, much earlier than in previous years.
"Yu’er, I called you here today because there’s something I need to tell you." In Fang Hu’s house, Fang Hu, holding a teacup, spoke to Fang Yue as he walked through the door.
"Master, please speak," Fang Yue asked respectfully.
Even though he had become a Martial Scholar and his status had risen, his respect for Fang Hu remained unchanged.
"An old friend from the Prefecture City wrote to me. He said the new Captain of the Guard Army in the Prefecture City intends to reorganize the Guard Army. This is an opportunity, and I want to take Ergou to see it," Fang Hu said.
If Ergou joined the Prefecture City’s City Guard Army, with his old friend’s connections, arranging a mid-level officer position wouldn’t be a problem. If he could accumulate enough merit in the future and exchange it for the imperial court’s Cultivation Secret Medicine, then Ergou’s cultivation Talent might just improve.
"I have already decided to leave today. My things are packed. This is why I called you here. As for the White Tiger Boxing Hall, you’re a Martial Scholar now. You have more face than I do, so I don’t have to worry about your future cultivation."
Fang Hu sighed softly. He had actually wanted to take Fang Yue to the Prefecture City as well.
Unfortunately, Fang Yue was now a Martial Scholar. In the future, he was likely to pass the Martial Examination to advance his rank as a Martial Scholar, and perhaps go even further.
There was no need to take him to the Prefecture City; that would only hinder Fang Yue’s future development.
"Master... take care." Fang Yue hadn’t expected Fang Hu to leave, and for a moment, he was reluctant to see him go.
The Great Wei Dynasty had Two Capitals and Thirteen Prefectures. Their Xiahe County was under the jurisdiction of Kun’an Prefecture.
Xiahe County was in the Northwest of Kun’an Prefecture, over two thousand li from Kun’an Prefecture City.
Once Fang Hu left, he likely wouldn’t be back for a long time.
And even if they communicated by letter, a round trip for mail would be measured in months.
However, he couldn’t possibly stop Fang Hu.
After all, Fang Hu was leaving to seek a better future.
"After I’m gone, if anything comes up at the White Tiger Boxing Hall, you can still go find your Master Zhang for help.
Even though things didn’t work out between you and Shu’er, I’m sure your Master Zhang won’t hold it against you."
Fang Hu continued to advise him.
In truth, he knew that Zhang Boyang had tried to set up Fang Yue and Zhang Shu.
It was just that he had no intention of meddling in Fang Yue’s private life.
He only taught Martial Arts; he didn’t plan on managing anything else.
Later, when he heard Fang Yue talk about it upon his return, he found out that it hadn’t worked out.
But that was for the best. Otherwise, with him caught in the middle and knowing Fang Yue’s personality, he wouldn’t have known how to refuse.
After that, Fang Hu checked Fang Yue’s Martial Arts Cultivation again. freёwebnoѵel.com
He also gave Fang Yue some pointers on the finer points of the Martial Dao, and more than two hours passed unknowingly.
Then, under Fang Yue’s watchful gaze, Fang Hu left Da Liushu Village with Fang Ergou. Their figures receded into the wind and snow, growing smaller and smaller until they disappeared completely.
~~~~~~
Another month or so passed, and the time came to the depths of winter.
The weather grew even colder.
[Time is fleeting. Heaven rewards the diligent. Talent +1]
