Xi Bao had been waiting with the mule for a while. Hearing what Old Jin said, he led the mule into the field, with Boss Jin following behind to handle the plow.
"My boy here, though young in age, is more capable than his older brothers. He’s got a sharp mind, full of bright ideas. Out of the two of us old folks, he’s the one we dote on the most." Old Jin looked at his son with eyes nearly blooming with pride. "Old Fourth, big sister, what do you two think of my Xi Bao?"
Lian Shouxin wasn’t paying much attention to Old Jin’s words; his focus was on sothing else entirely.
Having soone help with the farming was a good thing. However, among tenant farrs, reciprocity was a common practice. His family and the Old Jin Family were neither relatives nor friends; why would they go out of their way to help his family with such grand gestures?
As a farr, Lian Shouxin knew these social niceties all too well; thus, he left Old Jin behind and hurriedly went to intercept the big blue mule.
The head of the big blue mule was almost touching Lian Shouxin’s.
"Uncle, you better step aside, or the mule’s gonna kick you," said Xi Bao.
Lian Shouxin stood his ground, hands outstretched, not moving an inch.
Xi Bao, having no choice, pulled on the reins and stopped, his large eyes gazing intently at Lian Shouxin.
"Brother Old Jin, we farmstead folks don’t bother with those empty formalities. I’m a straight talker," Lian Shouxin stood there, turned his head towards Old Jin and said, "Your family has its own land to till. Dropping everything to co and help us with our fields is sothing I cannot accept. Besides, it’s not like we can’t manage on our own."
Lian Shouxin’s refusal was clear. But while the offer could be refused, Old Jin’s dignity had to be preserved. Otherwise, it would offend Old Jin, thereby creating animosity.
"Brother Old Jin, I am honored by your high regard, and I accept this kindness. Soday soon, I’ll invite Brother Old Jin for a drink, and we can have a good chat. Our relationship isn’t based on one or two days, nor on this single matter. We have ti ahead of us, right?" Lian Shouxin added.
"Old Jin..." At this mont, Old Master Lian ca over from the neighboring field.
"Oh, Uncle Lian, you’re looking well," Old Jin said with a laugh, greeting Old Master Lian with a clasped fist.
Lian Manman rembered that when the Lian Family borrowed money at high interest rates, Old Jin used to address Old Master Lian as a brother. Now, Old Jin voluntarily lowered himself to calling him an uncle. Lian Manman tilted her head, mulling it over.
"Old Jin, we truly appreciate your kind offer. You’re a righteous man, known to everyone within these ten-mile and eight-village radius... We’ve already discussed this, my fourth son’s field has us to work it. If we ever find ourselves short-handed or in need, we’ll co to you for help, and you better not turn us down then, haha."
The conversation had reached this point where Lian Shouxin was adamant about not accepting their help, leaving Old Jin with plenty of face and future room for maneuvering. Old Jin thought for a bit and then waved to his sons.
"Old Fourth, you folks are too polite. Okay then, let’s leave it at that. I’ll take my nephews over there to work, and if you need anything, just holler. I promise no objections," Old Jin said heartily, "Brother, I’ll look for you to share a drink another day."
"The treat should be on ," Lian Shouxin insisted.
"It’s all the sa," Old Jin laughed heartily and left with his sons in tow.
Xi Bao was carried by one of his brothers onto a mule and even turned back several tis to look at Lian Manman’s family’s field.
Watching Old Jin and his family leave, everyone in the Lian Family breathed a sigh of relief.
Old Master Lian waved to Lian Shouyi and the others, indicating that they should take a break. Lian Shouxin also suggested that Lady Zhang and the rest should rest. Wu Lang and Xiao Qi refused to stop and ran to take the calf to drink and graze. Lady Zhang, Lian Manman, and Lian Zhizhi sat together, drinking water and catching their breath.
Old Master Lian didn’t go back to his own field; he filled his pipe with dry tobacco, lit it, and began to puff away.
"Old Fourth, what’s going on? Since when do you have dealings with Old Jin’s lot?" Old Master Lian asked Lian Shouxin.
"Dad, I don’t really have any dealings with them... I’m also not clear on what’s going on," Lian Shouxin replied with a troubled shake of his head.
"The old saying goes: If courtesies are offered, they seek sothing from you. Reflect on it well and make so preparations. We cannot afford to provoke a family like Old Jin’s," Old Master Lian sighed quietly.
"Dad, I know," Lian Shouxin nodded and mumbled to himself, "They have money, power, people, land... What do I have that Old Jin would need sothing from ?"
"We’ll need to look into this," Old Master Lian said, then walked off to watch others tend to their crops.
Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, the brothers, ca over, one after the other.
"The Jin Family is indeed strong and robust," Lian Shouyi sat down beside Lian Shouxin, enviously comnting, "Just look at their plow rig, pulled by two big mules, it plows so smoothly, and in no ti they could plow all these acres for you. With several sons and long-term workers, such work is nothing to them. If he offers to help with the fields, why not let him? You know what kind of family the Jins are; we usually can’t even co close to their level. Look at you, blocking them as if they were after your life."
"Second brother, I don’t have any relations with them. Such a favor isn’t easily repaid," Lian Shouxin disagreed.
"He ca to you on his own, you didn’t ask for it. There’s no reason to refuse free help, overthinking the favor issue. You’re too stubborn," Lian Shouyi said, taking Lian Shouxin’s water bottle and taking several gulps.
"Old Fourth, why do you only bring plain boiled water? Couldn’t you have added so tea leaves or sugar?"
Lian Shouxin slightly frowned and did not engage with Lian Shouyi. He was pondering. He had t Old Jin twice recently, and Old Jin had treated him like a close friend, showing exceptional warmth. And today, he brought his sons to help with the fields.
Why?
Lady Zhang sat not far away, watching her two daughters beside her, and she too was troubled.
××...×××
Here’s the first update, trying for a second tonight, pinkies! (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for it with recomndations, monthly tickets, on qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
User Comments
0 comments from readers