Chapter 37: Wang Xian Visits

  Except for Liu Xiaohui being too young, the rest of the Liu family endured a sleepless night.

  The next morning, when the sky was just brightening, Old Liu got up and extinguished the red candles that had been burning all night. He then added incense to the ancestral tablets before telling his family members to go rest.

  So, on New Year's Day, the old willow family spent it in a dreamy sleep.

  Liu Yitiao is not a sleepy person. Over a decade of persistent training in Jeet Kune Do has helped him develop good habits and a strong physique. Generally, he only needs five to six hours of sleep per day. So while his family members are still fast asleep, he gets up, stretches his body in the courtyard, practices some basic movements, and then starts taking care of the eleven oxen at home.

  Fodder, drinking water and sanitary conditions of cowshed.

  The swelling on the cow's nose has subsided, and now it only needs to be fitted with a yoke to start plowing immediately. It's just that I don't know when Wang Zhihong promised someone would arrive, and whether the curved shaft plow can be made or not.

  All this has to do with whether he can open up the wasteland before spring plowing and plant the spring millet. If he can't make it, he will miss a season, one season is thirty mu, how much loss will that be?

  Although it is unknown what the average yield of spring wheat was in the Tang Dynasty, Liu Yitiao was confident that under his command, his over 300 mu of land would have a minimum yield of 300-400 jin per mu. This is not bragging; if he had chemical fertilizer or compound fertilizer, he could increase this number even more.

  One mu is four hundred, so three hundred mu would be one million two hundred thousand catties. This is all money!

  Liu Yitiao was polishing, suddenly saw Huangshan bringing Wang Zhihong rushing towards their home from afar. He didn't know why he came at this time, Liu Yitiao patted the grass stuck on his body and got up to welcome him.

  Two men were riding horses at a very fast speed, and just as Liu Yitiao had reached the gate, they also arrived.

  "Master Wang, Captain Huang. How do you have the leisure to come to my humble abode today?" Liu Yitiao opened the gate and bowed with a smile: "It's cold outside, please come in quickly!"

  Wang Zhihong and Huang Shan dismounted one after another, Wang Zhihong handed the reins to Huang Shan, and said politely to Liu: "Tang suddenly came to visit, it's really impolite, please don't blame me, Brother Liu!"

  "Where is this, Master Wang? I'm already delighted that you're willing to come to my humble abode, how could I possibly mind? Please come in, Master Wang! Captain Huang, please do the same!" Liu Yitiao extended his hand inviting Wang Zhihong to enter. After securing the horses, Huang Shan followed closely behind.

  Arriving at the main hall, Wang Zhihong and Huang Shan first lit an incense stick in front of the ancestral tablet of Lao Liu's family, made a simple offering, before sitting down with Liu Yitiao as host and guest.

  Liu Yitiao said: "Lord Wang and Captain Huang, please sit down for a moment. I'll go call my second brother to pay respects to his benefactor."

  "Hey, Liu Xiaoge," Wang Zhihong called out to stop Liu Yitiao, saying: "It's hard work to stay up all night, you don't have to go call him, and I also can't stay here for long, I'll have to hurry back soon."

  After waiting for a while, Wang Zhihong said: "Coming to visit on New Year's Day is indeed very abrupt. However, if I didn't come today, it would be difficult to see each other again in the future."

  "Oh?" Liu Yitiao sat up straight and said: "What's going on? Could it be that Lord Wang has been promoted?"

  Wang Zhihong laughed and said, "Brother Liu is really clever, guessing it out in one go. The other day, the Emperor bestowed a reward, recalling Wang to serve as the Zhongzhou Governor's Secretary in the capital, and tomorrow is the day of departure."

  "Could it really be true?! Congratulations to Lord Wang!" Liu Yitiao said with congratulatory words. From the ninth rank down to the sixth rank, no wonder Wang Zhihong was so excited.

  "Haha," Wang Zhihong looked at Liu Yitiao and smiled: "Wang Mou is grateful for this kindness, Liu Xiaoge and I understand each other's hearts. This time I came to bid farewell, thank you, and also to fulfill my previous promise."

  After finishing speaking, Wang Zhihong made a hand gesture to Huang Shan, and Huang Shan took out a notebook from his pocket and handed it to Liu Yitiao.

  Wang Zhihong said, "The records here are all about some farmers who want to come and cultivate the land, a total of 91 households, which is enough for you to open up and farm. As for the commission, you can pay according to the market price. You can also negotiate with them yourself."

  "Besides, after Wang Mou leaves office, the next county magistrate will be replaced by Li Zhidu. Mr. Li and Wang Mou are old acquaintances, I have informed him, if Liu Xiaoge has any difficulties in the future, he can go to him for help."

  "Thank you, Lord Wang, for your trouble. I will never forget the kindness of Lord Wang." Liu Yitiao stood up and bowed deeply to Wang Zhihong. Everyone was about to leave, but he could still think so thoroughly about his future; this favor, Liu Yitiao accepted.

  "Also," Wang Zhihong continued, "Wang Kui's case has had some changes. Liu Peng used his connections to persuade the Crown Prince, and managed to save Wang Kui's life. Now Wang Kui has been sentenced to have his household registration cancelled, and will be exiled to a border region for 50 years of hard labor. The land in their household has also been confiscated by the government. Among the 91 farming households recorded by Bo Zhong earlier, eight or nine out of ten were selected from Wang Kui's place. They are all experienced old farmers who can save you a lot of trouble."

  "Liu Peng?" Isn't this old man already out of favor? How is he still jumping around? Liu Yitiao worriedly said: "Lord Wang, since Liu Peng has now intervened in this matter, do you think he will take revenge on me? If he really comes, we common people are afraid that we can't withstand it?"

  Wang Zhihong waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about this for now. Liu Peng has always been careful with what he does, he won't act rashly. Besides, you didn't have much to do with this matter in the first place, you were just a victim of Wang's bullying. If Liu Peng wants to settle accounts, he will only hold Wang accountable."

  "Now that's settled, I hope Lord Wang will be more careful in the future. After all, it's easy to avoid open attacks, but hard to guard against sneak ones." Liu Yitiao finally felt at ease. Although he wasn't afraid, a real fight would bring a lot of trouble. Since ancient times, ordinary people have avoided fighting with officials, unless absolutely necessary, no one wants to make an enemy of an official from the imperial court, even if that official is corrupt.

  Wang Zhihong nodded, this point is that Liu Yitiao didn't remind him and he already knew. He reached out from his bosom and took out a small copper token, handed it to Liu Yitiao and said: "In the future, if you have something, you can also come to Chang'an to find me, take this small token to my mansion, someone will receive you."

  Liu Yitiao took over the small order with both hands and said: "Thank you, Lord Wang, for your concern. In the future, if there is leisure time, Liu will definitely come to the mansion to pay his respects."

  "Hmm," Wang Zhihong stood up and said, "In that case, I'll take my leave first."

  Liu Yitiao knew he still had official business to attend to, so he didn't detain them any longer. He personally escorted them to the gate and said: "Farewell, Your Honor. I wish you a smooth journey tomorrow."

  Wang Zhihong rode his horse, galloped up to Liu and cupped one hand in the other in salute, saying: "Thanks for your kind words, Brother Liu! I'll take my leave first!"

  With one swing of his whip, the two of them vanished into the dust.