Chapter One: Perplexity

  "Today, I invited everyone to come over because Gao has something to discuss with you all. Since I've taken over the affairs here, it's only right that I meet with each of you. Meeting individually would be too troublesome, so I've gathered everyone together. Now that we're all here, I'd like to ask: do any of you have any objections to your current rent?" Gao Hua Yuan didn't waste words and got straight to the point.

  As soon as this matter was mentioned, the tenant farmers who rented thin land immediately became lively and crowded forward to speak. Xue Yan's face sank, his eyes stared, and he shouted: "What are you crowding for? Speak one by one!" As he spoke, he pointed to someone to speak first.

  A thin old man came out, wearing tattered clothes, and walked to High Hua Yuan's table with a quivering gait. He bowed his waist and said: "Little old man has paid respects to the official! My name is Lu Lao Shi, I rented several hectares of land from your High family, but those lands are all thin lands! However, last year when High Guan Shiqing was in charge, he said my lands were good lands and wanted me to pay rent according to the rate for good lands. Little old man had no choice but to agree, but this year's harvest is about to come down, if it's calculated as a good land, little old man will have to flee next year! Please, young master, you must show mercy! Even if you reduce a little bit, little old man will be eternally grateful!" As he spoke, tears flowed down his face, and he was about to kneel down in front of High Hua Yuan.

  Gao Huaiyuan quickly got up, waved his hand to let Li Tong hold back the old man, nodded and said: "Don't worry, old man, I'll understand it first, then we'll talk about it later! You go back first, I'll ask questions and then say!"

  Next to him, a white fat man suddenly interjected: "I say Lao Ru, how can you be so dishonest? Those lands of yours are obviously good fields, how can you say they're thin fields? You may have cheated Master Xiao, but you can't cheat me Qin Xiong. I think it's just that you didn't take care of your land well, that's why..."

  "You're talking nonsense! You... you Qin Pangzi, you're spouting blood! Your fields are good fields, but you're paying rent as if they were thin fields. Of course, you're not in a hurry!..." Lu Lao Shi immediately retorted, his expression extremely agitated, and some people beside him who were similar to him rolled up their sleeves, ready to reason with Qin Xiong.

  "Alright! Everyone, stop arguing. Qin Xiong, since you've spoken up, I'd like to ask you, which piece of land did you rent?" Gao Huaiyuan waved his hand for everyone to be quiet, then turned to this suddenly outspoken Qin Baozi and asked him.

  "Oh! As for the land I rented from Young Master Dong, it's that piece of land facing south by the riverbank, about 30 mu, all thin fields. It seems like it'll still be a bit of trouble for Young Master Dong later on. This is a small gift I've prepared for Young Master Dong, please accept it!" As he spoke, Qin Xiong moved closer and tried to put the package in his hand onto the table for Gao Hua Yuan.

  The rustic farmers next to them immediately shouted: "Nonsense! If your field is considered thin, then our fields are wasteland!..."

  Qin Xiong suddenly found himself the target of everyone's criticism, so he hastily turned his head and shouted: "What are you making a fuss about? You bunch of guys, is it because you saw that I managed to make this thin field a bit better this year, and now you're all jealous? Let me tell you, don't even think about cheating our young master!

  Gao Huaiyuan sneered inwardly, he had already figured out this Qin Xiong, who was actually a cousin of Gao Lao Gen's wife. Relying on his relationship with Gao Lao Gen, he had squeezed out a tenant two years ago and rented the best land from the Gao family. This guy was born to be a rascal, taking advantage of Gao Lao Gen's power to bully other tenants, so he was also the most hated one among the tenants. He waved his hand, and Xue Yan immediately reprimanded again, suppressing the anger of the crowd.

  "Alright! Qin Xiong, you said those fields of yours are thin fields. Well, in that case, I also want to take back those fields and use them for something else! Your lease is up soon, at the end of this half year, and you haven't renewed it with our manager either. Although you're still farming there for now, those lands aren't yours anymore. You can pack your things and leave now. Everything in the land belongs to the Gao family! I'll return some seeds to you as a gesture of goodwill, what do you think?" Gaohaiyuan turned his head, picked up a contract from the table, and unfolded it for Qin Xiong to see.

  Qin Xiong's face changed immediately, he knew that his lease had expired, and the reason why he didn't renew it was because Gao Laogen wanted to take advantage of the situation and swallow up his half-year's rent. Although he had urged Gao Laogen, Gao Laogen said it was no big deal, but today he was caught off guard by the young master. According to reason, as long as it is the landlord's land, if the tenant has no lease, whether the land is left fallow or someone else cultivates it, everything on the land belongs to the landlord. Gao Hua yuan said this, which meant that he was going to take all the grain from Qin Xiong's land!

  Qin Xiong's face suddenly turned bright red, and he hastily bowed his waist, saying: "It can't be, Young Master! I am our family's old tenant, and it's not my fault that the contract wasn't renewed this time! That was what the high-ranking official said, allowing me to renew after the New Year! Now the high-ranking official is nowhere to be found, but that's what he said before, you can't deny it! Besides, this land has always been rented and cultivated by me, how can you just take it back? You can't do that! At worst, I'll pay the rent for this year's land as if it were good land!"

  Got it! Gao Huaiyuan didn't even force him, and he himself spoke out first. However, even so, Gao Huaiyuan still refused to agree, shaking his head: "You'd better stop nagging too, I know the relationship between you and Old Man Gao, and I'm even clearer about what kind of tricks you're playing! This land is settled like this, you immediately pack up your things and leave our Gao family!

  Besides, there's no need for you all to continue talking about it today. Don't think that just because I'm new here, you can deceive me. Honestly, I've already got a good grasp of what's going on around here. Today, I'll also tell you to put away your fancy tricks! As for how things should be done, I have my own ideas clear in my mind!

  This year's rent, I won't collect according to the contract. Those who cultivate good fields must honestly pay rent according to the good field rate. As for those tenants who pretend that poor fields are good fields, this year's rent will all be collected at the poor field rate! If anyone doesn't want to continue renting and cultivating, they can terminate the contract with me right now and get out!

  "Listen up, Qin Xiong! You've taken advantage of this land for many years, and I'm being kind to you by not pursuing the matter. If you know what's good for you, leave quietly. But if you dare to cause trouble, weigh your own strength and see if you can take on the Gao family, take on me, the Third Young Master!"

  As soon as Gao Hua Yuan's voice fell, a fierce fist slammed onto the table in front of him. A loud crash followed, and a plank on the table was smashed into a deep pit. Qin Xiong, who was sitting in front of the table, was startled and nearly fell to the ground.

  At this time, the tenant farmers who rented the thin fields immediately cheered up and thanked Gao Huaiyuan one after another. Lu Lao Shi knelt down on the spot and said with tears streaming down his face: "Heavens! You've finally opened your eyes!"

  Some people were happy, some were definitely unhappy. Qin Xiong didn't count, and a few others refused on the spot. Then someone jumped out and said: "How can this be? Our lease is clearly written, which piece of land we rented, how much rent we paid, although you are the young master, you can't just change it at will! My lease is also clearly written, and there's still a year left on the contract. Even if you want to change the rent, shouldn't I agree first? You're talking about changing it according to the good land exchange, but what about the law of the land?"

  Gao Huaiyuan gave a cold glance at this sudden appearance, he had seen this guy a few days ago, this person was also a local rascal, surnamed Diao and named Er, just listening to the name knew that this stuff was not good, this person also had some connection with Gao Laogen, and on the surface, people's heads were relatively familiar, with some evil reputation, so this person was also on his list of elimination.

  "You're Diao Er, aren't you! Good! I just said that the rent for the good land should be paid as usual, but did I mention your name? You jumped out so hastily, isn't it to tell everyone that your land is good land but you've been paying rent for poor land? Hmph! Truly, a thief will expose himself within three years! Since you're so eager to jump out, then it's just as well. This rental agreement of yours should also be invalidated. I give you one day to pack up and get out, everything on the land belongs to the Gao family!" High Huar immediately issued an eviction order against this guy.

  Xiang Er suddenly realized he had fallen into their trap, and in a fit of rage, he jumped up and shouted: "I'm going to report you! You're taking advantage of me, I still have the rental agreement in my hand, it's clearly written in black and white, you can't deny it! Even if your family is high-ranking officials, what can they do? Can they swallow me whole? I don't believe there's no place on earth where justice can be spoken!"

  His words immediately sparked a chorus of agreement from several people beside him, as if someone had given them courage, and their tone began to become arrogant.

  Gao Huaiyuan listened to their commotion, turned around and sat behind the large table, pulled out the rental agreements of these people from the contract, and then comfortably took a sip of tea. He smiled and said: "Oh? It seems that you all want to sue me! Well! Let's settle this today! The county government is a bit far away, I'm afraid it will be tiring for you to run back and forth. I've already invited County Captain Xing over, and it just so happens that I also have something to accuse you of!"

  At this moment, the door curtain behind was lifted, and several people came out, all wearing white shirts, fast boots, and holding iron rulers and iron locks. It turned out to be Xing Bao, the county's chief of police, and his men. The crowd immediately looked foolish.

  Gao Huaiyuan had anticipated that they might not cooperate, so he had made arrangements in advance and invited Xing Duben and others to his home. They sat at the back listening to what was being said, and when Gao Huaiyuan mentioned them, they all came out together.