Chapter 264: Vast Land of Freedom
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Madam Qu’s family was not satisfied that the house only fetched 80 taels of silver. When the villagers of Lintian Village next door moved to another village, they only had two mu of land and did not have any compensation.
When they found out that Youjia village could even exchange their house for money, they were so envious that they wished they had been refugees back then.
Unfortunately, it was useless no matter how envious they were.
Most of the people in Lintian Village did not have any savings. This year was a little better, and it was all thanks to Yu Suisheng coming to collect fruits from them.
The food production rate in ancient times was low. A family of three could not eat enough with just two acres of land.
They did not have the money to buy extra land. If they went to another village, it was impossible for them to own a big roofed house either. Many people gritted their teeth and decided to might as well go to the Southern Frontier.
At least after they went, they could casually plant and reclaim as much land as they wanted.
On the way there, the Imperial Court would provide food and a tael of silver. Although the Southern Frontier was an uncivilized place and the people were boorish, as long as one was willing to work hard, one would definitely be able to live a good life like Youjia villagers.
Elder Lin and his three sons did not split up. Therefore, even with so many people, they could only be considered one family. After obtaining two acres of land, Elder Lin would also lose his prestige in Lintian Village.
How could Elder Lin tolerate going to another village and swallowing his pride to become an ordinary old man? They would not have the ability to enter the city to buy a house and settle down. Elder Lin thought for a moment. With such a capable person in Youjia village, if they could tolerate going to the Southern Frontier, why couldn ‘t they go?
Now that he was going with Youjia Village, he would have companions who could enjoy blessings and hardships together. Perhaps he could even become rich.
He had witnessed Lin Lei’s improvement in the academy. In any case, there was nothing to look forward to if he stayed. He might as well follow him and overcome all obstacles!
Elder Lin planned to tell his three sons. No one had much objections. After all, there was really no need to stay on two acres of land.
He was just worried about how to pack their bags and how to deal with the things at home.
At this moment, Elder Lin still had some determination. The journey to the Southern Frontier was long, so it was definitely impossible for everyone to walk like this. At the very least, there had to be a carriage for everyone to take turns to rest.
He went to town to ask about the price of the horses. In the end, the horses that could be bought with 15 taels of silver on a normal day could not be bought at that price anymore. The cheapest one was at least 30 taels of silver.
Elder Lin only had a total of 20 taels of savings left. He could not afford the horses and was very depressed.
On the way back, when he heard that Yu Suisheng’s caravan was going to the Southern Frontier and that he had rented the carriage to the villagers of Youjia Village for two taels of silver, Elder Lin was immediately tempted.
Two taels of silver was too worth it!
He immediately asked the villagers if they could still rent a carriage. He learned that other than the villagers, the others had to pay ten taels of silver if they wanted to rent a carriage. Moreover, they had to ensure that they took good care of the horses and would not tire them out.
A horse that could be bought with 15 taels of silver was being rented for two months for 10 taels of silver. Elder Lin’s heart ached, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and rent a carriage.
If they ran out of money, they could earn more. But many people would die from exhaustion.
Elder Lin still had some savings, but most of the people in Lintian Village did not have any savings. It was already very good for them to find a cart to carry their belongings. Many people could only use a pole and carry their lighter luggage and carry them on the road.
Lin Lei was helping to pack up at home. Suddenly, Little Cat’s voice came from the door. “Lin Lei, is your father here?”
Stunned, Lin Lei walked out and glanced at Little Cat. “He’s here. I’ll call him.”
Lin Lei called Lin Hu over. Lin Hu still had a lot to do, so he spoke quickly and anxiously to Little Cat. “Do you need Uncle’s help? If you wait a little longer, I’ll follow you.’
Little Cat shook his head and nodded. He took out a money bag from his pocket and said, “I do want to ask Uncle for a favor.”
Lin Hu chuckled. “It’s just a favor. It’s not easy for your family either. You don’t have to be so polite.
Little Cat shook his head. “If uncle won’t accept it, I’ll find someone else.” Lin Hu could only take the money bag. “Alright, I’ll leave with you now!
Sensing that the money bag was not light, he opened it and hurriedly said, “This is too much!’
At a glance, it was almost five to six hundred copper coins.
Lin Hu quickly poured out most of the copper coins and left 20 copper coins in the money bag. ‘This is too much. No, no, take this money back quickly! ‘
Little Cat smiled and said, “Uncle, take it. There are still many things I want to trouble you with on the way in the future.”
Lin Lei was a little surprised that Little Cat was going to the Southern Frontier.
After all, Little Cat had a father whose body was paralyzed.
However, Lin Lei was still very happy that Little Cat was going to the Southern Frontier.
Lin Hu thought that this was Tao Yinzhen’s instructions. Thinking that it was indeed not easy for the mother and son on the way, he accepted it and said readily, “Alright, Uncle will accept it. If there’s anything you need help with on the way, you must tell me.”
Little Cat nodded and took Lin Hu to his house.
Ren Shuixing, who was sleeping on the bed, had lost a lot of weight. Little Cat said, ‘On the day we leave, I’ll have to trouble Uncle to help me carry Father onto the carriage.”
Lin Hu nodded and couldn’t help but sigh. Ren Shuixing was inhumane but he gave birth to a good son.
Lin Hu carried a large pile of Little Cat’s bags and left the village.
Behind him, Little Cat’s mother and him also took a lot of things and followed.
The villagers who were walking the same direction followed behind them and realized that Lin Hu had actually brought the items to a carriage. The villagers were stunned and asked in disbelief, ‘Whose carriage is this? Did Youjia village lend it to Little Cat?”
Lin Hu did not want to answer. He was extremely annoyed and said, ‘What does their carriage have to do with you!”
When they asked Lin Hu, Lin Hu did not say anything. When they asked Little Cat, he did not say anything either. When they asked Tao Yinzhen, she looked arrogant and looked down on them.
The villagers were eager to know. Finally, a villager heard from someone in Yu Suisheng’s caravan that this was the carriage that Little Cat had paid for with his own money!
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone gasped. Little Cat’s family was really amazing. They were actually willing to spend 10 taels of silver to rent a carnage.
What did this mean? It meant that Tao Yinzhen definitely had more than 10 taels of silver in her savings!
They were envious and jealous. If they had known, they would have also tried their best to build a good relationship with Youjia Village back then. Then, they would have had the money to rent a carriage.
Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world.
After Qu Yuanxian was fired, he thought about it again and again and decided to bring his family to settle down in Youjia Village. Firstly, it would be convenient for his two sons to study, and secondly, he could chat with a group of like-minded friends and relieve his sadness.
As soon as the family arrived, they learned that the Jade Spiritual Mountain had been sealed.
After finally waiting for the Jade Spiritual Mountain to remove the sealing order, he received shocking news. The battle at Southern Frontier was won, and the refugees needed to migrate immediately.
Madam Qu, who had finally agreed to let Qu Yuanxian live in Youjia Village, was dumbfounded. She was afraid that her husband would make a fuss and move to the Southern Frontier with them.
She had been anxious for a few days, but the situation that she was worried about still happened. Qu Yuanxian discussed solemnly with her, wanting her two sons to stay so that they could partic.i.p.ate in the imperial examination next year.
At the same time, he planned to go to the Southern Frontier with Yang Quanzi to be an ordinary teacher.
That place was vast and free there..