Chapter 206

The government quickly issued the terms for land requisition. For the requisitioned land, compensation of thirty taels per mu was offered. If houses were on the land, additional relocation compensation would be provided based on their size, with the minimum standard set at twenty taels.

Although it was different from the rumored fifty taels per mu, it was enough to excite people. After all, many households saved only a few taels of silver in an entire year. At present, high-quality farmland cost around seven or eight taels per mu, so the compensation was several times the market rate.

As all the townspeople hoped this fortune would come their way, the requisition notice was soon posted. The requisitioned land was located in the southeast of Changle Town, covering approximately thirty mu. The land was quickly measured and marked with flags indicating its requisition.

Wang Yuan’er was greatly surprised and astonished because the measured and requisitioned land included a piece belonging to her family. To be precise, it was land owned by the eldest branch of their family. Another piece of the land was what Grandma Wang’s younger sister had left behind years ago.

During the family division back then, Wang Yuan’er gave up the main house and instead took a four-part plot of ancestral land located south of the main house. Now, that four-part plot was included in the requisitioned land. It was uncertain whether it was intentional or not, but the planned requisitioned land was drawn just beside the Wang family’s property boundary, only about ten zhang away.

“It’s not much farther—how did it miss our family’s land?” Madam Zhang grumbled in frustration. If it had included the Wang family’s land, how much silver would they have gotten?

Wang Yuan’er, however, felt relieved. The Wang family’s total land area wasn’t large, only about two to three mu. If it were requisitioned, they would only receive about a hundred taels, but they’d have no land left and would need to find a new place to build their house. Now, where in Changle Town could they find good land? All the good plots had long been divided and purchased.

“It’s better that it didn’t affect us. Once the Maritime Trade Office is built, we’ll be its close neighbors. I’ve heard the surrounding area will be gradually reorganized, and the roads outside will be paved with blue bricks. In the future, we won’t be any worse off than Willow Alley.” Wang Qing’er beamed with excitement. Living near the government office meant even thieves wouldn’t dare approach.

Wang Yuan’er nodded. “That’s true. Changle Town is highly sought after now. If our land was requisitioned, we wouldn’t even have a place to live. Buying new land, who knows where we could find one?”

Looking ahead, it was clear that Changle Town would flourish and become prosperous, making it undoubtedly better to stay there. Especially since the Wang family had lived there for generations, Wang Yuan’er was immensely grateful their house and land weren’t requisitioned.

Madam Zhang, however, remarked sourly, “Of course, you’re all happy. After all, four parts of your land were requisitioned, and you’ll be compensated with a sum of silver.”

It was truly maddening. How had the eldest branch gotten so lucky? Back then, they chose the southern plot of land, and now it had been requisitioned. If they had known, they would have taken the plot instead.

Wang Yuan’er furrowed her brow and calmly said, “At the time of the family division, we, the eldest branch, wanted the main house, but Second Aunt, you adamantly refused. That’s why we took the southern plot instead. Have you forgotten, Second Aunt?”

Madam Zhang’s brows shot up. Was she being mocked?

“Besides, how much money can you get from four parts of land? It’s only about ten taels,” Wang Yuan’er added.

“It’s easy for you to say! You’re rich and don’t care about the money. Meanwhile, we’ve been struggling and barely even remember what meat tastes like,” Madam Zhang snorted. Ever since the family’s silver ran out, their days had worsened. Grandma Wang had become stingy with money, and they only saw a trace of meat every few days. Madam Zhang felt like her taste buds had gone numb.

“If it’s so hard for you, then just go back to the Zhang family. I’m sure they’ll serve you lavish meals with fish and meat every day!” Grandma Wang’s cold voice came from behind Madam Zhang.

Madam Zhang froze, her shoulders drooped, and she turned around, putting on a pitiful expression. “Mother, I’m only worried about your two grandsons. Look at how thin and frail they are. They’re boys—how can they manage without strength?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. If it weren’t for your insistence on investing in that merchant ship, would we even be lacking meat on our table? When Second Son wanted to withdraw his investment, you acted like it was life or death and threatened to hang yourself, forcing everyone to follow your wishes. Otherwise, would we really have no money to spare?” Grandma Wang sneered, her eyes cold.

After several days of arguing, Madam Zhang finally won the quarrel. She also heard that the Tang family’s merchant ship had set sail, so Second Uncle no longer mentioned withdrawing the investment. However, the second branch of the family was left without silver, and life became very tight for them.

Madam Zhang forced a dry laugh and said, “Mother, I’m doing this for the family. Look, the court has dispatched merchant ships overseas, and the Tang family’s ship is following them. With the court involved, there’s no way this can go wrong. This is clearly a profitable venture. Withdrawing now would be as foolish as it gets!” Then she turned to Wang Yuan’er, “What do you think, Yuan’er?”

Wang Yuan’er simply smiled without replying.

Truly impervious—hmph!

Inwardly, Madam Zhang dismissed her. She was already thinking about waiting for the Tang family’s ship to return and dividing the profits, ensuring no one would have anything to say.

“Among all of us, you’re the smartest. Why don’t you just pray to Buddha every day so that the merchant ship returns safely?” Grandma Wang sneered before turning and heading into the house.

Madam Zhang pouted, pondering her plans, and then followed Grandma Wang inside.

Wang Yuan’er raised her brows. Madam Zhang didn’t talk back but instead followed inside—what was she plotting?

Madam Zhang indeed had her own calculations in mind, and it was all about the compensation for the requisitioned land.

“Mother, who would have thought Aunt’s land would also be requisitioned? This is truly wonderful,” Madam Zhang said with a wide smile as she approached Grandma Wang, massaging her hands.

Grandma Wang looked wary, her sharp eyes fixed on Madam Zhang. “What scheme are you cooking up this time?”

The Aunt mentioned was Grandma Wang’s younger sister, who had married into Changle Town along with Grandma Wang back in the day, to Feng Canlin of the Feng family, who owned a fabric store.

Feng Canlin had started the fabric store from scratch. Back then, the business was decent, and their life was harmonious. After their marriage, they quickly had a daughter, Feng Ziying. Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last long. Feng Canlin trusted the wrong people and lost the entire fabric store, eventually being forced to sell it. This failure weighed heavily on Feng Canlin, who spiraled into self-pity and eventually succumbed to an illness caused by his emotional distress.

After Feng Canlin passed away, Aunt Wang was left as a widow with a young child. She never remarried, raising her daughter with great effort. She spared no effort in finding a suitable marriage for her daughter, who eventually married far away in Lingnan.

Feng Ziying, unwilling to leave her widowed mother alone, brought her to Lingnan to care for her. Aunt Wang sold off all the family’s fields and houses, leaving only a two-mu plot of land under Grandma Wang’s care before moving with her daughter to Lingnan.

Now, that plot of land is at the center of the requisitioned area. Aunt Wang has been gone for nearly twenty years. At first, there were letters, but over the last ten years, there’s been no news—no one knows if she’s alive or dead.

Madam Zhang believed that Aunt Wang would never return, and this plot of land essentially became a gift to Grandma Wang. With the current land requisition, the compensation would amount to sixty or seventy taels!

“Mother, what are you saying? How could I be up to something? I’m just genuinely happy,” Madam Zhang said with an awkward laugh, carefully observing Grandma Wang’s expression. “Mother, it’s been so long without any word from Aunt. Do you think she’s still alive?”

Grandma Wang’s face darkened. Her own sister, completely out of contact and fate unknown—it pained her. Madam Zhang’s words were like poking a wound. Wasn’t she already uncomfortable enough?

“Is that any way to talk? Are you cursing your elders now?” Grandma Wang glared at Madam Zhang angrily. Still, she couldn’t help but feel sorrow. Her sister was just a year younger than her; now, she was in her late fifties. Even if she were alive, how many years would she have left?

Madam Zhang quickly patted her mouth twice, spat lightly, and said, “It’s my fault for not speaking properly. But, Mother, if Aunt is still around, surely she wouldn’t forget you, her biological sister, right?”

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Grandma Wang’s face darkened, clearly displeased.

Madam Zhang coughed, rubbing her hands as she shifted the subject. “Mother, Fuquan is all grown up now. Don’t you think it’s time to arrange a marriage for him?”

“What? That boy hasn’t even fully grown yet, and you’re already talking about marriage? Are you out of your mind, or have you gone crazy trying to act like a mother-in-law?” Grandma Wang almost burst out laughing.

“Mother, Fuquan is already fifteen by nominal age; even by actual age, he’s almost fourteen. Besides, arranging a marriage isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes time to meet potential matches and settle on a proper and suitable one, doesn’t it? Even if the engagement is agreed upon, it’s not like they’ll marry immediately.”

Grandma Wang found this amusing. “In farming families, isn’t it normal for boys to start talking about marriage at sixteen or seventeen, or even to marry at eighteen or nineteen? He hasn’t even matured yet, and you’re talking about marriage? And look at the state of the household right now—you dare to bring up marriage? Where would you get the silver to propose? What would you even use to propose?”

“Mother, precisely because he’s not yet mature, he needs someone to manage him. Maybe marriage will help him settle down. As for the silver, Mother, wouldn’t Aunt’s land receive compensation?” Madam Zhang replied immediately.

She had already thought it through. With this sum of compensation now available, she had to hurry and arrange a good marriage for Fuquan. Considering the favoritism of those two elderly people, who knew if the money would end up being given to the eldest branch for dowries? After all, Wang Chun’er was already engaged and set to marry in August, while Wang Yuan’er and Qing’er would soon need their marriages arranged as well.

Hearing this, Grandma Wang was about to respond when her cheeks flushed, and she coughed violently. She pulled her hand away and said, “I was wondering why you’ve been acting so sweet lately—it’s because you’ve got your eyes on this money.” She coughed a few more times before continuing, “Don’t even think about it. This compensation belongs to your Aunt, and no one is allowed to touch it.”

“Mother, Aunt likely won’t come back. You’re her only sister, so what difference does it make whether it’s hers or yours? Don’t you want to hold your great-grandson someday?” Madam Zhang said with a flattering smile.

“Get out! Get out of here!” Grandma Wang pushed her away and angrily said, “As long as I’m alive, no one will touch this compensation money. Over my dead body! Now leave.”

“Mother, please think it over—Fuquan is your eldest grandson,” Madam Zhang said, but under Grandma Wang’s stern glare, she could only leave sheepishly.

When Wang Yuan’er learned about Madam Zhang’s plans, she couldn’t help but find it amusing. Trying to arrange a marriage for a boy who was barely grown—this scheme was indeed both laughable and absurd.