The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 1938 - 1913: Compromise

County Magistrate Zhai also came along to observe, then commented, "The layout of this courtyard is quite good. Though the alley is small, it’s convenient for people to go in and out to buy small things."

Xia Xia leaned half of her body on Xia Rui, panting, "Back then, Zhou Yin collapsed right behind this small door and was found by Brother Yan, who then saved him."

Old Zhou and Ms. Qian couldn’t help but look toward that small door, remaining silent for a while. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Patriarch Xia and others also looked at that small door without speaking. Actually, Xia Yan had already agreed to adopt a son to continue the family line, but only after Xia Xin got married.

However, she couldn’t take those family fields with her upon marriage. Hence, the clan negotiated with Xia Yan about Xia Xin’s dowry. After many years of discussion, Xia Yan finally agreed to leave a piece of land for the clan, while the remaining two pieces and this house were given to the adopted son.

The two additional pieces of land purchased outside were to be part of Xia Xin’s dowry.

But, just when Xia Xin started her marriage discussions, Zhou Yin collapsed here.

Xia Xia told Manbao, "Your father was a good person. After being rescued, he stayed on, fetching water and chopping wood for the family, doing rough work. Most importantly, he was literate."

Though he didn’t know much and always had trouble writing, with his crooked and ugly handwriting, Xia Yan was very pleased and began to teach Zhou Yin to read and write.

Xia Xia spoke in a low voice, "Your father was very smart. Your grandfather said he memorized many passages after just a few readings, smarter than many of the students he taught."

Old Zhou’s spirit was lifted, nodding repeatedly, "My second brother has been clever since childhood. Manbao is most like her father in this regard."

Ms. Qian nodded as well.

Xia Xia nodded approvingly.

Patriarch Xia thought to himself that it was precisely because of this that Xia Yan reneged on the settled matters, delaying Xia Xin’s marriage discussions and eventually not going through with the adoption.

Zhou Yin stayed with the Xia Family, helping Xia Yan purchase some land, deliberately avoiding Hongtian Village, buying right next to those two pieces, perfectly linking with the previous ones.

Zhou Yin also helped Xia Yan use all of his savings to buy a shop in the county town, directly under Xia Xin’s name. Moreover, Xia Yan considered selling this property then using the money to buy two smaller properties, one for the adopted son, the other to be given to Xia Xin as dowry.

During those years, Xia Yan utterly destroyed the agreement with the clan, resulting in a tense standoff, yet the family did not gain anything.

Patriarch Xia knew Zhou Yin’s involvement was behind all this, and the Xia Clan suffered quite a loss at Zhou Yin’s hands back then. That’s why only after Zhou Yin had left without a word for two years did they start clearing the clan properties.

Because of this, he now yielded more to Zhou Man, thinking she was so much like Zhou Yin. If she were to rise up, being an official herself, it would be a losing battle for the Xia Clan.

Patriarch Xia, looking at the alley outside this small door, couldn’t help but sigh inwardly; perhaps this is fate, Zhou Yin, sick and moneyless, didn’t lie down anywhere else but just outside the Xia Family’s gate.

Ms. Qian patted the back door’s pillar, standing there dazed, only coming to her senses when Manbao came up to support her, and she turned her hand to usher them back into the house.

When Xia Yi brought his wife to the gates of the prison and returned crying, Manbao had already finished touring the two courtyards front and back.

She straightforwardly said to Xia Yi, "Uncle Yi, there’s no need to rush too much. In the next couple of days, you should start packing, move the things that need to be moved, and we’ll come in to tidy up."

She turned to Patriarch Xia and said, "Our teacher is here to visit friends and plans to take us on a study tour. So, in the next couple of days, we’ll accompany him to attend some literary and poetry gatherings, and once we finish, we’ll come over to take possession of the house, and at that time we’ll join Uncle Yi back in the clan for the ancestral rites. What do you think, patriarch?"

Patriarch Xia understood Zhou Man’s intentions; she was having him supervise Xia Yi’s moving, so she doesn’t say something inappropriate at the poetry gatherings...

Just as Patriarch Xia was thinking this, Manbao smiled and said, "By the way, Patriarch, didn’t you say Fifth Brother and Seventh Brother are studying at the County School? Shouldn’t we invite them to join us at the literary gatherings?"

Due to his prejudice against Zhou Yin, Patriarch Xia immediately refused, "They aren’t yet learned enough for the literary and poetry gatherings; moreover, they have classes now."

Manbao expressed regret.

When they left, Xia Yi’s face was still wet with tears, now only left with sobs—a previously strong-willed person now reduced to weeping.

After sending everyone off, Patriarch Xia criticized irritably, "Why cry? If you hadn’t indulged your wife’s antics, where would today’s disaster have come from?"

"But Patriarch, it was agreed back then this house would be mine, I was closest to Uncle Yan..."

"Are you closer than Xia Man, no, than Zhou Man?" Patriarch Xia said, "She is his own granddaughter!"

"But she doesn’t bear the Xia surname!"

"Her children will bear the Xia surname in the future. When she returns for ancestral rites, she and the Zhou Family will establish ancestral records," Patriarch Xia paused and said, "Quickly pack with the children, you’ll be moving back to the village in a few days."

Xia Yi sat on the steps, grumbling, "I’m not moving, let’s see her throw me out!"

Patriarch Xia was angered, slammed the table with his hands, "Are you foolish? She can’t throw you out, but she can detain your wife. If you don’t move for a month, she’ll keep your wife for a month; if you don’t move for a year, she’ll keep your wife for a year; don’t you want your wife?"

Then, he glanced at the three frightened teens nearby, "Don’t you want your mother too? Convince your father quickly."

The three pulled at Xia Yi while crying, "Father, let’s move back; they’re officials, we can’t win against them."

Xia Yi cried with frustration, clutching his head.

Patriarch Xia sighed and said, "Alright, it’s fate. You and Zhou Yin are destined to clash. Think about how you were beaten down by Zhou Yin back then—who ever spoke ill of Zhou Yin? Neighbors, even people from the village and the clan continuously praised Zhou Yin for his noble and empathetic nature, leaving all the blame on you."

"Back then, Zhou Yin was but a beggar taken in by your Uncle Yan, and he could do this. Now consider his daughter is a fifth-ranked official—you know how high a fifth rank is?" Patriarch Xia both reasoned and scared him, "That’s higher official than the county magistrate, haven’t you seen how County Magistrate Zhai treats her with utmost respect?"

Xia Yi shouted, "Being an official allows bullying common folk?"

Patriarch Xia leisurely replied, "Can you fight an official?"

Xia Yi was left speechless, unable to respond for a while, finally clutching his head and fell silent again.

He waited for two days, lingering by the prison gates every day. The guards didn’t stop him from visiting his wife but wouldn’t release her, saying she offended County Magistrate Zhai, still unjudged, can’t be casually freed?

Xia Yi’s wife, terrified in prison, cried upon seeing Xia Yi, losing significant weight in just two days, with dark circles noticeable.

With no choice, Xia Yi resolved to pack with his children, preparing to move.