Chapter 4 Household registration

The village head was surprised when he heard this, "Establish a female household? Then your parents will be disappointed." Establishing a household means no longer having any relationship with the family and setting up one's own household. Although women have been treated more leniently since the empress ascended the throne, and even allowed to take the imperial examinations, there are still very few women settling down.

Qi Sui knew his worries and said with a firm look: "I have been in Yunyan Village for half a year. The head of the village knows how my second uncle treats me." The head of the village remained silent. His heart was like a mirror, When Qi Sui's parents passed away, the second branch of the Qi family couldn't wait to drive her away, and didn't even ask a question during this period. Even ordinary families would show some concern, so their intentions were naturally clear.

While the village head was hesitating, the system reminded Qi Sui: "Host, come on! Settling down will also earn you points."

Qi Sui cheered up and continued to persuade: "Village head, I am alone now. I just want to grow vegetables to make a living and live a peaceful life. My parents in heaven must think the same. Please allow me."

The head of the village looked up and saw that her hands were covered with dirt. They were no longer as white as when she first came. Even the brocade and satin she wore before had been replaced with  coarse linen clothes that were so dirty that you couldn't see their original color. A woman whose parents have passed away has no one to rely on and has to support herself with her own hands. If she doesn't have a home anymore, she would be so pitiful that it would be intolerable to heaven.

Finally, the village head compromised and told her: "Then you should bring the land deed to be notarized tomorrow, and then you can settle down."

Qi Sui was stunned and asked weakly: "If I don't have the land deed, can i live in the village and Settle down here?"

"Of course not."

The negative words severely dampened the joy that had just risen. She tried to fool around with a joke, but was caught by the head of the village: "Sui Jie'er, don't you have a land deed?"

Qi Sui stood in awe and said, "The village head has sharp eyes, but I don't have them."

The village head was speechless and pointed to the field behind him: "Then this is..."

Qi Sui looked like a wilted vegetable seedling. She said helplessly, "When I came here, my second uncle's people only told me that I could farm this land, but they didn't give me the land deed."

"Then what are you going to do?" The man in front of her stared at her anxiously. She thought for a moment and suddenly think of what the village head had said before, "Maybe you can give me the uncultivated land in the village that no one is planting."

The village head rubbed his brows and said, "I would like to, but these fields are owned by someone, you can only rent or buy them with money."

After hearing his words, Qi Sui suddenly felt that things had become simple, and she smiled again: "Then buy it, and I'll have the land deed after I buy it."

The village head spread his hands and asked: "It's easy to say, but you need money to buy land, Do you have it? A good field costs more than three strings of silver per mu, even a waste field costs one string of silver.

Qi Sui began to ponder, asking the system in her mind: "i have been selling vegetable for almost two months, have i saved one sting of coins?"

The system pretended to be amazed: "more than that? I'm afraid it's one and a half sting of coins.

She closed her eyes, because the system's weird tone made her back teeth almost broken. Since I have money, I don't have to worry about not being able to buy land. Qi Sui comforted the head of the village: "Don't worry, I haven't been idle all day since I came to Yunyan Village. I have money to make a living. I just need your help so that I can buy some land." The village head observed her expression and felt how serious and confident she is. He also thought that she had business dealings with the restaurant in the town and that she must not be faking it, so he agreed and said he would give her an answer in a few days.

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In the study of the Shen Mansion, Shen Yuandao was looking at the letter in his hand, his brows furrowed, unable to relax. Shen Yu followed behind her brother Shen Shu. Shen Jin beside her asked her quietly, "Do you know why father called us today?"

Shen Yu lowered her eyebrows and replied in a low voice, "Maybe he was checking our homework." the pendant on her waist swayed gently with her steps

Shen Jin didn't believe that she didn't know, and asked: "Father has been staying at Aunt Lan's place these days, how could you not know? Even if he really wanted to check our homework, would he need to check on yours as well?" Her straightforward words were like a sharp knife stabbing at Shen Yu, Entering the heart, followed by a clear and severe pain. Bitter reluctance flashed across Shen Yu's eyes, but she forced herself to remain silent.

Shen Shu wasn't deaf, but he knew his sister very well. She had been strong-willed since she was a child, and the more he refuted her, the more she wanted to win. So Shen Yu could only endure it, Shen Jin felt it was boring and passed by. The three of them walked through the corridor and came to the door of the study. Shen Jin walked into the study before them. Just as Shen Yu was about to step into the study, Shen Shu said to her softly, "I'm really sorry for making my third sister feel wronged."

Shen Yu didn't think about offending her eldest brother, so she shook her head slowly. With a smile on her lips, she said, "Brother, don't worry about it. We are sisters. I won't hold any grudges against her." Shen Shu wasn't surprised and went into the study with her. When Shen Yuandao saw that all three children were present, he handed the letter and account book in his hand to them.

Shen Shu took a look and understood the intention: "The farm manager is sixty years old this year. He has been guarding the fields in Yunyan Village for decades. This time he wrote a letter to ask father for permission to return to his hometown to enjoy his old age."

Shen Yuandao nodded, "This is natural, but..."

Shen Shu took over his words and said slowly: "It's just that the there are several mistakes in the account book. the manager is old, so it's not good to ask him at this juncture, so as not to disappoint the old people. " Shen Yuandao looked at his eldest son with satisfacion, but after Shen Jin understood, she said frankly: "Why not? this far was originally a downry under the name of my mother, Although my mother has passed away for several years, the manager has always been with my mother. Even if i asked him the account book, can he still have second thoughts?"

At this time, Shen Yuandao and Shen Shu did not agree, but they did not refute. Shen Yu originally wanted to stay out of it, after all, this farm had nothing to do with her, but since she was called to the study, she must be useful. She looked at the figures in the account book, and saw that the grain and silver were decreasing year by year. She said, "I don't think my father is worried that the steward has second thoughts, but that there has been no one to manage the farm in recent years. He only asked the steward to look after it and rent it out to farmers as usual. Every year, Just collect the rent. Even so, there are still people who take advantage of loopholes."

Shen Jin felt puzzled: "What loopholes?"

Shen Yuandao and Shen Shu also looked at her.

Shen Yu slowly spoke out her guess: "For example, someone collects two rents, but only hands over one rent and keeps the other for himself."

Shen Yuandao put his hands behind his back and turned to sit in the main seat. Shen Shu and Shen Jin looked at each other. Seeing that Shen Yuandao didn't say anything, they knew that he had already guessed that someone had secretly cultivated land and resold it, deceiving his superiors and subordinates.

"Yu'er is right." Shen Yuandao's eyes swept across the faces of the three children, and finally threw out his intention: "So think about why I called you here today."

Shen Yu was not happy because of his praise but just more certain of what she thought. Shen Yuandao wants to pick one of them to deal with the mess at the farm and take over as the manager. At present, the court is preparing for the assessment of officials.

Since Shen Yuandao came to Pingyang County as the county magistrate, he has been diligent and conscientious in his work, and has never slacked off in government affairs. He is expected to be promoted this year. This was not an easy task. After analyzing the situation, Shen Yu decided not to say anything. As the eldest son, Shen Shu naturally had no choice but to take the responsibility.

However, the autumn examination was approaching, an exam held once every three years, and neither he nor Shen Jin dared to take it lightly, so they remained silent. The study was eerily quiet, Shen Yuandao didn't look anxious at all, but Shen Shu began to feel uneasy. He seemed to have made up his mind and stood up: "The farm has many affairs and is intricately related. If my two sisters go, it may be difficult to handle. I am the eldest son of my father, and I should set a good example. I will not..."

Shen Yuandao raised his hand, not letting him continue, staring at Shen Yu who looked indifferent. Shen Yu knew that she couldn't escape, but she had already thought of an excuse: "The farm is the eldest lady's dowry, and I'm afraid my identity is not appropriate."

"You are the third lady of the Shen family, so naturally you are also the child of the eldest lady. what's wrong with that?" Shen Yu looked up in disappointment, She didn't expect Shen Yuandao to have already made a plan. Why did he have to go through so much trouble?

Without waiting for her to say anything, Shen Shu said with an embarrassed look on his face: "Thank you, Third Sister. If there is any inconvenience, I will not refuse."

Shen Jin beside him also said: "Sister, you can also ask me for help."

Shen Yu clenched her fists, She felt the gaze on her gradually turn colder, so she could only agree, "Yes, father."

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Qi Sui went to the fields to harvest vegetables early in the morning. The tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants grew very well under the nourishment of fertilizer. She carried the vegetables on her back and walked to the town in the morning light to sell them to Liu. Liu Guanzhi was an old customer, and he kindly said to her, "Young lady, you don't have to sell to me only in the future. I will keep an eye out for who offers the highest price and help you make a connection."

Qi Sui was worried that she had not yet expanded her sales channels. Hearing his words, she felt grateful: "Thank you, Boss, but don't worry, the first batch will definitely be sold to you first." Because of the vegetables she grew, plus thanks to the boss's craftsmanship, the restaurant business is now booming and many rivals are jealous. So Director Liu simply takes the initiative to do a favor so that neither side loses out in the transaction.

When Qi Sui returned home, she found the village head and Zhang Yuerou at the door. She walked over quickly, without even having time to put down her backpack, and quickly opened the door to let the two in. "Village head, please sit down." She brought two low stools and saw Zhang Yuerou standing awkwardly, She pulled her over and said, "Sister, sit next to me."

The village head took the tea bowl handed to him by Qi Sui and drank it without any hurry. Instead of saying it simply, "The land you want has been found."

Qi Sui raised her eyebrows slightly, her tone showing surprise, "There's news so soon! I wonder whose land it is?"

The village head took a sip of tea and slowly said, "There is a farm to the east of Yunyan Village. Because the wife who manages the farm passed away, it has been abandoned for a lot of years thus making it barren that can't grow food, so it can only be sold. I heard from the manager that today The third young lady under the wife's name will take over, and you can ask her to sign the land deed when the time comes."

Zhang Yuerou, who had been silent all the time, turned around and asked after listening to the conversation between the two, "Sister Sui wants to buy land?"

Qi Sui nodded in response but this time she noticed her, so she asked her: "Sanniang came to see me for something important?"

Zhang Yuerou shook her head, took out the things in her arms, and her eyes showed uneasiness: "Aniang asked me to give you this."

Aunt Zhang still remembered the help she gave her last time, so she would send food from time to time. Qi Sui would naturally not refuse, but today's food was different from usual. Qi Sui hesitated for a moment, took it, and was about to thank her, but the village head interrupted and said, "Mrs. Zhang's cooking skills have always been excellent. How come it's a bit messy today?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Yuerou's eyes quickly swept over Qi Sui's face and said bluntly: "Maybe I burned the fire too hard."

Qi Sui coughed awkwardly and said, "Thank you for the trouble, Sanniang. Please thank Aunt Zhang for me."

Zhang Yuerou looked at her for a moment, then nodded her head.

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Chen Yu only brought Ruo Wei to the farm. Just as they had settled their luggage, the maid said, "Miss, the steward said the head of the village has arrived."

"First, ask the steward to invite the head of the village to the main hall, and then send a few smart people to receive the guests. I'll be there soon."

Ruo Wei saw the tiredness on her young lady's face and couldn't help complaining, "You don't need to worry about such things."

Chen Yu patted her hand gently and smiled at her, "It's okay, I'll make your favorite food when I'm done."

Ruo Wei said anxiously, "I'm not afraid of being tired..."

Qi Sui followed the steward to the main hall with the village head, and looked around quietly. She had never been to the Qi Family but in her memore it was similar to the layout here, and it was also a two story house. The maid whispered in the steward's ear, and the steward stood up: "The third lady from the master's house is here. The head of the village has something to say to her."

Shen Yu walked briskly and slowly appeared in front of Qi Sui. The two looked at each other and They recognized each other in an instant.

Qi Sui burst out laughing: "It turns out that we have met once."

Shen Yu smiled faintly in response.

Seeing that the two women were getting along as if they were old acquaintances, the village head did not exchange pleasantries and simply explained his purpose in a few words.

Although Shen Yu didn't understand why Qi Sui wanted to spend money to buy a piece of barren fields, she saw that she wasn't shaken at all, so she didn't ask any more questions and asked someone to bring the land deed. After Qi Sui paid the money, she quickly signed the receipt and sealed it. At this time, the system popped up: "Congratulations to the host for reaching 500 points."

She curved her eyebrows proudly and laughed briefly. When Shen Yu heard her laughter, her long eyelashes moved slightly, and her eyes turned: "Madam Qi, what are you laughing at?"

Qi Sui stared at her and smiled: "Madam Shen must be my destined benefactor."