CHAPTER 243: CHAPTER 253 MUTUAL ACQUAINTANCE

The tenant farmers of Yiling Village, emboldened by Fengyu’s youth, tried to bargain and negotiate. Fengyu, who disliked entangling herself in petty back-and-forths, was not one to tolerate such presumptions on her own territory. Wishing for a swift resolution, she devised a strategy with a sharp edge. She marked out twenty acres of dry fields east of Yiling Village, intending to sell them off.

Yiling Village had a total of one hundred households, and the fight over the twenty acres of land was bound to be intense. Moreover, any tenant who purchased the land would naturally align themselves with her. Fengyu was adept at using external strength to combat internal strife. Since she was reluctant to act harshly, she opted for this subtler method to win hearts and divide her opponents, selling three acres first to the Land Office. This time, households that refrained from causing trouble would be given priority in purchasing land.

The announcement threw Yiling Village into chaos. Initially, the hundred tenant households had been united in their resistance against Fengyu, a conflict rooted in the fundamental tensions between tenant farmers and landlords. But in an effortless move, Fengyu turned the strife inward, pitting tenants against one another. "Why can you buy land and I can’t? Have you been colluding with Fengyu all along? Are you a traitor to us?"

At the same time, Fengyu sent Zhang Da to Gaoping County to recruit a group of tenant farmers to visit Yiling Village and inspect the fields. She spread the word that once the leases expired in August, she planned to bring in new tenant farmers. These potential tenants were encouraged to visit first, and if interested, sign a new contract.

With a two-pronged approach, it was the tenant farmers of Yiling Village who panicked most.

Xie Xun was practicing his swordsmanship in the courtyard, his movements fluid and swift, the blade cutting through the summer air. The sweltering May heat made him break into a sweat. Meanwhile, Nuanyang and Feiying had gone to investigate the situation in Yiling Village, reporting back that the village was in utter disarray, with several households even breaking into physical fights.

Feiying remarked, "Miss’s strategy is truly brilliant. The tenant farmers no longer dare to press her and are instead cursing the ones who bought land, calling them traitors. The commotion lasted all night, especially with that household that lost both parents. They even begged Miss to sell them a few acres of land, hoping to settle everything once and for all. But Miss refused, saying the land supply was tight and others had already taken the opportunity. That family, being as unreasonable as they are, got into a fight that drew blood. Even the Gaoping County Magistrate had to come to intervene; otherwise, it would’ve continued."

Nuanyang and Feiying sat on the rooftop watching the drama unfold all night, clicking their tongues in amazement. "The tenants of Yiling Village always take advantage of Miss’s youth and kindness to stir up trouble. Didn’t learn their lesson the last time and are at it again. At the root of it, it’s greed—endlessly wanting more. They want the land, while Miss doesn’t want to sell. Had they used softer words, they might have persuaded her, but they chose instead to cause a ruckus. Miss doesn’t cave to threats, only to persuasion."

Xie Xun sheathed his sword with a flourish, a beautiful move. He placed the longsword back on the weapon rack. "Doesn’t cave to threats, only to persuasion? My little Miss doesn’t cave to either."

If not for their engagement and her hesitance to act recklessly, she would’ve resorted to force long ago, leaving no room for the tenant farmers to stir up trouble.

"Are the tenant farmers of the noble clans causing any trouble?"

Feiying shook his head. "The tenant farmers of the Li and Cai clans did bring up wanting to buy land. But their family heads rejected the idea outright, and with the Protectors enforcing order, no unrest was even possible."

"They’re simply bullying Miss because she’s young," Nuanyang scoffed. "They bully the weak but fear the strong."

Xie Xun found the tenant farmers pitiable. These people had been tenant farmers for generations, trapped in a cycle of servitude and systemic exploitation by the aristocratic families. It was truly pitiful. The new government reforms aimed to change this, to grant tenant farmers their own land so they could live with security and dignity. Fengyu’s reluctance to sell land, however, reflected her doubt about the reforms’ successful implementation.

If she refused to sell, she would have to share the burden of taxes with the tenant farmers. Otherwise, with so much land in her possession, the heavy taxes would surely lead to losses, making the land not only unprofitable but an enormous burden. Over the years, Fengyu had refrained from loaning money against the land, which was already a kindness to the tenant farmers.

She was pragmatic and foresighted, unwilling to sell her land under such circumstances.

Her methods were elegant, her handling of the situation masterful. She distanced herself with ease, ensuring Yiling Village would likely be unable to brew further trouble. The tenant farmers would eventually have no choice but to comply with the policies Fengyu set forth.

Fengyu asked, "Do you think I’m being too cruel?"

"This matter... isn’t anyone’s fault," Xie Xun replied thoughtfully. Born into an aristocratic family, his lineage had been a cornerstone of the Yanyang Dynasty for generations, ensuring him a life free from worries about sustenance. In his youth, he’d spent money lavishly, oblivious to the struggles of common people and the difficulty of earning even a few coins. He had no right to call Fengyu’s methods cruel.

He found the tenant farmers pitiable. Generations upon generations exploited, they only wanted land to cultivate, freedom from control, and a dignified life. These were the very principles at the heart of the new reforms. Yet, he could not wholly stand from the perspective of a tenant farmer. It wasn’t because of his affection for Fengyu, but because of his privileged upbringing. Having benefited so immensely from class privileges, he had enjoyed the resources of an entire land at his disposal.

Claiming he cared solely for the tenant farmers would be hypocrisy.

These conflicts were not something one person could resolve. Xie Xun could only hope that one day, the new reforms would be fully implemented, and the era of peace and prosperity everyone longed for would finally arrive.

A time where children would be cared for and the elderly provided for.

"Whether the new reforms succeed or not, I will never sell the land I hold," Fengyu said with a firmness that surprised even Xie Xun. "Unless one day, the tax burden becomes so overwhelming that it surpasses my capacity. But if that time ever comes, it will spark new tensions between merchants and the imperial court. While the new reforms may address the issue of concentrated land ownership, they cannot completely eradicate it. Unless all land becomes state-owned—only rentable, not sellable. As long as buying and selling exist, land will inevitably fall into the hands of the few. If I were born a tenant farmer, I’d feel hopeless and miserable too. The rigid class barriers are nearly impossible to overcome, making life a constant struggle. But as someone born a merchant, with gold and silver to enjoy, it’s hard for me to fully empathize. Even if I could, I wouldn’t forsake my fortune to return the land to them."

Xie Xun chuckled, teasing, "Are you explaining yourself to me?"

"Of course!" Fengyu smiled faintly. "Even though I’ve never been a virtuous person in your eyes, I still want to explain myself, to salvage what little remains of my precarious image."

Seeing her feigned calmness, Xie Xun felt a wave of tenderness mixed with sorrow. Holding Fengyu in his arms, he whispered, "Don’t worry about anyone else’s opinion. Do whatever you want to do. No one else’s thoughts matter—not even mine. If you had been soft-hearted and easy to exploit, you’d have died in the famine years ago, and I would’ve never had the chance to meet you in this lifetime."

He soothed Fengyu’s restless anxiety.