My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 74 Part 1

Chapter 74

By the time they reached the village, it was nearly dusk.  

Yet the countryside was still bustling, as if it weren’t yet time to wrap up the day’s work.  

The villagers were still checking the water levels in the rice paddies and repairing the collapsed field ridges and riverbanks.  

The sound of flowing water in the wilderness had already drowned out all other noises.  

“Isn’t that the direction of the You family’s place? Why are there so many people there?”  

Ji Taoyu, riding on horseback, observed the condition of the farmland as they entered the village. From the main village road, they could see the You family’s residence in the distance, where a crowd had gathered in the courtyard.  

“Should we go take a look?”  

“Father might be there too.”  

Huo Shu said nothing and urged the horse forward.  

“This is nothing but extortion! Don’t think you can squeeze even a single extra coin out of me!”  

Before the horse even reached the courtyard wall, You's mother’s shrill and domineering voice could already be heard.  

“The market price for one mu of land is no more than twelve taels. Don’t you know how much grain your land can produce? It’s not some fertile treasure of a field—ten taels is already more than generous, and yet you dare ask for thirteen? Keep dreaming!”  

“I never had any intention of selling this land in the first place. If you look down on it, Sun niangzi (You's mother), then don’t buy it! You scorn my land, yet you’re still hounding me to sell, what kind of logic is that?”  

The Cai family’s fulang stood with arms akimbo, his words reasonable, though his tone was far from polite.  

“If it weren’t for building this house, who’d even want your wretched land? You’re just using the You family’s construction as an excuse to drive up the price. We’re fellow villagers, must you be so shameless?”  

Originally, the Cai family’s fulang had held some respect for the You family as scholars, and You Lingxiao being a provincial graduate made them someone ordinary farming families couldn’t afford to offend.  

Though furious at the You family’s offer of ten taels for their land, he had refrained from outright cursing and tried to reason instead. Yet You's mother seemed to think their family was an easy target to bully.  

The Cai family’s fulang grew angrier: “You’re the one being shameless! You want to buy land but unwilling to pay for it. What, just because your son is a juren, you think you can oppress the villagers? If I give in even a single step today, tomorrow your You family will strut around the village like you own the place, bullying whoever you please!”  

The argument escalated, and the two nearly came to blows before onlookers stepped in to separate them.  

As expected, Ji Yangzong was there.  

Whenever disputes like this dragged on in the village, someone would always fetch the village head.  

Ji Yangzong frowned, his expression stern:  

“We’re in the middle of the busy farming season, was one quarrel not enough that you had to start another? Sun niangzi, your family building a new house is a good thing, but since it requires taking someone else’s land, both sides should compromise. Twelve taels per mu is the market price. Cai family, don’t ask for more.”  

Since Ji Yangzong had spoken, the Cai family, who still respected him, suppressed their displeasure and held their tongues.  

But You's mother refused to yield: “Village Head, twelve taels is the market price. Who buys land without bargaining? Paying the full price is unheard of! Our You family may have some modest assets, but we can’t afford to be extorted left and right by greedy people.”  

Having arrived later, Ji Taoyu and Huo Shu quickly grasped the reason for the dispute.  

You's mother wanted to buy the Cai family’s land to expand their house but only offered ten taels per mu. The Cai family had never intended to sell, and upon hearing the You family’s low offer, felt utterly disrespected, so they raised their price to thirteen taels out of spite.  

With neither side willing to compromise, the argument erupted.  

Even with Ji Yangzong mediating, You's mother remained unyielding, as if she didn’t regard him as village head at all.  

Just as the standoff seemed unresolvable, the sound of a carriage approached from a distance. Ji Taoyu turned, to his surprise he saw that it was You Lingxiao’s carriage returning.  

You Lingxiao, his carriage window open, also spotted the two on horseback.  

His gaze lingered on Ji Taoyu for a moment before the carriage stopped at the courtyard gate.  

“Mother, what’s going on?”  

You Lingxiao frowned slightly at the sight of so many villagers gathered in his home.  

You's mother, seeing her son return, seemed to grow even more emboldened. She quickly recounted the situation to him.  

“Erlang, just look at our wonderful fellow villagers.”  

Her tone dripped with disdain and reproach.  

Unexpectedly, You Lingxiao swept a glance over the crowd in the courtyard, his expression as if he found the scene distasteful, and said, “Then let’s follow Uncle Ji’s suggestion, give them twelve taels per mu.”  

Without waiting for You's mother to protest further, You Lingxiao glanced toward the direction outside the courtyard and simply walked into the house.  

You's mother was left speechless. But since You Lingxiao had already spoken, there was no room left for her to argue.  

She sneered in irritation, “Consider yourselves lucky, Cai family.”  

With that, the matter was settled, and the villagers gradually dispersed.  

Ji Yangzong emerged from the You residence in a foul mood. The You family’s repeated disruptions and refusal to heed his mediation showed blatant disrespect for his authority as village head. Naturally, he was displeased.  

Spotting Ji Taoyu and Huo Shu outside, his expression softened slightly when he saw they were unharmed. “You’re back?”  

“Mn.”  

For juniors to remain on horseback while their elder walked on the ground was somewhat improper.  

Huo Shu initially intended to dismount with Ji Taoyu and walk alongside Ji Yangzong.  

But Ji Yangzong waved his hand. “The road is wet and muddy, stay on the horse.”  

Huo Shu said nothing more. He dismounted alone, leaving Ji Taoyu on the horse while he led the reins on foot.