Chapter 27: The Chang Household Bustling with Visitors

The Wang and Zhao families have been continuously acquiring land in every county of Hanzhou, becoming the largest landowners in the region. Yet, they remain unsatisfied, eager to purchase every plot of land in the entire territory.

Zhao Shengkui has no intention of selling his land to the Wang family; he would much rather sell to Jiang Yi. However, if Zhao Guangxian were to send someone to make an offer, he would be even more inclined to sell to the Zhao family.

"Go back for now, and I will give you my answer tomorrow," Zhao Shengkui told the messenger.

If the Wang family were to bully him, he would seek help from the Zhao family. He instructed Li Feng, "Go back and tell Wang Rengui that I will not sell my land to him." Should the Wang family seek retaliation against his household, he would rely on the Zhao family for protection.

Jiang Yi departed, waiting for Zhao Shengkui’s response the following day.

"Did the village chief agree to sell you the land?" Shen Rong asked.

"He said he needs to consider it and will let me know tomorrow. Wang Rengui sent Li Feng to try and buy his land as well," Jiang Yi replied. Perhaps the acquisition would not be as smooth as hoped, as several powerful families in Hanyang were frantically buying up land.

"Take some venison over to Uncle Chang’s family so they can have a taste," Jiang Yi decided. He prepared two hind legs and half a rack of ribs from the roe deer he had hunted, binding them with fine twine before heading to Chang Yushan’s house. He also intended to ask if they would be willing to sell him their land.

Upon arriving at Chang Yushan’s home, Jiang Yi found the entrance crowded with visitors from prominent local families. Seeing the modest gift of venison compared to the lavish offerings brought by others, Jiang Yi felt a touch of embarrassment. The Chang family was busy hosting their guests.

As Jiang Yi approached the gate, he was stopped by two burly men standing guard. "Do you have an invitation?" one asked.

"I don't have an invitation; I am here to bring some venison to Uncle Chang," Jiang Yi explained.

"Without an invitation, you cannot enter," the guard insisted, tasked with keeping out anyone who might stir up trouble.

Just then, Chang Youliang spotted Jiang Yi being blocked by the servant. He hurried over, apologizing, "I am so sorry; we have been far too busy today, and I’ve neglected you." He invited Jiang Yi into the courtyard.

"I hunted a roe deer today and brought some over for you all to enjoy," Jiang Yi said. Chang Youliang accepted the gift with a smile; though it was not as expensive as the other offerings, to him, Jiang Yi’s gesture was the most sincere.

"I heard you were at the village chief’s house looking to buy land. I’ve already spoken to my parents—if you want to buy land, our family is willing to sell to you at a lower price."

The Chang family was planning to move into the city, leaving their home vacant. Selling it to Jiang Yi at a discount would ensure that he and Shen Rong had a home and land, providing them with security.

"When you have time, we can discuss the price," Jiang Yi said.

"We are moving to Hanyang City in three days. Once the house is empty, you and Little Rong can move in," Chang Youliang offered. The house was built with blue bricks and tiles, and purchasing it would save Jiang Yi the expense of building a new one. Moreover, buying from the Changs meant he would not be cheated.

"If I don’t have enough money, I can write an IOU and pay you back on schedule once I’ve earned it," Jiang Yi suggested, hoping to acquire more land for future use.

"My parents feel the same way. We are old friends, and we trust you completely," Chang Youliang replied. He then warned, "I advise against buying the village chief’s land. Twenty mu of his holding is poor-quality soil, and he will likely charge you a premium for it. You would be at a disadvantage." Despite his honest appearance, Zhao Shengkui was a greedy and cunning man.

"I will discuss the matter with Uncle Chang and Aunt Li another time. You have important guests, so I won't disturb you further," Jiang Yi said. Chang Youliang wanted to invite him to stay for a meal, but feared the guests might mock Jiang Yi, hurting his pride and embarrassing the Chang family.

"Let’s do it another day. I’ll go back and share the stewed venison with Little Rong," Jiang Yi said, leaving the courtyard with a heavy heart.

"Youliang, the Inspector has something to say to you, come here quickly," Chang Yushan urged. He was determined to impress Ma Xu, hoping that if he were pleased, he might recommend Chang Youliang to the Chancellor. He was relieved that he hadn't allowed Chang Youliang to go into business with Jiang Yi, as it would have ruined his chances of an official career. While the two young men were friends, their paths were diverging. Chang Yushan did not dislike Jiang Yi, but he was starting to distance his son from him as their social standings began to widen—one becoming a merchant, the other a rising official in the Great Liang Dynasty.

Back home, Jiang Yi felt dejected. "Husband, what is wrong? Did someone bully you?" Shen Rong asked, noticing his downcast expression.

"It’s nothing. Uncle Chang’s family is moving to the city in a few days, and I am going to buy their house and land," Jiang Yi explained. It would be less convenient to visit once they moved, as the trip to Hanyang City took at least an hour by mule cart. If all went well, Chang Youliang would secure an official position, and with the right patronage, his career would flourish.

"That is a good thing! We should prepare a generous gift to congratulate them. You want to move to the city too, don't you? I believe you can do it," Shen Rong said. In just a few days, they had gone from destitution to having some assets. She believed that with enough effort, living in the city was not out of reach.

"It’s not that simple. Those in the city are either wealthy or noble, and even transferring one’s household registration is a major ordeal," Jiang Yi noted. He hoped to bring his wife to the city, but he knew that conventional means would not suffice. He might eventually have to take Hanyang City by force and become its master.

After buying the Changs' property, he would not have much money left. "If you buy Uncle Chang’s land and house, will you still buy the village chief’s land?" Shen Rong asked.

"If the price is reasonable, I will buy a few more mu," he replied. Shen Rong knew the state of Zhao Shengkui’s land—only ten mu were fertile, while the rest were of poor quality. "The village chief has thirty mu; he will surely try to sell you the twenty mu of poor land. If the price is too high, we will lose out."

Jiang Yi did not mind the poor land; in fact, the worse the land, the easier it would be to drive the price down. "If he asks for too much, I won’t buy it. He shouldn't think I'm so easily swindled."

The couple prepared a hearty dinner together. Afterward, they washed up and sat on the bed chatting. Outside, a cold wind blew and light snow began to fall, but the room remained warm. Having money had greatly improved their living conditions, and Shen Rong felt content and happy to face life's challenges alongside Jiang Yi.

"Should we buy a mule and a cart? It would make traveling much easier," Jiang Yi suggested.

"Let’s do it the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, we will finalize the land deal with the village chief," she replied.

"I’ll go to Hanyang City the day after to see how the soap is being received. We need to sell it soon; the room is getting full." Jiang Yi had improved the saponification process, shortening the time from a month to ten days while maintaining quality, allowing for batch sales.

As Shen Rong looked at the room filled with the fragrant soap, she heard footsteps outside. Jiang Yi immediately became alert.