[Main mission: Try to change the fate of everyone in Maixiang Village as much as possible and avoid those regrettable tragedies. 】
Wang Zhong walked to the inner courtyard. The main room and the wing rooms all had four doors wide open. At a glance, they were all empty, with nothing left.
There wasn't even a table or stool left in the main hall. When I walked into the back room, there were still a few table legs on the floor. Ma Jingxian, one of the protagonists of today's grievance meeting, was squatting against the wall, holding a broom in his hand.
"Uncle Ma!"
"It's Wang Zhong!" Ma Jingxian raised his eyes and saw that it was Wang Zhong, then lowered his head.
"What's wrong with you?"
Ma Jingxian murmured a few words: "It's all gone! It's all gone!"
Then there was no sound again.
Wang Zhong looked around and saw that the room was empty except for a few broken chair legs. However, on the partition behind the door facing the big kang, there was also a picture of a lady hanging: "Isn't this still... Do you have a picture of a lady?"
Wang Zhong walked over and took off the painting and looked at it carefully. The painting was very good, with a signature and seal on the lower right corner.
"Uncle Ma, this is a good thing. Everything in your house is probably not as valuable as this painting!"
Ma Jingxian raised his eyes and glanced at Wang Zhong, then looked back and sat there without saying a word.
Seeing him like this, Wang Zhong knew that he didn't believe it. Wang Zhong didn't bother to explain. After looking at it for a while, he found that the painting was indeed good. Although Wang Zhong didn't dabble too much in ink painting, Wang Zhong's calligraphy attainments were extremely high. Looking at the elegant and extraordinary signatures in the lower right corner of the painting of the lady, you can tell that this painting is absolutely extraordinary.
The signature is Leng Mei, whose courtesy name is Jichen, whose name is Kinmen Painting History. He was a native of Jiaozhou, Shandong and a disciple of Jiao Bingzhen. A court painter of the Qing Dynasty. He is good at painting figures and scenes, especially ladies. The figures painted are elegant in workmanship, with clean pen and ink and beautiful colors. His painting method is also combined with writing to decorate the house and utensils. The brushwork is extremely fine and vivid.
Wang Zhong was looking at the picture of the lady when Ma Renli hurried in from outside.
Looking at the empty room with a surprised look on his face, he saw Wang Zhong standing by the Kang and couldn't help but ask: "Wang Zhong, what's wrong?"
"I just came back. I heard from Uncle Ma that the folks had finished moving." Wang Zhong said.
"Renli, where have you been?" At this time, Ma Jingxian, who was sitting on the kang, finally spoke again.
"I'm going to the county town to find a classmate of mine who is an official in an organization!" Ma Renli hurriedly walked to the kang: "Dad, what are you doing holding a broom?"
"Have you found it?" Ma Jingxian asked directly.
"No, they followed the large army south."
Wang Zhong interrupted: "Renli, you two, father and son, chat first while I go out and move the things in!"
"Moving something? What to move?" Ma Renli asked doubtfully.
"Carry your luggage!" Wang Zhong said: "The Farmers' Association gave me your courtyard. It turns out that the place where I live was given to Ma Renlian, and the side courtyard went to Niu Dangdao."
"Didn't you see Ma Renlian's family when you came in?"
"No!" Ma Renli said.
Ma Renli looked confused: "The inner courtyard was given to you? Then where will my father and I live?"
Wang Zhongdao: "Didn't Niu DaDang and Ma Renlian both move in? Then their original house will definitely be vacant. I heard from Ma Renlian that the farmers' association will allocate it to Niu DaDang and his family!"
Ma Renli was silent for a moment and didn't say anything. At first Zhou Yihu said that he was present when the east and west villages were moved, and he was already prepared in his heart. The reason why he asked this was just because he still had a trace of luck in his heart. .
But the reality is cruel after all. Although Ma Renli is not as scheming as his father Ma Jingxian, nor has he actively exploited and oppressed the people of Maixiang Village, but as Niu boldly said in the original work, Ma Renli is Ma Jingxian's son. , is a son of a landlord and enjoys everything Ma Jingxian brings to him. Even when he goes out to study, he uses the money that Ma Jingxian obtained through exploitation and oppression.
As the saying goes: Under the avalanche, no snowflake is innocent.
Looking at Ma Renli who lowered his head and said nothing, Wang Zhong said: "You two, father and son, let's have a conversation first. The matter is over, so don't think too much about it. Let's discuss how to spend the rest of our lives. I'll go back and pack my things first."
"Wait, what are you holding in your hand?" Ma Renli raised his eyes and saw the rolled scroll in Wang Zhong's hand, and hurriedly called to Wang Zhong.
Wang Zhong raised the scroll in his hand and said, "That picture of Leng Jichen's lady in your house!"
"Look at the current posture. You definitely can't keep this picture in your hands. Let me hold it!" Wang Zhong took the picture and walked out.
"Wang Zhong, you..." Ma Renli wanted to catch up and say something, but Ma Jingxian grabbed his hand and winked at him. Although Ma Renli was puzzled, he still had no objection to Ma Jingxian. I mean, I suppressed the words that came to my lips.
"Dad!" When Wang Zhong came out, Ma Renli shouted anxiously. After all, this was the only thing left in his house. Ma Renli naturally knew that the painting was not ordinary.
"Renli!" Ma Jingxian shook his head at Ma Renli.
Ma Renli looked dejected and sat down on the edge of the kang.
Suddenly he was stunned again and murmured: "Wait a minute, the signature on the painting is clearly Leng Mei. How does Wang Zhong know Mr. Ji Chen's signature? Does he know that painting?"
Surprised eyes bloomed from Ma Renli's eyes...
Wang Zhong took the painting and just walked to the second door when he happened to bump into the three monkeys running in. The name of the three monkeys was Ma Renyi. They were the same generation as Ma Renli, but unfortunately they didn't have a good impression of the Ma family.
"Brother Chong!" Seeing Wang Zhong, the three monkeys immediately greeted him.
"Three Monkeys, are you here to move things too?"
"That's right! Isn't everyone here?" Ma Renyi said.
"Then you're late! The inner courtyard has been emptied, and there's nothing left."
"Ah?" The three monkeys looked surprised.
"If you don't believe me, go in and see for yourself."
While speaking, Wang Zhong staggered his body and passed by the three monkeys. The three monkeys rushed into the inner courtyard impatiently.
Sure enough, after a while, the three monkeys came out of the inner courtyard cursing.
"I didn't lie to you!"
"Hey!" The Three Monkeys sighed, with an annoyed look on their faces, "Why didn't I think of coming here to dig for free money at the first time!"
"Hahaha, some people are quick and some are slow, but if they come now, they have already been emptied by other people in the village!" Wang Chong said with a smile.
"Brother Wang Zhong, what did you get?" Three Monkeys came up to him with an annoyed look on their faces and asked curiously.
"No, that's all, and a painting!" Wang Zhong pointed at the tables, chairs and tea sets placed at the door with the scroll in his hand.
"There are so many things in the Ma family, and you only took this little?" Ma Renyi looked at a pair of large back chairs and a high table at the door, as well as a tea set on the high table.
"There are so many people, it's great if I can get this!" Wang Zhongliang showed the painting in his hand and said: "Isn't there another painting here!"
"Painting?" The three monkeys asked curiously, "What painting?"
"See for yourself!" Wang Zhong handed the painting to the three monkeys. It's not that Wang Zhong has never thought of taking this painting as his own, but when he thought about it carefully, what was the difference between his behavior and Ma Jingxian's? I changed my mind.
The three monkeys curiously took the scroll and opened it, then turned to look at Wang Zhong, somewhat surprised: "Isn't this the painting from my house?"
"Is this painting from your family?" Wang Zhong asked pretending to be surprised.
"My grandfather brought it back from Yanjing, but my father later used it to pay off debts and gave it to Ma Datou."
Wang Zhong said: "Three Monkeys, I like this painting very much. How about we discuss what you like about these things in my house and just move them out. How about you and I exchange this painting?"
"Brother Big Chong, isn't this good?" Although the three monkeys were moved, they still rolled up the picture.
"There's nothing wrong with it. I really like the little daughter-in-law in this painting. Besides, the Ma family got it by robbing your family."
"Brother Big Chong, you are a person." Ma Renyi said.
Wang Zhong said: "If you want to change, just pick something and take it away. If not, forget it. You can take this painting home and hang it!"
Wang Zhong had no intention of using this painting to make money. Things like antiques might be worth some money in the eyes of people who understand, but in the eyes of ordinary people, they are just useless ornaments.
"This chair is made of solid wood. How about I move a chair?" Seeing that Wang Zhong really liked it, Ma Renyi stepped forward to look at the large chair with a solid wood back against the wall, and then looked up at Wang Zhong with a smile.
"Move!" Wang Zhong waved his hand.
Ma Renyi immediately beamed: "Okay!"
"Brother Big Chong, are you preparing to move!" Ma Renyi couldn't help but asked curiously as Wang Zhong moved all his belongings outside.
Wang Chong said with a smile: "Didn't the Farmers Association allocate the inner courtyard to me? The front yard is now used by others, so I have to make room for them."
Ma Renyi immediately put down the chair and said, "Brother Big Chong, let me help you move it!"
"No, I don't have anything!"
"It's okay, it's okay, I'll help you and the two of us hurry up!" Ma Renyi took action without allowing Wang Zhong to refuse.
Ma Renyi was a little excited, and since Wang Zhong didn't have many things, the two of them moved Wang Zhong's few belongings into the main room in the inner courtyard in a few seconds.
"Why are you two still here?" Ma Renyi looked at Ma Renli and his son who were still sitting on the kang, and didn't give a good expression. "This house has been allocated to Brother Big Chong by the Farmers' Association. You move out quickly!"
Ma Renyi was furious, but as soon as he finished speaking, Ma Jingxian, who was sitting on the kang, spit out a mouthful of thick blood.
"Dad! What's wrong with you!" Ma Renli and Ma Renyi were both startled.
Ma Renli hurriedly stepped forward to check on Ma Jingxian's condition. Ma Renyi took a few steps back and said, "It's none of my business! I didn't touch him!" Then he turned around and rushed into the main room and said to Wang Zhong, He quickly slipped away.
"Dad! Don't scare me!" Ma Renli's face was full of worry.
Wang Zhong walked to the Kang: "Get out of my way and let Uncle Ma take a look!"
"Will you see it?" Ma Renli was already panicked and lost his mind, so it was inevitable that he would speak too hastily.
"Then you come?"
"I..." Ma Renli was speechless.
Wang Zhong pushed him away: "If you don't understand, just get out of the way."
Ma Renli looked at Wang Zhong holding his father's shoulders, first rubbing his chest a few times, then his back a few times, and pressing in several places. His father seemed to feel much more relaxed, and then They saw Wang Zhong sitting by the kang, and he felt his father's pulse.
"You can still feel your pulse?" Ma Renli was extremely surprised.
"I learned something from the Barefoot Man!" Wang Zhong said: "Uncle Ma is probably caused by anxiety and stagnation."
"Is there any way?" Ma Renli asked hurriedly.
"You should know that it's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. The most I can do is help Uncle Ma ventilate his qi and blood. There's nothing I can do about the rest. I suggest it's best to send him to the county hospital."
"No! Don't go to the hospital." Although Ma Jingxian had recovered his breath, he was much weaker.
"Wang Zhong, you see my father is like this, why don't you let us stay here for one more night?" Ma Renli thought of Ma Renyi's words just now.
"It's okay to stay for one night, but your father will have problems if you delay him like this."
"Wang Zhong!" No one said anything from Ma Renli, so Ma Jingxian grabbed Wang Zhong's sleeve, "You should also call me Uncle Ma. When you fled here, I took you in and gave you a place to stay. You have food to eat and clothes to wear. Although you have worked for my family all these years and I have not paid you wages, I have given you enough food. With your appetite, one person can support three or four others. ·····”
Before Ma Jingxian could finish speaking, Wang Zhong interrupted him: "Uncle Ma, just tell me what you want me to do for you!"
Ma Jingxian glanced at Ma Renli who was standing next to him, sighed, and said, "Uncle, I won't hide it from you. The only thing that uncle is worried about now is Renli. Renli was a child who was pampered and raised since he was a child. He has never done any heavy work. , I am in such a situation now, if I leave one day, I am really worried that Renli will not be able to live alone. You are a capable person, and the only one I can rely on now is you."
What Ma Jingxian said was sincere.
"It's okay to take care of him, but I can help him for a while, but I can't help him forever. Judging from the current situation, he will have to do all the work in the fields by himself in the future. Renli is a good person, and he treats me well. I can teach him all these tasks. He, but the key depends on whether he can stand on his own. Now that every family has their own land, whether their life is good or not depends on themselves."
"It's okay, it's okay. With your words, uncle will feel relieved." Ma Jingxian said.
Ma Jingxian loves scheming most in his life and never wants to suffer losses. Although he was not entirely responsible for the incident between Niu Dangdao and Yang Deng'er a while ago, he also accounted for a large part of it.
As the largest wealthy owner in Maixiang Village, the Ma family owns 80% of the farmland in the village. Every household in Maixiang Village shares their farmland.
However, among the Ma family's many fields, some were purchased honestly, but not many. Most of them were acquired through various means of exploitation, oppression, and mergers.
Just like what was said at the complaint meeting about not having enough to eat, the few acres of land at home are all good, fat and oily land. Ma Jingxian’s father was eyeing it and wanted to spend money to buy it, but he didn’t want to have enough to eat. Willing to sell.
Then Can't Eat's father was falsely accused of being a bandit and faced a lawsuit. Ma Datou's father took advantage of the situation and bought the land from Can't Eat's father at a low price.
Not to mention, combined with the memories provided by the system, it was quite refreshing to see the landowner and the wealthy man begging me in a low voice.
But Ma Renli is not a bad person. Although he is timid and fearful of life and death, he is not bad at it. Although his practical ability is poor, he has read a lot, has rich theoretical knowledge, and is considered a talented person.
Ma Renli originally lived in the east wing, and all the furniture and other items had been evacuated by the villagers. The bedding was gone, and only a few clothes were left.
There were more than a dozen books thrown on the kang.
After a while, Niu DaDa moved to the side courtyard carrying his whip.
Kill the local tyrants and divide the land.
After experiencing so many dungeon worlds, Wang Zhong finally experienced it once. Needless to say, this feeling was really different, and he felt comfortable.
At night, Ma Jingxian screamed in the main room. His voice was not loud, and he didn't sound confident at all.
In the evening, Wang Zhong rolled out the noodles, and Ma Renlian's family made pimple soup. Ma Renlian also gave two bowls to Ma Renli and his son, but Ma Jingxian only drank a little soup and couldn't eat the pimples. Ma Renli, on the other hand, had been hungry all day. He ate his own bowl cleanly, with nothing left.
After nightfall, Wang Zhong went over and took another look. Ma Jingxian's complexion became even worse. He would definitely not survive three days. If something unexpected happened and his mood fluctuated again, he might die at any time.
In the evening, Niu DaDang also came over. Wang Zhong didn't listen to what he was saying. He concentrated on sitting cross-legged on the kang and practicing Qigong with his shirt off.
Sure enough, early the next morning, at dawn, Ma Renli's shocked and sorrowful shouts were heard from the main room.
When Wang Zhong entered the room to check, Ma Jingxian was already dead.
Wang Zhong, Ma Renlian, and Niu DaDa helped Ma Renli bury Ma Jingxian. Ma Renli moved to Niu DaDa's house at the west end of the village that day.
After helping Ma Renli bury Ma Jingxian, Wang Zhong went to take a look at the three plots of land he had been allocated. The irrigated land was growing just right with the field on the half-slope. The wheat seedlings were growing taller and greener. Look at it. Fortunately, the depression at the foot of the mountain was empty and nothing was planted, and now there is still water in it.
In the afternoon, the village bell rang again, and everyone gathered outside Ma's house and lined up to receive food one by one. Zhou Yihu, Wang Wanchun and others were responsible for distributing it.
Although Wang Zhong was assigned the best house in the Ma family, there was not even a grain of rice in the house, not even a grain of bran.
Considering Wang Zhong's special situation, the farmers' association, the village committee, Zhou Yihu and others decided after discussion to allocate fifty catties of wheat, fifty catties of corn, ten catties of soybeans, and ten catties of soybeans to Wang Zhong from Ma's warehouse. The wasted flour allowed Wang Zhong to wait until the summer harvest at least.
Now that Ma Jingxian is dead, it will be time to organize a return group in a while. Wang Zhong wanted to go to the county to explore the situation first, so he picked up five kilograms of wheat and rushed to the county seat that morning.
Wang Zhong's ability to manage the fields is naturally not that great. Now that the spring irrigation is over, the fields only need regular weeding and insect control. If there is a drought, he will have to continue carrying water.
Fortunately, the weather was nice this year, and it rained a few times since the beginning of spring. The irrigated land and slopes assigned to Wang Zhong were covered with wheat, but the lowlands and the stone land assigned to Ma Jingxian at the beginning were still empty.
Wang Zhong went to take a look. The depression was at the foot of the mountain and was filled with water all year round. The stone land was on the mountain opposite the village. There were mostly stones in the land. It would be difficult to reclaim it for farming. However, you could plant some fruit trees.
On this day, Wang Zhong planned to go to the county to look around and find some vegetable seeds and fruit tree saplings. He also picked up a bag of wheat when he went out.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he left the village, he saw Zhou Yihu leading two soldiers in the distance. Wang Zhong hurriedly ran to catch up.
"Captain Zhou, Captain Zhou."
Zhou Yihu heard the sound, turned around and saw Wang Zhong, and stopped.
"It's Comrade Wang Zhong, what's the matter?"
"Captain Zhou, are you going to the county?" Wang Chong asked with a smile.
Zhou Yihu nodded: "Go to the county for a meeting!"
"Just in time, I'm also going to the county, let's go together."
"What are you doing in the county?" Zhou Yihu asked.
"Isn't the land divided now? There are still two empty lowlands and stone fields. I'm thinking about going to the county to see if there are any vegetable seeds or fruit trees, and by the way, I can look at farm tools."
"Do you have money in your pocket?" Zhou Yihu asked again.
Wang Zhong swung the bag on his back and said, "Isn't this just a little wheat? I plan to take it to the county to have a look. If the price is right, I will sell it or exchange it! Otherwise, I will just rely on the little grain I received." , but it won’t last the summer harvest.”
"You're quite smart, kid." Zhou Yihu said with a smile.
"Isn't there nothing we can do? People can't stop peeing until they die."
Zhou Yihu patted Wang Zhong on the shoulder and said, "Let's go to the county seat together."
