Chapter 109: Chapter 105: Utilization (Extra for Anshengzz)
Translator: 549690339
Realizing his safety issue, Tang Luo planned to reduce the frequency of his visits to the Star Pavilion. Moreover, he needed some time to study martial skills associated with the Mortal Realm, so closing himself off in the Secret Arts Pavilion seemed like a great idea.
It was safe, warm with professional and excellent assistants around him. By the time he figured out the Combined Attack Technique of the Mortal Realm, he could go wherever he wanted.
With such thoughts, Tang Luo began his martial arts research enthusiastically.
Time was quietly passing by.
Tang Ming’s faction worked tirelessly to collect grain. It was only at the end of the summer harvest that they finished collecting half a million tons, exactly half of the task assigned by Tang Zhi.
Based on his pessimistic estimate, each household would start hoarding grain in the autumn harvest, it would be even harder to collect grain in the next half year.
He thought that he would face severe punishment for not completing the task, but to his surprise, Tang Zhi just casually acknowledged his effort at the Clan Meeting. Tang Zhi then appointed Tang Kuan to take over the newly-collected grain and instructed him to continue collecting, acting as though nothing had happened.
However, Tang Ming couldn’t act as composed as Tang Zhi, because he couldn’t believe that the clan chief didn’t mention the land plan.
In the summer harvest, the Mi Clan raised the price of new grain to 45 gold per thousand kilograms. The clan members literally forced the new grain down their throats, aiming for the North City plot promised by Tang Zhi. Although they only completed half of the task, Tang Ming felt that he had done his utmost.
Even if they didn’t get the full amount of land, they should at least show the clan leaders some progress.
At the Clan Meeting, he couldn’t directly ask why Tang Zhi didn’t mention it, so he waited until the meeting was over to find Tang Zhi alone.
Tang Ming asked quietly, “Chief, what about the land problem?”
It was now late August. If there was any plan, actions must be taken now after the emergency meeting on April 15th, otherwise it would be hard to relocate the original owners due to the lack of time.
Tang Zhi looked at Tang Ming and praised, “You are doing very well.”
Avoiding the question, Tang Ming tried his best to be humble and modest, “I’m just dedicated to my work.”
“Half a million tons of grain is far from enough, you keep collecting grain. We’ll discuss the land issue later,” Tang Zhi said casually.
This response made Tang Ming very anxious. Originally, Tang Zhi promised a timeline of half a year which inspired the clan leaders to fight with him tooth and nail. However, if they didn’t see any land coming in by the end of the year, these leaders were sure to make a fuss.
“Chief, we can’t do this.” Tang Ming, sweating profusely out of anxiety said, “Even if we have only completed half of the task, you should at least show half of the land to the clansmen, otherwise….”
Tang Ming couldn’t go on as he saw Tang Zhi’s eyes getting colder and colder, completely poised.
“Are you trying to tell me how to do things?” Tang Zhi asked indifferently.
Tang Ming took a deep breath and replied, “Of course not, it’s just that you once promised.”
“But you didn’t make it happen.” Tang Zhi said coldly, without changing his expression.
Tang Ming felt a burst of panic inside. The task of one million tons in two months was impossible for anyone to complete. However, from Tang Zhi’s point of view, it seemed that if the task was not completed, they would not be able to get the land.
Tang Zhi could say this confidently, but how could Tang Ming face hundreds of clan leaders when he returned? Should he tell them that even though they tried their best to collect grain, they couldn’t even get a mound of land because they didn’t complete the task?
“Chief, you can’t do this.” Imagining the angry clansmen he would have to face if he were to return empty-handed, Tang Ming could only make his final effort.
Tang Zhi smiled and said to Tang Ming, “Go back and tell them the truth. Those who want to continue collecting grain can do so. If someone doesn’t want to, let him come to my mansion to get a refund. I will compensate him in full for how much he has spent.”
“No, chief, I didn’t mean that.” Tang Ming hurriedly denied. Everyone in the subsidiary clan was from the Tang family. They all had the same ancestor for over twenty generations.
It is the duty of the subsidiary clan to serve the family, but it is a big taboo for Tang Zhi to only give orders without a clear goal. They don’t know what to do after collecting grain, so naturally, panic would arise.
Tang Zhi, however, had no plans to explain further, telling Tang Ming, “No need to say more, just pass on the message.”
The Tang Family gathered happily again and were enjoying a feast in the dining hall.
Xu Shuhui looked at Tang Luo, who she hadn’t seen for a month, and exclaimed in surprise, “Son, how did you become so tall?”
Tang Luo, who used to be only at her neck height, had grown to her chin height within a month. Although she knew that boys at the age of fourteen or fifteen were at the stage of growing fast, the speed was still surprising. Even Tang Sen, who was engrossed in his meal, couldn’t help raising his head several times to look, but his eyes looked a little odd.
Tang Luo nodded smilingly, showing that he was finally rid of his short stature.
Seeing his brother’s triumphant look, Little Nuannuan explained to his mother, “Big brother didn’t grow taller, he put three insoles in his boots.”
Tang Sen glanced at him, suddenly understood and kept eating. He was puzzled before, wondering how Tang Luo suddenly sprang up despite having the same body proportion. Now he understood.
Upon hearing Little Nuannuan’s explanation, Xu Shuhui chuckled. She knew that her eldest son was very sensitive about his height, but didn’t expect him to be doing such a thing, which was a sharp contrast to his usual mature and indifferent image.
“So embarrassing.” Little Nuannuan smiled and teased Tang Luo after hearing her second brother’s words.
“Hmph, I wouldn’t stoop to your level.” Tang Luo twitched his lips and said.
As a tall man with a height of one meter and six, all he needed to do to reach one meter and seven was to put in some effort. Isn’t that the purpose of a boot?
You all don’t understand how tiresome it is to look up at others. Especially when these martial artists are all such tall men.
You can’t understand the pain of a tall soul trapped in a small body.
Humph! Tang Luo took a big bite of his meal and chewed angrily.
“Was that really what the chief said?” Tang Qi asked in disbelief.
Tang Ming nodded in pain.
As representatives of the subsidiary clan, they were the link between the Clan Chief and the members of the subsidiary clan. But this current situation seemed like a turning point that the link might about to break.
“Tang Zhi said he was willing to compensate, then just go to his mansion and get the money, let’s see if he can come up with that much cash.” Tang Cunfu said coldly.
As one of the representatives of the subsidiary clan, he did not agree to this plan from the start.
Trading grain for land? It sounded so unreliable. The Tang Clan owned a total of eight hundred thousand acres of fertile land. In a non-drought year, there was no way to manipulate the grain price.
Also, purchasing such a huge amount of grain seemed like a joke—One million tons in two months? That standard could only be met by collecting both the spring and summer grain.
Only someone as honest as Tang Ming would take up such an impossible task and try to accomplish it.
“Haven’t you realized yet? Tang Zhi is simply using us sub-clan members to collect grain. The land is just bait,” Tang Cunfu felt it was necessary to wake his clansman up, lest he continue down this path blindly.
“No way. “Tang Ming shook his head, although he felt bitter about it, he could still tell right from wrong.
With a cold smile hanging around his mouth, Tang Cunfu said bitterly, “This year, the Han River flooded, causing the whole Ze Country to lose thousands of acres of good land. The chief had been mediocre for too long. He wanted to try to make a fortune to prove his capabilities, and we subsidiary clan members are just pawns in his game..”
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