Chapter 537: Chapter 277: Sudden Difficulty - Part 1
The second watch, seeking pastel pink.
**...**
Old Master Lian decided to rent land for farming! Lian Manman was initially surprised, but upon reflection, she no longer found it strange. The Lian Family originally owned thirty acres of land, all of which were above-average in quality. They had divided six acres, so now the Lian Family only had twenty-four acres.
Yet, the Lian Family’s population had grown to as many as twenty members, averaging less than one acre of land per person. Even if they planted sorghum or millet on that one acre and calculated the yield at its highest, it would barely be enough to feed the entire family—and this considered that there were a few children who didn’t eat much. Furthermore, they had to continue with Lady Zhou’s food rationing system.
Lian Manman had experienced Lady Zhou’s food rationing system, and she believed that the daily ration allowed to each person never even reached one pound.
One misfortune after another had entirely depleted the Lian Family’s resources. Old Master Lian’s earlier plan to sell the house in town to buy land had also come to nothing. With a large family and limited land, renting land for farming seemed to have become inevitable in order to live better.
Although tenant farming required paying substantial rent, at least it allowed for some surplus grain. With additional mouths to feed and weddings to arrange, this surplus could help fill some gaps for the family.
"We’re about to start farming. When did my father speak of this, and have we secured good plots to rent yet?" Lian Manman asked Lian Shouxin.
"He mentioned it several days ago," Lian Shouxin said, "He also told me last night that he was going to write the lease today."
"Whose land is my father renting? Did he say how many acres we’re going to rent?" Lian Manman continued to inquire.
"Who else but Scholar Wang’s Family. Your father didn’t say how many acres. This discussion came a bit late, so it depends on how much Scholar Wang’s Family is willing to rent out," Lian Shouxin sighed, "I can see Old Master has been troubled these past few days. Back when we had plenty of land, we were the ones renting it out to others."
Having gone from renting out land to others, to farming on their own, to repeated land sales, and finally having to rent others’ land to sustain the family—such transitions even made Lian Shouxin, who was young back then, feel dispirited, let alone Old Master Lian, who was in charge of the household.
"I’ll go back home and see if Old Master has returned," Lian Shouxin said as he stood up, "This is the first time we’re farming since the separation, and Old Master is quite concerned. We start farming tomorrow; I must also inform Old Master about this."
Lian Manman knew that in this era, among the filial duties expected within wealthy households, there was one called ’morning and evening attendance’. Before the separation, everyone lived together and ate at the same table. After the separation, Lian Shouxin almost achieved ’morning and evening attendance’ with Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou. Apart from the early opening of the morning market, which Lian Shouxin genuinely couldn’t manage, he would unfailingly report to the Upper Room before and after dinner no matter how busy he was. Occasionally, if he really couldn’t get away, he would ask Lady Zhang or the children like Lian Manman to go to the Upper Room and speak to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou.
Moreover, Lian Shouxin was always ready at Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou’s beck and call.
In reality, tenant farming families didn’t have so many rules—after setting up their own households following separation, relationships varied in closeness. But someone like Lian Shouxin was truly unique. Especially in the way he reported to Old Master Lian on issues that arose.
Lian Manman knew that Lian Shouxin didn’t lack the ability to make decisions; rather, he had deep admiration and respect for Old Master Lian, compounded by years of habit.
"Alright, let’s all go back then," Lady Zhang, who didn’t oppose Lian Shouxin’s approach, said.
Old Master Lian was an experienced old farmer with many years behind him. Discussing some matters with him could likely lead to insightful reminders and good advice.
The condition was that they had to decide for themselves first.
Truth be told, since their separation, Lian Shouxin had been quite faithful in carrying out decisions made jointly by the family. Even when swayed by other’s opinions, he would ultimately respect his wife and children’s resolutions.
However, to prevent unforeseen complications and to help Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang make decisions, Lian Manman dutifully followed the couple back to the old house.
...
In the Upper Room, Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, Lady Zhou, and Lian Xiuxiu were present. Old Master Lian was holding a piece of paper, discussing something with Lian Shouren. Upon seeing Lian Shouxin and his family’s arrival, he paused the conversation and motioned for them to sit down.
