bigabreads Chapter 139 The Entire Village Elopes! The Clan Chief Spits Blood in Furious, and Second Brother Hol
Chapter 139 The Entire Village Elopes! The Clan Chief Spits Blood in Furious, and Second Brother Hol
Zhao Family Village, a village that usually only hears dogs barking at this hour, is eerily quiet tonight.
Even the yellow dog at the village entrance seemed to sense something unusual, tucking its tail between its legs and shrinking into the corner without making a sound.
"Squeak—"
A very faint rustling sound of a wooden axle grinding against each other rang out in the night.
Zhao Ergou, shirtless with veins bulging on his forehead, was carefully removing his own door panel from the door frame, his back teeth clenched.
"Keep it down! You rascal, are you trying to wake that old geezer?"
His wife, Cuihua, holding the baby still in swaddling clothes and carrying a bundle bigger than a person on her back, cursed in a low voice.
Although he was cursing, his eyes shone with an unprecedented light—the excitement of a fugitive about to escape.
"What's there to be afraid of!"
Zhao Ergou hoisted the heavy door panel onto his back. It was a fine elm plank, so heavy it bent his back, but his steps were as light as if he were going to a banquet.
"Master Qin said that as long as we bring our tools, we can exchange them for meat! Once this door panel gets over there, it will become our bed board in our new home!"
"Walk!"
That one word, "Go," was like toppling the first domino.
Immediately afterwards, the Wang family next door, the Li family across the street... the whole Zhao family village seemed to come alive in an instant.
There were no torches, no noise.
Only countless dark figures, carrying pots and pans, doors, tables and chairs, and some even leading their only skinny donkey, gathered like ghosts on the path at the village entrance.
As they passed the towering chastity archway, no one looked up at the imperial gold lettering on it again.
One mischievous young man even spat a thick wad of phlegm onto a pillar of the archway as he passed by.
"Pah! You man-eating bastard!"
The large group moved silently towards the brightly lit "paradise" a few hundred meters away.
This was a long-planned "mass elopement".
They weren't heading towards a wild man, but towards a bowl of steaming braised pork and the dignity that allows one to live like a human being.
……
The next day, the sky brightened.
The heavy vermilion gate of the Zhao Family Ancestral Hall was forcefully pushed open by Zhao Taigong with his cane.
Today, the old man specially wore the silk robe that he only wore when worshipping ancestors, and his hair was combed meticulously.
He had a dream last night in which his ancestors praised him for his effective governance of the village, which made him stand up straight at this moment.
"Open the ancestral hall!"
With a booming voice, Old Master Zhao prepared to begin his daily routine of "morning lectures," and also to bring back the young men who had sneaked out for drinks the night before to carry out family discipline.
However, all that answered him was the cold wind blowing through the hall, swirling up fallen leaves and rolling past his feet.
Where are they?
Old Master Zhao frowned, then raised his voice and shouted again:
"Are Zhao Ergou and Wang Damaizi both dead?!"
It remained deathly silent.
This quiet wasn't the quiet of someone who hadn't woken up yet, but rather a...lifeless, unsettling emptiness.
Old Master Zhao's heart skipped a beat.
He leaned on his cane and strode out of the ancestral hall, arriving at the village's only main road.
next second.
His cloudy old eyes widened suddenly, his eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets.
empty.
It's completely empty.
The chimneys that should have been emitting smoke at this time of year now stand coldly; the courtyards that should have been filled with the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking are now wide open—no, to be precise, there are no doors at all!
Looking around, every house looked like it had been ransacked by bandits, with only bare walls and dark door frames left, like gaping mouths silently mocking his ignorance.
"This...this is..."
Old Master Zhao staggered into the nearest house.
There wasn't a soul in the house, not even a mouse hole had been blocked up. Even the iron pot on the stove had been pried off, leaving only a large, dark hole.
"Where are they?! Where are my people?!"
Old Master Zhao went crazy, running from house to house, checking each one.
No.
None at all.
The entire Zhao Family Village, with over a hundred households and five or six hundred people, vanished overnight as if it had evaporated from the face of the earth!
At last.
He collapsed under the chastity archway at the village entrance.
The archway still stands tall, cold, and majestic, but in the face of this desolate, empty village, it appears so comical and absurd.
She remained chaste.
But they couldn't protect the living, breathing human heart.
"What a tragedy...what a tragedy!!!"
Old Master Zhao looked up to the sky and roared, but he couldn't catch his breath and a strange sound like a broken bellows came from his throat.
"Clatter!"
The rosewood cane in his hand, which represented the supreme authority of the clan, was slammed heavily onto the bluestone slab and broke in two.
Immediately afterwards, a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth, staining the stone steps beneath the archway red.
The blood was a glaringly red.
But it couldn't bring back even one person who turned back.
What exactly is so good about the Qin family?
……
Meanwhile, in the Qin family council hall.
The atmosphere here is completely different from the deathly silence of Zhao Family Village.
The hall was warm and cozy, with smokeless coal burning in the floor. A faint scent of ink and a sweet aroma called "victory" filled the air.
Su Wan sat behind the large rosewood desk.
She didn't wear those elaborate dresses today, but instead wore a simple yet figure-flattering moon-white high-necked cheongsam.
The buttons at the neckline were fastened all the way to the top, giving her an dignified and abstinent air, but the half of her calves, vaguely visible beneath the slit in her skirt, were covered in a layer of flesh-colored stockings as thin as cicada wings.
That was a new product from the Qin family's textile factory. In this era, it was a "monster" powerful enough to break even a saint's spirit.
In front of her were piles of newly delivered contracts and documents.
Those were hundreds of "Voluntary Agreements to Offset Rent with One's Body".
Although the people of Zhao Family Village had fled, the land remained. According to the laws of the Great Wei Dynasty, land left uncultivated after people had left was considered wasteland.
The Qin family has no shortage of methods for pioneering new lands.
"Second brother, so many land deeds..."
Su Wan rubbed her temples, feeling a bit of a headache. The hundreds of documents were making her dizzy. "Do I have to stamp them all one by one?"
"nature."
A clear, cold sound, like jade striking against jade, rang out behind me.
Qin Mo had somehow gotten behind the desk.
He wasn't wearing his glasses today, and his phoenix eyes, which were always hidden behind the lenses, were now exposed without any cover, deep, dark, and with a chilling aggressiveness.
He did not keep his distance as usual.
Instead, he leaned forward slightly, placing his hands on either side of the chair back, encircling Su Wan within this small space.
"This is my sister-in-law's territory."
Qin Mo spoke in a low voice, his breath brushing against Su Wan's ear, causing a fine shiver to rise from that small patch of skin:
"Every inch of land, every contract, needs to be stamped with my sister-in-law's private seal."
"Only when they're stamped...do they truly belong to you."
"But my hands are sore..."
Su Wan tilted her head back, looking at him with an innocent expression, as if she were pouting.
"Are your hands tired?"
Qin Mo chuckled lightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes; instead, it seemed more like a premeditated hunting signal.
He stretched out a hand, a long, slender hand with distinct knuckles, and the fingertips, worn smooth by years of holding a pen, were covered with a thin layer of calluses.
He grasped Su Wan's right hand, the one holding the seal.
"Since sister-in-law is tired."
"Then, second brother... will you do it for me?"
They said it was done on behalf of someone else.
But he did not take the seal.
Instead, it simply enveloped her hand, and with her strength, pressed it heavily into the red inkpad.
"Pfft."
The moist inkpad covered the jade seal.
It's like some kind of secret union.
Qin Mo's hands were large, his palms burning hot, pressed tightly against Su Wan's slightly cool hand. That heat traveled along the lines of their skin, burning all the way to Su Wan's heart.
"This one... belongs to Zhao Ergou's family."
Qin Mo's voice was deep and husky as he guided her hand, slowly moving the seal toward the white paper.
His body pressed even closer together.
His chest was pressed tightly against her back, and Su Wan could even feel the steady and powerful beating of his heart in his chest.
"Thump."
The red seal fell.
On that white paper with black ink, a bright red character "Su" was left.
"This land will belong to my sister-in-law from now on."
Qin Mo did not let go of her hand, but instead led her to the next picture.
"This one... belongs to Wang Damaizi's family."
"Thump."
one more time.
Under his guidance, the monotonous act of stamping was transformed into a strangely enchanting experience.
Each time it falls, it is not only a confirmation of power, but also a disguised declaration of sovereignty.
"Second Brother..."
Su Wan felt that this position was too dangerous.
Qin Mo pressed almost half his weight onto her, the cool scent of ink mixed with his unique masculine aura, like an impenetrable net, tightly enveloping her.
Especially the hand that was holding hers.
His thumb did not stay put.
Instead, in the intervals between each time he lifted the seal, he would subtly caress the back of her hand, glide it between her fingers, and even... gently press on the sensitive area between her thumb and forefinger.
"Focus."
Qin Mo sensed her distraction and pinched her thumb and forefinger as punishment.
"This area covers several hundred acres."
"What if my sister-in-law isn't paying attention... and the cover is crooked?"
He lowered his head, his lips almost touching Su Wan's cheek:
"If Second Brother were to turn his heart away from the right path... the Qin family would be in chaos."
The words have a double meaning.
Su Wan's heart pounded wildly upon hearing this.
"There's one last one left."
Qin Mo suddenly stopped what he was doing.
He pulled out a rather unusual piece of paper from the very bottom of the pile of documents.
That's not an ordinary land deed.
That was a map of the entire Zhao Family Village.
"Sister-in-law."
Qin Mo loosened his grip on the seal and instead took out a small, exquisite sandalwood box from his pocket.
Upon opening the box, one finds a private seal carved from the finest Tianhuang stone.
The seal is engraved with a powerful and vigorous character "Qin", while below that character, a graceful character "Su" is faintly encircled.
It is you in me, and me in you.
"This is a gift from my second brother to my sister-in-law."
Qin Mo took out the seal but did not dip it in ink.
But...
He grabbed Su Wan's other hand.
That was the ring finger of her left hand.
He lowered his head, his expression devout as if performing some kind of sacred ritual. He opened his mouth and gently took the fingertip into his mouth.
"Hmm!"
Su Wan trembled and tried to pull her hand back, but he held it tightly.
That was his mouth.
After a moment, Qin Mosong spoke. Su Wan's fingertips were covered with a layer of glistening water.
He held the Tianhuang seal, which was not dipped in ink, and gently pressed it on his damp fingertips.
No red marks were left.
It left only a shallow, yet unsettling, indentation.
"It's covered."
Qin Mo raised his head, looking at the finger he had "marked," his possessiveness almost overflowing in his eyes:
"These hundreds of acres of land are yours."
"This Zhao Family Village is yours."
"This land and rivers within a hundred miles... are all yours."
He slowly approached, removing the mask of refinement to reveal the ravenous wolf beneath:
"And me..."
"He is the most loyal minister who helps you protect this country..."
"Sister-in-law."
"A subject has rendered great service...shouldn't he be rewarded?"
As he spoke, he lifted Su Wan from the chair and placed her directly on the large desk piled high with land deeds.
He casually tossed that Tianhuang seal into the pile of papers that represented wealth and power.
In his eyes.
All the landscapes on this table pale in comparison to the glimpse of spring beneath the neckline of this woman before me.
"Second Brother! Master Sun is coming soon!" Su Wan exclaimed in alarm, pushing against his chest.
"Let him wait."
Qin Mo leaned in, placing his hands on either side of her body, trapping her between the pile of papers and himself:
"These old foxes in officialdom will be more obedient if you leave them hanging for a while."
"Now……"
"Second brother just wants to settle this 'private debt' with sister-in-law."
……
Half an hour later.
The main gate of the Qin family.
A small blue sedan chair landed hastily.
Master Sun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly climbed out of the sedan chair.
"Where's Master Qin? Where's Second Master? Something terrible has happened!"
Master Sun grabbed the security guard at the door and shouted, stamping his feet in frustration:
"The magistrate just received news that Zhao Family Village is deserted! If this is investigated, it'll be considered a peasant riot! We'll all be beheaded!"
Huhe was still holding that thermos, slowly taking a sip of goji berry tea:
"What's the rush? Second Master is inside... handling 'top-secret business'."
"What confidential matter could be more urgent than this?!" Master Sun was almost in tears.
Just then.
With a creak.
The doors to the council chamber opened.
Qin Mo came out.
He changed his clothes, and the collar that was originally impeccably tailored now seemed to have some subtle wrinkles. The gold-rimmed glasses were back on his nose, restoring his aloof and ascetic appearance.
However, upon closer inspection...
You'll notice a rosy blush on the corners of his mouth, a blush that's almost satiated, even seductive.
And between his fingers, there was still a faint... perfume scent.
"Master Sun."
Qin Mo stood on the steps, looking down at the anxious clerk, his tone indifferent:
"What's the matter?"
"Second Master! My dear Second Master! Zhao Family Village is empty! Hundreds of people are gone! How are we going to explain this to the higher-ups?" Master Sun spread his hands.
"Who said it's gone?"
Qin Mo pushed up his glasses, took out a pre-written document from his sleeve, and casually tossed it to Master Sun.
"The Zhao family village, grateful for the emperor's favor and coinciding with the expansion of the Qin family farm, responded to the imperial court's call for 'land reclamation'..."
Qin Mo paused, a meaningful smile playing on his lips:
"The whole village has decided to close the village for three years to conduct 'closed-door ancestor worship'."
"As for where those people went..."
He pointed to the modern pig farm behind him, where smoke was billowing and the sounds of pigs squealing could be heard:
"They're all inside 'fulfilling their filial duties'."
"A closed-off...ancestral worship ceremony?"
Master Sun held the document, staring at the bright red seal that seemed to still be warm, and was completely dumbfounded.
They tricked the whole village into raising pigs and then called it "ancestor worship"?
This is just too... too damn genius!
"and……"
Qin Mo walked down the steps and stood before Master Sun, reaching out to straighten his slightly askew official hat.
"Since no one is farming this land in Zhao Family Village, it's just wasteland."
"The Qin family rented it and converted it into a '10,000-head pig breeding base,' paying 3,000 taels of silver in taxes to the county government every year."
"This achievement..."
Qin Mo patted the advisor's shoulder, his voice as soft as a devil's whisper:
"Is it enough for the clerk and the magistrate... to upgrade this year's performance evaluation to 'Excellent'?"
Three thousand taels!
It's still annual tax revenue!
Master Sun's eyes instantly turned into the shape of copper coins.
What refugees? What riots?
At that moment, in his eyes, the empty Zhao Family Village was simply a gold mine!
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"
Master Sun immediately changed his expression, grinning from ear to ear:
"The Zhao family of Zhao Village embodies both loyalty and filial piety! They are truly a model for the people of our great Wei!"
"Don't worry, Second Master! I'll take this document back to the magistrate for his stamp right away!"
"They say... Zhao Family Village has good feng shui, the villagers are all cultivating immortality there... oh no, I mean, cultivating their character and temperament!"