39: A show of force

The biting autumn rain fell amidst the mountains and forests, accompanied by withered yellow leaves scattered everywhere, unexpectedly evoking a sense of desolation.

In the Chu Family compound, the village chief of Fuhe Village and the four clan elders arrived the earliest; they had hurried over almost immediately after finishing breakfast in the morning.

Qin Hui arranged tea and refreshments to host them, chatting with them on the side while waiting for the people from the other three villages to arrive.

Two hours later, people from the neighboring villages, Qingsha Village and Tuwozi Village, arrived one after another.

Many people from these two villages had died in the snow disaster a while back, so those who came included both the original clan elders and representatives elected by the newly relocated villagers.

Including the village chiefs, six people came from Qingsha Village, and four came from Tuwozi Village.

After the people from these two villages arrived, everyone waited for nearly another hour. Seeing that it was almost noon, there was still no sign of anyone from Chenliu Village, an upper village among the eighteen villages.

Chu Jingyu tapped his fingers carelessly on the tabletop. The atmosphere within the Chu Family compound became increasingly oppressive, and the clan elders from each village inevitably had many speculations in their hearts.

"Dong, dong, dong."

After about a few more minutes, a knocking sound came from the Chu Family compound gate.

Chu Shengyuan opened the courtyard gate with his chubby little hands, only to see a man with muddy legs and feet standing outside.

The door of the Main Hall was open, facing directly toward the outside of the courtyard. The man, ignoring the child who had opened the door for him, shouted directly into the Main Hall in a rough, booming voice:

"Chenliu Village reporting. With this continuous overcast rain, the clan elders of Chenliu Village are advanced in years and really not convenient to go out. I hope the Chu Family Clan Chief can choose another day with good weather to hold this assembly. If it is convenient, it would be best if the location could be set in Chenliu Village."

Hearing this, everyone in the Main Hall dared not even breathe loudly. Wasn't this an obvious, naked provocation against the Chu Family?

It was just unclear how the Chu Family would handle this. After all, that was an upper village. Previously under the protection of the Liu Family, it was said that they had several high-level Contract Masters, so it was not certain that the Chu Family would be able to control them.

Chu Jingyu calmly picked up the teacup on the table, took a light sip, and then placed it back on the tabletop unhurriedly.

"Could it be that the village chief of Chenliu Village is also useless? Perhaps he should be dealt with and forced to resign to enjoy his twilight years. Go back and convey my words to the village chief of Chenliu Village."

The man outside the courtyard gate, who had not entered, hurriedly bowed, agreed, adjusted his bamboo hat, and rushed back along the path he had come.

Watching the man's figure disappear into the misty rain, Chu Jingyu tapped the table, drawing back the attention of everyone in the room who held different thoughts in their hearts.

"Since the people from Chenliu Village cannot come, let us begin directly."

Although it was called a meeting, it was more of Qin Hui unilaterally detailing the arrangements for the three villages in the future.

"Our Chu Family has no intention of interfering in the specific affairs of the villages under our jurisdiction. In the future, you will continue to govern according to your own internal rules. As long as you hand over the required taxes on time, that is sufficient. If there are any major matters you cannot handle, feel free to send someone to seek help. However."

Qin Hui's brows became serious, "Do not come to bother us with every trivial matter; this is not the place to handle petty trifles. Do you all understand this arrangement?"

The clan elders of each village looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Qin Hui continued, "Apart from Fuhe Village, the other two villages should speak about their main output, as well as the number of private and public fields within their villages. Qingsha Village, you go first."

Hearing Qin Hui's words, the village chief of Qingsha Village looked at the clan elders from his own village before standing up from his seat to speak,

"Our Qingsha Village is near the Qing River, and our main output resource is green sand. The Shi Family in town often comes to the village to purchase green sand of good quality. The price is mostly between ten copper coins and ten taels of silver per shi. Additionally, there are four hundred mu of public fields, including forty-five mu of fertile land, three hundred and seven mu of ordinary land, and forty-eight mu of sandy land. There are one thousand seven hundred and twenty mu of private fields. There are currently one hundred and twenty-five households in the village, and including the newly relocated villagers, there are one thousand four hundred and twenty-seven people."

While the village chief of Qingsha Village was speaking, Qin Hui was making notes on paper.

After listening, Chu Jingyu nodded, "Tuwozi Village, continue."

When reading this name, Chu Jingyu felt a bit awkward, and the village chief of Tuwozi Village also looked a bit embarrassed.

Moreover, the living conditions of Tuwozi Village looked very impoverished. This somewhat elderly village chief had likely put on his most decent clothes, but patches were still clearly visible.

And the several clan elders also looked sallow and emaciated.

"Our Tuwozi Village does not have any special output; we all rely on the heavens to farm for food. We have one hundred mu of public fields, and fertile land... none, they are all poor fields. Private fields are only six hundred mu. There are seventy-nine households in the village, with six hundred and thirty-five people."

Chu Jingyu nodded slightly and let the village chief of Tuwozi Village sit back down.

"I have a general understanding of the situation in your villages. The public fields must be left vacant next year; I have other uses for them. Everything else remains as it is."

Hearing that Chu Jingyu only wanted the public fields left vacant, the village chiefs of both villages were visibly relieved. Fortunately, it was only the public fields.

The so-called public fields in this world are tended and cultivated by the villagers of the entire village together, and when the time comes, all the harvest from the fields must be handed over to the authorities in town.

Now that Chu Jingyu had them stop planting, it actually alleviated the burden on the villagers to a certain extent, so the village chiefs and clan elders all breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing that none of the clan elders had any objections, Chu Jingyu continued:

"Although our Chu Family has just become a Noble Family and lacks that awe-inspiring reputation, we are not an existence that can be easily fooled. If your three villages serve us with sincerity, our Chu Family will naturally consider the future development of your villages and do our best to let you live a good life. If anyone acts with duplicity or plays both sides, do not blame our Chu Family for employing thunderous means."

At the end, the aura exclusive to an Uncommon Rank Contract Master was released, causing everyone in the Main Hall to suddenly hold their breath, as if a giant rock were pressing on their hearts.

Originally, summoning the subordinate villages to come today was not for any particularly important business. It was just that, having become the Main Family of the four villages, they always needed to meet with the managers of the subordinate villages, let them know the style and attitude of the Main Family, and give them a warning.

"We understand and will certainly serve the Chu Family with sincerity."

Seeing that everyone was reasonably sensible, Chu Jingyu nodded with satisfaction, "Everyone has traveled quite a distance today, so it has been hard work. Please have lunch before returning. Qin Hui, have someone set the banquet."

"Yes."

In the afternoon, the continuous autumn rain slowly stopped. The village chiefs and clan elders of the three villages returned along the path they came. Although the Main Family had changed from the Town Chiefs Mansion to the Chu Family, for these villages, life did not seem to have changed much.

"It seems that Chenliu Village is still lingering under the residual influence of the Liu Family. They look down on our Chu Family and do not want to acknowledge us as their master."

Hearing his father's words, Qin Hui frowned slightly, "Today, they gave us a show of force in front of the other three villages. If we don't handle it well, I fear it will be detrimental to our Chu Family's reputation."

"It does not matter. Wait until I return from outside the border to handle this matter; let them enjoy themselves for a few more days. The few villages left behind by the Liu Family are not simple; each village has at least an Intermediate Alien Tier Contract Master stationed there. This is also the reason why they are unwilling to have a master parachuted in from above. Now, we need to wait for Xiaofan to bring back all the medicinal materials that Ancestor Chu mentioned. If the Golden Jade Beast's injuries recover, our Chu Family will have sufficient confidence."

"But, among the medicinal materials that Ancestor Chu mentioned yesterday, some are not common, and I am afraid Xiaofan will not be able to find them all." Having been ill since childhood, he knew a thing or two about medicinal materials.

"Those are not just medicinal materials; some are spiritual materials, so it is normal that you have not heard of them. However, the Medicine Heart Hall is not an ordinary place. Rest assured, Xiaofan will collect them all."

Unlike Qin Hui's worries, Chu Jingyu's face was full of a confident smile.

When it was getting dark, Chu Shengfan returned to the Chu Family compound, braving the autumn rain that had started falling again.

In the Main Hall, he raised the package in his hands, a big smile blooming on his face, "Grandfather, Father, the items are all here."