Chapter 120: Chapter 119: Late Night Party

As soon as Ye Senhai finished speaking, it seemed like the whole family understood what he meant.

Ye Shuying was originally feeding her son. She hadn’t even had a few bites herself and was too preoccupied to feed her son, choosing to fill her belly first.

Ms. Ding glanced at Ye Shuying, initially wanting to comment on her attitude in front of her son.

At that moment, they had to eat first, just as her two sons had feared–the Tang Family might not be able to buy land in the village and, distressed as they were, it was out of their hands until the villagers sold the land.

“Dang, Dang, Dang”

The sound of someone striking a gong came from the direction of the Land Officer’s house.

Ye Shuying and her family members paused, then those who had already eaten quickly drank some water and hurriedly left the house.

Ye Senhai and his brother had not been home during the day, and now that the village chief was sounding the gong, they rushed to attend the meeting for the entire village.

As a father, he did not have time to hold his son since his wife was still at home.

Ye Lanxiang ran out the door, but instead of going to the village chief’s house right away, she went home first.

Her husband had returned home while she was out and hadn’t discussed the events of the day with him.

As she approached the path to her house in the dark night, someone carrying a torch approached. By the light of the torch, she saw it was her husband and hastened her steps toward him.

“Husband…”

“My wife, the village chief rang the gong. I don’t know what it’s about. Let’s go and listen,” he said.

“Husband, I know what it’s about; I’ll tell you as we walk.”

“Oh, what is it then?”

Ye Lanxiang repeated to her husband what the village chief had said at the morning meeting. By the time she had briefly explained, they had reached the entrance to the Land Officer’s house.

The village chief was standing at the doorway, holding a gong. He had already stopped sounding it and was now surrounded by many villagers.

In front of the Land Officer’s house, a oil lamp was lit in the dark, and a stove was fired up at the doorway. This type of stove was fueled by firewood and burned brightly in the dark, allowing the villagers to see each other’s faces clearly as they stood around.

Today, Ye Shuying could not concern herself with the bowls on the table. In the rush of her family running out, she too picked up her son and left the house, patting her body to make sure she had the keys before locking the door.

As she was carrying her son, she couldn’t use a fire branch. However, under the light of other villagers’ torches, the young Ye Shuying, who had good eyesight, could see the road clearly. She didn’t miss seeing any chicken droppings or dog feces and deftly avoided an unidentifiable smelly pile of excrement.

She arrived at the Land Officer’s front door and found where her husband was standing, along with other family members in the village square, purposely built as a small plaza.

Village officers like the Land Officer, if not convicted of crimes or deceased, generally hold their position for a long while, perhaps from their twenties to their sixties, spanning many decades. Even if the village chief passed away, the successor would likely be someone prestigious within the village.

Of course, this would be someone chosen by the villagers or appointed by higher authorities.

Such a minor official as the village chief was rarely appointed from above; selection usually occurred within the village.

The village chief had already eaten by noon. His son, who usually looked after the cattle in the mountains, hadn’t returned at midday. At dinner, when he mentioned to his son that Hongji’s factory might take apprentices, his typically mischievous son was quite thrilled by the idea. At fourteen or fifteen years old, although he could be naughty, he was nearly at the age to discuss marriage.

As a man without a trade, one cannot depend on his father forever; as a man, one must eventually take on the responsibility of providing for the family.

This was something his father often taught. Previously, when Hongji did not take apprentices, his father had wanted to send him to the county to learn another trade as an apprentice. However, his mother felt that being an apprentice for someone else was too hard and could not bear to let her son endure such hardship.

With no alternatives, his father could only spend money to buy a cow so that he could herd it every day. When the cow had a calf, there would be one more to watch over.

A cow gives birth to a calf yearly. By raising the calf until it’s a bit bigger and then selling it, they could increase the family’s income.

Other families had a cow that would pull carts to carry passengers for work.

Their cow was only used for plowing the fields. If the cow happened to be pregnant while plowing, they would have to plow with human labor to protect the pregnant cow.

At the end of the village, where people had land to sell, some decision-making men were not home during the day and had just returned in the evening. After eating and just hearing about it from their family, they heard the sound of gongs and also came here.

With so many people gathered together, acquaintances talked among themselves, while those with land to sell talked to others with land to sell.

This was a way to exchange ideas. Those without land but wanting a job would not be idle during the slack farming season and were very hopeful that these people would sell their land to the housekeeper of the Tang Family.

If the factory were built in the village, there might be work year-round, a boon not easily found.

Only the lazy ones, since whether the site opens in their village or not, it did not concern them; these people became the bystanders enjoying the show.

Those with land, of course, wanted a higher price and hoped that the buyers would agree to their terms. Unless there were no men in the household who could work, women could also do some work such as sweeping or cooking.

Among so many people gathered, Hongji’s family was also present.

This village-wide meeting was attended by young men and women alike. Farmer girls were not like ladies who would stay hidden inside not showing their faces.

Hongji had brought out his two youngest children and was standing with his three daughters and two younger sisters, and his parents were there too.

The two guards watching over his house did not come here.

Seeing Hongji, many villagers congratulated him, their flattering smiles suggesting he would take good care of his fellow villagers in the future as the small boss.

Hongji could only respond with a smile. A man not in charge of anything significant, he possessed little power. Since the land deal was not yet finalized, he dared not make any promises.

Ye Shuzhi and Ye Shuzhen stood by their family, facing some jealous and envious glances that made them hold their heads high and puff out their chests with pride.

The unmarried young men had their eyes on Ye Shuzhi and Ye Shuzhen.

Ye Shuzhi was almost married off, a fact known by the whole village.

Ye Shuzhen had a reputation just like her elder sister for being lazy. The local young men did not find Ye Shuzhen very attractive, it was her lazy personality. Young men who knew her well did not admire her, but today they felt she seemed a bit different.

Ye Shuzhen’s elder brother was set to become the small boss soon, and she would soon be a lady of a rich family. The young men thought that her being a bit lazy did not matter anymore.

As long as marrying Ye Shuzhen would bring them a considerable dowry and a promising future.

With so many young men’s eyes on her, Ye Shuzhen’s face flushed, and she shyly covered it with her handkerchief.

“Is everyone here yet? I believe everyone in our village knows about tonight’s meeting agenda,” said the village chief as he looked over the crowd of almost 1000 villagers, then began his speech.