Chapter 5, Breaking the Jar and Letting It Fall Apart

This is exactly right," Manager Pan lifted the tea bowl and chuckled, saying, "Noble nephew, speaking of which, you have been working in the yamen for so many years, how could you not have saved up a few hundred taels of silver?

When it comes to seeing the officials, the head of the constabulary suddenly remarked: "The yamen faces south, if you have reason but no money, do not enter! Manager Pan, you must think carefully.

Han Xiufeng adopted an attitude of indifference, as if he were a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. He opened the wooden box and took out a stack of property deeds: "All my uncle's possessions are here. If you want to take them away! Although my aunt is getting older, she is not blind and can still sell to wealthy families for sewing and mending. As for the youngest sister, you can sell her however you wish!"

You speak first, let me hear what you have to say

Rest assured, my father is old, but my three brothers still possess some strength. I can certainly take them to the yamen to work, and although we may not make a fortune, we can at least earn a living.

As the head constable just mentioned, the yamen opens southward with the eight characters, and if you have no money, do not enter.

There is indeed a solution, but I am unsure whether Uncle Pan will believe me, Han Si

Manager Pan raised his head to look at the spirit tablet in the main hall and pondered: "Although Brother Yu Cai was unfortunate in his fate and passed away at a young age, he was indeed a person of ambition. The story of how your Han family rose to prominence is known far and wide in the surrounding villages. In those days, your family was destitute, and when your ancestor was alive, there was no money to support his education. It just so happened that the three prominent families of Xu, Wang, and Chen in the village pooled their resources to establish a private school and invited a scholar from Jiangjin to serve as the instructor.

As the head constable Guan stated, if one were to go see the officials, not only would they be unable to recover the silver that was lent out, but they would also end up spending dozens or even hundreds of taels of unnecessary silver.

Han Xiufeng sneered and said: "You want to see an official, you want to file a lawsuit, right? Fine!"

Han Xiufeng suddenly stood up, walked to the door of the main room, and looked at the spirit tablet of Han Yucai, sighing: "In the past, my Han family had been tenants for generations. After paying the rent and taxes each year, there was hardly anything left from the harvest, and the whole family struggled to make ends meet, with no proper clothing to wear. The ten-year-old girl had no pants to wear and could only run around the mountains bare-bottomed. If a year of disaster struck, even if we didn't starve to death, we would have to sell our sons and daughters. Fortunately, the ancestral grave had good feng shui, and an uncle of mine emerged, allowing my Han family to enjoy a few days of better living."

This courtyard and the more than ten acres of land in the countryside are worth at most five hundred taels. Even if we sold that pair of orphans and their widowed mother, we wouldn't be able to fetch much silver. Pan's second son never expected Han Si to be so shameless. Angrily, he said: "Han Si, you are being unreasonable. I tell you, repaying debts is a matter of principle, and no matter where this lawsuit goes, we will not lose!"

"Uncle Pan, with your words, I feel at ease." Han Xiufeng nodded slightly and said seriously, "How about this: you can take the courtyard, and the more than ten acres of land in the countryside can be the same. As long as the price is fair, I, Han Si, will not have any objections."

Then let's talk again? Han Xiufeng asked as he sat down

This lawsuit is certain to be won, but what will happen if we win it

"Thank you, Uncle Xie, for your support," Han Xiufeng stood up and bowed. He then turned back and said, "Uncle Pan, I have said everything that needs to be said. If you could grant a few more years, my four brothers from the Han family will work tirelessly to help my uncle repay the debt, and we will never forget your great kindness and virtue! However, I will not re-establish the written agreement, as I cannot allow my uncle to implicate my father and my three honest brothers."

... ...

Han Xiufeng let out a light sigh and said with a face full of embarrassment: "It is quite shameful to say, as a nephew, not only have I not achieved anything, but during these years of working in the yamen, I have not saved even a few taels of silver and have been quite extravagant. I have gone without food after having a meal, and if it weren't for Uncle Guan and those uncles and elders in the yamen providing assistance, I would have probably starved to death in the city long ago"

Regardless of whose family is involved in a lawsuit, the bailiffs will demand payment for shoe and sock fees, meal expenses, transportation costs, registration fees, unlocking fees, and court attendance fees from the parties involved. The clerks are no different; they will ask for money for this and that. After the plaintiff has been served, the defendant will be next. Han Xiufeng claimed that he had not saved any money while working in the yamen, but Manager Pan would not believe it no matter what.

Han Xiufeng, regardless of whether he believes it or not, continued: "It is too late for regrets now, especially after hearing people on the street gossiping a few days ago, saying that Brother Pan intends to use my youngest sister as a debt repayment, planning to sell her to a brothel in the city to serve clients. As her elder cousin, I am powerless to help, truly ashamed before my uncle, ashamed before my ancestors, wishing I could find a rope and hang myself from this yellow cassia tree"

Because once this courtyard and the land in the countryside are taken, the Han family will lose their livelihood. The three brothers of the Han family in the countryside will have no choice but to go to the yamen to seek a living, transforming from respectable commoners into corvée laborers, and corvée laborers engage in menial trades, leaving their descendants unable to rise above their circumstances

"The whole family has been destroyed, what conscience is there to speak of!" Han Xiufeng fixed his gaze on Pan Zhanggu, saying expressionlessly, "My youngest sister is still a young maiden. If you are reluctant to sell, you can take my sister as a concubine. In this way, our two families would not only have a friendship but also be relatives."

Everyone wondered what method this was and where it was leading, but it was evident that he was speaking from the heart

You know that my parents have not received much education and have not seen much of the world, so do not hold them to the same standards. Let us have a cup of tea, calm down, and discuss things slowly and peacefully.

The fast class and the strong class are indeed short of personnel, and this is not just a matter of a single sentence. The head of the guard seized the opportunity to interject.

More importantly, their entire family works at the yamen, and along with the constable and those yamen runners and clerks who are on good terms with the Han family, they have effectively offended all the clerks and runners of the county office. The yamen is a place where officials come and go, but the clerks and runners are all locals. While Mr. Yang is alive, they may have some reservations, but what will happen if Mr. Yang is no longer around

"If I take the land away, what will your father and your three brothers do?" Manager Pan asked insincerely.

The intention behind the reestablishment of the document has been seen through, threats are ineffective, and it is inappropriate to go to the authorities. Faced with Han Xiufeng, who is unafraid of the consequences, Manager Pan can only say: "Noble nephew, my Changsheng may not understand the gravity of the situation, but there is a saying that holds true: you have your difficulties, and we too have our difficulties. You should think of another way."

Manager Pan did not want to let the conversation fall apart, and quickly said: "Changsheng, say a few less words! Nephew, do not be anxious, let us speak properly. I do not know about others, but I know what kind of person you are; you would never just turn your back on your uncle's matters."

Uncle Pan, I want to take charge, but your second son does not give me the opportunity to do so

The scholar was eager to make progress, and his position as a tutor was merely a temporary measure. Every day after finishing his lessons, he devoted himself to studying the works of sages in preparation for the provincial examination, leaving him with no time to wash clothes or cook. At that time, even without a notable reputation, the clever and bright Yu Cai, known as Er Wa Zi, discussed with Ling Zu, who was renting land from the Xu family, the possibility of having your uncle serve as his student assistant. Thus, Yu Cai followed that scholar to learn to read and write, and this is how the Han family produced a scholar.

If the Pan family is targeted by these unscrupulous clerks and officials, they will not fare well

Dear nephew, do not listen to those people on the street who speak carelessly. Your uncle and I share a bond as close as brothers; now that his body is not yet cold, how could I commit such a heinous act

How could Manager Pan fail to discern the implications behind his words? He thought to himself, this little fox is not merely asking for an extension; it is clearly a threat!

Han Si, your uncle and aunt have treated you so well, yet you dare to say such things. Has your conscience truly been devoured by a dog?