Chapter 003: The Qin Clan Uncle

Qin Kan nodded slightly; the old man was not wrong. Whether in his past life or this one, he had indeed never engaged in farm work. Moreover, he would never allow himself to waste his precious youth in the countryside fields. This opportunity was already rare, and if he were to let it pass in mediocrity, it was likely that the heavens, which had sent him across time, would not be able to contain their anger and would strike him down with a bolt of lightning

Qin Kan blinked and asked: "Do you believe what children say?"

Why does my uncle know that I took the little girl? Qin Kan could only evade the question.

It is truly a humane era, of course, primarily depending on the humanity of the patriarch

Indeed, Qin Kan later snatched back the dates and copper coins he had sent to Hu Niu

It is uncertain whether it is fortunate or unfortunate, but Qin Kan's parents passed away when he was fourteen years old. Clearly, they did not have the opportunity to arrange a marriage for him before their demise, which has resulted in Qin Kan, now nineteen, remaining a bachelor.

Old man Qin stroked his beard and said slowly: "The Qin clan has established itself in Qin Village for several hundred years, which has not been easy. The members of our clan are all pure-hearted and simple folk. I have always taken pride in my Qin surname. Everything in Qin Village is suitable, yet our literary fortunes have not flourished. In a hundred years, you are the only scholar to emerge from our ranks. The village's schoolmaster, Master Yan, resigned from his post a month ago, and now the school is without a leader. If you are interested, you might consider teaching the children of the Qin surname to read at the school. There are dozens of school-age children in Qin Village, and the annual stipend you would receive would be enough to ensure you do not worry about food and drink. In the future, when you start a family, the village will grant you two acres of good rice fields. At that time, you can hire a few tenants, and in a few years, it would not be difficult to establish a prosperous household. I wonder what my esteemed nephew thinks of this proposal?"

Qin Kan opened the door, and under the dim moonlight outside, an aged face appeared before him

Old man Qin's face grew serious, his demeanor as solemn and sacred as a judge reading a verdict, leaving no room for doubt

Qin Kan smirked

A man must ultimately venture out into the world

You are the village chief, you are the boss, I will accept whatever you say

He has not yet figured out specific ways to open up, but at least he can ensure that he does not spend money that should not be spent. Throwing a handful of coins for the child to enjoy at the moment is sufficient; how could it be possible to truly give it to her? Things obtained without effort must be repaid.

One must show respect to formidable characters

Old Qin was flattered by https://mhetushu.com, making the wrinkles on his face seem to carry a hint of radiance

The creaking sound from the wooden door outside the main entrance is quite grating.

I... well, I have indeed fallen... Qin Kan could only helplessly submit to the law. Although he was robbing his own money, the concept of "reason" does not necessarily hold water with the village chief. Qin Kan, who was more cunning than a monkey in his past life, understood very well that he absolutely could not disregard the village chief as an official.

The phrase '指点' made the old man Qin so pleased that he almost wanted to moan or chant

My foolish nephew can manage to read the books of the sages, but I only know how to read and do not understand how to teach. If I were to jeopardize the future of the children in our clan, I would fear that I would have no face to enter the ancestral grave even in death

Under the dim moonlight, Qin Kan was momentarily taken aback, then performed a formal long bow towards the clan leader of the Qin tribe, saying: "Greetings, clan uncle."

Incidents among villagers, ranging from petty thefts such as stealing chickens and dogs to more serious matters like assault, robbery, and illicit affairs involving widows and brothers-in-law, are all considered public security issues and criminal cases. The county authorities have neither the time nor the inclination to manage these matters, which are typically handled by the local clan leaders. Moreover, the standards for punishment are quite arbitrary, varying from severe penalties like amputations to mere verbal reprimands, depending solely on the mood of the clan leader at the time.

The patriarch is a person of great ambition, and it is evident that he would not specifically seek an explanation for his granddaughter being abducted. After casually brushing over this matter, Old Man Qin finally returned to the main topic.

Old Man Qin greatly enjoyed the feeling of being respected by the scholars. He squinted his eyes and let out a dignified hum, slowly saying: "I have watched you grow up. You have been exceptionally talented in your studies since childhood. I never dreamed that among the descendants of the Qin clan, there would actually be a scholar. This is truly a once-in-a-century occurrence..."

The biggest problem now is that... being stuck in such a small village, no matter how great one's abilities are, they cannot be showcased. Qin Kan has many money-making ideas, but to earn money from these impoverished villagers, to be honest, Mr. Qin has no interest in that. It's not out of kindness, but rather because the profit is too little. Of course, taking money from Hu Niu poses no pressure at all, as that money rightfully belongs to him.

The old man originally wanted him to teach the students in the village to read, so that the Qin clan's descendants could strive for success and bring glory to their ancestors

And this long bowing gesture, akin to a painting or a book, can only be performed by those who are well-read, flowing gracefully and pleasing to the eye. The villagers, who toil facing the earth and turning their backs to the sky, can at most offer a casual and careless bow, laughing and joking without any formality

"Do you admit that you have fallen?" The old man Qin stared at him with piercing eyes

Old man Qin was astonished: "Life? How do you intend to deal with it?"

Qin Kan could only touch his nose, which became a bright red.

Old man Qin squinted his eyes, looking very puzzled

During the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, is it possible to engage in some inventions and creations? While airplanes, cannons, and steam engines might be a bit far-fetched, items like toothbrushes, bras, and sanitary napkins should be acceptable

Old man Qin sighed and said: "What a pity, although studying is powerful, in the end, it leads to confusion. Yesterday, you almost lost your life to hanging..."

The most pressing issue is laid before him, which is survival

What are your plans for the future? Besides making money, what other plans do you have? Regardless of whether in modern times or ancient times, money has always been very important

***

Unfortunately, this child has severely underestimated the adult world. The adult world is quite shameless, especially in the realm of a certain time-traveling youth, which is undoubtedly more shameless than she can imagine

Qin Kan could not help but praise, "The clan uncle is indeed a person of great insight and understanding"

Both parents have passed away, with no siblings or relatives, I am all alone, possessing only an old two-entry house in the countryside, three acres of farmland that is neither particularly good nor particularly bad, and in front of me, arranged neatly on the table as if for a military parade, are twenty-eight cash coins.

I just counted the copper coins in my hand over and over again, and there are a total of 28 coins. No matter how many times I count, it remains the same.

The radiance quickly faded away, and Old Man Qin's aged face suddenly became stern. He slowly said, "For some reason, I always feel that after you recovered from your serious illness, your temperament has changed greatly. My dear nephew, what is the reason for this?"

Letter

"Uncle, why do you say such things?" Qin was astonished, feeling a hint of guilt.

Under the dim light of the oil lamp, Qin Kan's fingers unconsciously tapped on the worn Eight Immortals table, his brows tightly knitted, revealing a faint hint of sorrow between them

Qin Kan blinked and asked, "May I inquire if my clan uncle has any guidance?"

Qin Kanmian smiled slightly at the books, his handsome face even showing a hint of redness: "My foolish nephew is lacking in talent, adept at wielding cold weapons..."

Ah? Qin Kan was taken aback.

He is the current ruler of Qin Zhuang and the patriarch of the Qin clan

Old man Qin, upon hearing this, indeed showed some displeasure, his grizzled eyebrows knitting together: "Why is it inappropriate?"

Clearing his throat twice, Old Man Qin said slowly, "Has your health improved a bit, dear nephew?"

This statement lacks depth, a once-in-a-century occurrence... Is it referring to a flood?

Huniu is a good child; she is innocent, kind, and neither lazy nor foolish

Old Man Qin waved his hand dismissively and said: "No problem, it's just a matter of reciting the script."

Certainly, subjectively speaking, Qin does not mind being mistreated by them

Qin Kan was taken aback, and cold sweat immediately began to flow down his forehead

In life, there should be a larger stage waiting for him to shine, rather than languishing in this Jiangnan village, living a mediocre existence. What he needs to do is to take a step forward, walking out quietly and gently.

The glory of fame may fade, and even if one becomes a commoner, the villagers will ultimately not forget that you were once the top scholar of Shaoxing Prefecture, having achieved first place in the provincial examination at the age of eighteen. It is rare to find someone like you, not just in Qin Village, but throughout the entire Shaoxing Prefecture..." Old Man Qin squinted his eyes, full of smiles, his expression quite proud

To speak frankly, this suggestion is indeed vastly different from Qin Kan's original intention. He had considered engaging in business, aspired to climb the ranks of officialdom, and even contemplated plagiarizing the exquisite verses of the Ming dynasty to pose as a talented scholar, flaunting himself in the streets to deceive others. However, the profession of a teacher was never part of his plans.

Alone and solitary, this is the current situation of Qin Kan

In the past, the talented scholar was a well-educated and reasonable young man, so why, after suffering from a serious illness, has he become shameless enough to rob money from young girls

Old Man Qin glared: "Who dares to slight my esteemed nephew? My esteemed nephew can take care of it himself!"

The clan uncle's concern is deeply appreciated, and my health has improved significantly. Qin Kan's expression is more respectful than when paying homage to his ancestors.

He greatly enjoys the gifts bestowed upon him by intellectuals, as it makes him feel exceptionally esteemed and, in an intangible way, elevates his social status

Although he has lost his official title, he was once a scholar. How could he resort to robbing a young girl of her money? Tell me, have you not fallen from grace?

Qin Kan hung his head, offering a bitter smile without saying a word

This text appears to be a placeholder or a non-specific symbol. Please provide a specific text for translation.

Why?

You have fallen from grace

As night falls, a solitary lamp casts its shadow alone

Old man Qin looked at him strangely and said slowly, "Because the one who was robbed happens to be my granddaughter, could it be that you are unaware of this?"

Huniu complained to me

One should not underestimate the influence of ancient clans. In an era where communication largely relied on shouting, the clan leader of a village simultaneously held a series of positions, including that of the village head, the head of the police station, the president of the court, the chairman of the farmers' association, and the chairperson of the women's federation

He actually wants to speak the truth; yesterday, the hanging took the life of Lord Qin. Currently, Lord Qin is in a state of borrowing a corpse to return to life. Whether he is alive or dead is a question...

Old man Qin squinted his eyes, as if he were soaking in a bathtub, looking extremely comfortable

Qin Kan blinked for quite a while before gradually digesting the old man's somewhat mixed and ambiguous words.

Uncle, please forgive me. I, your foolish nephew, still dare not comply with your command. My temperament is easily provoked, and I fear that I may not exercise the proper restraint in my actions. To sacrifice a few lives in pursuit of fame and fortune would be utterly unworthy...

In the future, if Old Man Qin, in a fit of rage, were to erect a kneeling statue of Qin Kan in the ancestral hall of the Qin family, then Qin Kan would truly embody the phrase "how can one endure such feelings"

After a few words of nagging from the old man Qin, he said: "Now that you are on your own, although your deceased parents left you three acres of paddy field, you have been so focused on your studies since childhood that you probably do not know how to plant rice or till the land. Do you have any plans for the future?"

One must never underestimate the intelligence of ancient people! ... He vaguely saw himself being treated as a heretic, bound to a pillar, surrounded by roaring flames. Beyond the fire, the ignorant old man from Qin and the villagers wore sinister smiles, coldly watching him struggle and wail in the fierce fire

The former urban white-collar workers understood better than anyone that once they fell into a state of poverty, they must find ways to increase income and reduce expenses

In fact, the foundation of the stable order of the Ming Dynasty lies in the clans and local gentry

Qin Kan remained unperturbed: "Having narrowly escaped death, I respectfully extend my middle finger to the heavens, inviting future blessings."

Old man Qin smacked his lips in realization, filled with inexplicable admiration: "Indeed, he is a learned person, with many insights. The old man could vaguely understand at a glance that this middle finger seems to carry significant meaning."

Qin Kanhe sat alone in the old Qin family residence, playing with a pile of jujubes and copper coins in his hands, contemplating life

A nineteen-year-old scholar, who once even held a degree, is indeed rarer than a golden son-in-law in the surrounding villages. Even now in Qin Village, there are quite a number of unmarried young women who covet his beauty. Fortunately, in the past, he was deeply engrossed in his studies, which spared him from the misfortune of being ravaged by those wild suitors.

In the seventeenth year of the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty, what kind of world do we have today

Therefore, the time-traveling youth Qin Kan is now in urgent need of money

This is all the property that Qin Kan possesses in this unfamiliar world

"Uncle, this matter is likely inappropriate..." Qin Kan, disregarding the dignity of the clan leader, hurriedly opposed.

Qin Kan could only nod in agreement

The patriarch of the Qin clan naturally also bears the surname Qin, but Qin Kan does not know his specific name. Having just arrived, he has only seen the clan leader once or twice, and each time he hurriedly exchanged greetings before fleeing as if to escape, fearing that the clan leader would discover that the former scholar was actually possessed by a ghost.

Qin Kan was taken aback; he knew he had once been a scholar, but he never expected that the previous owner of his body possessed such remarkable abilities. Not only did he pass the scholar examination at the age of eighteen, but he also ranked first in the provincial examination. What is this? A genuine talent!

Qin Kan recognized this aged face

Qin Kan was somewhat anxious: "My foolish nephew is young and lacks authority, fearing that the younger members of the clan will not obey discipline..."

Situated in a corner and unable to see the whole picture, Qin is unwilling to accept this fate

Old Qin chattered for a while, suddenly pausing his speech, his face displaying a strong desire for knowledge: "After being saved by someone yesterday, you inexplicably raised your middle finger to the sky. What does this middle finger signify?"

Qin Kan still holds a great deal of respect for the clan leader, who wields the power of life and death over the village; at least in this small rural community, he is indeed a formidable figure

It is well known that money has always been a valuable asset in any dynasty, yet it is precisely this valuable asset that was notably scarce during the Qin dynasty

Moreover, not to mention that ever since the time of my crossing over, the previous owner's knowledge of the classics and historical texts has long been completely forgotten. With my outwardly refined appearance but wild inner character, the students I would teach would inevitably become a group of bullies who oppress the common people in the village. At that time, how would I have the face to meet the elders and youth of the Qin family?