Zhao Zheng didn't care about Ma Dazhu's hateful look at all, and even felt like laughing.
Wouldn't it be fine if you don't provoke me?
It was just as he expected.
Xu Youde was smart enough not to completely give up on Ma Dazhui. If he had really pushed him to the limit, he would probably have given up.
The captains of the other teams were also terrified, fearing that the power in their hands would be taken away.
"Ma Dazhu, did you hear that?"
"Listen, I heard it!" Ma Dazhu nodded reluctantly.
"Take this as a warning." Xu Youde said coldly, "Also, you owe the village elders a meal. Pay it tonight. Do you hear me?"
"Your neighbors have given you so much time, you need to be more self-aware!"
Before one crisis subsided, another crisis arose, and Ma Dazhu felt like the world was falling.
His heart was bleeding. He had spent a huge amount of money to capture the captain, but he was gone before he could even show off for two days. His family's assets were almost emptied, and he still had to treat the villagers to a meal. This was pushing him to death.
But what can he do?
"Village Chief, I have to stand guard today. Can I do it tomorrow?"
Ma Dazhu looked humbled. He had made up his mind to pawn all the valuables in his house in exchange for some food.
Perhaps the only valuable things in his house are the bow and arrows and the clamps.
All the skins in the family were compensated to Xiaomao Village.
If you pawn your bow and arrows and your traps, you'll be left with nothing.
"Then tomorrow at noon, if you cheat, I will forgive you, but the villagers will not forgive you!" Xu Youde snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and left with the three village elders.
Seeing that the disaster did not affect them, the captains of other teams quickly disbanded their members.
However, it is a foregone conclusion that three teams will serve as examples, deputy captains will be promoted, and they will be divided into small groups.
They didn't hate Zhao Zheng, they all hated Ma Dazhu.
Why would you be so shameless as to mess with an old bachelor whose son has died?
The villagers gradually dispersed, but Ma Dazhu once again became the laughing stock of the villagers.
When Zhao Zheng returned home, he found Wu Yueying was there too, but she looked nervous.
Yang Zhaodi and Zhang Xiaoe were comforting her.
Seeing Zhao Zheng, Wu Yueying almost burst into tears, "Uncle Zhao!"
Zhao Zheng did not avoid his daughter-in-law and asked, "How much silver does it cost to redeem the child?"
"The Zhong family's housekeeper wants fifteen taels of silver!" Wu Yueying was already at a loss. "They bought her for three taels of silver, and now they want to redeem her for fifteen taels of silver. They are worse than bandits."
Three out and fifteen back?
Even more usurious than usury.
But, it's just so unreasonable.
The Zhong family is still conscientious. If it were an ordinary landlord, what would be wrong with writing down three hundred taels of silver?
"Don't cry, isn't it just fifteen taels of silver? I'll give it to you." Zhao Zheng had already decided to take over this matter, so he wouldn't sit idly by. "Are your in-laws willing to sell their land to redeem your daughter?"
"My dad and his family spent the whole day trying to get them to agree yesterday. They also agreed that I could leave home but not split up the family. When the children grow up, one of them will be married off to the Wang family to continue the Wang family's bloodline!" Wu Yueying said.
Wang Dazhi has been completely ruined, and the Wang family has no descendants.
Wu Yueying refused to join the conspiracy, and the Wang family had no choice.
Then she took out the contract that Zhao Zheng had written in advance and asked them to sell the land to redeem their daughter.
If it weren't for Liu Tieniu, the Wang family would never have sold the land.
Zhao Zheng took the contract and read it carefully. He then went down to the cellar and took out fifteen taels of silver. "Fifteen taels of silver, count it."
A heavy amount of silver was obtained.
Not to mention Wu Yueying, even Yang Zhaodi and Zhang Xiaoe were stunned.
So much silver?
Can a blind bear be sold for so much money?
Although they were full of doubts, they did not ask.
In short, it's a good thing that the father-in-law is rich.
"Yes, that's fifteen taels of silver." Wu Yueying had always doubted whether Zhao Zheng could come up with so much silver, but the moment she saw the silver, all her doubts disappeared and she knelt on the ground, "Thank you, Uncle Zhao..."
"Get up." Zhao Zheng helped her up and said, "When you redeem the child, bring a few more people with you. Remember to take the contract back and tear it up on the spot. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Wu Yueying was extremely excited. She had been in despair, but Zhao Zheng gave her hope.
"Go!"
Wu Yueying did not dare to delay, hid the silver and left in a hurry.
After she disappeared, Zhao Zhengdao said, "If you have anything you want to ask, don't hold it in!"
"Father-in-law, is a blind bear so valuable?" Zhang Xiao'e was so frustrated.
"Of course it's not worth that much money, but your father-in-law made a fortune when he went to the countryside a few days ago."
"Father, is it worth it to buy the Wang family's land for fifteen taels of silver?"
"That depends on how you think about it." Zhao Zheng took out a cigarette. "From now on, Yueying, her mother and daughter will be part of our family. We've also inherited the Wang family's land. It's a win-win situation."
"But remember, this is a secret. Don't tell anyone that I paid for it for now."
If Zhao Zheng wants to cross the class barrier, the first step is to build his own reputation, and the second step is to buy land, hire people, and expand his power.
These two steps taken simultaneously do not interfere with each other.
The third and most important step is to find a backer.
Or, support someone who has a say in official matters.
Only in this way can one cross the class barrier and go from being a commoner to becoming a landlord.
The best way is to turn the small mountain village into your own back garden.
He further swallowed up the entire wealthy township and became the largest local gentry and powerful person in the surrounding area.
A gentry of this level would be given priority to visit by the county magistrate when he took office.
A true local tyrant.
In modern times, things like land annexation and slavery are definitely not allowed.
But in Dakang, everyone does this.
Why can't he?
Famine and disaster are disasters for others, but opportunities for him.
Selling Wu Yueying was just the beginning.
The two women also nodded heavily, "How dare we say such a thing."
"If my uncle and the others knew about this, they would come to our house and cause trouble again."
Zhao Zheng smiled and said immediately, "By the way, Niu Dalei will be coming to our house tomorrow to put up the beams. Put all the things in the cellar and lock them up."
Hearing this, both women became excited.
This is a big deal. Who in the village can afford tiles?
Even my hometown in Xucun was not completely covered with tiles.
In the afternoon, Zhao Zheng went to Jiang Wogua and Da Huzi's homes again and asked them to come and help put up the beams tomorrow.
The two of them agreed immediately.
Soon, the news that Zhao Zheng's family was going to put up beams and tiles spread throughout the village.
Everyone was talking behind Zhao Zheng's back saying he was stupid. It would have been fine if he didn't sell the grain after finally earning some money, but now he had to worry about raising beams and burning tiles. Sooner or later he would starve to death.
But there were also those who knew the truth and praised Zhao Zheng for his ability.
After Zhao Yi found out, he couldn't sit still anymore. He kicked his son who was lying on the bed in a daze and said, "Come with me, let's go to your Third Uncle's place!"