“Is it true? Could there really be land available?”
“Are you sure it’s Cao Wen from our Caojia’ao? He said there’s land for us to farm?”
“Could it be a mistake? Isn’t his family running a stall in town?”
“No mistake. It was Uncle Cao who told everyone.”
Early in the morning, the fog in the Caojia’ao was thick, like steam rising from a just-opened bamboo steamer.
The tenant farmers wrapped their hands in their sleeves and made their way up to the stone dam in the settlement.
Once they gathered, the chatter began.
The tenant farmers were both excited and cautious, hesitant to jump to conclusions in the chilly morning wind.
No one spoke loudly—just stretched their necks and looked forward, waiting for the person in charge.
Somebody suddenly shouted, “Here he comes!”
Everyone immediately quieted down and turned their gazes toward the narrow path.
Through the thick fog, a broad figure strode toward them.
Slowly, his face became clear, sharp and dignified like that of a general.
“Sorry to keep you all waiting,” Cao Wen called out, then asked, “Has everyone been informed?”
Cao Yongquan, who walked beside Cao Wen, quickly replied, “We notified everyone yesterday. Those who didn’t come probably already found another way.”
Cao Wen nodded, his eyes scanning the familiar, weathered faces shrouded in the mist.
The honest and dependable expressions beneath the sun-darkened skin made it clear that most who came were older folks.
“Uncle, why don’t you speak to everyone?”
“Me?”
Cao Yongquan looked at Cao Wen, trying to pass the responsibility off: “This is your big matter!”
“Uncle is the elder; it’s better if you talk. Besides, hasn’t Uncle been the one to notify everyone whenever the Qian Family had something to say? Everyone listens to you,” Cao Wen thought.
After all, when it came to reclaiming wasteland in the future, they would need someone to lead and manage it.
Although his uncle was somewhat timid, the fact that people still heeded him after all these years showed he had some prestige and influence in the Caojia’ao.
It would be easier to communicate through him than as a junior.
“Don’t keep everyone waiting.”
Cao Yongquan nudged Cao Wen forward a little.
Facing the crowd of familiar neighbors, he showed no hesitation.
He began, “I believe you all have already heard the rumors. The Imperial Court is encouraging the reclamation of wasteland for the benefit of the people. My nephew Cao Wen has just purchased thirty acres of wasteland closest to our Caojia’ao in the Nan Suburb.”
“This is no small patch of land. My family can’t cultivate that much alone. Cao Wen’s idea is that after the autumn harvest, during the slower farming season, if anyone is willing to work hard, you’re welcome to join in reclaiming the land together.”
Hearing this, everyone’s respect for Cao Wen’s ability grew, but only briefly.
Their main concern was still whether they could get a piece of the land.
Everyone knew how fiercely contested rental land was these days.
After repeatedly hitting dead ends, they were on edge.
“We’re all old tenant farmers. There’s nothing we fear except hard work. Old Cao, please explain clearly to the folks—what exactly do you mean by ‘joining in the reclamation’?”
“Yeah, yeah, are we talking about renting land or just helping out in exchange for wages?”
“New landowners have no conscience, unloading work then throwing us aside. We don’t fear the toil, but just having land to farm would be a blessing!”
Their anxious voices rose all at once, jostling with questions.
Cao Yongquan quickly raised his hands to quiet them: “Everyone, calm down. My nephew has already drawn up the regulations. Please listen carefully.”
“The land is wasteland, located in the Nan Suburb of our Caojia’ao. This land was once farmed long ago but was abandoned after the wars, then reclaimed by the Imperial Court. Though it’s neglected, it’s better than untouched wild land—there are no towering trees.”
Cao Wen continued from where Cao Yongquan left off, addressing the tenant farmers: “I have already negotiated with the Tingzhang. For the first two years of reclamation, you only need to pay thirty percent of the Imperial Court’s land tax. I’m passing this benefit directly to you. If you rent the land from me for cultivation, you only pay thirty percent tax to the Court, and at market price, I will take just thirty percent for myself.”
“So, we get to keep forty percent?” a tenant farmer’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“That’s right. Reclaiming wasteland is no easy task. We’re all from the same Caojia’ao, so we share the benefits.”
Cao Wen added, “Besides, I’ve prepared some farming tools. Anyone in the village can borrow them.”
Hearing this thorough offer, the more eager tenants crowded around, saying, “We’ll rent! We want to rent!”
“Everyone, don’t rush. Those interested need to register household by household and complete the paperwork.”
There were over ten tenant households in the Caojia’ao.
Almost all rented land from Cao Wen that day.
In a single evening, the entire thirty acres were leased out, the plots divided neatly and tightly.
Everyone was very enthusiastic.
They looked at the land and completed the procedures quickly. What was expected to be a tedious process was done in half a day.
This was mainly because they had faced too many ruthless landlords before, so everyone cherished this peaceful arrangement.
They didn’t fuss over small details.
Once paperwork was done, the tenant farmers didn’t pause—they immediately grabbed their tools and headed to the fields.
The once gloomy Caojia’ao suddenly brightened.
The people seemed more spirited.
Cao Yongquan, feeling a little embarrassed, also joined the excitement and rented three acres himself.
He felt guilty about not being able to help in town anymore.
Cao Wen laughed at him, saying that farming only earned a little money, while at the Market, a family of three could bring in a hundred wen a day—not that much different.
But Cao Yongquan replied, “Business makes money faster, but it’s exhausting. At the end of the day, it feels like it drains all your spirit. I’m just not cut out for it. When I get home, I often lie awake half the night. Farming is tiring, but at least it gives peace of mind.”
Cao Wen could only accept this.
He couldn’t force the elders to live by his own ideas.
Everyone should live as comfortably as they could.
So he let him return to the fields. Fortunately, Cao Yang had ambitions and new knowledge—he no longer wanted to be a tenant farmer.
The only worry was now that the stall in town was short-staffed and they’d have to find new help.
Cao Yang suggested, “If you’re not comfortable with outsiders, why not pick two young people from the tenant families in the Caojia’ao? Young folks are easier to teach than old tenants, and since they’re from our village, everyone knows them. Their families also work for Cao Wen, so it’s more trustworthy.”
Cao Wen took this advice seriously and discussed it with Xu Duoyan.
They agreed it was a good idea.
After selecting a few clever apprentices and signing contracts, they let them start working with them.
If any showed talent for this line of work, Cao Wen wouldn’t have to stand over the stall forever.
For a time, the Cao Family became the great benefactor of the Caojia’ao, truly supporting the place that bore their name.
“Ah Yan, wash my feet!”
That night, Cao Wen poured some hot water, preparing to wash his feet, but when he saw Xu Duoyan enter the room and not come back out, he called, “Busy?”
A voice replied from inside.
Cao Wen sighed, then heard, “Bring it here and serve me.”
Cao Wen laughed, “Coming, sir!”
Carrying the water, he had just entered when he heard the sound of an abacus clicking: “Calculating again?”
Xu Duoyan kicked off his shoes and stretched out his feet.
“Spent quite a bit these last few days. How could I not?”
Cao Wen held Xu Duoyan’s cold feet, frowning slightly: “It’s getting cold. Don’t catch a chill—wear thicker shoes.”
He first poured a little water on the top of Xu Duoyan’s foot to test the temperature.
Once the skin reddened a bit, he put the foot fully into the water.
“Bought the land for ninety taels, farming tools cost twelve taels, and the mule was eighteen.”
Xu Duoyan put down the abacus: “Want to see how much we have left?”
“The land is ours. The money is just a different form of savings. After a couple of years, when the land is productive, its value will increase. If we don’t buy proper farming tools, do you want the folks in Caojia’ao digging with stone hoes? How long would that take? It would only delay next year’s harvest.”
“You’re quite the accountant.”
Xu Duoyan said, “It’s getting colder each day. This old house leaks like a sieve. When winter comes, it’ll be unbearable. I had planned to fix the house first when we made some money.”
Cao Wen glanced at the house.
Though doors and windows were tightly shut, the cold wind still blew through.
In summer, the drafts made it feel cool, but come winter, it would become a real problem.
On rainy days, it was especially freezing.
Only the kitchen stove was warm.
After what happened recently, Cao Wen understood Xu Duoyan’s wish to repair the house.
“If the Court doesn’t stir up anything else, the first thing we’ll do with some money is fix the house. Maybe build a brick courtyard with a pavilion?”
Xu Duoyan splashed some water at Cao Wen playfully: “We two can’t have kids anyway. Why build such a big house? Are you trying to fool your little wife?”
Cao Wen wiped his face with his elbow and suddenly grabbed Xu Duoyan’s ankle.
“What little wife dares to splash foot water in her husband’s face? You’re rebellious!”
“So what if I do?”
Xu Duoyan leaned in and blew softly at Cao Wen’s ear.
The bed creaked as Xu Duoyan was pinned beneath Cao Wen, trapped in the center.
Cao Wen’s heavy warmth pressed tightly against him, even pushing with his hands couldn’t budge him.
Instead of feeling humiliated, he felt a strange excitement.
His hand slid from Cao Wen’s shoulder to his waist, fingers grazing the firm back and narrow waist.
Without a doubt, Cao Wen was growing taller and stronger.
He lingered with his hand on Xu Duoyan’s waist, meeting Cao Wen’s eyes inches away.
“Just want to see if your waist really has any strength.”
Cao Wen grabbed Xu Duoyan’s waist: “Or maybe I’ll dig in the fields all day tomorrow—you can see if you’ve got strength then?”
Xu Duoyan’s brow twitched, desire fading, annoyance rising.
Just as he was about to kick this utterly unamusing man, his leg was pinned down again.
At the same time, an undeniable pressure pressed against his body.
“Don’t be mad.”
Cao Wen rubbed his chin against Xu Duoyan’s cheek, trying to coax him.
“I thought you were some kind of paragon,” Xu Duoyan raised an eyebrow, eyes glancing down: “Turns out you’re just so-so.”
Looking at Xu Duoyan’s flushed face from heavy breathing, Cao Wen wanted nothing more than to devour him.
His voice grew hoarse: “I’m just an ordinary man. You’ve thought too highly of me.”
After he spoke, Xu Duoyan felt the waistband around his waist loosen, a cool touch where it mattered most.
Moments later, they both fell into a fiery embrace.
The next day, Xu Duoyan woke later than usual.
After a restless night, he had slept soundly and deeply.
He vaguely felt the warm body he’d wrapped himself around was no longer warm, and he was getting colder as time passed.
He slowly opened his eyes to see daylight streaming through the paper windows.
Just as he was about to get up, Cao Wen opened the door and came in.
“Awake?”
Xu Duoyan sat up, still sleepy, glancing at Cao Wen: “Mm.”
“The four children chosen from the tenant families have already arrived. Your mother is teaching them in the courtyard how to handle ingredients. Want to go take a look?”
Xu Duoyan didn’t catch a word of that.
His mind was still filled with memories of their night together.
Both full of youthful vigor, they hadn’t been shy with their affection.
Though they hadn’t gone all the way, they’d explored new things.
He hadn’t expected Cao Wen to be so capable and couldn’t help but look at him more closely.
“What’s the matter? Looking at me like that?”
Xu Duoyan took a breath but didn’t answer.
Instead, he covered his eyes with an arm and lay back down. His limbs felt heavy and weak, his face flushing slightly.
Last night’s feeling was undoubtedly good.
“Still not awake?”
Cao Wen moved closer.
“Really don’t want to go see?”
“See what?”
Xu Duoyan moved his arm away.
Cao Wen sighed helplessly, bent down, and picked Xu Duoyan up: “Alright, I have to take care of you.”