Chapter 66: Advance Salary

Liu Yitiao set down the basket and then turned to Li Dechen, saying, “No need for so much formality, Elder Li. The Liu family isn’t as strict with rules as some others. If you have something on your mind, let’s discuss it inside.”

“Yes, whatever needs saying, let’s sit down first. Brother Li, you’re always so bound by old customs. You’ve been here almost an hour and still refuse to come inside, as if the threshold of the Liu family is so lofty. Are you implying our family doesn’t know how to treat guests?” Old Liu chimed in, trying to persuade him.

“No, no, Master Liu, you misunderstand. I would never mean that,” Li Dechen hurriedly waved his hands, explaining, “It’s an old rule passed down through generations that tenant farmers don’t enter the main hall. The landlord is kind enough to shelter us and give us food—I truly don’t want to bring any misfortune upon the household. I can stand here in the courtyard and speak. There’s no need for you or Master Liu to concern yourselves.”

Are there really such absurd customs? Seeing Li Dechen’s stubbornness, Liu Yitiao realized he wouldn’t come inside no matter what, so he asked Old Liu to bring two stools out to the courtyard. “Since Elder Li is unwilling to come in, let’s talk outside. Please, have a seat.”

He gestured for Li Dechen to sit, then took his own seat first and asked, “So, Elder Li, what brings you here today?”

Li Dechen bowed to Liu Yitiao before sitting down. “To answer the landlord, I’ve come regarding this year’s spring plowing. The weather’s growing warmer by the day, and the villagers have been urging me to ask when you plan to begin. That way, the tenants can prepare.”

Li Dechen spoke politely and tactfully, but Liu Yitiao understood his meaning: the tenants were eager to start work because they had run out of money.

It had been almost half a month since their last assistance, and the few hundred coins given then must be nearly gone by now.

After a moment’s thought, Liu Yitiao replied, “This year’s spring is quite warm. It’s only the first month, but the ground is already thawing. I think in another three to five days, we’ll be ready to begin. At that time, Elder Li, please gather the hundred or so men, and I’ll assign each of them a plot. All my thirty hectares are wild land and need to be cleared from scratch, so we’ll have to work day and night to ready them all before the planting season. Go back and let the villagers know to be prepared for heavy labor.”

“Don’t worry, landlord. If there’s one thing we tenants can do, it’s endure hardship and work hard. We won’t let you down.” Hearing that there would be work, a smile creased Li Dechen’s wrinkled face. Hard work didn’t scare him; when he served other landlords, working until midnight was the norm. Besides, Liu Yitiao even paid extra for overtime—the more they worked, the happier the tenants would be.

“That’s excellent, then.” Liu Yitiao stood and said, “Elder Li, please wait here a moment while I fetch something from inside.”

Li Dechen quickly rose and bowed, “Please, don’t mind me.”

Liu Yitiao smiled, turned, and went inside. Moments later, he returned with a cloth pouch.

He handed the pouch to Li Dechen. “Here are three hundred and sixteen coins. Take them back and distribute two coins to each tenant family as an advance payment, to tide everyone over these few days. I’ll give out the rest in a lump sum next month.”

Li Dechen took the pouch with trembling hands. “Landlord, this… how can we accept this? We haven’t even begun work yet—how could we possibly…”

He had come today for this very reason. The previous few hundred coins were long gone, devoured by countless hungry mouths. If Liu Yitiao didn’t give them work soon, they would have nothing left but hunger. Yet Li Dechen had been too ashamed to ask for money directly, not out of pride, but because he’d been refused too many times before and didn’t wish to suffer the humiliation again. So when he heard they’d be starting work in a few days, he thought the villagers could just hold on until then.

Now, with Liu Yitiao offering the money unprompted, he was at a loss for words, filled with nothing but gratitude. Even though this sum would be deducted from future wages, the next few days would still be tough to get through.

“No more of that,” Liu Yitiao said with a smile. “I may be a minor landlord, but I can’t let my tenants go hungry for my sake. Take this money home and distribute it. See to your families first. In five days, bring everyone here and I’ll hand out the tools and assign the fields.”

“Thank you, landlord. I will never forget your kindness.” Clutching the money pouch tightly, Li Dechen promised, “You can rest assured about the fieldwork. I guarantee that every household will give their utmost for your land. If anyone dares slack off, I’ll be the first to deal with them.”

Liu Yitiao chuckled. “Thank you for your efforts, Elder Li. Truth be told, all this is simply so that the tenants will put their hearts into their work.”

“You’re too kind.” With business concluded and his purpose achieved, Li Dechen bowed and said, “I must hurry back to inform the villagers, so I won’t trouble you any longer. I’ll take my leave now.”

Liu Yitiao nodded and bid him farewell. “Take care on your way, Elder Li. I won’t see you out.”

After Li Dechen had gone, Old Liu came out from the house and asked, “Yitiao, was that Elder Li the tenant who’s going to farm for you? Not bad—a skilled hand at tilling the land. With such people among your tenants, I can be at ease.”

Liu Yitiao laughed. “Father, you don’t even know him. How can you tell he’s a good farmer? Can you read a person’s fortune at a glance—see their past and future?”

Old Liu was unfazed by the jest. “Nothing so mystical. I judge people with my own eyes. I spent almost an hour talking with Elder Li in the courtyard—one picks up a thing or two.”

Liu Yitiao only smiled. If Old Liu were truly so perceptive, he wouldn’t have been tricked by Xia Dezhang into buying a sick cow last time. Picking up the stools, he suggested, “Father, let’s go inside. It’s been chilly standing out here so long.”

“Alright,” Old Liu agreed, following him in.

Liu Yitiao sat at the side seat in the main hall, and once Old Liu was settled, he asked, “Father, what have you decided about that land consolidation I mentioned before? If it’s possible, we can start the new season’s tilling all at once this spring.”