Chen Li had already anticipated Zhang Heming’s sudden "goodwill." His expression remained impassive as he simply gave a slight nod. "Very well. In three days, I will be there on time. I appreciate you letting me know, County Magistrate."
Zhang Heming exchanged a few more pleasantries and personally escorted the pair to the doors of the second hall, his display of courtesy impeccable.
They left the County Magistrate’s Office and returned to the inn.
Chen Shouheng was still young, after all. He had been stewing over his thoughts the entire way back. The moment the door to their room was closed, he could no longer contain himself. In a low, furious voice, he burst out, "Father! That Zhang Heming came to our home in person and promised everything so readily. Now he thinks he can just brush us off with a flimsy excuse about ’orders from above are hard to disobey’? To go back on his word like that! And he’s supposed to be the county’s highest official! It’s... it’s utterly shameless!"
Chen Li walked slowly to the window, his gaze sweeping over the common people bustling outside to make a living. After a moment of silence, he spoke. "Shouheng, your conduct of late has been far more cautious and steady than before. As your father, I have taken note, and I am quite pleased. But the treachery of the human heart and the complexity of the world... you still need to observe more and ponder more deeply."
Chen Shouheng was taken aback and looked at his father.
Chen Li explained, "Zhang Heming’s actions today—putting the pressure from the State County front and center while highlighting the Liu Family’s ambition—are for one purpose only: to incite a conflict, even enmity, between our Chen Family and the Liu Family. This scheme is identical to when he tried to use the Jiang Family against us. It is a classic case of setting a tiger to devour a wolf so he can sit back and reap the rewards. He’s certain that our Chen Family wouldn’t dare do anything to him."
Chen Shouheng was horrified. A cold sweat broke out on his back. "Father! If you knew it was a trap, why did you still..."
"Because we have no choice but to jump."
Chen Li sighed. "If the Liu Family takes all forty-three hundred mu of this prime farmland, it will be nearly impossible for our family to ever buy it back. This land, we must fight for it!"
Chen Shouheng thought of the starting bid and couldn’t help but worry. "But if it goes to auction, the silver we have on hand... I’m afraid it won’t be enough!"
"As for the silver, I have a plan."
Chen Li paused and looked at his son. "You will leave tomorrow. Go to the Commandery City again, meet with Zhou Shuwei, and bring one hundred thousand taels of silver to Jingshan as quickly as possible."
Chen Shouheng nodded. "Yes, Father! I will set out first thing tomorrow morning!"
...
「Three days later.」
The atmosphere in the rear hall of the Jingshan County Magistrate’s Office was tense.
The hall was simply furnished. The seat of honor was empty, but the hardwood stools on both sides were already filled with representatives from Noble Families like the Liu, Su, Jiang, and Li. They were impeccably dressed, their eyes sweeping around the room as they conversed in low voices.
Among them, acquaintances exchanged quiet pleasantries with polite yet distant smiles, while old rivals regarded one another with cold glares.
No one in the entire rear hall was speaking loudly.
The entrance of Chen Li and his eldest son, Shouheng, instantly drew numerous gazes.
Chen Li was dressed in a worn, blue cloth robe, his expression placid. Chen Shouheng wore dark blue, close-fitting attire, his posture tall and straight, his features calm and self-possessed.
Surprise, scrutiny, doubt, contempt...
All sorts of emotions flashed through the eyes of the Noble Family representatives.
A ruddy-faced young man of the Li Family, seated near the door and dressed in a silk robe with floral medallions, paused in surprise.
"Hm? Now this is odd. Everyone attending the County Magistrate’s Office land auction today is either rich or noble—all prominent families in the county. These two... I’ve never seen them before. Did they get lost and wander into the wrong room?"
The corner of his mouth curled into an undisguised sneer. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for several people nearby to hear perfectly.
The contempt and ostracism in his words were plain to see.
Upon hearing this, the faces of several nearby representatives of the Noble Families also took on expressions of amusement, as if settling in for a good show.
Chen Shouheng didn’t break stride. He followed his father to a slightly more open space in the center of the hall and first offered a slight bow with cupped fists to all present, thus fulfilling the basic courtesy.
He then turned to face the young man from the Li Family, holding up a gilt-stamped invitation. His voice was clear and steady. "We are the Lingxi Chen Family, attending with a formal invitation from the County Magistrate’s Office. Do you have some guidance for us, brother?"
The Li Family representative was taken aback by the steady retort. His expression darkened, and he decided to simply ignore Chen Shouheng.
Instead, he raised his voice and called out to the newly appointed County Magistrate Li, who was just emerging from an inner room. "County Magistrate Li, you’ve arrived just in time! What right does some family that just popped out of nowhere have to bid in the same hall as us Noble Families? If just anyone can participate, wouldn’t that throw the rules into chaos and make us a laughingstock? I ask you, my lord, to clarify this and set things right!"
All eyes in the hall instantly focused on the new County Magistrate Li.
This County Magistrate Li was a man of about forty, with a gaunt face and a stern expression. He wore his official blue robe, adorned with a quail rank-badge, with meticulous precision.
He walked with a steady gait to the head of the hall and came to a stop. His gaze was sharp as it slowly swept across the room, pausing for a fraction of a second on Chen Li and his son, his own expression unreadable.
After a moment of silence, he spoke in a deep voice. It was not loud, but it carried an innate official authority. "Young Master Li, and everyone, please be patient. This sale of official lands is being conducted under the express command of the State County. Its purpose is to address the current hardships and raise urgently needed tax revenue."
"The regulations, in addition to inviting the various Noble Families, explicitly require the participation of a representative of the local Gentry to ensure fairness and quell any public criticism. The Lingxi Chen Family is the Gentry representative selected from Jingshan. They are in possession of a formal invitation from this office and their attendance is fully in accordance with all rules and procedures. This matter requires no further discussion!"
His tone was sharp as iron, leaving no room for argument.
The Li Family representative opened his mouth, but ultimately didn’t dare to argue further. He could only sit back down in resentment.
Seeing this, the others in the hall abandoned their amusement and began to re-evaluate the seemingly ordinary father and son.
County Magistrate Li said no more. He adjusted his robes and took his seat at the head of the hall, then gestured to the clerk beside him.
The clerk stepped forward, unrolled a register, and announced loudly, "The official land auction will now begin! The first lot is from He Shang Village, north of the county seat... totaling thirty-three hundred mu... including five hundred mu of first-grade paddy fields... and second-grade paddy fields... The starting bid is eighty-eight thousand taels of patterned silver. Each raise must be no less than three thousand taels."
The auction officially began.
Although this plot of land wasn’t top-tier, it was sizable and its location was decent, immediately sparking contention.
The Li Family made the first bid, with the Su Family immediately raising it by three thousand taels...
But after only two rounds, the Li Family withdrew, and the Su Family won the lot for ninety-four thousand taels.
The entire process was swift and decisive. The Noble Families did not engage in any significant bidding wars.
The next several land auctions proceeded in the same manner.
Although the Noble Families all placed bids, they would immediately withdraw as soon as the price was raised even slightly, making the auction seem unusually peaceful.
Then it was time for the forty-three hundred mu of paddy fields in Lingxi.
The clerk’s voice rang out again. "...The paddy fields of Lingxi and the Shangxi Five Villages, totaling forty-three hundred mu... The starting bid is one hundred twenty-three thousand taels. This lot will be sold as a whole and will not be divided. Each raise must be no less than three thousand taels."
After a brief silence, the Su Family broke the quiet with a tentative bid. "One hundred twenty-six thousand taels."
The raise was exactly the minimum increment.
The Liu Family deliberated for a moment before following up. "One hundred twenty-nine thousand taels."
Once the price rose to one hundred thirty-two thousand taels, the Su Family representative fell silent, clearly indicating this was not their primary target.
"One hundred thirty-five thousand taels."
An old, calm-faced steward of the Liu Family made the bid, his tone conveying his determination to win the lot.