The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 275 Transfer of Ownership

Chapter 275: Chapter 275 Transfer of Ownership

As soon as Old Man Wu left, Wu Zhongbao immediately came to life, bustling over to Wang Yongzhu’s side, "Wang family sister, I’ve heard that you killed more than a dozen wolves alone in the mountains? Is this dried wolf meat made from those wolves you killed?"

Wang Yongzhu was startled and didn’t quite understand where Wu Zhongbao had heard such news, but she honestly nodded.

"That’s great! Look, when you have time, could you take me with you when you go wolf hunting in the mountains again?" Wu Zhongbao’s eyes shone as he looked at Wang Yongzhu.

Wang Yongzhu nearly couldn’t hold back being stared at with such pleading eyes by such a fierce, bushy-browed, big man.

It was really too much for the eyes.

But for the sake of those ten or so acres of their own land, even if Wu Zhongbao said he wanted to hunt a tiger, she would have to agree.

She nodded, "Sure! When autumn comes, we’ll go into the mountains, and I’ll send you a message!"

"Great, great, great! It’s a deal!" Wu Zhongbao slapped his thigh joyfully and took something out of his chest, placing it on the table.

Wang Yongzhu looked closely. What else could it be but a deed?

"Wang family sister is straightforward, and so am I! This is the deed that Wang Yongan transferred to me. I gave him one hundred and twenty taels of silver for it, and today, you give me one hundred and twenty taels of silver, I’ll write you a transfer deed, and then we can go to the Yamen to transfer this land back to the Wang Family," Wu Zhongbao truly was a straightforward man.

"Thank you, Brother Wu! Brother Wu’s kindness, our Wang family will always remember. If there’s ever anything you need from our Wang family, just say the word," Wang Yongzhu really hadn’t expected the land redemption to go so smoothly.

Wu Zhongbao waved his hand nonchalantly, "Don’t thank me! You see, I’ve never gotten along with Wang Yongan from the first time we met. What he’s unhappy to do, I’m happy to do! As for you, just think of it as me being used to going against Wang Yongan! If you truly think I, Wu Zhongbao, am a friend worth having, then just don’t forget about me next time you go wolf hunting in the mountains!"

Remembering Old Man Wu’s attitude, Wang Yongzhu feared that if the price was returned, Old Man Wu might not be happy, "This price, at the time Wang Yongan was desperate to get rid of the land, so he only sold it for one hundred and twenty taels of silver. Brother Wu, you’re willing to let me redeem it is already a great favor. If we redeem it at the original price, I’m afraid Uncle Wu might have trouble explaining it—"

Right now, she had enough silver on hand, and Wu Zhongbao’s agreement to the redemption was already a huge favor. Considering his amiable character and the fact that the Wu family was Shiqiao Town’s biggest landlord, it wouldn’t make sense to offend them over a few dozen taels of silver. Better to maintain a good relationship.

"Don’t worry! My dad is actually the soft-hearted one! Before we came here today, we, father and son, agreed that we would see how the Wang family is. If we liked what we saw, we would let you redeem the land at the original price. But if not, no amount of money would convince us to sell!"

"When the news of Wang Yongan stealthily selling the deed came out, my dad said it wasn’t decent! A dozen acres of land isn’t much to our family, but to yours, it’s all you have! Later on, when he heard about all the troubles your family went through, he became even more uneasy. You noticed that although we bought your family’s land, we never sent anyone to Qilidun to bother you, right?"

Wang Yongzhu nodded; they had indeed found it strange at home. Logically, after buying the land, even if not going personally, they should have at least sent someone to check it out, right?

But the person who bought the land never showed up, as if the deal had never happened.

As a result, Wang Laozhu was reminded to sneak Yongping, Jinhoo, and others to the fields when they could to weed, irrigate, or dig channels as necessary.

People laughed at the Wang family, saying that since the land didn’t belong to them anymore, there was no point in working so hard, essentially doing it all for someone else.

Now they understood that it was Old Man Wu who hadn’t allowed anyone to go.

"My father also had someone inquire about it, and they said that even though the land wasn’t owned by your family anymore, it didn’t stop you from working it diligently. My dad has dealt with land his whole life and said your family cherishes the soil. We even planned that if your family couldn’t come up with the money to redeem the land, we would let you farm it and reduce the rent by twenty percent. But then, your family had a heroine rise up, and thanks to you, my girl, the Wang Family is back on its feet!"

At this point, Wu Zhongbao gave a thumbs-up, "There are few people I admire, but girl, you’re one of them!"

Wang Yongzhu also saw that Wu Zhongbao truly had a candid nature and thought of Old Man Wu, who appeared fierce on the outside but was actually kind-hearted at his core.

Being a major landowner and still so approachable, no wonder he has always had a good reputation in Shiqiao Town.

What a stroke of luck that Wang Yongan had sold the land to the Wu Family back then!

The two parties reached an agreement, and Wang Yongzhu efficiently handed the silver note over to you, Wu Zhongbao. They then went together to the Yamen to handle the deed transfer procedures.

There was a place in town especially for the clerks to process these matters, where nearly all nearby house and land transfers were conducted.

While transferring the property, Wang Yongping, Jindou, and Jinhoo waited outside.

Wang Yongzhu and Wu Zhongbao went in to handle the transfer.

When it was time to register the new landowner in the deed, Wang Yongzhu hesitated before asking, "Can we put two people’s names on it, and specify that the deed cannot be transferred without both of their presence and agreement?"

Wu Zhongbao smiled, his interest in Wang Yongzhu’s gaze growing even more.

The Assistant Clerk, who processed these real estate deeds and had seen much, laughed at Wang Yongzhu’s request, "It’s not impossible..."

Wang Yongzhu, very much in tune with the process, pulled out a half Silver Ingot weighing about two taels and slid it under the deed before passing it on, "I’d appreciate your help, sir! Truly, my family’s little patch of land can’t afford any more setbacks!"

Seeing Wang Yongzhu’s perceptiveness and looking at the Silver Ingot, the Clerk’s smile turned genuine. With a wave of his sleeve, the Silver Ingot disappeared into his pocket. Then, pen flying, he asked, "Which names would the lady like on the deed?"

Wang Yongzhu gave the names of Wang Laozhu and Wang Zhang’s Chun Tao.

The Clerk filled in both names in the land buyer’s column, noted the conditions Wang Yongzhu had requested, stamped it with a large red seal, took five taels of silver for the deed tax, and the deal was done.

Wang Yongzhu gratefully received the deed and let out a sigh of relief, having finally accounted for the Wang Family.

As for Wu Zhongbao, he had tactfully stepped aside when Wang Yongzhu handed over the silver, but now that everything was finished, he approached and said, "Speaking of which, my family also has some land in Qilidun. It’s not very good, and there isn’t much left; we barely collect any rent from it each year. If you think it’s suitable, why not buy it all together?"

Wang Yongzhu’s eyes lit up—this was perfect! It was like someone offering a pillow when she wanted to sleep!

"Suitable, very suitable! It couldn’t be more perfect," she nodded eagerly, like a pecking hen.

Wu Zhongbao pulled out another deed from his sleeve, detailing several portions of average-quality paddy fields located in Qilidun, and handed it to Wang Yongzhu, "A little over five acres in total, let’s say fifty taels of silver."