Chapter 76: 74. The Way of the World (Part 2)

Today is a rest day, and he happened to be at home, experiencing the integration and combination of various martial arts techniques.

Previously, while practicing the Spiritual Snake Body Skill, he vaguely felt that combining multiple martial arts techniques seemed to have a significantly enhancing effect.

Thump thump thump.

As noon approached, there was a series of knocks at the door.

“Is Lord Zhang Ying present?”

Someone called out.

Zhang Rongfang stopped his practice, walked over, slid the bolt, and opened the door.

Two people stood outside.

The man at the front wore a black round hat inlaid with jade and a dark red embroidered robe with a long string of amber beads around his neck.

The person behind him was dressed as a servant in black with white trim, showing a respectful attitude, clearly a servant.

“Is it Lord Zhang Ying in person?” the man smiled, clasped his hands, and said, “I am Geng Changsheng of the nearby Geng family. I heard Lord Zhang moved here some days ago, but only now do I have the opportunity to visit, for which I am truly ashamed.”

“So it’s Mr. Geng. May I ask what brings you here?” Zhang Rongfang carefully thought for a moment, feeling it was likely his first time meeting these two people.

“It’s like this. I heard that Lord Zhang just recently got promoted but lacks any fertile land under your name. This…Geng, being of little worth, happens to have some fertile land to transfer to you…”

Geng Changsheng smiled and saluted as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Rongfang immediately understood his intention.

This was about forming an alliance.

He thought about it and invited the two into the courtyard to sit down.

After discussing for a moment, they quickly reached an agreement. The Geng family would transfer ten acres of fertile land in exchange for registering two hundred acres of land under Zhang Rongfang’s name as tax-exempt land.

This tax exemption for officials is not limitless but has a ceiling.

Different levels of officials have different exemption limits.

For instance, Zhang Rongfang, being the lowest-ranked official, can exempt taxes on two hundred acres of land.

Additionally, he can exempt direct family members from military conscription, labor duties, etc., while business pursuits still require commercial taxes. The majority of tax and labor duties for direct family members are exempted.

Having reached an agreement, they swiftly signed the portable contract Geng Changsheng had brought with him, each imprinting their fingerprints.

Zhang Rongfang, currently using the identity of Zhang Ying, is not fabricated, as Zhang Xuan completed all necessary procedures and documentation for him.

In other words, if he chooses to forget his previous identity, he can fully live as Zhang Ying.

After signing the contract, Geng Changsheng felt a sense of relief.

The Geng family, being a newly affluent merchant family, was most troubled by high taxes. Now, having found fitting new officials for tax-exempt registration, it was finally a burden relieved.

With the land matter settled, he glanced around at Zhang Rongfang’s current dwelling setup.

“I never thought that despite Lord Zhang having a handsome monthly salary, he still lives so modestly. It truly commands respect.”

“Mr. Geng overpraises. I simply can’t be bothered to manage too many affairs.” Zhang Rongfang explained with a smile.

“Lord Zhang, being only twenty-four or five, is already so accomplished. May I ask if you are married?” Geng Changsheng’s eyes sparkled, scheming inwardly.

His family’s fourth and fifth daughters are fourteen and sixteen, respectively, and could be arranged for a meeting, perhaps…

Even if that doesn’t work out, there are several pretty nieces to introduce. After all, proximity provides opportunity.

This Zhang Ying, young and already with an official status, reportedly has connections with the Li family involved in criminal law, promising a bright future.

Placing a bet now might just lead to a great alliance in the future.

“I am not married,” Zhang Rongfang admitted candidly, “but I’m currently focused on martial arts cultivation and have no interest in this area.”

“That won’t do. Lord Zhang, having recently acquired official status, has already established a foundation for family inheritance. In the future, passing down official positions from father to son, generation after generation, is essential for family prosperity.”

“Moreover, two fists can hardly match four hands in this world. Having a few extra hands at home makes others less likely to bully their way in.”

The words of Geng Changsheng also reflected the mindset of ordinary families in this world.

“What do you mean by this?” Zhang Rongfang paused, then asked.

He had been practicing martial arts for years and came from a Taoist monastery, so he really didn’t know much about ordinary living.

His former self was also sustained by his sister’s arrangements to support this life.

So hearing Geng Changsheng’s words at this moment made him curious, prompting him to ask aloud.

“The world is tough, with many miscellaneous taxes and duties. We ordinary folks rely on having more men at home to stand firm,” Geng Changsheng sighed.

“Take an incident in my home from not long ago.”

“My Geng family residence is right next to the Hu family. Last month, a small quarrel between my youngest child and their youngest caused damage on both sides.

So the Hu family came over, demanding compensation. A mere cut on a child’s hand, and they wanted five hundred silver taels from us!”

Five hundred taels??

Zhang Rongfang also took a sharp intake of breath; this amount could purchase a large two-hundred-square-foot compound in Tan Yang City.

The Hu family really drove a hard bargain.

“How was it resolved afterward?” he couldn’t help asking.

In such situations, if it were up to him, he would certainly hire someone privately to kill a few from the Hu family, scare them, and the problem should largely be resolved.

If that didn’t work, exterminating the entire family would be necessary. After all, if weeds are not eradicated, they grow back with the spring wind.

In this world, if one isn’t ruthless, the family isn’t stable.

“Alas…,” Geng Changsheng sighed.

“Afterwards…we reported it to the authorities, but unfortunately, the Hu family had connections in the yamen. When that didn’t work, we entreated other families to mediate, spending a good deal of favors to reduce the compensation to a hundred taels.

We finally paid and settled the matter.”

“…” Zhang Rongfang was speechless.

He paused.

“Why is this the case?”

Geng Changsheng shook his head.

“Because the Hu family married into the Spirit People, driving over ten robust household servants, and someone in the family had practiced martial arts.”

He gave a bitter smile.

“We ordinary families, though having some idle money, have only recently risen. Hastily hiring protector servants is daunting since no family member holds authority.

If we dared to hire protector servants, and they harbored ill intentions to seize our property, we…have no means to resist.”

Geng Changsheng’s face wore a look of difficulty.

This is why most families in Tan Yang send people to practice martial arts.

“So, having heard that Lord Zhang, being young and already possessing martial arts skills reaching the third rank, I wondered if you could look at my youngest daughter to see if she has the fortune to become your apprentice?” Geng Changsheng suggested, a peculiar gleam in his eyes.

He mentioned his youngest daughter, and in these times, daughters could learn martial arts in several places, primarily boxing schools, Taoist orders, gangs, and private protectors.

Yet Geng Changsheng specifically hoped to have his own become Zhang Rongfang’s apprentice.

Zhang Rongfang was a bit puzzled, but from the recent conversation, it seemed the Geng family had some knack for business but lacked a backing.

And on his side, being so young yet reaching the third rank, able to secure official status, and having a good personal relationship with Li Huoyun.

Previously, when Lin Qixiao clashed directly with him and was blocked by Li Huoyun from attacking severely, it’s likely that incident was also spread around….

Upon considering this, it seemed somewhat reasonable.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep