Chaos begins when one joins a martial arts school

Chapter 19 Ning Mansion Shows Goodwill
Yangjia Village, Wazi Township, noon.

The February sunlight, carrying a slight chill, filtered through the gaps in the branches and fell on the stone table in the courtyard.

When Grandpa Yang carried his hoe into the yard, his shoes were still covered in fresh mud, and his trousers were rolled up to his knees.

"Dad, you're back. Take a rest, dinner will be ready soon," Liu Cuiling called from the kitchen.

Grandmother Qin was Liu Cuiling's assistant.

Grandpa Yang responded, leaned the hoe against the wall, sat down on the wooden bench at the entrance of the main house, and slowly took out his pipe.

dong dong dong.

Just then, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

Qin, who had just finished preparing the vegetables, came out of the kitchen and went to the gate of the courtyard. She peeked out through the crack in the door before opening it.

"mother."

Outside the courtyard gate, a woman in her mid-thirties carrying a basket walked in. She looked somewhat similar to Qin Shi, only much younger. She was Yang Jing's aunt, Yang Yan.

"Why did you come here?" Old Master Yang asked, tapping his cigarette ash at his daughter.

"I happen to have some free time today," Yang Yan said with a smile, then greeted her second sister-in-law, Liu Cuiling, who was busy in the kitchen.

Liu Cuiling's attitude was neither warm nor cold; she simply gave a soft "hmm" in response.

She still harbored resentment towards her sister-in-law.

Yang Jing, the son, had gone to the Shi family's old house at Yang Yan's invitation to check on the situation, and then fell into a coma and recuperated at home for half a month.

However, Yang Yan and her husband did not show their faces even once in the past two weeks, which made Liu Cuiling very angry.

However, because the Ning family had their eyes on those two acres of prime land in the north, and the Shi family had some connections with the Ning family's steward, they might need to rely on Yang Yan and her husband. Liu Cuiling could only suppress her dissatisfaction and keep things on the surface.

Yang Yan took out two white flour buns and six or seven mixed flour dumplings from the basket, placed them on the stone table, and started talking to Old Master Yang, who was smoking a pipe next to her. As they talked, they got to the two acres of fertile land that the Ning family had their eye on.

“Ever since Feng Lei was killed, the Ning family hasn’t sent anyone over, nor have they mentioned buying our two acres of land. Could it be that the Ning family no longer wants our two acres of land?” Old Master Yang said, puffing on his pipe.

Hearing this, Qin, who was sweeping the yard nearby, nodded repeatedly and said, "If that's the case, then that's wonderful. Our family relies on those two acres of farmland to make a living. If we lose those two acres, we'll really be starving."

Yang Yan frowned upon hearing this and shook her head slightly, saying, "Father, Mother, I don't think it's that simple. I heard Yunlin say that Master Ning is a notorious miser in Wazi Township. He will get whatever he sets his sights on, and he will stop at nothing to get it."

Yang Yan paused slightly, then continued:
“The Ning family has bought a lot of land in Wazi Township. There is a lot of land in the north of our village that the Ning family has bought. Our two mu of land is right in the middle of the Ning family’s large area. Master Ning must want to connect the land into a large area. I guess he is also eyeing our two mu of high-quality land.”

Yang Yan's words make sense.

Upon hearing this, both Old Master Yang and Madam Qin felt a slight unease.

"So you mean those two acres of farmland are really lost?" Liu Cuiling came out of the kitchen at some point and, after listening to the conversation between the three, said with a somewhat grim expression.

Yang Yan sighed.

She had heard from her husband that Master Ning was always domineering. They were just farmers who toiled in the fields, how could they possibly stand up to the powerful Ning family in the village?

The atmosphere in the courtyard was as heavy as a piece of cotton wool soaked in water. Old Master Yang tapped his pipe on the table, and ash fell in a flurry onto the blue brick floor. He had no desire to smoke any more.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the courtyard gate.

There were hurried footsteps and the neighing of cattle and horses, which sounded like a lot of people had arrived.

The group exchanged glances, their hearts sinking.

We were just talking about it, has it really come true so quickly?
Grandpa Yang suddenly stood up.

Yang Yan's face turned pale as she said, "Is it possible that someone from the Ning family has come?" She had barely finished speaking when...

The courtyard gate was knocked on loudly, and a slightly respectful voice came: "Li Zhong, the steward of the Ning family, has come to pay a visit."

The Yang family was even more surprised and suspicious when they heard the other party introduce himself.

Old Master Yang's expression changed, and he suppressed his panic, calling out, "The door isn't locked, please come in."

The door was pushed open.

A smiling middle-aged man entered with two servants, followed by a sturdy yellow ox with a brand-new blanket draped over its back.

Li Zhong smiled broadly and cupped his hands, saying, "Greetings, Master Yang, Madam Yang, and Madam Yang."

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Old Master Yang, Yang Shouzhou.

"I heard that your oxen were sold before the New Year. Spring plowing is in full swing, and you can't do without oxen. My master specially asked me to send one over for your use."

Li Zhong's words were somewhat literary.

But as soon as these words were spoken, the Yang family members froze on the spot, as if they had been frozen in place.

Yang Yan quickly stepped forward and said, "Uncle Li, my father is Shi Yunlin. This is my maternal home. May I ask if you have made a mistake?"

Li Zhong nodded in realization, then looked at Yang Yan in front of him and said, "You are Yunlin's wife. Is this old man named Yang Shouzhuo? Is he the grandfather of Young Master Yang Jing?"

Yang Yan paused for a moment, then nodded.

Yang Shouzhou was also taken aback, then nodded and said, "I am indeed Yang Shouzhou, and I also have a grandson named Yang Jing. I don't know him."

"Haha, then there's no mistake, old man, this ox is a gift for you." Li Zhong said with a smile.

"Ah? This, this, this Steward Li, we dare not accept this ox. We haven't cleared up what happened a while ago, so please don't blame us, Master Ning."

"Oh dear, Master Yang, what are you saying?" Li Zhong quickly waved his hand, his tone becoming increasingly polite. "It was our lack of manners that disturbed your household. My master has already reprimanded us."

At this point, Li Zhong paused slightly, his tone becoming even lower, "Young Master Yang has achieved great success in martial arts and is now a highly accomplished disciple of Master Sun. His future is limitless. My master said that we are all from the same village, and we should look after each other in the future."

Li Zhong smiled broadly, bowed, and said, "If you need anything in the future, just tell me, and I will do my best to help."

As he spoke, he gestured to the servants to tie the ox to the stake in the corner of the yard, and then took out a small cloth bag from his pocket: "This is a little money, a token of my master's appreciation, to buy some tonics for the master and the old lady."

Li Zhong, the steward of the Ning family, completely baffled the Yang family.

Liu Cuiling blinked, her lips twitched, but she didn't say anything.

Yang Yan, standing to the side, was so shocked she couldn't close her mouth.

She knew perfectly well that her husband's family had dealings with this Steward Li.

Li Zhong had been the steward of the Ning family for decades and held a certain position there. He was usually arrogant towards the Shi family father and son, and had never been so subservient to anyone else.

Now they're being so respectful to their own family, even calling them "Young Master."
Seeing their hesitation, Li Zhong smiled and said, "Now that the goods have been delivered, I won't bother you any longer. I need to go back and report to my master. If there are any difficulties at your residence, please send someone to the Ning residence to let me know."

After saying this, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and quickly left with his servants.

The yard returned to silence, with only the ox leisurely swishing its tail.

The Yang family members looked at each other, stunned for a long time.

(End of this chapter)