Tianliangyuan

Chapter 234 Let's Settle the Accounts Properly

Grandpa Chang's face stiffened slightly, knowing that from this moment on, his third brother would be in charge of the Chang family.

The fact that Kong was publicly reprimanded and criticized for his rudeness and violation of social norms was an utter disgrace to the entire Chang family.

Now, even the elders who had previously received favors from the Kong family dare not speak up for her anymore.

"The reason I invited several elders here today is actually to talk about the ancestral property."

The Chang family originally held the title of Earl. After being granted the title of Earl, their branch decided to purchase 100 mu of ancestral land for the clan. Subsequently, the produce from these 100 mu of ancestral land was mainly used to support the ancestral hall and to provide education for outstanding members of the clan.

In addition, the Earl's Mansion would also provide the clan with a certain amount of money, the amount of which was not fixed.

According to the lineage of Third Master Chang, the Chang family still owns more than 4,000 mu of land.

Some of these were gifts bestowed by the authorities, while others were accumulated by the Chang family over several generations.

Logically, the majority of these four thousand acres of land should belong to the Third Master's branch of the family, and the best land should be prioritized for him.

After the family division, the task of the Earl's Mansion paying money for the clan would naturally fall to the Third Master Chang. As for the other two branches of the Chang family, if they were willing to pay, it was because they had the ability and filial piety; if they were unwilling, no one could do anything about it.

Grandpa Chang's heart was pounding; he had a feeling something bad was about to happen.

Sure enough, when the accountant came over with the booklet to report, everyone's expression changed.

The reason is simple: the more than 4,000 mu of farmland that should have been used in the accounts was actually 1,000 mu less!

That's a thousand acres!

Land in the capital is expensive, especially farmland near the capital, where it may cost as much as 20 strings of cash per mu, and even further away, it may cost more than 10 strings of cash.

For example, in Lantian County, which is a bit far from the capital, a mu of good land still costs ten guan (a unit of currency), while a mu of medium-quality land costs seven or eight guan.

At this point, the clan elders could no longer sit still.

Grandpa Chang's forehead began to break out in a cold sweat, because it bore the seal of the Kong family and a note from one of the Kong family's subordinates.

"How dare you! That's a thousand acres of fertile land. If this goes to the authorities, your whole family will be implicated. Don't be afraid, just tell me, who has that thousand acres of fertile land now?"

The accountant knelt on the ground, his face pale: "It was all Madam Kong's decision that transferred this thousand acres of land to the Kong family. This happened the year before last."

The year before last?

At that time, the mourning period for the great-grandfather had not yet ended, and the Chang family members were all observing mourning. Who would have thought that the Kong family would be willing to give up a thousand acres of fertile land at this time?

This is a grave sin!

Grandpa Chang suddenly knelt down on the ground.

In any case, Kong is his birth mother, and he is still an official. This matter must not be blown out of proportion, otherwise it will definitely implicate him.

“Please forgive me, Third Brother. No, please grant me a few more days. I will immediately take back this thousand acres of fertile land. After all, it belongs to my maternal uncle’s family. Please allow me to speak to them on their behalf.”

boom!

The clan chief angrily retorted, "What do you mean, 'your maternal uncle's family'? The Kong family is merely a concubine! According to etiquette, how dare the Kong family be related to my Chang family by marriage?"

Grandpa Chang's expression changed again; it was also his fault for saying the wrong thing in his haste.

"Yes, yes, the clan leader is right. This junior will go to the Kong family to reclaim the fertile land."

Master Chang remained calm and said, "Brother, please wait."

Grandpa Chang had already gotten up and taken two steps outside when he was called back. He thought it was because his third brother was unwilling.

"Does Third Brother have any further instructions?"

“I wouldn’t dare. But please don’t rush, sit down and listen to him slowly. The Kong family not only seized fertile land from my Chang family, but also three shops. As far as I know, before these shops were transferred to the Kong family, their annual profit was over a hundred strings of cash, so how should this be accounted for?”

Grandpa Chang's legs were so weak he could barely stand. Who would have thought that the Kong family would be so bold as to transfer the shop to someone else?

"In addition, there was a manor house, a pair of red corals, a number of antique paintings and calligraphy, and a number of gold and silver jewelry that my mother brought as part of her dowry. Now, their whereabouts are unknown. As you all know, after my mother passed away, the Kong family has been managing this inner quarters. All of my mother's belongings disappeared during the time when the Kong family was in charge."

Is there anything else that Grandpa Chang doesn't understand?

Kong came from a humble background. If he hadn't been brought into the Chang family, all his maternal uncles would probably have died, and he wouldn't be living such a good life now.

Therefore, it's impossible for Confucius to have so many good things.

But if the Kong family really did have these things, where did they come from?

At that moment, Grandpa Chang felt as if his face had not only been ripped off, but also trampled on in public, and he was unable to refute it. This was what angered him the most.

Grandpa Chang felt a metallic taste rise in his throat, but he managed to suppress it and repeatedly promised that he would return everything to its rightful owner within three days.

In fact, the benefits that the Kong family gained were far more than these.

The remaining items were either what the old man had previously given them or some loose change.

Master Chang didn't bother arguing with them about it.

He wanted to get back everything that belonged to his mother.

As for the Chang family's thousand acres of fertile land, that must also be recovered, because it is the ancestral property that Third Master Chang is to inherit.

Would the Kong family agree to this?

Of course they don’t want to!

But Grandpa Chang had come prepared, and he wouldn't allow his relatives to act so recklessly.

"Very well! If you gentlemen feel aggrieved, then go to the government to seek justice! Let's see if my third brother will sue your entire family. At that time, not only will these things be stripped bare, but the entire Kong family will be cleaned up, and even the walls will be peeled off!"

These words greatly frightened the Kong family.

Although they felt that Master Chang shouldn't be so heartless, Master Chang's words made them realize the reality.

"Heartless? What makes you think you have any affection for Third Brother? Are you even his relatives? You're just a concubine's family; by all accounts, you're not even proper relatives of the Chang family!"

These words left everyone speechless.

Whether the Kong family liked it or not, in the end, they had to painfully give up what they had obtained.

This time, Grandpa Chang thought it through thoroughly.

"That's not enough!"

The Kong family members glared: "What do you mean? We've returned everything, whether it's the land or the shops, the deeds are still there. You can't help Chang San extort us!"

Grandpa Chang sneered: "Trying to extort you? Don't you even know who you are! These things have been in your hands for years, how much profit have you made? Do you really think Chang San doesn't know? Since he dared to expose it in public, he must have made thorough preparations. You've already given back the lion's share, what's a little bit more profit?"

The Kong family vomited blood; was that for a paltry gain?

All told, it would probably cost over a thousand strings of cash!

This is really going to be the death of me!