“Electing a clan leader? What does that have to do with me?”
Qin Si was puzzled.
He wouldn't have any grand ambitions of becoming the clan leader just because he had a domineering aura that would make all the villagers submit.
He was only ‘seventeen’ after all.
“Your position in the village is different now,”
Qin Liang gave a thumbs up and said:
“You single-handedly took down over a dozen people, you even dared to fight Zhao Da Wu, you’ve impressed everyone in the village. Regardless of who takes the throne as clan leader, you’re a hurdle they can’t avoid.”
Qin Si suddenly understood.
He was now the recognized powerhouse of Qin Family Village, the top ‘thug’.
He even dared to beat up the clan leader.
The new clan leader would definitely have to consider his opinion.
Even if he didn’t agree, it would be difficult for the new clan leader to take office. The villagers would also take his opinion into consideration when electing the new clan leader.
After all, someone so good at fighting.
Could be a ‘thug’, or a guardian of the village.
At least this time, Qin Si chased Zhao Da Wu away and slapped the clan leader in the face, leading to the subsequent exposure of the clan leader’s true colors after the villagers peeled back the veil.
Qin Si was playing the role of the village protector.
Qin Si lowered his head and pondered for a moment before looking at Qin Liang:
“Uncle Liang, are you going to elect a new clan leader?”
Good kid, smart!
Qin Liang's eyes were full of admiration, he had guessed it right away.
But...
Qin Liang sighed, his voice filled with dejection:
“I’d like to, but I’m definitely not suitable.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m an old Qin family member.”
Qin Si suddenly understood.
The position of clan leader wasn’t just a manager of Qin Family Village.
They were also the ones who communicated with the higher authorities.
The right to speak for Qin Family Village had always been in the hands of the old Qin family members. This time, the clan leader had deceived both the higher authorities and the villagers, hurting their feelings.
When the villagers choose the new clan leader, they would definitely not choose someone from the old Qin family again.
After all, two-thirds of the people in Qin Family Village were outsiders.
They had developed a crisis of trust in the old Qin family members.
If the old Qin family members were to fight, this time they would really lose.
Seeing Qin Liang’s intense gaze, Qin Si felt a movement in his heart, and tentatively said:
“I’m still young, I can’t take care of these things.”
“Seventeen is not young. You’ll be eighteen after the New Year, nineteen in the lunar calendar, soon turning twenty.”
Qin Liang said seriously:
“Plus, you’re married. A married man is the head of the household, the village needs to call you to every meeting, who would dare say you’re young?”
“Besides, your performance today has earned you the respect of the whole village!”
Qin Si’s eyebrows twitched.
Sure enough, Qin Liang was planning to make him clan leader.
But why wouldn’t he say it directly?
At the same time, what benefit could Qin Liang get out of this?
At this moment, Qin Liang let out another long sigh, as if he were speaking unintentionally:
“Ah, now that the clan leader has fallen, I don’t know what the future holds for us old Qin family members. We’ll have to rely on the new clan leader’s mercy.”
So he was afraid of retaliation, huh.
It’s true, the old Qin family members and the people of Qin Family Village don’t have any serious conflicts, but there is a gap between them.
One side believes the outsiders have taken over their ancestral land.
The other side thinks that the old Qin family has squandered their inheritance, what’s there to be proud of?
This incident with the clan leader has deepened the rift. Now that the new clan leader is about to take office, the old Qin family members are going to have a tough time.
Qin Si thought carefully.
Becoming the clan leader means taking on responsibility and shouldering the entire Qin family.
He has to deal with trivial disputes and take care of the family members.
It’s troublesome!
But there are also benefits, at least after he goes into the mountains to hunt, his wife Chen Yue Lian will be safe in the village.
Even if the people of Qin Family Village are weak, they wouldn’t let outsiders bully the wife of their clan leader.
Qin Si has always wanted to give Chen Yue Lian a better life.
They don’t have to worry about food now, but they can only stay inside to avoid being envied by the villagers.
It could cause trouble.
As for housing, their own house had a death in it, and Chen Yue Lian's house was where she lived with her previous husband.
Even though they didn’t have a relationship.
Qin Si still felt uncomfortable and wouldn’t move in with her.
If he became clan leader, he could improve the lives of the villagers.
His family living a good life, standing out from the crowd, would attract too much attention.
But if the whole Qin Family Village lived well, then it wouldn’t be so noticeable.
He thought about it for a long time, but it was just a matter of moments. Qin Si had made up his mind.
“Uncle Liang, who owns those few acres of land near the bamboo forest east of the village?”
Qin Si looked at Qin Liang and said:
“My wedding is done, but I still haven’t built a wedding house. I want to trade our few acres of land west of the village for those in the bamboo forest, so I can build a new house there.”
Qin Liang’s eyes lit up.
He had asked Qin Si to compete for the position of clan leader because he was desperate.
He was also worried about how to push Qin Si up, after all, he was still too young.
But this kid had a plan so quickly.
This wasn’t just building a house, this was giving the villagers a way to survive.
Building a house wouldn’t require any help?
Even if they didn’t pay wages, they would still need to provide food, wouldn’t they?
Grain is so expensive now, everyone is struggling to make ends meet.
“Building a new house is a good thing, I’ll help you with the land exchange. You take your land and exchange it for those few bad acres near the bamboo forest, they’ll thank you for it, but…”
Qin Liang furrowed his brow, his voice filled with worry:
“You can’t build a new house by yourself.”
“No problem, I’ll ask the villagers to help.”
“The villagers don’t like to help for free.”
“I’ll provide them with meals, three meals a day, white rice, at least one meal with meat, is that okay?”
Qin Si asked.
“Hiss——!”
A gasp of cold air filled the room.
Not only would they have white rice, but they would also have meat every day?
Qin Huai Ru was stunned.
Qin Huai Sheng and Qin Liang looked at each other.
Qin Dong felt a pain in his leg and swallowed hard.
Only Qin Jing Ru and Qin Huai An exchanged glances, both lowering their heads. They were surprised, but not as surprised as the others.
After all, they had witnessed it with their own eyes at Qin Si’s house today.
That big pot of braised meat seemed like an everyday thing to Qin Si and his wife.
They could see how well they lived, but outsiders didn’t know.
“N… no need for that!”
Qin Liang’s voice trembled:
“A cup of rice is a favor, a bucket of rice is an enemy. Giving them food to survive is enough.”
“Okay, then white porridge in the morning, brown rice at noon, white rice with meat in the afternoon. It’s settled.”
Qin Si made the decision.
Was he afraid of a cup of rice being a favor and a bucket of rice being an enemy?
At least within this one acre of land in Qin Family Village, he was not afraid at all.
If anyone was foolish, he could give them a few slaps on the back of their heads, those who loved to eat, to help them clear their heads.
Combining power with kindness.
It should be safe, right?
Seeing Qin Si’s determination, Qin Liang stopped arguing. He just nodded:
“Okay, I’ll help you handle the land exchange in the next two days.”
The words were spoken, the matter settled.
Qin Si exchanged some pleasantries and got up to leave.
The family saw him off. Qin Liang pulled Qin Si aside and whispered a few words:
“I’m influential among the old Qin family members. I will do my best to help you.”
“Okay, thanks Uncle Liang.”
Qin Si whispered:
“I’ll take the clan leader position, and after I take office, please help me with the village head position. Take on the burden for a while.”
With that, Qin Si left.
Looking at his back, Qin Liang stood there for a while, then he chuckled and muttered under his breath:
“You little rascal, you’re trying to outsmart me!”
The fame was Qin Si’s.
But all the troublesome matters in the village were pushed onto him, Qin Liang.
What a clever trick!
Qin Liang had no choice but to fall for it.
After all, he had to become the village head in order to ensure that the old Qin family members would not be bullied in the future.