I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 4 Digging a Hole

"Huh? Uh..."

Shi Tiezhu was caught off guard by Zhang Beichuan's question. He squeezed the lighter in his pocket, realizing that Zhang Beichuan was no pushover.

"Xiao Chuan, logically speaking... you are also a son of the Zhang family. Although you haven't been in the village all these years, your household registration has never been cancelled, so you are indeed entitled to a share." Shi Tiezhu carefully chose his words. "But your eldest brother... when he divided the family property with your third brother, there was a written agreement, and your third brother accepted fifty yuan. Now, if we bring up old debts again, it might be difficult to handle."

Before Zhang Beichuan could speak, Lan Xiuying, who was standing to the side, became anxious.

"Secretary, you can't say that! We were forced to put our fingerprints on that document last year because we had no other choice. They bully our daughters every day because they outnumber us. If we don't move, we simply can't live like this!"

The few farmers who had been watching had not completely dispersed, and they all nodded when they heard this.

Zhang Dezhong's family did indeed act unethically, but these days every family has its own troubles, and nobody wants to meddle in other people's business.

Seeing the villagers' evasive gazes, she changed the subject.

"Now that my brother-in-law is back, shouldn't we sit down and renegotiate the land allocation? I can decide that the land we've been cultivating for him can be returned to him."

Zhang Beichuan patted Lan Xiuying on the shoulder—a gesture that made him feel awkward, but he maintained a calm expression on his face.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry." He turned to Shi Tiezhu. "Secretary, a written agreement is a written agreement. Even though I ran away, shouldn't I still get what I'm entitled to? Now that I'm back, shouldn't we draw up a new written agreement?"

Shi Tiezhu's forehead was a little sweaty. The young man in front of him spoke clearly and logically, and his eyes revealed a shrewdness that came from seeing the world.

"How about this?" He wiped his face. "I'll have someone call your older brother over. You brothers can sit down and talk, and the village committee will be your witness."

"Okay." Zhang Beichuan nodded, then added, "I'd also appreciate it if the Party Secretary could call over the remaining uncles from our Zhang family as well. After all, it's been a while, and I'm afraid some people might not acknowledge certain things."

These words were so well said that Shi Tiezhu became even more suspicious. He instructed a young man next to him to call for help, while he himself called Zhang Beichuan and Zhang Dequan to the village committee office and poured them a bowl of well water.

"Xiao Chuan, tell your uncle something," Shi Tiezhu said in a low voice, "What exactly are you doing in the provincial capital? Are you planning to stay long this time, or just take a look and leave?"

Zhang Beichuan glanced at his preoccupied grandparents, picked up the bowl and took a sip. The water in the bowl had a faint earthy taste, but it was very sweet.

"Secretary, to be honest, I do some business in the provincial capital, mainly selling products from the coast. That lighter I just saw is one of them."

He paused, looked at Shi Tiezhu with a solemn expression, and continued.

"I came back this time for two reasons: first, to reconnect with my ancestors; and second, because I feel there are many opportunities here, and I want to come back and develop my career."

Upon hearing this, Shi Tiezhu immediately made a decision, and the scales in his heart unconsciously tipped a little.

Half an hour later, the village committee courtyard was packed with people.

Zhang Dezhong was summoned by the villagers. On the way there, he heard that his youngest son, who had been gone for more than ten years, had returned, which made him quite nervous.

If you ran away, you ran away. Why are you coming back now?

Looking at his "elder brother," a man in his forties with a burly build and a droopy face, Zhang Beichuan felt his anger rise again as soon as he entered the door and glared at his grandfather, Zhang Dequan.

"Brother, I am Dehua," Zhang Beichuan said.

Zhang Dezhong squinted at him, and indeed he did resemble the youngest son in his memory.

"Dehua? You...you're really back?"

"I'm back." Zhang Beichuan pointed to Shi Tiezhu next to him. "The first thing I'm doing now is to re-divide the house my parents left behind, and the second is to get my land back."

"Make it clear?" Zhang Dezhong scoffed. The land was given, so be it; anyway, the third son and he both got half from the youngest. But the house was a different story. "Youngest son, you've been out of the public eye for so many years, and now you want a share of the house? What makes you think you can?"

"Why should I?" Zhang Beichuan asked calmly, his eyes fixed on him. "I'm a son of the Zhang family, brother, tell me why?"

"Dehua is right. When our parents were still alive, they said that each of the four ancestral houses of the Zhang family would have a share. I can testify to that! Now that the youngest son has returned, we can return the land to him," Zhang Dequan said, standing up.

Immediately afterwards, an old man with white hair and beard, who had been invited by Shi Tiezhu, sighed.

"Dehua and Dequan are right. It's good to follow the old custom, which is what your parents said when they were alive: the son has a share in the house. Since you are the ones cultivating the land, it's only right to return it to Dehua."

Zhang Dezhong's face turned ashen; the thought of vomiting up the meat he had just swallowed was something no one could easily accept.

"You can have the land, but I'm living in the house now, and I can't vacate it!"

"Nobody asked you to vacate the house." Zhang Beichuan suddenly laughed, but there was no warmth in his smile. "I can give up the house, but it has to be at the current market price of four hundred yuan, one hundred yuan per room. Since my eldest brother is taking care of our parents and living in the house, and my third brother has also moved out, then give me and my third brother one hundred yuan each."

"One hundred yuan per person?" Zhang Dezhong laughed in anger. "Why should you say one hundred and it's one hundred?"

"Exactly!" Zhang Dezhong's wife, Wang Guifen, squeezed through the crowd, hands on her hips. "Besides, just because you say you're Dehua doesn't mean you are! Who knows if you're some conman your third brother found somewhere!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dequan immediately became furious.

"Sister-in-law, you have to have a conscience! This is Dehua, the youngest son. Do you think I wouldn't recognize my own brother?"

Zhang Beichuan stepped forward, blocking his grandfather Zhang Desheng's path. He looked up at his grandmother, who was always mean to his mother and the others, and who liked to instigate outsiders to act sarcastic and veiledly. His anger flared up.

But he quickly suppressed his anger.

Anyway, there will be plenty of time to deal with the old man's family later. It's more painful to cut flesh with a dull knife. He will also let Zhang Dezhong's family know what it means to be disliked wherever they go.

He glanced at Wang Guifen and said unhurriedly, "Oh, so you're questioning the Party Secretary's abilities, sister-in-law?"

Shi Tiezhu, who originally just wanted to be a bystander, was suddenly dragged into the mess. He cursed Zhang Beichuan as a bastard in his heart and cleared his throat.

"Um... Guifen, whether he is Dehua or not, Dequan and I have already confirmed it. Besides, even your Dezhong hasn't denied it, so let's stop with this nonsense and get down to business!"

Wang Guifen was rebuffed and awkwardly stood next to Zhang Dezhong, not forgetting to glare at Zhang Beichuan.

"The Party Secretary is right," Zhang Beichuan agreed, then turned to Zhang Dezhong, "Brother, it's not that I'm saying one hundred and it's one hundred, but that's all the house is worth. I didn't ask you for more. Just tell me if you agree or not!"

Zhang Dezhong gave Shi Tiezhu a look, meaning he should just agree quickly and not cause him any trouble.

He was very curious. Why would the Party Secretary side with his younger brother? But if he really had to give up the land and take out another 150 yuan, wouldn't that be the death of him?

"One hundred is too much, fifty per person at most! When we divided the family property last year, the third brother agreed that this would be the maximum amount!"

"You know perfectly well why we agreed!" Lan Xiuying couldn't help but interject. "Your boys bully Lili and the others every day, and even pushed Cuicui into the ditch! When Dequan went to reason with you, your whole family surrounded him... How are we supposed to live like this?"

"Stop spouting nonsense!" Wang Guifen said, hands on her hips. "Isn't it normal for kids to fight? Whose fault is it that you can't have a son?"

"Exactly! I didn't force you to agree!"

These words were extremely harsh. Zhang Dequan's face turned red, and Lan Xiuying's eyes immediately welled up with tears. The two of them stepped forward to argue with Wang Guifen.

Zhang Beichuan quickly pulled his grandparents aside and whispered something.

"Third brother, sister-in-law, don't get angry with them! If you trust me, you'll listen to whatever I say later!"

Since Zhang Dezhong's family insisted on lighting lanterns in the toilet, what could he do? — Of course, he'd grant their request!