Thoughts of his uncle, things related to him, surfaced in Fang Er's mind.
This was a sharp-tongued old man named Fang Li. Even when Fang Er's father was alive, he often came to their house to freeload.
He was extremely stingy himself and often coveted the property of his younger brother's family.
When Fang Er's grandfather was still alive, due to the old man's favoritism, he had often taken advantage of Fang Er's family.
Especially when Fang Er's grandfather was on his deathbed, he had even seized all of the old man's inheritance.
Fang Er couldn't understand how this old fellow had found his way here.
After all, this place was only settled yesterday.
Little did he know that while moving yesterday, his uncle had secretly followed the convoy.
"Did he say anything?"
Fang Er really didn't want to see him.
"The elder master didn't say anything, only that he wanted to see the young master. He's in the front courtyard right now," Zhang Bo replied from the side.
Despite being a relative, a servant was not supposed to enter the inner courtyard without announcement; it was the rule.
Although Fang Er's uncle was stingy and sharp-tongued, he did not dare to barge in directly.
"Alright, I'll go take a look. You can go about your business."
After dismissing Zhang Bo, Fang Er got up and walked towards the front courtyard.
In the front courtyard, a small old man was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, looking around the courtyard.
He was muttering something continuously.
"Uncle, you found my new home so quickly? What are you, a dog?"
Fang Er said to Fang Li speechlessly.
"Hey, I'm your uncle! You moved without telling me, what, do you want to sever ties with our relatives?"
Fang Li squinted his eyes and looked at Fang Er diagonally, saying.
"How could I? Your kind of relative is hard to find even with a lantern. How could I bear to sever ties?"
Fang Er looked at Fang Li with a sneer.
Fang Li stopped talking and walked straight past Fang Er towards the inner courtyard.
Upon reaching the inner courtyard, he saw the Grand Tutor chair in the courtyard and immediately sat down.
"Hmm, comfortable. I'll take this chair with me later; consider it your filial piety to your uncle. Little Qing, why isn't that girl serving me tea?"
Little Qing stood by the entrance of the main hall. Seeing Fang Li's displeased face, she didn't move.
Fang Er couldn't stand it any longer.
"Uncle, there's no tea. We just moved in and haven't settled yet. Just tell me what you want."
"It's nothing much. Since you've moved out, don't occupy the old family residence anymore. Your brother is getting married next month, so you should let your brother use your house. Also, let your brother help you farm your fields. You won't have to go to the estate anymore. When it's time for the autumn harvest, I'll have your brother send you one dou of grain per mu. If you agree, sign this contract."
As Fang Li spoke, he took out a piece of paper from his怀.
Fang Er's hair was almost standing on end as he listened to Fang Li's words. He had seen shameless people, but never someone this shameless.
"Hey, calling you uncle is to give face to my father. Where do you get the nerve to ask for my things? My things were all left to me by my father. Why do you want to take them just by opening your mouth? One dou of grain per mu, you can actually say that. Old man, go back where you came from. Don't even think about this!"
At this time, even though grain yields were not high, with one mu producing only one stone to two stones, one stone was equal to ten dou.
Even though it was just over a month before Jie Li would attack Chang'an city, the house and land were there, and no one could take them away. Moreover, the autumn harvest would be in less than ten days. His uncle was clearly trying to rob him.
"You little brat, who are you talking to? I am your uncle! You must sign this contract for me today, or I will report you to the authorities, saying you abuse your elders!"
Fang Li slammed the chair and stood up, pointing his finger at Fang Er fiercely.
Fang Er was so angry he started laughing.
"Zhuzi, Hu Zi, see this guest out. And make sure this old man is never allowed into our house again!"
He was too lazy to argue with the old man anymore.
Zhuzi and Hu Zi stepped forward, took Fang Li by the arm each, and carried him out.
"Unfilial son! I'm going to report you to the authorities, so just wait for the constables to show up!"
Fang Li struggled and shouted.
Once they reached the door, Zhuzi and Hu Zi let go, and Fang Li directly sat down on the ground.
"Everyone, come quickly and see! An unfilial son! Abusing his elder, there's no justice~~~~~~"
The old scoundrel, while patting the ground, pretended to wipe his tears, looking like a son abandoned by his own child.
Those who didn't know the truth came forward to ask questions.
Fang Li, exaggerating as he wailed, explained.
"The person in this house is my eldest nephew. I watched him grow up. Months ago, his parents died, and I handled everything for them. Now, his brother is getting married, and I asked him to give up some land for the dowry, but he refused. He's such an ungrateful wretch!"
The bystanders, not understanding the root of the matter, only felt that since Fang Er could live in such a large three-courtyard house in the valuable Chang'an city, he must be well-off, yet he treated his elder this way. Thus, they all started shouting at the entrance.
"Living in such a big house and treating your elder like this, truly unfilial!"
"Report him to the authorities! Let the government deal with him!"
"Exactly! Living in such a big house, and not willing to help his own brother get married, what an ungrateful wretch!"
Everyone considered themselves guardians of morality and started criticizing Fang Er at the gate.
Fang Er, hearing the commotion in the front courtyard from the inner courtyard, became even more furious.
Before Fang Er could come out, he heard a loud voice from outside the gate shout:
"Who is the master of this house? Letting his elder wail on the street, does he want to go to jail?"
Then, several soldiers in armor rushed into the courtyard. Seeing Fang Er, who was about to come out, one of them asked:
"Is that your elder outside?"
Fang Er was not intimidated. He was in the right, so why should he be afraid?
He raised his hand and saluted the soldier.
"That is my uncle. My parents have passed away, and he wants to seize my family's land and property, but failing to do so, he is now making a scene out of shame and anger. Please investigate."
The soldier frowned upon hearing this and turned to walk outside.
"Reporting to the Great General, the head of this household is a young man. He says the old man on the ground is his uncle, and he's making a scene here out of shame and anger after failing to seize his property."
The soldier reached the gate, saluted a burly man standing aside, and then said.
Fang Er followed behind, and upon hearing the soldier's words, his heart stirred.
This Great General was about 1.7 meters tall, which was considered tall in this era. His face was dark, with a full beard, and he wore gold-embroidered armor, exuding a formidable aura. It was unclear which famous general he was.
The general heard the soldier's words, frowned, and said to Fang Li on the ground:
"They say you failed to seize his property and are now making a scene. Is that true or not?"
Fang Li's expression changed upon hearing this. He quickly crawled to the general and knelt down.