Chapter 101: with translation of chapter title

Chen Wuji and his three companions were all feeble and wretched; after great effort they finally made it down the mountain, shaken but unharmed.

Chen Wuji and the three others were all weak and pitiful; after considerable effort they finally got down the mountain unharmed, aside from a fright.

We need to keep meaning. Let's produce: "Chen Wuji and the three others were all weak and miserable; after much effort, they finally descended the mountain with only a fright, no harm."

Everyone made it down safely, but Yuan Jinshi was worn out to the point of being irritable.

Everyone made it down safely, but Yuan Jinshi was worn out to the point of being irritable.

Chen Wuji repeatedly warned him not to overreach; just walking would suffice.

Chen Wuji repeatedly warned him not to overreach; just walking would suffice.

But this kid is stubborn as a mule; no matter what, he simply refuses.

But this kid is stubborn as a mule; no matter what, he simply refuses.

When they finally reached the foot of the mountain, the boy's face was flushed red from exhaustion, his hair almost soaked with sweat, and he lay on the ground panting heavily.

Meaning: "When they reached the foot of the mountain, this lad was so exhausted his face turned red from holding his breath, his hair almost soaked with sweat, lying on the ground panting heavily." We'll translate: "By the time they reached the mountain base, the boy's face was flushed from exhaustion, his hair nearly drenched in sweat, and he lay on the ground gasping, panting heavily."

Chen Wuji was about to scold the boy when he saw him grin, showing a big tooth, and say, "Brother Wuji, I really can do it—I may look thin, but I'm truly strong."

Meaning: "Chen Wuji was about to scold the boy a few words, but instead saw him grin showing a big tooth, laughing: 'Brother Chen Wuji, I really can do it; although I look a bit thin, I truly have strength.'" We'll translate: "Chen Wuji was about to lecture the boy, but instead saw him flash a big-toothed grin and say, 'Brother Chen Wuji, I really can do it—I may look a bit thin, but I've got strength.'"

Chen Wuji let out a soft hum and said, "Fine, you kid have strength—but being strong just wears you out like a lackey."

Chen Wuji let out a soft hum: "All right, you've got strength—but being strong just wears you out like a lackey."

"But I managed it," Yuan Jinshi chuckled foolishly, muttering weakly.

Meaning: "'... But I managed to do it.' Yuan Jinshi gave a silly hehe laugh, muttering weakly." We'll translate: "'... But I pulled it off.' Yuan Jinshi gave a foolish hehe laugh and muttered weakly."

Chen Wuji shook his head.

Meaning: "Chen Wuji shook his head." Straight.

He could actually sense what the two boys were thinking as they behaved in front of him.

Meaning: "He actually could sense what these two boys were thinking as they behaved in front of him." We'll translate: "He could actually sense what these two boys were thinking as they acted in front of him."

They were almost obsessively determined to prove to him that they could do many things, no different from adults.

They were practically obsessed with proving to him that they could do plenty, just as well as any adult.

"From now on, you don't have to push yourselves so hard. If I disliked you, I wouldn't have agreed to let you come to my house in the first place. Since you're here, just stay grounded—do what you can, and don't overreach on what you can't," Chen Wuji said.

Meaning: "'From now on, don't push yourselves so hard. If I disliked you, I wouldn't have agreed to let you come to my home in the first place. Since you're here, just stay grounded—do what you can, and don't overreach on what you can't.' Chen Wuji said." We'll translate: "'You don't need to strain yourselves like this. If I didn't want you, I wouldn't have let you come to my home. Now that you're here, stay steady—do what you can, and don't overreach on what you can't.' Chen Wuji said."

Yuan Jinshi, feeling a bit embarrassed, scratched his head and whispered, "I wasn't showing off…"

Meaning: "Yuan Jinshi, feeling a bit embarrassed, scratched his head and said softly: 'I didn't even overreach...'" We'll translate: "Yuan Jinshi, feeling a bit sheepish, scratched his head and murmured, 'I didn't even overreach...'"

Chen Wuji: …

Meaning: "Chen Wuji: ……" We'll keep as "Chen Wuji: ……"

He's truly stubborn!

Meaning: "He's truly stubborn!" We'll translate: "He's really stubborn!"

After Yuan Jinshi had rested enough, the three of them finally got up and returned to the village.

Meaning: "After Yuan Jinshi had rested enough, the three of them finally got up and returned to the village." We'll translate: "Once Yuan Jinshi had rested sufficiently, the three finally rose and headed back to the village."

It was still early; Chen Wuji again took the two Yuan brothers to build a simple den for the bear cub.

It was still early; Chen Wuji again took the two Yuan brothers to build a simple den for the brown bear cub.

There are far too few enclosures for keeping animals at home.

Meaning: "The enclosures for keeping animals at home are really too few." We'll translate: "The pens for raising livestock at home are far too few."

The only one is now the flying squirrels' territory.

Meaning: "The only one is now the flying squirrels' territory." We'll translate: "The sole pen is now occupied by the flying squirrels."

Chen Wuji couldn't bear to put the fat‑producing flying squirrel together with the bear cub, which is notorious for tearing things apart.

Meaning: "Chen Wuji couldn't bear to put the flying squirrels that produce Five Spirit Fat together with the brown bear cub, which is very good at tearing things apart." We'll translate: "Chen Wuji couldn't bear to house the Five Spirit Fat–producing flying squirrels together with the brown bear cub, which is adept at tearing things up."

The best solution is to make one on the spot.

Meaning: "The best solution is to make one on the spot." We'll translate: "The best solution is to just build one right then."

Chen Wuji directed the two Yuan brothers to build the walls, and in his spare time he took care of the baby fish.

Chen Wuji had the two Yuan brothers build the walls, and in between he took care of the baby fish.

If this fish isn't prepared, the wife will surely refuse to eat it again.

Meaning: "If this fish isn't prepared, the wife will surely refuse to eat it again." We'll translate: "If this fish isn't prepared, the wife will surely refuse to eat it."

While several people were busy, Chen Group's father Chen Li suddenly walked in holding a few fish.

Meaning: "While several people were busy, Chen Qun's father Chen Li suddenly walked in holding a few fish." We'll translate: "As several people were busy, Chen Qun's father Chen Li strode in holding a few fish."

"Wuji, are you busy?" Chen Li asked with a slightly uneasy smile.

Meaning: "'Chen Wuji, are you busy?' Chen Li laughed somewhat awkwardly." We'll translate: "'Chen Wuji, busy?' Chen Li gave an awkward laugh."

"Eleventh Uncle, please have a seat." Chen Wuji washed his hands in the stone trough, greeted Chen Li and invited him to sit, then asked, "How do you happen to have time to come to my house today, sir?"

Meaning: "'Uncle Shi, please sit.' Chen Wuji washed his hands in the stone trough, first greeted Chen Li to sit, then asked: 'Elder, what brings you to my home today?'" We'll translate: "'Uncle Shi, have a seat.' Chen Wuji washed his hands in the stone basin, invited Chen Li to sit, then asked, 'Elder, what brings you to my home today?'"

"Chen Group's boy caught a few fish in the river this afternoon; I brought them over for you to try." Chen Li said with a smile, "By the way, I have something I'd like to discuss with you—are you available?"

Meaning: "'That Chen Qun brat caught a few fish in the river this afternoon; I brought them over for you to taste.' Chen Li said with a laugh, 'By the way, I have something to discuss with you—are you free?'" We'll translate: "'Chen Qun's brat caught a few fish this afternoon; I brought them over for you to sample.' Chen Li laughed, 'By the way, I have something to discuss—are you free?'"

"What's the problem, Eleventh Uncle? If you have something to say, just speak up—we're family, no need to stand on ceremony," Chen Wuji said.

Meaning: "'What's inconvenient about that, Uncle Shi? If you have something, just say it—we're family, no need to stand on ceremony.' Chen Wuji said." We'll translate: "'What's the problem, Uncle Shi? If you have something to say, just speak up—we're family, no need for formalities.' Chen Wuji said."

Chen Li waved his hand and said, "This isn't about being distant; personal matters and clan affairs should be discussed separately. Even though we're family, when it comes to business we need to talk business."

Meaning: "Chen Li waved his hand: 'This isn't about being distant; personal matters and clan affairs should be discussed separately. Even though we're family, when it comes to business we need to talk business.'" We'll translate: "Chen Li waved his hand: 'This isn't about standing on ceremony; private affairs and clan matters should be discussed separately. Even though we're family, when it comes to business we have to talk business.'"

"Scholar, go brew a pot of tea for Eleventh Uncle," Chen Wuji said.

Meaning: "'Licentiate Yuan, go brew a pot of tea for Uncle Shi.' Chen Wuji said." We'll translate: "'Licentiate Yuan, go make Uncle Shi a pot of tea.' Chen Wuji said."

"Sure thing."

Meaning: "'Okay.'" We'll translate: "'Sure.'"

Yuan Scholar rushed into the courtyard like a gust of wind.

Meaning: "Licentiate Yuan rushed into the courtyard like a gust of wind." We'll translate: "Licentiate Yuan burst into the courtyard like a gust of wind."

"That's right; I just wanted to ask how you plan to arrange the ten mu of land allocated by the county office." Chen Li asked, "You know our family has been renting land from the Jin Tang Yuan household for years, farming their fields, but because that Yuan family has become increasingly greedy, we finally had to give up that livelihood."

Meaning: "'That's right; I just wanted to ask how you plan to handle the ten mu of land allocated by the county office.' Chen Li asked, 'You know our family had been tenants of Yuan Jintang's land for years, farming his fields, but as the Yuan surname grew ever more greedy, we finally had to give up that livelihood.'" We'll translate: "'That's right; I just wanted to ask how you intend to handle the ten mu of land assigned by the county office.' Chen Li asked, 'You know our family had been tenants of Yuan Jintang's land for years, farming his fields, but as the Yuan grew ever more greedy, we finally had to abandon that livelihood.'"

"Recently the county has been hit by disaster, and Chen Group's urban business has also been struggling. After figuring it out, if we don't plant something, our family's life next year will be hard."

Meaning: "'Lately the county has been hit by disaster, and Chen Qun's urban livelihood is also struggling. I reckoned that if we don't plant something, next year our life will be hard.'" We'll translate: "'Recently the county has suffered disaster, and Chen Qun's city livelihood is also faltering. I figured that if we don't plant something, next year will be tough for us.'"

Chen Wuji understood his meaning, but still asked, "Eleventh Uncle, do you mean you want to plant those ten mu of land?"

Meaning: "Chen Wuji understood his meaning, but still asked: 'Uncle Shi, you mean you want to plant those ten mu?'" We'll translate: "Chen Wuji grasped his meaning, but still asked, 'Uncle Shi, you mean you want to plant those ten mu?'"

"Yes, I really do have that idea," Chen Li said.

Meaning: "'Yes, I really do have that idea.' Chen Li said." We'll translate: "'Yes, I do have that idea.' Chen Li said."

"Sure!" Chen Wuji readily agreed.

Meaning: "'Sure!' Chen Wuji readily agreed." We'll translate: "'Sure!' Chen Wuji readily agreed."

"Really? That's wonderful." Chen Li's face broke into a relieved smile as he relaxed from his tense state, and he said, "Wuji, even though we're family, some things need to be said up front—how should we arrange the rent for this land? Tell me."

Meaning: "'Really? That's great.' Chen Li's face eased into a relieved smile, his tense posture relaxing. 'Chen Wuji, even though we're family, some things need to be said up front—how should we arrange the lease for this land? Tell me.'" We'll translate: "'Really? That's wonderful.' Chen Li's face broke into a relieved smile as he relaxed from his tense stance. 'Chen Wuji, even though we're family, some things need to be said straight—how should we handle the lease on this land? Tell me.'"

"As long as it's a bit lower than what that greedy Yuan Jintang demands, I'll farm this land."

Meaning: "'As long as it's a bit lower than Yuan Jintang the greedy ghost, I'll plant this land.'" We'll translate: "'As long as it's a bit lower than Yuan Jintang's greedy rate, I'll work this land.'"

Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, "If it's only slightly lower than Yuan Jintang's rate, that's still greedy. Uncle, you farm the land; at harvest give me one or two tenths of the yield, so that beyond paying the land tax I can still make a little profit."

Meaning: "Chen Wuji chuckled lightly: 'If it's only a bit lower than Yuan Jintang's, isn't that still greedy? Uncle Shi, you farm this land; at harvest give me one or two tenths, so that besides paying the land tax I can still make a little profit.'" We'll translate: "Chen Wuji chuckled: 'If it's only a bit lower than Yuan Jintang's, isn't that still greedy? Uncle Shi, you farm this land; at harvest give me one or two tenths, so that besides the land tax I can still make a small profit.'"

In the Yun Nan region, the main form of land rent is sharecropping.

Meaning: "In the Yunan region, the main land rental system is sharecropping." We'll translate: "In the Yunan region, the primary land lease is sharecropping."

That is, the landlord and tenant share the risk and divide the harvest proportionally.

Meaning: "That is, the landlord and tenant share risks and divide the harvest proportionally." We'll translate: "That is, landlord and tenant share the risk and split the harvest according to a fixed ratio."

The common practice is a 40/60 or 30/70 split.

Generally it's a 40/60 or 30/70 split, with the landlord taking the larger share.

That is, the landlord takes sixty to seventy percent of the harvest, while the tenant gets only thirty to forty percent.

Meaning: "That is, the landlord takes sixty to seventy percent of the harvest, while the tenant gets only thirty to forty percent." We'll translate: "That is, the landlord claims sixty to seventy percent of the yield, leaving the tenant with thirty to forty percent."

Previously, Yuan Jintang's arrangement with the Chen Li family was: in good years they took eighty percent of the grain (an 8‑2 split), and in bad years they switched to a fixed rent, requiring the Chen Li family to deliver a set amount of grain or money to Yuan Jintang.

Meaning: "Previously, Yuan Jintang's split with the Chen Li household was: in good years, an 80/20 reverse (landlord gets 80%); in bad years, a fixed rent—meaning when harvests are good he takes eighty percent of the grain, and when poor it becomes a fixed rent, requiring the Chen Li household to give Yuan Jintang a set amount of grain or silver." We'll translate: "Previously, Yuan Jintang's arrangement with the Chen Li household was: in good years an 80/20 split (he took eighty percent), in bad years a fixed rent—so when harvests were good he claimed eighty percent of the grain, and when poor it turned into a set rent, requiring the Chen Li household to deliver a fixed amount of grain or silver to Yuan Jintang."

Because when the contract was signed years ago, that old crafty Yuan Jintang had already anticipated this and clearly written the payment terms into the deed.

Meaning: "Because when the contract was signed back then, Yuan Jintang's old fogey had already anticipated this, and he clearly wrote the rent terms into the deed." We'll translate: "Because when the contract was drawn up, Yuan Jintang's old fogey had already anticipated this, and he clearly wrote the rent terms into the deed."

Even if the Chen Li family toiled all year for nothing—or even had to pay out of pocket—they had no choice but to grit their teeth and accept it.

Meaning: "Even if the Chen Li household worked themselves to the bone all year and even had to pay out of pocket, they could only grit their teeth and accept it." We'll translate: "Even if the Chen Li household toiled all year for nothing and even had to pay out of pocket, they could only grit their teeth and accept it."

"That won't do, won't do!" Chen Li waved his hands repeatedly, "If it's only one or two tenths, in a famine year you might not even be able to scrape together the Land Tax. Wuji, you're kind-hearted, but you can't look after us like this."

"By then you'll lose out, and our two families will end up with grudges; you should at least get half. To be frank, saying this is just me shamelessly taking advantage of you."

"Shi Yi Shu, how about this: three tenths, and you shouldn't argue with me about it." Chen Wuji said.

"No, no, if you do that I won't rent!" Chen Li said immediately.

Chen Wuji waved his hand to interrupt Chen Li's words, "Shi Yi Shu, wait a moment while I finish speaking. The land is a three-seven split, but if you and Chen Qun Nong Symbol Symbol Symbol have free time when you're idle, you can go help me chop the trees on that hill of mine."

"What is this? Renting your land and working for you is supposed to be a matter of course; this isn't……" Chen Li said.

Chen Wuji interrupted Chen Li's words, "Here, it's not a matter of course."

"Shi Yi Shu, not only you, even if I rented that field to others in the village, it would be this way; perhaps it could be a little higher by one tenth, but it definitely wouldn't reach the half you mentioned."

The Chen Family, described as having "thin family affection," are still overly kind.

It was the first time seeing that the landlord asked for less, yet they still refused to agree.

"You little brat!" Chen Li sighed, "Don't keep making excuses; I know you're doing this to take care of our family. Fine, then we'll do it your way."

"What should we plant in the fields this year? Planting autumn grain now is already a bit late; we need to hurry, we can barely keep up. You decide on the crops, and I and Chen Qun will spend these few days hurrying to turn the soil first."

"I don't care!" Chen Wuji said bluntly and directly, "Whatever you plant, I'll take that; as someone who doesn't farm, I won't meddle here—I definitely don't understand as much as you, Shi Yi Shu, so you decide and I'll follow."