But how could the honest, farming-for-generations The Miller Family possibly compete with the cunning local ruffians? Aside from field laborers, The Cooper Family also kept a gang of idle, delinquent youths who fought with ruthless ferocity. On top of that, through some unknown means, they had managed to acquire iron weapons. Leo Cooper brandished a ring-handled saber, its blade gleaming as he swung it at people, forcing the The Miller Family, armed only with pitchforks, to retreat step by step.

At that very moment, a white-haired old man rode in on horseback, charging straight into the chaotic battlefield between the two families.

Robert Benson, followed closely by the The Benson Family clan members, cut through the fields like a sharp sword, splitting up the people of Miller and Cooper. Seeing that Leo Cooper was still chasing down Calf Miller, the old man grabbed a short stick and hurled it directly at Leo Cooper!

Robert Benson was very strong; the short stick spun through the air, sweeping right past everyone and hitting Leo Cooper squarely in the chest!

Even from ten paces away, the force and accuracy were astonishing. The heavy blow made the tall Leo Cooper stagger backward, nearly dropping the knife from his hand.

“Put away your blades, all of you!” Robert Benson drew his sword, his brows furrowed in anger, his presence so commanding that both sides immediately backed off.

Leo Cooper, supported by his clansmen, clutched his aching chest and looked up at Robert Benson, cursing, “Where did this old bastard come from, daring to ambush me!” He grumbled and tried to step forward to regain his dignity.

“My brother, hold on!”

Bill Cooper immediately stopped his younger brother. Being older, he remembered when Robert Benson was the local constable, famous and formidable. He knew this old man was not to be trifled with, so he told his clansmen to fall back, then stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled at Robert Benson: “Uncle Cigong, what brings you here?”

“And why have I come?” Cigong was Robert Benson’s courtesy name. He just scratched his ear and said, “I was napping at home when I heard a ruckus nearby, disturbing my peace. I came to see which family’s chickens and ducks were making such a racket by the canal?”

Leo Cooper really did look like a fighting cock with its neck feathers raised. Being scolded like this, the veins on his face bulged with anger.

The badly beaten Calf Miller saw Robert Benson as a savior, came around to bow, and said pitifully, “Cousin, you’ve come at just the right time. The Cooper Family has broken the old water-sharing agreement and wants to cut off my family’s livelihood!”

“Calf Miller, you can’t just say whatever you want.”

Bill Cooper retorted, “John Cooper has 120 acres, your family has 80. There’s only one branch canal. Last year, we agreed to split the water sixty-forty. My family uses it for eighteen days this month, yours for twelve. What’s wrong with that?”

“Of course it’s wrong!”

Calf Miller, already intimidated by The Cooper Family, hid behind Robert Benson: “Never mind that this canal was originally dug by my family, and The Cooper Family never helped but has used it for free for decades—we’ve tolerated that. But lately, they’ve gone too far. They’re saying all the water for the first half of the month must go to John Cooper, and only after they’re done can my family use it.”

“Cousin, you know that wheat has fixed planting dates. If we’re late by a few days and miss the right season, the harvest will be much smaller. What’s more, it hasn’t rained for a long time. If you use up all the water in the first half of the month, what if there’s even less or no water left for the second half?”

Indeed, with two villages sharing water, it’s usually one day each in turn. Who ever heard of monopolizing half a month? Isn’t that just bullying honest folks?

The Miller Family got nowhere with arguing, and the quarrel gradually turned into shoving and fighting, eventually escalating into this large-scale brawl between the two villages.

“So, we should follow the old rules and take turns opening the sluice each day!” With Robert Benson by his side, Calf Miller grew bolder, his voice louder.

With Robert Benson separating them, both sides started shouting again: “My family has more land, so we should get more!”

“So your bumper harvest means we’re supposed to have a poor one and go hungry?”

“Calf Miller! This is a matter between our two families. What does it have to do with The Benson Family? Aren’t you ashamed to call for reinforcements?”

“How does it not matter? Cigong is an elder of the clan—he must uphold justice for my family!”

After saying this, Calf Miller took the initiative to hold Robert Benson’s horse, gripping the reins tightly, afraid he might leave him behind.

……

While they were deadlocked here, more onlookers gathered on the distant ridge, including The Foster Family.

The Foster Family was lucky; their village was south of the canal and didn’t have to get involved in this dispute. Richard Foster also felt it was none of his business. Pointing into the distance, he said to his son with ease, “See that? In the future, stay out of such matters. The Cooper Family are fierce and hard to deal with, while The Miller Family may seem honest but are actually weak and clingy—once they latch onto you, they won’t let go. If you get involved, it’s like both sides grabbing your hands at once, and you can’t break free. The Benson Family is really being unwise.”

But Charles Foster couldn’t understand: “Father, don’t the classics say that being kind to relatives and good to neighbors is the nation’s treasure? Miller and Cooper are in conflict, and The Benson Family is stopping them from fighting. Isn’t that the right thing to do? Shouldn’t we help too?”

Richard Foster just shook his head: “Believing everything in books is worse than having no books at all. When you go to the Imperial Academy in October, besides the Five Classics, what you really need to learn is how to avoid trouble in life.”

Kindness to relatives and good neighbors? In the face of interests, what do distant relatives or close neighbors matter? They’re nothing.

Everyone could see with their own eyes that this year the Chengguo Canal had less water, and a reduced wheat harvest was a foregone conclusion. Either accept the loss, or fight for water and shift the loss onto your neighbor!

There was no other choice, nor could there be any hesitation. During wheat planting, water is worth its weight in gold. The wheat seedlings are crying out in the fields, and if they go thirsty in autumn and winter, then next year, when food runs short, it’s the wives and children who will go hungry!