Chapter 169: Land Distribution Speech

Xu Deyuan looked at his eldest daughter, "What did the Fang family say? If it was a tryst between a man and a woman, what about Fang Xun? Why did Xu Qingying only blame our second branch?"

Xu Yinxi frowned, as if she found Xu Deyuan's question very strange, and said, "Fang Xun was not in the room. We were discussing official business together. There are many people who can testify to this matter."

Lian understood Xu Yinxi's hint and knew that it was impossible to drag the Fang family into this matter.

Xu Deyuan was furious this time. "Useless thing, you're so stupid trying to climb up the social ladder! Why didn't you check to see if anyone was there before you went in? If he wasn't there, why did you go in? You're just going to get caught in the act, right? Idiot! Idiot!"

Lian's expression suddenly became even uglier.

Xu Yinxi sneered in her heart when she heard this.

Xu Deyuan is indeed worthy of his name, to be able to say such words to his unmarried daughter Yunying.

Lian grabbed Xu Lezhi and asked, "Xu Lezhi, why did you go to Fang Xun? If you don't explain the whole story today, you can no longer recognize me as your mother!"

Xu Lezhi didn't dare to explain clearly, so he just said vaguely: "I just... I just want to go see him... and say a few words to him..."

"What's the point of saying this so late at night? And why did you have to avoid everyone and sneak off to look for him?"

Later in the story, Xu Lezhi suddenly found some courage. "Mother, I'm doing this for our Second Branch! Isn't it said that the old man of the Fang family still has hope of recovery? If I can marry Fang Xun, our Second Branch won't have to rely on others anymore. What's the point of following Xu Zhenying and becoming a bandit? What if the court comes one day and arrests us as traitors? Our whole family will be beheaded, not a single one spared! Instead of that, I might as well give it a try. Anyway, my daughter is almost fourteen, and it's time to discuss marriage. What good can we find in this Lan County? Fang Xun is the best man my daughter has found so far. If it were someone else, no matter if he was the son of a merchant or a country landlord, my daughter would not do it!"

Xu Yinxi couldn't help herself any longer after hearing this. She knew Xu Lezhi was a little confused, but she didn't know she was so muddleheaded.

Xu Yinxi sneered, "Xu Lezhi, you are too ignorant. The sons of merchants and rural landlords, we are just lowly people. Even if we secretly change our household registration, we are just farmers. Do you think those merchant sons would look down on you?"

Xu Lezhi retorted unconvincedly, "I have been proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting since I was young. Not to mention my talent, my appearance is also first-class. Why don't they look down on me?"

Xu Yinxi angrily said, "Do you think marriage is a joke? Marriage is ultimately an exchange of resources. Your talent and beauty are far less valuable than a respectable status. Xu Lezhi, you're so confused. You've lived in Bianjing for so many years, and you still can't see that marriage is all about equal status? Those wealthy families in Bianjing don't consider family background when marrying. For a woman with talent and beauty but no family background, have you ever seen any other options besides becoming a concubine?!"

"Sister, that's because you're incompetent, but it doesn't mean I'll be the same as you! You don't have the ability to control a man, so your fiancé's family broke off the engagement! I'm different. Fang Xun has a simple personality. I can control him and make him work for me!"

Xu Yinxi's face turned blue with anger. She stood up suddenly. After being by Xu Zhenying's side for a few months, the once timid and submissive Xu Yinxi now had an imposing aura that could not be ignored. "Xu Lezhi, I'm telling you two things. First, there's absolutely no chance that the Fang family will be revived. Second, Fang Xun is not that simple, and you can't control him!"

Xu Deyuan was startled and looked at Xu Yinxi, "What do you mean when you say the Fang family will not recover?"

Xu Yinxi raised an eyebrow coldly. "The Fang family's path to revival is completely blocked. Now the court and the people are fighting over who will be the emperor, and officials are replaced one after another. Who still remembers Old Master Fang? If it weren't for the fire today, the Fang family would have packed up and left, looking for a new identity somewhere else."

Lian was also stunned and said, "No wonder Fang Xun and Ning Mo are working for the City Lord. Old Master Fang doesn't seem to object as before."

But Xu Lezhi was horrified. "How could that be? Old Master Fang is a third-rank official. Didn't he say that he has connections in the court and will return to Bianjing if he doesn't go to Qianzhou?"

"The court is changing so rapidly these days. Things are different now than they were in the past. Xu Lezhi, if you walked around more and looked around more, you would realize how ridiculous your behavior today was. Not to mention the strangeness of the fire today. There were houses all around, but only the Fang family's house was burned. You were so scheming to marry into the family, but did you ever consider that there was a Prince Ming who was eyeing the Fang family's lives with all his might?"

Xu Deyuan broke out in a cold sweat after hearing what Xu Yinxi said!

"No one dares to mess with the Fang family now, but you're so eager to take our entire family's life. Xu Lezhi, are you stupid?!"

Xu Lezhi collapsed and fell to the ground.

Xu Deyuan reacted almost immediately, "Right, right, right. You must not get involved with the Fang family! Xu Lezhi, if you go looking for Fang Xun again, don't blame me for breaking your legs!"

Xu Lezhi already had a look of despair on his face.

After all, she was her own daughter. Although Lian was annoyed, she could do nothing about it. She said, "Lezhi, the situation outside is not good right now. Xu Zhenying said that it may be chaotic for several years. There is no need to rush your marriage. You will definitely find a good one in the future. Don't worry. The burden of the second house is borne by your two younger brothers. It is not your turn as a girl to bear it!"

Lian looked at Xu Deyuan meaningfully again.

But Xu Lezhi obviously didn't listen and looked impatient.

To put it nicely, my father has been trapped in this room all day long, my mother is completely in the third room, and Xu Yinxi is also revolving around Xu Zhenying. Who would worry about her marriage?

In this world, the only one you can rely on is yourself!

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At this moment, thatched houses were built one after another along the river in the dozen kilometers along the border between Ye County and Lan County.

Thirty to forty thousand refugees were numbered and divided into nearly one hundred groups. The elderly, the weak and the orphans were left behind, and the rest were all driven here to open up wasteland.

The team was led by Ming Xiaoshuang and Xu Anping. Because the number of refugees was huge, Xu Zhenying also specially assigned Zhao, Lian, Xu Yinxi and others to help with the resettlement.

Although Xu Zhenying agreed to provide food, the refugees were still terrified, fearing that Xu Zhenying would treat them as a burden and throw them into the barren land of Ye County and Lan County.

The refugees were divided into groups of thirty or forty people, and each group had a group leader.

Xu Yinxi and others each manage several groups, and they are really overwhelmed.

Everyone imagined that they were going to open up new land, but they had no tools and no food. If they had not seen the familiar faces around Xu Zhenying, they would have thought they were being expelled.

I don’t know how hard it is to open up the wasteland, but I think it’s almost like doing corvee labor.

Fortunately, Xu Zhenying promised that those who performed well would be given land. So even though everyone knew that clearing the land would be exhausting, they had hope in their hearts and felt full of energy!

These 30,000 to 40,000 people walked very slowly. The mountain road stretched for more than ten kilometers and looked dark and endless.

Finally arrived at the destination.

However, what appeared before their eyes was not a wasteland covered with weeds, but a flat ground with dozens of simple tents in front of them. There were pots, pans, clothes, books, etc., and all the necessary supplies were available. There was also a huge pavilion in the middle with several long benches, which seemed to be a place for meetings.

Not only that, the mountains and fields were marked with silk at intervals, as if they were divided into pieces of fields. It was particularly eye-catching, and dozens of people could be vaguely seen busy working in the mountains and forests.

Some people are measuring the land with a ruler, some are cooking porridge, and some are collecting tools. What a vibrant land!

Everyone couldn't help but be overjoyed.

Finally they arrived at their destination, and looking at the busy scene before them, everyone's hearts finally settled down.

Someone with sharp eyes immediately noticed the plaque on the pavilion and read it word for word: "The First Demonstration Base of the New Rural Area? What... does this mean?"

"Why are there so many people here? Could it be that there are more than just us?"

"Didn't they say there was a group of refugees ahead? Could it be them?"

"No way! They said they divided the land right here in Ye County. We're too late to catch any good luck!"

"Alas, my wife told me that in Ye County, all the girls have been given land!"

"What? Is this true? How can a woman get a share of the land? Once she gets married, she belongs to someone else's family. Why give it to them? Isn't that a waste?!"

"Of course it's true! My wife went into the city last night and said she heard it from the people there. The city lord not only gave the girl land, but also raised an army of female soldiers!"

This is serious.

It was unprecedented for women to share the land.

I had never even heard of women serving in the military.

Ever since those people entered Lan County, they also brought back news from Lan County.

Things like universal education, half-year pig farming, and land distribution for refugees—within an hour or two, those shrewd and capable women had found out everything and brought back all the strange-sounding news.

Lan County is such a different place.

Everyone was about to gather together to find out what was going on, but the team leader started shouting.

"Stop talking! Master Xiao Shuang is about to speak. Everyone, listen carefully!" The team leader received the order and hurriedly disciplined his subordinates. "Quick, quick, everyone, stand in a line! Leave some space for the people at the back! Hey everyone, stop chatting!"

Everyone moved away reluctantly.

Fortunately, there is a square of one or two acres in front of this wasteland, which has been initially flattened and can barely accommodate tens of thousands of people.

At this time, the place was crowded with people, and tens of thousands of people stretched their necks to look at each other.

I saw several familiar faces under Xu Zhenying, both men and women, who looked extremely young. The leader was Ming Xiaoshuang, who was responsible for the work of reclaiming wasteland and dividing land for the 30,000 to 40,000 refugees.

He was dressed in green clothes, with a slender figure. He looked intimidating without being angry, and he was holding the iron trumpet in his hand.

According to the information the women obtained when they entered the city, the thing was called a loudspeaker and could carry the sound farther.

Some people also call it a horn.

In short, Ming Xiaoshuang held up the loudspeaker and looked at the tens of thousands of eager eyes below, feeling indescribably excited.

He knew that in Xiaoshuang's long life in his twenties, the only correct decision was to follow Xu Zhenying.

How could Ming Xiaoshuang have imagined that he would now command tens of thousands of people after just deciding to follow Xu Zhenying? These people would call him "Master Xiaoshuang" as soon as they met, with a respectful and humble demeanor, as if they were both afraid and terrified of him.

If he told Zhao Qiaonian and his brothers, they would never believe that Ming Xiaoshuang could live the life he has today.

Lan County is so good. As a member of the Xu family's government team, he is always surrounded by people wherever he goes.

If it weren't for Xu Yinxi, Qian Zhenniang, Fang Xun and others around for comparison, Ming Xiaoshuang would probably have been so proud of himself.

Every time he was caught in the vortex of desire for power, he could always see them staying up late to study hard and catch up with each other, and he would wake up instantly!

What an enjoyment!

Look at them! Xu Zhenying is surrounded by many talented people. He just took the opportunity to join them first. If he doesn't work hard, he will be replaced by these people soon!

Whenever Ming Xiaoshuang thought of this, he lost all desire for pleasure and became more cautious instead.

Especially this time, Xu Zhenying had entrusted him with the task of reclaiming wasteland for tens of thousands of people. He knew in his heart that if he could do this well, it would be a great merit, and they would take root deeply in Lan County. If he couldn't do it well...

No, he must do it well!

He will never give others the chance to take over!

So he held up the loudspeaker, calmed his excited mood, and tried hard to imitate Xu Zhenying's usual speaking style, speaking slowly and trying to make sure everyone could hear him clearly.

"Everyone, the city lord has already held a mobilization meeting for everyone before leaving. I think everyone is clear about what we are going to do this time. I would like to emphasize a few points."

"We have nearly 40,000 people this time. Since you've come to Lan County, you're Lan County people! Our city lord is a good person. She was a refugee herself, so she knows how hard life is for refugees. Even though we don't have enough food or land in Lan County, she still tries her best to solve the problem! With land, we have a home, and with a home, we can live like human beings!"

Ming Xiaoshuang's remarks naturally touched all the refugees.

Qian Zhenniang smiled and said to Xu Yinxi, "The speech that Xiaoshuang worked overtime on last night is indeed effective. I think it has really aroused the emotions of the refugees."

Xu Yinxi also laughed: "Facts have proven that hard work can make up for lack of talent."

Qian Zhenniang seemed to be thinking about something.

"So we must do a good job of dividing the land and reclaiming wasteland! We must do it beautifully! I'm also explaining this to everyone, but I think some well-informed people may also know that the refugees from Ye County arrived early and caught the right time, so they've already been allocated ready-made land. The city lord promised to collect no taxes in the first year! 10% in the second year, and then increase it each year, up to a maximum of 30%!"

This news undoubtedly gave everyone present a shot in the arm!

There was no rent in the first year, which meant that whatever grew on the land was their own food. Many of them abandoned their fields and left their homes because they could not stand the exploitation by officials. Now that they have finally settled down in Lan County, they learned that the taxes here are so low. How can they not be excited!