Chapter 3 Fool [Revised]

Su Qing was aware of the reactions from all sides, but ignored them and simply continued to keep accounts and distribute porridge according to the established procedure.

A large Buddha statue stood beside her, its arms crossed, staring at her.

Su Qing glanced at Gu Xiucai and once again exclaimed how handsome he was, before continuing to keep accounts.

An awkward expression crossed Gu Congsi's face as he said, "It's not appropriate to provide disaster relief now."

Unable to persuade Mei Niang, Gu Congsi then tried to persuade Su Qing.

I thought she would listen to me, but it turns out she wouldn't.

After glancing at it a few times and seeing that Su Qing's handwriting was really terrible, he moved his lips and said, "Many fields in Nanjiang County have been burned, and the grain production will definitely be reduced."

“If we can’t repay the Wang family’s grain after the autumn harvest, this government office will become their private court.”

Given the extent of Wang Xiangshen's wickedness, he would surely exploit the entire Nanjiang County to the bone.

Gu Congsi patiently explained.

Su Qing didn't respond, only occasionally glancing up at him, clearly looking at his face.

There's nothing I can do about it, I just can't help it.

There's a handsome and refined man next to you, do you want to take a look?

After Gu Congsi left with a dark expression, Su Qing raised an eyebrow, relieved that he was finally gone.

The entrance to the yamen was bustling with noise, a far cry from its previous quietness.

According to Su Qing, they recruited some people to help with disaster relief, without pay, but they were provided with food.

The disaster relief porridge is made by cooking 3,000 catties of millet every day, which is about 10,000 catties of rice porridge, enough to feed nearly 10,000 people.

Of course they weren't getting enough to eat; they were barely surviving.

Even so, the people of Nanjiang County are deeply grateful.

His gaze toward the government office was like that of a god.

However, there are rules for receiving porridge.

Only the elderly, women, and children can lead the way; anyone who cuts in line will be flogged twenty times.

After several days, the porridge distribution team was neat and orderly.

Occasionally, when trouble arises, Constable Wu, along with the temporarily recruited local militia, can resolve the situation directly.

Besides, Su Qing and her daughter already have prestige and cannot be easily harmed.

Anyone who dares to speak loudly to them will be slapped in the face.

Magistrate Su died while guarding the granary.

The mother and daughter, along with their four-year-old brother, were also engaged in disaster relief and porridge distribution.

Who has the right to give them attitude?

Especially the wife of Magistrate Su.

As everyone knew before, she was the gentlest and kindest person, and she would help anyone who came to her in need.

Some time ago, she even pawned her jewelry and gave away grain to relatives and friends.

At this time of year, who wouldn't want to associate with such selfless and truly kind-hearted people?

This is precisely the time when mutual support is needed.

Along with this, Su Qing, who looked so frail and delicate, also had the same thought.

Su Qing responded with a smile.

Mei Niang did not expect anything in return.

She planned it.

She wants something in return.

The porridge distribution began on June 14th.

Until June 19th, everything in front of the government office remained orderly.

However, the grain in the warehouse gradually decreased, and the consumption was greater than expected.

Because it was agreed that only 3,000 catties of millet would be used each day.

When it came time to actually cook it, Mei Niang couldn't help but add a few extra spoonfuls, making the porridge thick and creamy.

Su Qing pretended not to know, and on June 20th, she feigned surprise: "There are less than 30,000 catties of grain left."

"At most, we can eat for another nine days."

The autumn harvest is approaching on August 20th.

Two more months.

The news leaked out.

The people couldn't help but look worried, and some even advised Mei Niang, "It's okay if the porridge is a little thinner, as long as no one starves."

"Yes, let's all eat sparingly, it'll be fine."

"Mei Niang, don't work too hard."

Mei Niang firmly replied, "Don't worry, we've already written the IOU. We'll borrow more grain and pay it back after the autumn harvest."

How can I repay it?

Such high interest rates.

Anyway, ever since the government started distributing porridge, they will definitely avoid buying grain if they can avoid it.

The interest compounded, suffocating them.

Mei Niang took a deep breath: "Don't worry, it's the government office after all."

Actually, she wasn't sure herself.

It was her daughter who persuaded her not to worry, saying that there's always a way out.

Of course, Gu Congsi and Constable Wu did not agree with this.

Gu Congsi hesitated several times before speaking, almost cursing Su Qing for being stupid.

On June 26th, Su Qing felt a little better and accompanied Mei Niang to borrow grain again.

A total of 100,000 jin were borrowed this time.

But the interest rate has increased, and after the autumn harvest, I will need to repay 160,000 yuan, plus the previous 75,000 jin, which will bring the total to 235,000 yuan.

Even so, this batch of 100,000 jin (50,000 kg) will only last for a month at most.

There is still a food shortage of more than 20 days before the autumn harvest.

Mei Niang's face was pale.

She has even entered the mud.

She simply couldn't bear to see the people so hungry that they were skin and bones.

But Mei Niang had even more things to worry about.

Officer Wu said to Gu Congsi with a dark face, "There are also tenants from the Wang family in the disaster relief team."

"The people from the twenty villages below are also rushing to the county town after hearing that there is relief porridge available."

Upon hearing this, Mei Niang's face darkened even further: "By the way, the grain of the farmers in the countryside has also been stolen. How have they been coping lately?"

Gu Congsi didn't want to say anything more to Mei Niang. Staring at Su Qing, the instigator, he even wanted to shake his fiancée, with whom he wasn't yet engaged, and say, "You're so stupid."

They borrowed money from the wealthy Wang family at exorbitant interest rates, but his tenants came to freeload off them.

The following twenty villages have a population of about 70,000 to 80,000. Even if only one-fifth of them came, it would still be terrifying.

The grain you borrowed was never enough.

What about now?

Now there's even more to lack.

It's impossible for Su Qing not to be nervous.

But she was about 70-80% confident, so she didn't panic: "Since people from the countryside have come, let's set up two more relief stalls at the city gate, using 4,000 catties of grain every day."

What? !

More than usual?!

Gu Congsi's eyes blazed with anger; he thought Su Qing was incredibly stupid.

The newly opened disaster relief booths were indeed very popular.

Food consumption is increasing daily.

When Mei Niang went to provide disaster relief, she was always excited. She loved seeing thin children eating rice porridge and also enjoyed taking care of the elderly, weak, women, and children.

Back at the yamen, when he listened to his daughter's account report again, he was filled with worry and couldn't sleep all night.

By the first day of the seventh lunar month, only 88,000 catties of grain remained out of the original 100,000 catties.

Without anyone saying a word, Mei Niang's face had already turned pale.

More disaster victims are arriving.

The autumn harvest seems far off.

What should we do?

Mei Niang clutched her handkerchief, completely at a loss.

Su Qing said, "Borrow grain."

Borrowing again?!

Gu Congsi, who was originally calm, almost jumped up.

What a handsome young man he was, and now he's turning into a grumpy jerk.

Su Qing reassured, "However, I feel the interest rate is a bit off, and we need to renegotiate it."

“How could that be?” Gu Congsi said immediately. “If you don’t discuss interest before, and then try to discuss it when you borrow the third time, do you think he’ll listen?”

Su Qing replied meaningfully, "I think so, I have helpers."

What kind of helper?!

Mei Niang, Gu Congsi, and Constable Wu all looked over.

Su Qing pointed to the disaster relief team outside.

Those men who couldn't queue up and could only wait for their elderly, weak, women, and children to receive porridge.

They spend most of their time working in the fields, and when it's almost time, they come to pick up their family members who are waiting in line.

The whole family ate the porridge, expressed their gratitude to the government office, and then went home to rest.

This has become a pattern over time.

Judging by the time, they were already waiting outside the group, chatting in small groups.

Most of their conversations were related to disaster relief.

Everyone looked worried and didn't know what to do next.

"Let's take it one day at a time."

"Thank you so much, Mei Niang and Su Qing, otherwise my child would have had to be pawned."

"If you can get through life, great; if not, then forget it."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing, who had just come out of the yamen, smiled and said, "We still have to go through this."

"Whoever prevents us from living a good life is guilty."

Mei Niang, Wu the Constable, and Gu Congsi, who were following Su Qing, all had strange expressions on their faces.

Su Qing continued, "To tell you the truth, the government office doesn't have enough food, so I have to borrow more."

"But the interest rate was too high, and I couldn't negotiate with my mother anymore."

"Therefore, I would like to ask you all to accompany me this time."

The men looked at each other and immediately said, "We owe our lives to the government's disaster relief efforts. We've been able to live a few more days. We'll do anything you ask."

"Big sister, how many people do you need? We'll go with you right away."

Su Qing glanced around and said with a smile, "The more the better."

"The more the better."

Despite her young age and extreme thinness, Su Qing stood in the middle of the crowd and calmly repeated those four words.

If we want food, the more people the better.

As they spoke, a group of one or two thousand people followed Su Qing and the others toward the home of the local gentry, Wang.

At another relief point near the city gate, the men nearby, upon hearing the news, grabbed their hoes and said, "Let the women continue lining up for porridge, and we'll go to the Wang family to ask for grain too!"

"Yes, we'll go too!"

"The eldest daughter of the Su family said! The more people, the better!"

Gu Congsi, standing behind Su Qing, had already frozen in disbelief as he stared at her retreating figure.

Is this what she was thinking?!

He led several thousand people to borrow grain.

This is a loan.

Or rob it?!

So this is what Su Qing has been doing all this time for?!

But will this trick work? Of course it will.

Those who hadn't seen the Wang family's gatekeeper trembled with fear, terrified they would die at the hands of the disaster victims.

Compared to Su Qing, I seem to be the biggest fool!

A note from the author: