Lunch was simple, consisting of wild vegetables and greens, and we ate only a thin, watery corn porridge.
This was because Jiang Yimian had specifically instructed her to do so. If she were to offer some meat to these people, not only would she be reluctant, but it would also give Song Quanzhao and the others the impression that they were doing very well.
She wasn't going to do something that would lose her money. Since she was going to help the magistrate, she had to get something out of it, at least to make him think they were living a miserable life. She would give them grain or silver if she could.
Even a mosquito's leg is meat, and she doesn't mind.
Sure enough, when Song Quanzhao and the others saw the thin, watery corn porridge and the dark, unidentifiable wild vegetables, they had only one thought: these families were really living a miserable life.
The corn porridge in everyone's bowl was so thin you could see your reflection in it, not to mention the other dishes on the table, all of them greenish-blue, except for one dish that was completely black and unpalatable.
There wasn't much oil on each plate, making them look completely unappetizing. It's truly remarkable that these people could eat them.
Lin Yan'an immediately stopped feeling cheated out of thirty taels. He just felt that he was kind-hearted, so thirty taels was fine. Who told these families to live such miserable lives? If they had to eat like this every day, he probably would bite anyone he saw. It was already good enough that he only got the money.
The others didn't seem to mind. They were used to it and had eaten even worse food. They just assumed that the food was deliberately cooked thinner to avoid attracting attention, and they ate happily and contentedly.
Seeing this scene, Song Quanzhao and the others, who already had no appetite, felt even more conflicted and lost their desire to eat. They simply waved for everyone to eat, saying that they were not hungry.
It doesn't make sense that others are starving, yet they still want to share some food. They won't starve to death if they miss a meal.
And so, this strange scene unfolded.
Several families sat around the table, happily eating their food, their faces full of satisfaction. However, the three people watching them had mixed feelings, and their eyes occasionally flashed with annoyance.
Anyone who didn't know better would think they had done something terribly wrong.
Seeing that none of them were eating, Jiang Yimian didn't force them. After they finished eating, she told Song Quanzhao, "Although I don't know the situation in the stronghold, I have a way to let you know."
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