"This is the first time I've seen someone build a house so quickly. If the foundation isn't solid, it won't last many years. Little girl, you should take it easy."
These people pretended to be thirsty and went into the Qiao family's courtyard. After drinking the water, they said to Qiao Lian'er.
Their plan was that if there was any material left over, they would return it and exchange it for silver.
Qiao Lian'er shook her head: "Uncle, look at the house we live in. There are cracks here and drafts there. The thatched roof has been patched up countless times. There are so many people in our family, and my brothers are getting married. We really can't live here any longer."
"To be able to build such a big yard, it seems your family has made a lot of money and is quite capable."
Qiao Lian'er sighed: "Things are different now. We made some money before, just enough to build a bigger courtyard. Now we don't have any business, so we'll just live like this. Fortunately, we'll have a place to shelter from the wind and rain in the future. As long as we have a home, it doesn't matter if we're a little strapped for cash."
"Uncle, life is hard for us ordinary people."
This man, who appears to be the leader, is around forty years old, with a full beard and a sharp, capable look. He wears a thin cloak, but if you look closely, you'll find a short knife hidden under it.
He paused for a moment, because he was also from a peasant background. But all the land under heaven belongs to the king, and all the people within the realm are his subjects. Some things he had to do as he was told, and he had no choice but to do them. At most, it was just a matter of whether he was a little lenient or a little harsh.
Qiao Lian'er washed several plates of strawberries, packed some sliced pineapple, and served them to the people: "Uncle, seeing how busy you are on your journey, you must be tired. These are wild fruits I found in the mountains. Please try them."
Now that these people have come to her, she has to do her part for Datian Village.
These people took a bite, and their eyes lit up; it was incredibly delicious.
"This fruit tastes so good, how come no one has ever discovered it before? I've never seen this kind of fruit before," the middle-aged man in charge asked.
"Yes, it's a rare treat, and you might never get to eat it again after just one time."
These people ate heartily, thoroughly enjoying their meal.
Qiao Lian'er said, "Our village has suffered from disasters year after year, and we can only harvest 50% of our crops. It was only with great difficulty that a bridge was built and a diversion channel was opened that we were able to save this year's harvest. Uncle, can you see the smiles on the villagers' faces? We finally have a good harvest, and everyone is very happy."
The middle-aged man paused for a moment, then became somewhat wary: "Little girl, why are you telling me all this?"
Did she find out something? If so, then he had no choice but to take action.
If the villagers knew that the grain collection document issued by the Grain Inspection Office was due after August 20th, they would surely hide all the grain and silver.
This kind of thing works best when it's unexpected.
The chilling aura emanating from him, coupled with the suspicion in the middle-aged man's eyes, was truly intimidating.
Qiao Lian'er looked at the uncle innocently, her dark eyes filled with naivety and compassion.
"Because you uncles are here to check on the crops in our village, you must know that our Datian Village used to have a hard time, but this year we have a bumper harvest, so you must be curious."
The uncle lowered his guard, but a young girl noticed their attention to the crops and chatted with them for a bit longer.
What can you possibly know in such a remote place?
"It wasn't easy." The uncle stood up. "Let's go, little girl, thank you for the fruit."
He went outside and looked at the crops drying in the yard. They were a golden expanse, with some osmanthus blossoms fallen on them.
It's a joyous occasion.
The man wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing and left the courtyard.
When the group reached a certain point, they stopped and looked around the construction site.
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