Chapter 521 Lord Su
Ma Shun walked over there with his son Ma Daping. Two strong men in the village also hurriedly followed them, fearing that the head of the village would be bullied.
During this period, although the villagers had their own little thoughts while fleeing the famine, after actually fleeing the famine, everyone was united internally and knew that only unity could help them survive at this time.
Of course, everyone helps each other and becomes more united.
Anyone who needs help will help spontaneously.
The patrolling soldiers were supposed to patrol but they did not drive away the refugees.
When they walked over there, they were very worried and nervous, but when they saw that the officers and soldiers did not drive them away, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Their hearts were lifted just now.
When Ma Shun came to the front, he saw that there was an open-air wooden shed next to it with a big pot underneath.
"Dad, look, that's a big pot. Is it the pot for distributing porridge?"
They were fleeing from famine along the way. In some places, they were given porridge at the city gates, but it was just a little bit, not much. After they drank it, they were asked to leave the city gates quickly.
Ma Shun's expression also changed, "Don't talk nonsense for now."
"Dad, these wooden sheds with doors seem to have wooden beds, but there are almost no people inside."
Ma Daping didn't know what was going on.
They came to the officer who was writing with trepidation and asked, "Brother Guan, can you tell me, we are from Hezhou, can we enter the city gate?"
The man was filling out a form and looked up when he heard the voice. "Oh, of course."
"Our prefect, Lord Su, welcomes everyone back to their homeland."
After hearing this, Ma Shun and Ma Daping finally felt relieved and could finally return to Hezhou.
The weather is about to get colder and winter is coming, and they are also thinking about finding a place to shelter from the wind and rain before winter comes.
At least don't freeze to death outside.
Ma Shun couldn't help but his eyes turned red with excitement.
"Just let them in, just let them in."
They felt like the breath they had been holding on to was finally released, a feeling of relief.
They were all exhausted now. They had not eaten enough along the way and were very tired from constantly traveling.
If you don’t eat enough and are hungry, you will easily feel dizzy.
The man said, "But you guys line up first and let the doctor take your pulse and check your health..."
Before the officer could finish, the man behind him asked, "Why do you still need to take the pulse?"
Their faces turned pale, fearing that the government would find an excuse to prevent them from entering.
The person in charge of registration patiently explained, "We're just checking your pulse, understanding your basic situation and preferences. That way, we at Suda can help you find a place and work so that you can earn a salary and live a normal life."
Lord Su has instructed that we should not talk about the plague to avoid causing panic.
So it's just a routine check.
"Look, our city walls have been repaired. The men who built them were paid twenty cents a day. They worked for about three hours a day and then rested. They were paid when they finished..."
The man talked about some of the measures taken by Lord Su, hoping to reassure everyone and make them trust Lord Su's arrangements.
When they heard this, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
I was afraid that the officers and soldiers would deliberately make things difficult for me.
"Oh, by the way, we will also provide porridge here when it's time for dinner. It's only half an hour away. You can take a bowl of porridge to warm your body. Lord Su has instructed us to settle everyone down."
"So don't worry, Lord Su is a good official and will not ignore you."
"And if you go in and ask around, you'll find out that the common people are all saying that Lord Su and Madam Su are good people."
"The Ge family members who bullied the common people before have all been dealt with by Lord Su after finding evidence... No one dares to bully ordinary people..."
"As long as everyone stays quiet and obeys instructions, nothing will happen..."
Everyone was originally nervous and worried, but after hearing these words, they felt a little relieved.
They looked at the city wall and it seemed to have changed.
"If your original village still exists, you can return to it. If your original village is gone, Lord Su will arrange a new place for you. Don't worry, everyone will have a place to live..."
"Come over and tell me the information later so I can write it down. This will make it easier for Master Su to arrange work for you. Don't worry, you will get paid for your work and you will also have a place to live..."
"At the beginning of spring, everyone wants to return to their homeland and cultivate their land. Lord Su will also distribute grain seeds. They are all high-yield grain seeds. Even the imperial family's royal farms grow this kind of grain..."
The more everyone listened, the more shocked they were. How could it be so good?
When I come back, I can really be assigned work and get paid.
With the spring farming season approaching and grain seeds being distributed, they no longer have to worry about farming issues?
High-yield crops must have very good grain seeds.
In fact, many people prefer to farm in spring. They have land at home and grow crops in the land, so they don’t feel anxious.
They couldn't believe that the government took care of them, distributed high-yield crop seeds to them, and arranged jobs for them with wages.
After understanding the situation, Ma Shun and his team hurried to the place where the villagers were resting nearby.
Everyone looked at the headman, whose eyes turned red and whose face turned pale.
"Uncle Ma, can't we go in?"
"Brother Ma, were the soldiers bullying you? I should have followed them..."
“It’s too bullying.”
"We originally lived here, why can't we go back?"
"Isn't it said that the prefect here is a good official? Why is he still like this?"
"So we've been traveling for over a month and finally got back, and this is what's happening?"
Some people were so anxious that they started crying.
Ma Daping hurriedly said, "Uncle and aunt, look how anxious you are. My father hasn't said anything yet. The government is taking care of everyone. Lord Su is a good official, so everyone can rest assured. I'll go and tell him something and record it so that we can arrange accommodation and work for everyone. Everyone will get paid..."
"It's probably about telling everyone what they're good at and what they like to do, so we can arrange work for them and provide them with a place to live, so everyone doesn't have to worry..."
"During the spring plowing season, we distributed grain seeds so that everyone could plant the land and reclaim wasteland. Initially, the reclaimed land was not taxed and was privately owned."
Hearing this, everyone stood up excitedly.
"Did you hear that correctly?"
"Is this true?"
Some people who had originally been exhausted suddenly became motivated at this moment. They stood up one by one and surrounded Ma Shun and the others to ask questions.
"It's true. We heard the officers and soldiers say so ourselves."
"Many of us have returned before. The government has arranged for them to return to their original places. Some have gone to repair docks and rivers, and even build schools. We don't understand, but those who work there get 20 cents a day."
"Twenty cents a day is enough to feed the whole family, and it also saves a lot."
"Some people are paid one or two taels of silver a month, but that's all work arranged by Madam Su. When Madam Su hires people to do work, they must be tight-lipped and not talk nonsense. They must be diligent and conscientious in their work..."
"The officer also said that Lord Su opened an academy with a very good atmosphere. Students from poor families with good academics who pass the entrance exam can go in and study there. They can also get paid for helping out with chores. The tuition at the academy is also very cheap, only 500 coins a month. The teachers are not allowed to accept gifts..."
Everyone talked a lot at once.
But everyone was very excited. The more they listened, the more they wondered when did Hezhou become so good?
Why listening to this makes everyone full of hope for Hezhou?
"So the news we heard is true. Lord Su is really a good official."
"Our emperor is a good emperor. I heard that many talents were selected from this imperial examination, and a group of good officials were transferred to the positions. The officials appointed by the emperor are good officials."
Now the emperor is a good emperor who cares about the lives of their people, and their Lord Su of Hezhou is a good official who takes care of everyone, so they are relieved.
Many people were so excited that they burst into tears.
"That's good now. Everyone can go back to the village and live a good life."
"That's right."
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you all that if you cultivate the land in the spring, you will be exempt from taxes for the first year, and the grain tax collected thereafter will also be very low, so don't worry."
This news is the most important to everyone. It is so exciting that there is no grain tax.
Moreover, the food tax was low later on, so as long as the family worked hard, there would be no problem in having enough food.
"Fortunately, everyone is back."
"Yes, yes."
"Hurry up, pack up and get in line. The soldiers will help you fill out that form."
"After drinking the porridge, everyone will go into the city gate and listen to the officers' instructions."
As everyone moved forward, it was almost dinner time, and several people came out from the city gate, including women and strong men. Some of them were pushing firewood, and some were pushing food.
As the people of Mashan Village prepared to line up, someone recognized one of the women and said, "Oh, isn't that Sister Niu from Niushan Village who also fled famine?"
"It's her, it's really her!"
"Sister Niu!"
Someone shouted, and Mrs. Niu, who had come out to help cook porridge, looked over when she heard the voice.
"Oh, it's Miss Ma, it's you. Why are you back too?" Mrs. Niu greeted with a smile.
As soon as everyone started talking, they knew that this was the real Niu.
She looks really different in the way she's dressed.
They don't look like refugees at all.
"When did you come back?"
"Oh, it was half a month ago. I'm now assigned to help distribute porridge at the city gate, earning twenty cents a day..."
"It's good that you're back. Our Lord Su is a good official. Come back early, and Lord Su will arrange work for you. Lord Su will not ignore you. Don't worry, Hezhou is different now. The dock is beautiful..."
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