Chapter 67 Negotiation with the County Magistrate
The village head lowered his head, looking at the stones on the ground.
Cheng Wanwan could also understand that in ancient times, ordinary people were like ants in front of officials and dared not even breathe.
Look at those women and farmers in Dahe Village. They usually love to watch the excitement, but now that the magistrate has arrived, they either crouch down and hide in the rice paddies or keep their doors tightly shut. In their eyes, the magistrate is like a man-eating tiger.
Cheng Wanwan could only speak on behalf of the village head: "My second son is a wild boy who runs up the mountain every day. He is very familiar with Dadong Mountain, so finding a water source is not a difficult task for him. But my second son has never been to the mountains near other villages. It will probably take a lot of effort to find a water source. If he goes around looking for a water source, a whole day will be gone. If he can't find it in one day, he will have to go again the next day. What will we do with so many acres of farmland?"
When Cheng Wanwan brought up the topic, the village head became bolder and chimed in, "It's alright, Aunt Dashan can just find some villagers to help with the fieldwork."
Cheng Wanwan sighed, "We have to pay people for a day's work. Our family is dirt poor and can't afford a single penny."
The magistrate put his hands behind his back and said, "If your son can really find other water sources, it will be a great deed, and I will reward him handsomely."
Cheng Wanwan silently complained in her heart, saying that rewards were usually just a few words of praise, which was not very meaningful.
She paused and said, "From discovering the water source to digging ditches to bring water into the fields, this is not something that one person can handle. Dahe Village needs to send at least four or five people to assist. It is the busy farming season, and everyone has a lot of farm work to do. Because they are thinking about their own families, who can devote themselves wholeheartedly to helping other villages find water sources? It is not good if other villages find water, but their own rice fields are overgrown with weeds and insects because no one takes care of them, and their harvest per mu is not as good as others."
Yuan's anger flared up again: "How dare you neglect the order from the County Magistrate?"
Cheng Wanwan was not afraid at all. "I'm just speaking the truth. The autumn harvest is not far away. Who would want to abandon their chores to work for others? Your Excellency, I was once a member of a large family. Before the family was divided, I took advantage of the situation and was lazy whenever possible. But when huge benefits are presented, I can stay up all night to complete the tasks assigned to me without anyone's encouragement. Do you think what I say makes sense?"
The village head was so scared that he was sweating profusely. Dashan Niang was so bold. How dare she say these things in front of the county magistrate?
Didn't you see that Master Yuan was furious? If the magistrate gets angry, they'll all be in for a beating.
This was the first time the magistrate had ever seen an ordinary citizen speak such a long string of words in front of him. Unlike the usual flattery and compliments, these words were very profound, and the magistrate actually found them quite reasonable.
When he issues an order, the villagers are indeed forced to comply, but they can never do it willingly.
Doing something seriously and doing it perfunctorily will result in completely different results.
This severe drought affected all the villages in the surrounding towns, but only Ping'an Town found a water source, which presented him with a golden opportunity to make a name for himself.
If he achieves good results and gains favor with the prefect, his position might be promoted again during the performance evaluation in a few years.
The lawyer immediately understood what the county magistrate meant and said, "Anyone in Dahe Village who helps find water sources and dig ditches will be rewarded with 100 copper coins a day."
The village head stared wide-eyed.
Good heavens! One hundred coins a day! This is a job you can't find anywhere else. The magistrate is so generous.
He could take the money and deduct fifty coins from each person as village public property. This money would then be used to pay the patrol team's wages. They would get two coins for two hours of patrolling, and many people would be eager to do it.
“Your Honor, that’s not what I meant,” Cheng Wanwan said with a look of fear. “How can I ask for wages when I’m working for Your Honor? If we can’t even find a water source, this money will be a burden to me.”
The corners of the county magistrate's mouth twitched. He had already seen through what the woman was thinking. She thought one hundred coins was too little.
However, the county magistrate found it strange as it was the first time he saw such a person. Besides, it was normal for this woman to want more benefits since she had raised a promising son.
As long as it improves his political achievements, rewarding him with more copper coins is not a big deal.
The magistrate spoke up: "Then, in your opinion, what should be done?"
"If we find a water source, the county magistrate will reward us. If we can't help him, we won't be eligible for any reward. How about this?" Cheng Wanwan smiled. "We have to visit all 35 villages within three days. If we do this, we won't be able to sleep for three days..."
The usually irritable Master Yuan glanced at Cheng Wanwan a couple more times. It was astonishing that a peasant woman could come up with such a solution; he had clearly underestimated farmers.
He gave the county magistrate a feasible look.
The county magistrate nodded and said, "A reward of two taels of silver will be given to anyone who finds a water source."
The village head's eyes widened suddenly.
Two taels of silver?
Their whole family could only save two taels of silver a year from farming and his monthly salary as the village head.
If ten water sources can be found in the thirty-five villages excluding Dahe Village, that's twenty taels of silver!
Oh my goodness, how did Dashanniang convince the county magistrate?
Cheng Wanwan smiled. She was in ancient times when groundwater had never been tapped. There was a high probability that there was water in the valley between the two mountain peaks.
As long as there are continuous mountain peaks, finding water is not difficult.
The magistrate praised her, saying, "Sister-in-law is completely different from ordinary peasant women. No wonder she was able to raise a son who discovered the water source."
Cheng Wanwan remained low-key: "This is all thanks to the children's father's excellent parenting skills. In the years when there was no war, he would come back every year to teach the children many important principles. Although he has passed away, his principles have always been kept in mind by the children."
The county magistrate sighed. It turned out that the woman was a widow whose husband died in battle. No wonder she was thinking about the reward money. Everyone has their own difficulties. As a senior official, he should really be understanding. Two taels of silver for a water source. Isn't it too little?
Just then, an oxcart stopped at the door.
Zhao Ergou and Zhao Sanniu moved the wooden barrel down and walked into the house tremblingly, their eyes fixed on the county magistrate who was standing at the door.
I tripped and almost fell when I came in.
Cheng Wanwan explained, "My two sons have returned from town. I asked them to come inside and change their clothes before coming out to greet the magistrate."
Her expression was somewhat grave.
These two lads came back from delivering goods, and they look so pale. Could something have happened to them?
If only she had gone with me on my first delivery.
She stopped thinking about it and followed them into the house. She saw the two boys had locked themselves in the inner room. She knocked on the door and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
Zhao Ergou dragged Cheng Wanwan in, his eyes widening as he pulled out a cloth bag from his arms: "Mom, it's silver!"
Cheng Wanwan looked over and saw an ingot of silver in the cloth bag.
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