"The distribution of seeds should also be done quickly. April is just around the corner, and the people need to plant the seeds as soon as possible. The Prince of Yan has ordered that there should be a harvest this year."
Li Qi spoke to the group of people around him.
“Hey! Your Excellency, you don’t know this, do you really think these unruly people would believe it? They’re lucky they don’t feed the seeds to the chickens and ducks…” County Magistrate Wu Xinzhong spat and said.
Li Qi pondered for a moment, then said with a firm gaze, "Before I came here, Lord Fan was in charge. Jianglin County had fertile land and many rivers and canals, and could have become a wealthy county. But he ruined it! I am determined to change this situation and make Jianglin County the richest county in Jiangzhou and even the whole province!"
"Anyone who dares to feed the seeds to chickens or ducks will be severely punished if the county finds out!"
After saying that, Li Qi turned to Old Hu and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Old Hu. Go back to the village today and organize some people to come tomorrow..."
"Master, I'm going back now..."
After finishing his speech, Old Hu descended the steps, boarded the county government's mule cart, and left the county.
That evening, they returned to the distillery.
...
"Old Mu!"
Hearing the knock, Mu Dazhuang opened the dilapidated wooden door.
Upon seeing that it was Hu Lao, the former village head who had now been promoted to county elder, they exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, it's Hu Lao!"
"Come in quickly!" Mu Dazhuang led Old Hu into the door, but scratched his head sheepishly. "There are no chairs in the house, please sit on the bed, I'll go get you a glass of water."
Old Hu held up his lantern and looked at Mu Dazhuang's house. Its state was truly appalling; apart from a few broken pots, there was only a bed...
"No need to pour water, I need to hurry to the next place after I finish my business."
Mu Dazhuang poured a cup of water for Old Hu in a clay bowl and handed it to him. Old Hu took a sip and then put the bowl on the ground.
"Old Hu, what's the big deal?"
"Old Mu, I remember you've been married before?"
"Yes, but she ran off with someone and became his concubine!"
"Why did you become someone's concubine out of the blue?"
"It was supposed to take a month to get a divorce, but we ran into officials. They used underhanded tactics and forcibly took it away, giving us only two strings of cash..."
At this point, Mu Dazhuang looked dejected.
Old Hu looked at him with a sympathetic expression.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy.
After a while, Mu Dazhuang raised his head and said, "It's all my fault for being incompetent, poor, and too poor. She ran away because she was starving with me. I don't blame her..."
“You really can’t blame her,” Old Hu sighed, then continued, “The county is conscripting laborers tomorrow, and I’d like you to go. Would you be willing?”
Upon hearing this, Mu Dazhuang practically jumped to his feet, shouting urgently, "What? Old Hu? I'm so poor! I don't even have any dry food or money. You're trying to kill me!"
"Didn't you see the county's notice?"
"What notice? Why would I go to the county for no reason? Do you think I'm bored?"
"That's an imperial edict! From now on, we poor people are blessed!"
"What does Old Hu mean by that?"
Old Hu didn't keep them in suspense and said directly, "The imperial court has reformed the system. Not only do the officials provide meals and lodging for those conscripted for corvée labor, but they also pay wages. Our county's Lord Li has done it even better, paying wages daily!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Dazhuang's eyes widened like saucers, and he exclaimed, "What? Food and lodging provided? Wages paid daily! Is there really such a good thing in the world?"
"Would I lie to you? I've been the village head of this distillery for so many years, have I ever lied to you?"
"No, not at all!"
Are you going tomorrow or not?
"go!"
Mu Dazhuang's breathing quickened, and he couldn't help but ask, "How much per day?"
"One hundred copper coins!"
"One hundred copper coins?!"
Mu Dazhuang slapped his thigh hard, his face full of excitement.
"Yes, the county magistrate is considerate of the people and gives them more than other counties!"
"Okay, then I'll definitely go tomorrow!"
"Yes, come to the village entrance when the rooster crows. I will take you to the county to register first."
"Great, Mr. Hu, if this is true, you'll be my savior!"
"Of course it's true! This is the order from the Prince of Yan. Do you know who the Prince of Yan is?"
"have no idea!"
"That's Qin Chuan from our village. He was a child prodigy, and after marrying the fifth young lady of the Su family, he caught the eye of His Majesty and is now His Majesty's husband... I'm not going to talk to you anymore, I'm going to the next one!"
"Alright, Mr. Hu, please take care! Be careful!"
After seeing Old Hu out the door, Mu Dazhuang went back to his room, lay down on the wooden bed, and couldn't sleep all night.
He thought to himself, "A day's work earns a hundred coins, a month's work earns two taels of silver. If I had those two taels of silver back then, I wouldn't have gone hungry, and my new wife wouldn't have run off to become someone else's concubine..."
...
"Ang ang ang~"
The rooster crowed!
Mu Dazhuang got up immediately, took the household register, and went to the village entrance, where he indeed saw Old Hu.
At this time, people gradually arrived at the village entrance.
After waiting for a while, Old Hu set off with a group of more than thirty people.
By the time we arrived in the county, the sun was already high in the sky.
Old Hu led everyone to the county government office to register, and then, carrying their work badges, they went to their work site.
At this moment, the county magistrate and some officials arrived at the scene. The county magistrate glanced at them and then left.
Several officials were left behind to supervise the work.
Mu Dazhuang held a hoe and dug with all his might, sweat beading on his face under the blazing sun.
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