Poisoned? Jiang Yushu was stunned. She lifted her skirt slightly and took a few quick steps. She leaned over and looked down the hill. In a hoarse voice, she asked in surprise, "Did they really eat poisoned potatoes? How many people are there in that family? Is it serious?"
"Really!" The village head raised his head, furious, and shouted, "It was Liu Laozhu. He must have hidden some while helping to move the grain. Today, he lied about having a backache and couldn't work, so he hid at home to get food. As a result, the whole family of four was poisoned!"
Jiang Yushu, her chest heaving with worry and anger, hurried down the hill. She asked in disbelief, "These past few days, I've been so worried someone might get poisoned, I've been repeatedly reminding the villagers that 'potatoes that have sprouted or have a bluish-purple or greenish-blue skin are poisonous.' Why are people still eating them? Don't they hear the warnings?"
"Alas," the young village head said with a gloomy face, answering awkwardly, "I just heard about it, so I'm not quite sure. Maybe I really wasn't paying attention, or maybe, maybe—I'm just not afraid of death. In our village, Lao Zhu and his wife are notorious for their penchant for cheap things."
The soil on the slope was soft, and Jiang Yushu stepped deep and shallow, her shoes and skirt stained with mud. She couldn't help but say angrily, "It sounds like he probably knew it was poisonous beforehand. Knowing it was poisonous, he still dared to take the risk and try it? And he even brought his whole family to eat it? It's ridiculous!"
Cuimei supported them as they walked down the slope, followed closely by Xiaotao, Nanny Pan, and Zhou Yan's wife. Xiaotao advised, "Don't be so anxious. Slow down."
The officer held the hilt of his knife and watched, "Sir, what do you think we should do?"
"Hmph." Liu Tong's enjoyment of overlooking the wilderness was wiped out. His face stretched long and he said unhappily, "What a sneaky little thief who wouldn't listen to advice. Did anyone force him to be poisoned? He clearly asked for it."
"Serves you right!" The officers showed no sympathy at all.
Liu Tong sighed and followed Jiang Yushu down the hill, saying helplessly, "Forget it. Let's go, I have to go take a look, so as not to be accused behind my back by the villagers of not caring about the people."
On the way downhill, Cuimei's voice also became hoarse as she complained, "Alas, these past few days, we've been advising the villagers over and over again until our voices are hoarse, but we didn't expect the grain thieves to turn a deaf ear to our advice."
Jiang Yushu stopped immediately, a hint of worry in her eyes. She turned around and warned, "You silly girl! Don't be so careless in the future. Don't yell 'who stole who' in public?' Everyone cares about their reputation. If we anger the villagers, we'll be outnumbered and powerless, and it will be difficult to argue even if we're right. We'll just suffer in vain."
"That's right," Madam Pan agreed. "It's none of our business, so stay out of it."
Cuimei was frightened and looked around hurriedly, saying embarrassedly, "I didn't think much about it at the moment. I will pay attention to it in the future."
A quarter of an hour later, a group of people, some on horseback and some driving carts, swarmed into the yard of the poisoned family.
At the main hall door, a family of four leaned against the wall: a middle-aged couple and their two children. Their son, Liu Dong, was nineteen, and their daughter, Liu Xiaoqiu, was fifteen. They were all pale and dying, their vomit forming a large pool on the floor, a pungent stench.
The village was awash with troubles, big and small, and Liu Sanping was overwhelmed. He asked helplessly, "Uncle Lao Zhu, the authorities clearly told us that this thing was poisonous, but didn't your family hear it? We secretly cooked and ate it, and sure enough, we got poisoned! Do you regret it now?"
As they share the same surname, every household is related to each other. Out of consideration for their relationship, he used "quietly" instead of "secretly", feeling very contemptuous in his heart.
Liu Laozhu vomited a few times, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, glanced at the other person with his eyelids, and replied weakly: "Oh, Sanping, since you became the head of the village, you have become more and more powerful, suppressing me so much that I dare not say a word."
"Come on, I'm the village head now. What kind of 'uncle' are you? Shut up." Lao Zhu's wife hugged her daughter, rolled her eyes at her husband, and said sadly, "Sanping, do you think we're willing to take this risk? It's because we have no food at home! Seeing that the children are starving to death, we have no choice but to get some food to fill their stomachs."
Liu Sanping, young and of a lower generation, couldn't control the situation. He stared in anger and asked bluntly, "Last time the Northern thieves set fire to the crops, they didn't burn the two acres of corn on the hill behind your house. A few days ago, I saw your yard piled high with corn. How could you be short of food? Your family should be the richest in the village."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Liu Laozhu was furious. His wife turned pale and wailed in regret, "We are so unlucky! Who knew potatoes were really poisonous?"
Jiang Yushu and the county magistrate stepped into the courtyard one after the other. Before she could even stand still, she heard the other's last sentence. She immediately frowned and asked in confusion, "Did you always think we were lying?"
"Cough, cough, vomit." Liu Laozhu vomited twice more, with a sad face and panting, "I used to help the master in the town to farm. I worked hard all day long, but I could only eat half full. Humph, the boss is not only too stingy, but also lied that the grain seeds are poisonous. I didn't believe it, so I took some to taste, and there was no poison at all. But this time - vomit..." He curled up, holding his stomach, and vomited so much that his eyes went black and he couldn't straighten his back.
Jiang Yushu carefully examined the poisoned man's complexion. After hearing this, she was almost furious and shook her head, saying, "This is a serious matter. How could I possibly lie to someone?"
"Ignorant and foolish!" Liu Tong raised his head, flicked the sleeve of his official robe, and scolded harshly, "I'm personally supervising this mission, and not only are you and your family not working diligently, you're even stealing grain. You're so bold! Are you planning to go to the county court?"
Liu Laozhu and his wife panicked immediately. They forced themselves to stand up, lying in the vomit and kowtowed, begging for mercy: "Sir, spare my life! I know I was wrong. Please forgive me this time. I won't do it again next time."
Considering that the family of four was poisoned by potatoes, Jiang Yushu thought for a moment and whispered, "Sir, calm down. Don't argue with this fool. After all, there are four lives at stake. Don't let anything go wrong."
"Alas, I am really troubled and helpless in dealing with such a scoundrel. If you have any idea, please try it." Liu Tong adjusted his black hat with one hand and turned his face away in annoyance.
Jiang Yushu nodded and said to the headman, "The potatoes were a gift from the imperial court, but they didn't come with an antidote. Quickly get them to vomit everything out, and make them a pot of strong tea. Also, make some licorice and mung bean soup for them to drink slowly once they've recovered."
"Strong tea and licorice mung bean soup? This is not difficult, I will ask someone to prepare it right away!" Liu Sanping was sweating profusely. He turned around and arranged for Lao Zhu's relatives to help rescue people. He rolled up his sleeves, called a few helpers, pinched the nose, and hurriedly started to induce the poisoned person to vomit.
The stench was so unbearable that the crowd watching the excitement covered their noses and backed away.
"Dad, Mom, why did you two do this again?" The fifteen-year-old girl was embarrassed and filled with resentment. Liu Xiaoqiu had eaten little, so the poisoning was mild. She covered her face with her hands and complained, "When my brother and I asked about it, you patted your chests and said you picked it up from the government... It's shameful, so shameful."
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, surrounded by the mocking sarcasm, the 19-year-old boy was extremely embarrassed. When Liu Dong looked up, he saw Jiang Yushu frowning and sizing up his family. He was instantly filled with shame and lowered his head in panic, wishing he could hide in the ground!
In fact, when Jiang Yushu first stepped into the village to inspect the farmland, Liu Dong was stunned at first sight. He followed her involuntarily, his eyes infatuated, and he thought to himself in surprise: Oh my God, there is such a beautiful woman in the world?
Those eyebrows, that nose, those lips and teeth, her every gesture, her dignified and elegant posture... Liu Dong couldn't control himself, fell in love at first sight, and followed her nervously until his parents called him back home to do farm work.
In the crowd, the people simply retreated outside the wall.
Jiang Yushu was always surrounded by her family and Liu Tong's officials. She pretended not to notice the various looks around her and remained calm.
After treatment, the four people who fortunately had not eaten much gradually recovered and became conscious.
Across the wall, Liu Tong asked sternly, "How much grain did they steal in total? And how much did each of them eat?"
A few nosy villagers who had a grudge against Liu Laozhu replied politely, "Please wait a moment, sir. We will go and check." With that, they ran into the kitchen to search, quickly brought a small basket of potatoes, and approached, as if to ask for credit, saying, "Please look, sir, these are already steamed. As for whether there are any raw ones, we dare not search."
Liu Tong thought for a moment and said to Jiang Yushu, "The government has already warned us. It's all the villagers' fault for not listening. You've been busy for a long day. Go back and rest for a while. Regain your energy. Starting tomorrow, it's best to check on the fields every day."
"Don't worry, I will keep a close eye on the crops." Jiang Yushu bowed and said goodbye, leading her family away.
Then, Liu Tong's face darkened as he shouted sternly, "How can this be! How dare someone steal grain seeds from right under my nose? It's obvious they don't respect the government at all! I'm afraid they'd dare to dig in the fields too. How can this be tolerated? Come on, search and find everything he stole!"
"Yes!" The officer took the order and went into Liu Laozhu's house with a knife to search.
Jiang Yushu hadn't gone far yet when she understood and said, "Master Liu is killing a chicken to scare the monkeys." "We really should do something about it to serve as a warning to others." Steward Zhou Yan was a little worried. "Otherwise, if the West Family steals today and the South Family steals tomorrow, we, the people who are farming here, won't be able to report back."
The companions nodded in agreement.
Night. Bedroom
"Hiss~" Jiang Yushu gasped in pain.
Xiao Tao, who was sewing nearby, turned around and asked, "Does it hurt?"
"I saw a scab, so I tried to tear it off, but the wound didn't heal and it hurt a little." Jiang Yushu examined the wound on her forehead in a small bronze mirror.
Cuimei advised: "Since the wound has not healed yet, please don't touch it. Be careful not to tear it and leave a scar - cough, be careful."
"That day he said," Memories suddenly flooded his mind. Jiang Yushu put down the bronze mirror, rolled up her sleeves and began to grind ink. "If I get a scar, I'll just expose my forehead and scare people for fun, to relieve my boredom."
"Did the second young master say that?" Xiao Tao looked up with a gentle look in her eyes.
Cuimei comforted him, "Don't worry, there will definitely be no scars! You must be joking, Master."
"Hmm." Jiang Yushu couldn't help laughing. As she did so, she slowly stopped grinding the inkstone. Her expression was solemn as she murmured, "They've been gone for seven or eight days. I wonder how they're doing in the army."
Xiao Tao was filled with sorrow and asked anxiously, "Young Master's injuries hadn't healed when he left. Traveling with injuries must have been difficult. Perhaps he's fighting in battle?"
Jiang Yushu, unfamiliar with military operations, shook her head and replied hesitantly, "It's pitch black at night, so the Northern Tribes could launch a surprise attack. But the main battle should be held during the day. Otherwise, in the crowded chaos, they might accidentally injure their own people." After a pause, she added uneasily, "As for their injuries, I've specifically asked Lord Pan to promise to take care of them. Barely any accidents have occurred, and they should have recovered."
"I heard from my third sister-in-law that the Heqin Guards are stationed on the bank of the Cangjiang River not far from Liujia Village. Although it is close, the military discipline is strict and soldiers cannot go out without permission." Cuimei said.
Jiang Yushu nodded first, then asked in surprise: "Who is the third sister-in-law?"
"The village head's wife." Cuimei clapped her hands, laughing and laughing, saying, "Their family is very casual with their names. For example, the village head's three brothers are named Daping, Erping, and Sanping. And the village head's two sons are named Da Niu and Xiao Niu! Hahaha."
Jiang Yushu continued grinding ink, saying gently, "The Liu villagers only seek a peaceful and prosperous life. Most of them are illiterate, so they choose simple and unpretentious names. You, please stop making fun of them."
"This servant——"
"Hmm?" Jiang Yushu raised her eyes and glanced.
Cuimei pressed her lips and said, "Miss, you misunderstood. I just thought it was funny and didn't mean to mock me."
"I understand. I'm just reminding you." Jiang Yushu picked up her pen, dipped it in ink, and bent over her desk to write a letter home. She said tiredly, "I've been busy for half a month. It's time to report back to the capital."
"Then please write quickly and don't make my Lord anxious." Cuimei said happily, "My Lord has always been thinking of you. Before leaving the city that day, Lord Gong gave him a stack of letters, all of which were entrusted to him by my Lord. How kind!"
Recalling the loving words of guidance in Jiang's father's letter, Jiang Yushu put aside the past grudges for the moment and smiled. She said cheerfully, "I was very bored on my way north. I wrote to my father every now and then. He must have been fed up with it."
"No way?" Cuimei said firmly, "My Lordship loves his daughter so much that he won't mind."
…
Xiao Tao listened with a smile, occasionally interjecting. Though they were on good terms, she knew she couldn't match the maids who came with her as a dowry, and didn't dare compete with Cui Mei for favor and trust. As she listened, she thought to herself: Although the Jingyang Marquis's mansion had been raided, with the support of relatives and friends and the young master's abilities, the Guo family might be able to make a comeback.
By then, the young master will be the head of the family... The old lady has already agreed to this. I am willing to serve the young master and the lady for the rest of my life! She thought with anticipation.
A few days later, early morning
The sloped land that had just been watered was moist. Jiang Yushu squatted in front of the ridge, grabbed a handful of soil and rubbed it, her hair wet with sweat.
"When will the seedlings grow out?" Liu Tong adjusted his black gauze hat and frequently took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face.
Jiang Yushu stood up and clapped her hands. After a brief thought, she answered cautiously, "It depends on the local climate. It is said that it usually takes about 20 days. Let's wait and see." @Infinite good articles, all in Jinjiang Literature City
"Twenty days? I won't see that," Liu Tong lamented, turning back to the path between fields. "Yesterday, the county government sent a message urging me to return to the city to handle official business. I can't stay in Liujia Village any longer. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning."
"Ah?" Although it was expected, Jiang Yushu was still startled. She hurriedly followed and said earnestly, "It's a full 67 acres of land. My family alone can't handle it. Please make some arrangements before you leave."
"Of course." Liu Tong paced back and forth, the sword-bearing officers always by his side. "Don't worry, I'll tell the villagers. We're short of other crops anyway, and the villagers have nothing to do anyway, so why not help tend to the new crops? A good harvest will be a blessing for the people, giving them an extra source of food in the future."
Jiang Yushu said happily, "Your Excellency is absolutely right! The government's kindness and care are truly a blessing for the people."
"Hahaha." Liu Tong beamed at the compliment, and then he said, "Planting the new grain is a major event for the people of Heqin. According to custom, it must be recorded in detail and compiled into the county annals. Therefore, I will appoint a chief clerk to oversee it from beginning to end." He tilted his head and said, "Zhuang Song, you stay here and make sure to keep a detailed record for the county magistrate to review."
"Yes." The chief clerk named Zhuang Song was not yet thirty years old, with a fair face and no beard, and a gentle manner.
Liu Tong added, "At the same time, I will leave two yamen runners behind to assist you."
"Thank you, sir!" Zhuang Song breathed a sigh of relief when he received the protection.
So, the next morning, Liangma County Magistrate returned to the city.
Jiang Yushu bowed and said, "The road back to the city is long, my lord, take care on your journey."
"You must stay here and farm peacefully. According to the law, convicts must not leave Xicang without permission. Violators will be treated as fugitives!" Liu Tong lowered his voice and warned seriously.
Jiang Yushu nodded, "Don't worry, the Guo family is all in Xicang and won't go anywhere!"
"That's good."
Liu Tong climbed onto the carriage, drew aside the curtain, and said to the village head, "I've returned to the county office to attend to some urgent matters, and will be back soon to inspect the new crops. If you want to live a well-fed life, you must diligently tend to the crops."
Liu Sanping nodded respectfully and said, "Yes."
Liu Tong promised, "When the harvest is in, the government will first distribute it to Yuehu Town, which has suffered from years of poor harvests. Your village, in particular, has suffered frequent disasters, and the government is currently considering ways to provide relief."
"Thank you, sir!" Liu Sanping was deeply moved. He knelt down and kowtowed in gratitude, saying, "I will lead the villagers to follow your instructions and work hard to earn a good harvest!"
The group watched for a while, and after the county magistrate's carriage drove away, they went to work in the fields as usual.
In memory of the life-saving grace, Liu Tong gave a shabby little carriage to the Guo family.
This car has no doors, windows or curtains, and it creaks a lot, but it is much better than walking.
It's the hottest time of July, but it's still scorching hot at noon.
Jiang Yushu, wearing a sunshade hat, walked north along the canal and asked in confusion, "Strange, why is the water in this canal getting shallower?"
@Unlimited good articles, all in Jinjiang Literature City
"Yes, it's almost getting shallower!" The servant, Zou Gui, squatted beside the canal, scooping water to wash his hands, and said worriedly, "What if it dries up? Where will we get water for the fields?"
Liu Sanping scratched his head and said helplessly, "It rained heavily recently, and the canal upstream is probably washed away and blocked, so the water is getting shallower and shallower."
"How can this be possible?" Zhuang Song, the chief clerk, frowned and asked in confusion, "Haven't you ever gone upstream to take a look?"
Liu Sanping sighed, his face filled with fear, and replied hesitantly, "In the past, every household that needed water for their fields would have gone up there with their hoes to dig a channel. But at the end of March this year, spring rains washed away the canal banks. Eight of us, working together to repair the canal, were unlucky enough to encounter the Northern Qi people. Some were hacked with knives, others riddled with arrows, and some were even mutilated! Since then, no one has dared to go upstream."
Jiang Yushu sighed with pity and asked anxiously, "Where is the source of this canal? Is it very far north?"
"Muhe River," Liu Sanping informed him. "This irrigation canal has been used for hundreds of years, continuously maintained by generations of ancestors. Including the two mountain streams, its total length is nearly thirty miles."
Cuimei exclaimed: "Thirty miles? That's impressive!" @Infinite good articles, all in Jinjiang Literature City
"I heard that they initially used stream water for irrigation, but it gradually became insufficient, so they diverted another stream, but it was still not enough! Our ancestors had no choice but to dig northward, and eventually brought in water from the Mu River to irrigate the crops for the whole village." Liu Sanping squatted on the ground, looking at the shallow canal water, feeling a lot of emotion.
Jiang Yushu couldn't help but show concern, and suggested, "If everything goes well, the potato seedlings will grow soon. We absolutely cannot afford to run out of water! Can you find more people, bring weapons, and go repair the canal?"
"It's difficult." Liu Sanping said anxiously with a frown on his face, "Actually, I tried before you came. I had to persuade five or six strong men with great effort, but we were short of manpower. They all had elderly parents and children to take care of. Who would dare to take the risk? So the matter was put on hold."
After Jiang Yushu and Zhuang Song discussed it for a while, Zhuang Song said, "Sanping, go and try again. Tell the villagers that we already have seven or eight men, but we are still short of twenty-five strong men."
"Logically," Jiang Yushu said calmly, "the canal belongs to Liujia Village, but we're happy to help. Besides potatoes, other crops also need watering. These past few days, I've noticed many people sighing around the canal. Go ask around and wait until we have enough people before repairing the canal to ensure safety."
"I understand the logic. The villagers should work together." Liu Sanping stood up suddenly and said hurriedly, "Okay! I'll go back to the village right away and tell you when I gather everyone."
On the nineteenth day after the potatoes were planted, Jiang Yushu went to the fields as usual.
"The weather is getting cooler." Cuimei jumped off the carriage and helped her companion. Jiang Yushu put on her veil and said with a smile, "The terrain here is much higher than the city, so it's naturally cooler."
At first light, Zhou Yan's wife, carrying a hoe, yawned as she stepped into the field. She glanced around and her eyes suddenly lit up. She ran closer, squatted down, and took a closer look. She shouted in surprise, "The seedlings have sprouted! Come and see, they've finally sprouted!"
"What? Really?"
Jiang Yushu's spirits lifted as she nervously ran over, taking a closer look. She stared at the tender green seedlings poking through the soil, beaming with joy as she said excitedly, "Finally, they've sprouted! Oh, I've been so worried lately that I couldn't sleep at night, fearing the potatoes wouldn't sprout."
"Look!" Cuimei knelt down on the ridge, excited, and called out, "There are a few here too!"
In an instant, many people rushed over after hearing the news, talking eagerly, and the fields were filled with laughter.
The crops that have sprouted are in urgent need of irrigation, but the canals are gradually drying up.
At the end of July, the able-bodied men of Liujia Village finally plucked up the courage and agreed to go upstream to build the canal.
"Be careful, girl." Xiaotao said with a sickle in hand.
Jiang Yushu wore a dagger on her waist and walked briskly. Because they were exiled three thousand miles, they were no slower than men.
at the same time
On the southern bank of the Cangjiang and Muhe rivers, teams of border troops, in full uniform, were patrolling with swords, guarding against sneak attacks from the Northern Qi.
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