Magistrate Zhang fell into deep thought!
In fact, Jiang Zhi could have just secretly sold the green grains to vendors, just like last year!
However, secrets don't stay hidden forever, especially when the whole village is selling grain together.
Unlike before, Pear Blossom Town was still somewhat chaotic, and with Zhang Juntou's patrol camp nearby, no one came to inquire even after it was sold.
Now that we're stationed here, with such a big commotion, there's no way to cover it up.
Xujia Village has already attracted attention. If it is reported again one day, it will be in a dilemma. It is better to think of a solution now.
After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, she waited for Magistrate Zhang's decision. Based on her observation of this magistrate, who was not stubborn, she believed he could approve it.
Errui was still a little worried. He had only sat on half of his buttocks, but now he moved forward a little more and said, "Your Excellency, our village works very unitedly and together. These crops that need to be harvested in time will not delay the later season."
If you think you're wrong, you can try it in another village.
Besides, the county magistrate just said he wanted to make our village a model; we can't use the abilities of other villages to limit the people of our village!
Xu Errui, who used to follow Jiang Zhi around as an auditor and occasionally listen to Xia Xiucai's lectures, was no longer the stuttering country bumpkin he once was. With a single sentence, he struck a chord with Magistrate Zhang.
The silent magistrate gave a wry smile; he had tried it himself.
After seeing the neat and beautiful houses in Xujia Village during the first month of the lunar calendar, he encouraged other villages that had been destroyed to help each other repair their houses.
Before they could even discuss how to resolve the issue of materials, the village chiefs cried out, "Magistrate Zhang, this is putting us in a difficult position. As village chiefs, we can't possibly help everyone in the village repair their houses."
They're usually free, but as soon as it's time to go to work, everyone has something to do at home.
Those who were supposed to be working, seeing others idle, would also quit, unless it was to repair houses as payment for corvée labor, in which case they could also do that work.
People are not worried about scarcity but about inequality. Where there are people, there is comparison, and where there is comparison, there is inequality. Only when there is the power of the government can people be brought together to work for free.
Unity is not enough.
Xu Errui's other words also touched Magistrate Zhang's heart: Since we are going to set an example, it is indeed inappropriate to use the rules of other villages to govern Xu Family Village.
Now that Xujia Village has a female village chief who can unite people to repair houses, why not give them a little more freedom and see if they can really come up with something interesting!
"Alright, your Xu Family Village can sell grain, but it must be processed outside the city. It is not allowed to enter the city, and you are not allowed to make a fuss." Magistrate Zhang finally nodded in agreement.
Jiang Zhi was overjoyed. This meant that even if the sky fell, there would be someone tall to hold it up. If they didn't want to go into the city, they would find another way.
After obtaining the imperial sword from Magistrate Zhang, Jiang Zhi and Er Rui finally left the county office.
It was already afternoon, and the two of them weren't in a hurry to go home. Instead, they went to Xiang Dejin's courtyard first.
Dejin's wife was home alone when she saw Jiang Zhi and her son. She was very happy: "Auntie, you must stay the night before you leave. The last few times you came and went in a hurry, and Dejin even complained that I neglected you!"
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "I'm not leaving today. I want you to come with me to buy some things!"
Summer is just around the corner, and the women on the mountain need to buy new clothes, especially underwear, and also make pretty new dresses for their two little girls.
Jiang Zhi used to make clothes from cotton fabric she spun herself, but now she wants to buy some softened fine fabric.
"Oh, right, here are some powders. I saw you weren't feeling well during your period last time, so drinking some of these will help." Jiang Zhi took out the gift she had prepared.
Dejin's wife took the medicine packet, somewhat surprised: "Auntie, you're so thoughtful, you even remembered such a small thing!"
"Auntie, you must be tired after a long day. We'll go buy the fabric tomorrow morning."
This young wife is very considerate; she knows that Jiang Zhi came from Xujia Village in the morning.
After a day of discussing contracts and grain, the people of Jiangzhi were not physically exhausted, but mentally exhausted. They needed a good rest.
When Xiang Dejin returned from his job, Errui had already gone to the street corner to buy smoked tofu and spicy broad beans, along with half a braised duck and a small piece of homemade sausage. The two of them had a drink together that evening.
The next day, Jiang Zhi went to the cloth shop with Dejin's wife to select fine cotton cloth.
After spending a long time in the city, Dejin's wife also became a familiar face at the shop.
Especially because she had a husband who worked as a yamen runner, people would nod and greet her wherever she went.
As soon as she entered the fabric store, a shop assistant came to greet her: "What kind of fabric does Sister-in-law want to buy today? Let me help you choose."
"Look, this is the latest product from Jincheng Weaving Workshop. It's silk fabric with a subtle bamboo pattern, bright and elegant!"
The shop assistant kept talking as he laid out bolts of brightly colored, soft cotton fabric for them to choose from.
Jiang Zhi looked at the beautiful fabrics and felt very happy.
She carefully selected a piece of light blue fine cotton cloth, intending to use it to make herself a new dress.
They also chose bright colors for Chunfeng and Qiaoyun, as well as pink for the two children and indigo for Xiaoman's grandmother.
Dejin's wife also selected fabric, preparing to buy Dejin a summer shirt.
In addition, the fabric for the men on the mountain also needs to be selected.
Although Xiaoman's grandmother could weave her own cloth, the official workshop fabrics had a wide variety of patterns and were suitable for going out. Xiaoman and Errui also needed several sets of good fabrics.
Just as the two men asked the shop assistant to bring over a few more bolts of cloth, two women stepped in together.
Jiang Zhi and Dejin's wife were busy selecting fabrics without looking up, when the shop assistant said, "Auntie, these are fabrics that others have already chosen. Why don't you look over here?"
Upon hearing this, the woman threw down the cloth and walked away impatiently.
The woman who came with her said, "Sister-in-law, why did you go out like this? Just say you don't want to keep me company."
The woman suppressed her anger and said, "I feel weak all over, my stomach is also a little uncomfortable, and nothing looks right to me."
The woman who came with her became unhappy: "You must be getting your period again. You should see a doctor! You're always uncomfortable, and I'm always the one doing all the work."
The woman carrying the cloth said, "It's not a serious illness. I'll be fine in a few days. Going to a traditional Chinese medicine doctor will only result in bitter medicine. I'll just have to wait it out!"
This is menstrual cramps.
Jiang Zhi finally looked up and saw a woman in her thirties, with another woman of similar age beside her.
The two women, an aunt and a sister-in-law, were dressed smartly, so they shouldn't be short of money.
Beside her, Dejin's wife was still enthusiastically selecting fabrics.
Jiang Zhi raised her voice slightly, just enough for the two sisters-in-law to hear, and said, "Suqing, if you feel uncomfortable during your period this time, drink the powder in advance."
Dejin's wife nodded: "Okay, it's because I couldn't control my intake of cold and raw foods before. Every time before my period, I would suffer from backache and abdominal bloating for several days. So I'll make a bowl of it. It's sweet and delicious."
When the two women heard about menstrual cramps, they immediately found common ground and chimed in, "You're right, you have to do all that washing and cleaning, and it's excruciating every time."
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