Chapter 1447: Don't Stand Out

In the blink of an eye, it is autumn harvest. Every year, the people look forward to autumn harvest the most. Autumn harvest represents the food for the whole year. This year's autumn harvest has brought only sorrow to the people.

Zhulan took several grandsons and granddaughters to live in the farm for a few days. When they arrived at the farm, they did not rest but went directly to the fields and stood on the ridges to watch the autumn harvest.

Ming Jingpang couldn't keep his hands idle, so he picked up the wheat ears and said, "Grandma, why are there so many lumps on the wheat ears?"

Zhulan took it and felt heavy in her heart, "The harvest this year is not good."

The land on our own farm is fertile, but my eldest son said that the yield has been reduced by a quarter, let alone in places with poor land.

Mingjing was very concerned about food. "Grandma, is there enough food after paying taxes?"

Zhulan laughed, "Of course it's enough. We have a lot of land. After paying taxes, we can not only have enough food, but also sell some grain."

Mingjing was relieved, as long as she had enough to eat.

Changli came up from the field and said, "Mom, you just arrived at the farm, you can go back and rest first, I will take care of you here."

Zhulan shook her head, "My body is not that fragile, go and do your thing."

She was concerned about the harvest, so she wanted to come to the farm to take a look, and she brought her grandchildren with her to educate them.

Changli was in no hurry to go back, and sighed, "The harvest this year is not good."

Zhulan, "This year the people will have a hard time."

The war is not over yet, so the possibility of tax cuts this year is not high.

Qizhou. Chang Lian had just returned from several states that had not been affected by the disaster. He was in a hurry and looked very tired.

The prefect saw Chang Lian's expression and felt heavy in his heart, "The harvest was not good?"

"Well, the harvest was bad this year, and the states that were not affected by the disaster cannot help us if they have to pay taxes."

The prefect pursed his lips and said, "The flood in our state has receded, but the fertile soil in some fields has been washed away by the flood. Some low-lying fields are full of silt. Even if they are cleaned up, the harvest will be affected. This year, the affected states have exempted taxes, but the people have to wait until the grain is ripe before they can have food. There is a food shortage."

Qizhou grows two crops of rice. After the flood recedes, it is too late to plant late rice, but people still hope to get some food.

Chang Lian was also worried. The temperature was low this year and the late rice harvest would not be good. "There was really no other way. I could only write a letter and go to Beijing."

They tried every possible solution. In order to increase their income, the prefect even learned from other states to raise fish in rice fields, just hoping to supplement their food.

The prefect sighed. He had been out of the city a lot recently. The people from each village went up the mountain to find food. There was no trace of wild vegetables to be found on the roadside. Both adults and children looked pale and thin. If the prefecture had not insisted on distributing some food to each village, life would have been even more difficult.

The prefect leaned back and said, "I'm going to write a letter."

Chang Lian came out of the government office and went home to see his wife reading the letter from the capital. "Is it the letter from mother?"

Dong shook her head, "No, my sister-in-law replied to my letter."

"Do you have something to ask my sister-in-law?"

Mrs. Dong nodded. "It's autumn harvest time now. I told my eldest sister-in-law and eldest brother that we won't sell the grain from our fields anymore. I told my eldest brother to deliver the grain here."

Chang Lian, "You want to donate food?"

Mrs. Dong, "I see you are worried about food. Although our family does not have much food, we can still make a living."

Chang Lian sat down and said, "Your idea is good, but I can't be the first one to do it. There are many officials in Qizhou, many of whom are children of noble families. Noble families will not lack food. The real lack of food is the people. If everyone donates a little, it can indeed solve a lot of problems, but I can't be the one to take the lead."

Dong, "Why? Because of the prefect?"

Chang Lian shook his head, "The prefect is eager for someone to donate food, but I am worried about my father. Our family is very conspicuous in the capital. I have already become a celebrity in this flood. If I continue to be a celebrity, I will be hated."

"Then should we still donate this food?"

"Donate. I need to think about it carefully and choose someone to take the lead. We will just follow behind."

At the Ministry of Revenue in the capital, Zhou Shuren, with his eyes closed, kept urging people to deliver food and straw. The table was covered with folders urging for food and straw. The prepared food and straw were gone, and now they were waiting for the autumn harvest.

The grassland tribes were even more short of food and had already raided several border states just to rob food.

Zhou Shuren heard footsteps and asked, "You are not very busy, why are you here?"

Rongchuan put the food box in his hand on the table, "This is the soup Xuehan made for you."

Zhou Shuren's stomach churned. "No, I don't need any more soup."

The emperor was afraid that he would collapse, so the soup in the Ministry of Revenue's kitchen was always supplied, but he didn't want to drink any soup at all.

Rong Chuan smiled and said, "I knew you couldn't drink it, so I drank it."

"Drink it."

Rongchuan sat down and actually took it out and drank it. His wife seldom cooked, so even if his father didn't drink it, he would drink it all.

Zhou Shuren sighed, "It's still good to be young. It hasn't been long since I gained weight again."

Rong Chuan thought that if he ate meat every day, he would grow faster. After drinking the soup, he asked, "Dad, did mom go to the farm?"

"Well, I've been staying at the Ministry of Revenue recently, and she wanted to go check on the harvest, so she brought a few kids over to stay for a few days."

Rongchuan heard about the harvest, "I have been busy with the autumn harvest and grain transportation recently. The harvest this year is not good, and merchants from various countries have stopped selling grain."

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard and said, "Ah, it's time to pay salaries again."

Rong Chuan felt that his father-in-law was the one who had the hardest time. "Dad, you should take more rest."

Zhou Shuren looked at Rongchuan and asked, "Can you please ask for leave for me?"

Rongchuan, "...I don't think so."

Now everyone can take leave except dad. Everyone depends on dad for money and food!

The next day, Zhulan went to the orchard to pick fruits and came back. Qingxue said, "Second Master Liu went out hunting and happened to meet Miss Yudie and her friends who were picking wild vegetables. He came back with them."

Zhulan, "There's no chance in the capital, let's go to the manor. Does the Liu family have a manor nearby?"

Qingxue replied, "No."

Zhulan laughed out loud, "This was chased from the capital."

Qingxue also wanted to laugh. The Second Young Master Liu was so miserable. After the eldest and second young ladies got engaged, several young masters did not stop the aunt from seeing them. Only the Second Young Master Liu could see Miss Yudie once after visiting her several times, and they could only see each other from a distance and could not even talk to each other.

When Liu Yuanbo saw the old lady, he stood up and greeted her, "Hello, old lady."

Zhulan motioned the girl to put the fruit down, "This is the fruit I just picked from the orchard. I'll bring it back to your mother for her to taste."

Liu Yuanbo blushed slightly. His little thoughts could not be hidden from the old lady. "Yes, thank you, old lady."

Zhulan glared at Mingjing and Mingjing looked like a quail.

Yudie blushed, and in her hand she was holding the ornament that Liu Yuanbo had given her. The ornament was based on her zodiac sign, and she liked it very much.

Zhulan invited Liu Yuanbo to have lunch with her, and then Liu Yuanbo said goodbye and left.

On the way back to Beijing, Liu Yuanbo asked the servant beside him, "Today's excuse is hunting, what should I use as an excuse tomorrow?"

The servant said, "I think you don't need to make excuses, sir."

Liu Yuanbo thought about the half-smiley expressions of his brothers-in-law. Today, they were caught off guard by a surprise attack. If there was no reason, he would definitely not be able to see Yudie tomorrow. "Yes, the old lady gave my mother some fruit, and I asked my mother to return the gift, which is a good reason."

The servant said, "Sir."

"Um?"