Chapter 1455 Sorrow

After the morning court session ended, Old Lord Wen walked ahead for the first time, changing his usual slow pace and walking very fast.

The ministers, proud of their status, did not run after him and could only watch Lord Wen run away.

Zhou Shuren looked at the in-laws of the Wen family and raised his eyebrows. This had been discussed long ago. Although the Wen family attracted hatred, they also won some good reputation. People are forgetful. The Wen family has already restrained themselves and will manage their reputation well in the future. Except for those who have grudges against the Wen family, people will only remember the kindness of the Wen family in a few years.

Mr. Wang came over and asked, "How much are you going to donate?"

The two families are in-laws, so they need to communicate on this matter to avoid embarrassing either family if there is too much difference.

Zhou Shuren stretched out his hand and slapped it, "I can't compare to the Wen family, who are rich and powerful. I will donate 500 shi."

This was the most food he could provide, as his own land was not as abundant as the Wen family's.

In the past few years, his wife has bought a lot of land, all in the grain continent. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to come up with even 500 shi. Alas, the grain production in ancient times was too low, so low that he gets a headache when he looks at the data.

Old Master Wang stroked his beard and asked, "The food donated by the Wen family is for the entire Wen family. Did you donate for the entire Zhou family, or did you, the Minister of Revenue, donate it yourself?"

Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes and snorted twice. He really ignored it. "I donated it myself, and my sons donated their own food. Grandpa, the people are short of food, save their lives."

Old Master Wang was silent. He had been an official all his life. In his heart, the people and family were the most important to him, and family was the most important. He looked at Zhou Shuren deeply. Throughout Zhou Shuren's journey, most people only saw his ability and luck, but ignored what he had done for the people.

In recent years, Zhou Shuren has promoted many policies that benefit the people.

Mr. Wang smiled and said, "The Wang family also donates food in the same way as you do."

Zhou Shuren tilted his head, "My grandfather didn't divide the family."

Because he and Zhulan came from the modern era, they did not interfere in the industries of the several branches of the family and even helped. Each branch had its own industry and several sons had the foundation to donate grain, and the Wang family did not split up, so the industries were concentrated together.

Mr. Wang, "I have already drawn up a list of divisions and will donate food in proportion to the industries I receive."

Zhou Shuren bowed slightly, "You are so kind, old man."

Mr. Wang could donate an integer like the Wen family did, and no one would find fault with it. Donating food in the way he does would result in a lot more food being donated, and the extra food could save many lives.

Back at the Ministry of Revenue, Qiu Yan knew that the Wen family had taken the lead in donating grain, and then he became worried, "How much do you think I should donate?"

Zhou Shuren looked at Qiu Yan and felt emotional. Not every family could run an industry. The big families would control the merchants to make money, and the money produced by the fields accounted for a small proportion. Donating grain would not hurt much, and the main source of expenses for Qiu Yan's family was the rent of the fields and shops.

Zhou Shuren asked, "How much food did you sell?"

Qiu Yan said: "Half of them were sold."

There was still half of the food left at home, and he didn't add much to the Qiu family's business. He felt that his family was living a life that was not bad but better than most, and he was still very satisfied with his life. Who would have thought that the national grain harvest was not good this year, and his wife had already started to budget carefully.

Zhou Shuren patted Qiu Yan on the shoulder and said, "Do what you can."

Qiu Yan hardened his heart and said, "I donate 100 shi?"

"I mean to do what you can. Don't donate your food. There is a food shortage in the market right now. There will definitely be people who will buy up the food you are donating this time. Then it will be difficult for you to buy food."

Qiu Yan sighed, "If I had known, I wouldn't have sold so much food."

"You are also buying dowry for your granddaughter, so you can't save money on the dowry."

Qiu Yan, "Well, let me think about how much to donate."

The news of the grain donation spread quickly, and the Wen family acted even faster. By noon, the Ministry of Revenue had received 1,000 dan of grain, rice bran, etc.

At the Zhou family, when Zhulan received the news, she asked the housekeeper to go to the manor in person to tell the eldest brother that the grain was stored in the manor and that the grain would be transported from the manor to Beijing.

Li asked, "Mother, how much food did my second brother donate?"

"I'll have someone go to the Liu family and ask how much Lord Liu wants to donate. Changyi can just donate about the same amount as the Liu family."

Su Xuan asked, "Where's the third brother?"

Zhulan didn't worry about Changlian, "The news of the grain donation will spread to all states. The grain for the third house has been transported to Qizhou, so the third house doesn't need to worry."

As she was talking, Xue Han returned to her parents' home. Xue Han asked, "Mom, how much is the donation going to be?"

Zhulan got the news from Jianyan, "Your father donated 500 shi, your eldest brother donated 100 shi, your second brother wants to look after the Liu family, and your fourth brother donated 100 shi."

Xue Han thought, if you don't count the third brother, his family has at least 700 shi, which is a huge amount. "How can we divide the donation?"

Zhulan shook her head, "If we don't donate together, we can donate more this way. Why did you come back without preparing food?"

"I was worried that there wasn't enough food at home, so I came back to ask if you needed any food. You know that the Qin Palace has a lot of land."

Zhulan laughed. The King of Qin was indeed generous. "Have you ever asked the Princess of Qi how much she donated?"

Xue Han said, "When the news got out of the palace, several princely palaces passed the letter. The Qin Palace is the emperor's legitimate brother and the richest prince. It would be embarrassing if we donate less. So we will donate 2,000 shi."

This year she wanted to sell some food, but since her parents' family didn't sell any food, she saved all the food. Now there is food in the Prince Qin's Mansion!

"Where is Prince Qi's Palace?"

Xue Han said, "The other palaces all have 1,500 shi."

Zhulan counted the food and said with emotion, "The Wen family really did a good thing this time."

No matter what the calculation was, the Wen family donated a lot, so those who wanted to get away with it did not dare to donate less. This batch of food greatly alleviated the food pressure.

At the same time, Zhulan also felt sad. The poor people could not even give a few pounds of food, while the wealthy families occupied the fertile land and donated more food than many people could grow in their lifetime.

The sadness of the times, the serious gap in class status, resources are in the hands of the powerful, there is still plenty of fish and meat on the tables of the powerful, but the common people have to count the grain to get by.

Xue Han saw her mother's sad expression and asked, "Mom, aren't you happy?"

"I am happy, but I feel sad that if your father had not passed the imperial examination, our family would have also been worried about food."

If they still stay in Zhoujia Village, they can do nothing in the face of climate change and can only protect their own small home.

Now that his identity has changed, Shu Ren has influenced the emperor, and with the appearance of fish cakes, he has also expressed other ideas, trying his best to save the lives of the people.

Zhangzhou, Changyi set out again, with the Wang family and a doctor. Changyi would not delay his journey because of his sick child. He wanted to reach his daughter's house earlier instead of being stuck in the town by the snow.

Asking a doctor to follow me was the greatest kindness he could show.

Zhao was concerned about the Wang family because she thought of her own escape. She gave the Wang family some old clothes from her servants and maids, and replied, "I didn't meet any kind-hearted people back then."