Chapter 339 Forced Sale of Land by the People
Back in Datian Village, there were hardly any people in the village, from one end to the other.
In the past, people in the village would usually be wandering around outside at this time.
Back home, Red Dates and Green Branches were cleaning the yard.
"Princess, you're back? Have you had lunch yet?"
"No need, we've already eaten outside. It seems like no one in the village is here. Have they all gone out?"
"Your Highness, something happened in the next village, and they all went to see what was going on."
"Oh, what happened?"
Hongzao continued, "It seems that because the harvest was poor a few years ago, a wealthy family lent them silver and grain. The people grew high-yield grain and used the grain or the silver they got from selling the grain to repay the loan. However, the other party did not want the grain but wanted their land."
"The land is the lifeblood of the villagers. Without the land, they would lose their source of livelihood. The villagers refused to sign and put their fingerprints on the agreement, and a dispute arose between the two sides."
The villagers were injured by thugs brought by the other side. The Fourth Miss went to treat them with her medicine kit, and the Princess Consort, worried, went along too, leaving me at home to wait for the Princess's return.
Yun Zhaoxue felt that things were not so simple. "A few years ago? They borrowed the land for several years and never said they wanted to take it away. Why would they suddenly want to take it away? Is it because it can produce high-yield grains and the other party has their eyes on it?"
If they wanted land, they could have bought the villagers' land a few years ago instead of waiting until now. They couldn't possibly have been so prescient as to start planning years ago.
There may be a hidden hand behind this, or there may be ulterior motives.
Xiao Xuance instructed Zhuiying, "Send someone to investigate the wealthy family that wants to acquire the land."
"Also, send a few more people to protect Mother and Shuer."
"yes!"
In the evening, Madam Yang and Xiao Mingshu returned.
Those people were too ruthless; many villagers were injured, and she and several doctors spent the whole afternoon treating them.
Seeing that they didn't look too good, Yun Zhaoxue poured them two cups of hot water boiled with spiritual spring water, saying, "Have some water."
"Thank you, Third Sister-in-law."
Yun Zhaoxue sat down beside her. "Shu'er, tell me in detail what exactly happened in the next village?"
Xiao Mingshu told her what had happened in Lijia Village that afternoon.
"Someone almost died! Don't the officials care?"
"Yes, the officials are biased towards that rich merchant. The common people are so pitiful."
"The interest rates were terrifyingly high, doubling every year. Many people couldn't afford to pay them back. The land mortgage contracts were changed to land sale contracts. Many people sold their land but still couldn't pay back the money and ended up owing them a large sum. People sold their pots and pans, even their children, but still couldn't fill the hole. They even had to sign indenture contracts to become slaves and farm for the rich merchants."
The people begged them to give them more time, saying that if they could plant another year's worth of grain, they would surely be able to pay back the money.
The wealthy merchants didn't give them a chance. They demanded that the money be returned immediately or that land be given as payment. Before those who refused to sign were forced to do so, some people cut off their fingers and bled profusely in order to avoid signing.
I was terrified. Dr. Chen was the first to rush over. Third sister-in-law, am I really useless? I'm so timid, yet I wanted to study medicine to help people.
She suddenly felt lost, unsure whether she should study medicine.
Yun Zhaoxue said, "No, you are very brave. Practice makes perfect. You haven't experienced those bloody scenes before. You would be scared the first time, but you won't be afraid after experiencing them a few more times."
"Yes, Third Sister-in-law is right. Those people are really pitiful."
She was of little influence and power, unable to help others.
“It’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself. You’ve been treating the villagers for free. Our Shu’er is a kind girl.”
Xiao Mingshu felt a little better after hearing this. She decided to study medicine diligently to save more people.
He leaned his head against Yun Zhaoxue, hugging her tightly, "Third Sister-in-law, you're so good, sob sob..."
...
Zhao Xuanhe and Yun Jiaoyue had just returned from the neighboring village.
Yun Jiaoyue drank a cup of hot tea to warm herself up before complaining, "Your Highness, those lowly people are so ungrateful. What's wrong with being a tenant farmer? They provide food and lodging, and you have to bear the profits and losses of your own farming. If there's a famine, your whole family will starve to death."
Zhao Xuan said, "In the past, there would have been no difference in selling them. Now they can grow high-yield grains, and they can pay off their debts in a year. If they grow for a few more years, they will still have a surplus. Of course, it's not worth it."
Yun Jiaoyue's lips curled into a mocking smile. "I don't care what they think. As long as it's beneficial to us, that's fine. One mu can produce a thousand jin of grain. It's much more cost-effective to keep the land in our own hands than to distribute it to those people and then spend money to buy their grain. From now on, Lingnan will be Your Highness's granary, and you won't have to worry about food as often as you did in my previous life."
That wealthy businessman was one of their men.
This wealthy businessman is just one example; many more will seize land from the people of Lingnan.
They want to turn Lingnan into their new trendy granary.
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