Lin Yinan laughed and said, "Yes, everyone has worked hard this year. Without everyone's concerted efforts, Longtan would not have made it this far."
Her second uncle and aunt, in particular, really helped her a lot.
Lin Shuo, feeling embarrassed by his niece's praise, scratched his head and chuckled, "We're family, no need to thank me."
Modern industrialized agriculture, although lacking advanced equipment at this time, always has more solutions than problems. Lin Yinan believed that through their exploration, they would eventually find a way out.
"Second Uncle, from now on, you will be in charge of all the planting in the fields. You must strictly control pest control and fertilizer and water management. Train more talented and capable assistants so you don't have to do everything yourself." Thinking that the work would not be easy in the future, Lin Yinan suggested to him.
Since it concerned food supplies, Lin Shuo dared not be careless.
"Don't worry, Second Uncle knows what he's doing."
Lin Yinan continued to encourage him, "If next year goes as smoothly as this year, we'll have enough food stored up."
Lin Shuo has gained considerable experience over the past six months. So many people, from the villages below Longtan to the Xihe and salt fields, rely on him, and he dares not slack off in the slightest.
My brother is right. If you broaden your horizons, you'll naturally think further ahead.
"It will go smoothly," he murmured, as if to comfort himself or to pray to heaven.
It is said that the county town will release a batch of low-priced meat in the next three days, with each pound of meat costing only twenty coins. Villagers can purchase up to two pounds based on their household registration.
In addition, a batch of fertilized eggs that can hatch into chicks and ducklings will be released. They are priced at three coins each, two for five coins, and five for ten coins. The quantity is limited, and purchases are also limited to five per household registration.
This was the first time Longtan Grain and Oil Store had appeared in front of everyone, as the event was only for three days and would not be held after that.
The villages were in an uproar upon receiving the news.
Even after Hu Shao and the others who announced the news left, some people still couldn't believe it and repeatedly asked their fellow villagers, "Did I hear that right? Only twenty coins a pound of meat?"
"What I heard was twenty coins a catty."
"Before the war, it would have sold for thirty or forty coins a pound, but in Longtan County it's only twenty coins?"
Their northern lands are ravaged by war, food is ridiculously expensive, and meat prices have skyrocketed, yet it's still hard to find.
Despite repeated emphasis from Yun Yu, Hu Shao, and others, they still couldn't believe it.
This meat is so cheap!
It was so cheap that they thought they were hallucinating.
"Twenty coins a pound, not expensive, is it really pork?"
"They said they also have chicken, at the same price."
"Why don't we buy some to try? In the past six months, the only time I've had meat was when we were clearing the land, we caught a few field mice."
To be honest, they had fled all the way from the Central Plains to this place, and they were lucky to have any food to eat.
Upon arriving at Longtan, thanks to the city lord, we learned to grow rice for the first time. Each family didn't harvest much grain, but if we ate sparingly, we could last until the first rice harvest next year.
"It's almost Chinese New Year, why don't we go buy a couple of pounds of meat and let our stomachs, which have been vegetarian all year, get some meat?"
While they were still gathered there discussing endlessly, some sharp-eyed villagers saw the old couple, Da Shi and his wife, each carrying a large basket on their backs and holding the hands of their two grandsons on either side, walk out as soon as they closed the door.
"Uncle Da Shi, are you heading to the county town?"
The old man with the big stone had a kind smile on his wrinkled face. "Hey, go weigh out two pounds of meat for the kids. The New Year is coming soon."
"What are you and your aunt carrying?" A villager asked, looking at the baskets on their backs.
"It's nothing, I'm just carrying the straw sandals and dried vegetables I made myself, hoping to exchange them for some money in the county town," said the old man.
Seeing him stop, Aunt Da Shi urged, "Hurry up, we're slow, who knows when we'll get to the county town."
"Okay, coming right away."
The old couple, Da Shi and his wife, originally had three sons and one daughter. Their eldest son got married and had two grandsons. When they fled to Longtan, only the old couple and their eldest son survived. Their eldest son's wife, two sons, and one daughter all perished.
When they settled down, the family decided that the elderly couple would stay home to take care of their two grandsons and farm, while their eldest son would join the army for a monthly salary of six hundred coins.
That's how they survived.
The villagers watched the elderly couple leave, then turned to ask the still hesitant village chief.
"Village chief, shall we go or not? Uncle Da Shi has already gone."
"Don't forget, Uncle Da Shi's son enlisted in the army in the county town."
The implication is self-evident.
The village chief tossed aside the leaf cigarette he was rolling in his hand and shouted to the crowd, "Quick! Anyone who wants to buy meat, hurry back and get your household registration documents. Bring anything you need to sell."
The group of people hurriedly ran home, only to realize they were afraid of being too late and not being able to buy meat.
During the off-season for farming, the county town conscripted laborers, and even the poorest families could save up a few hundred coins.
It's Chinese New Year, who doesn't want to eat some meat?
In the villages furthest from Longtan County, every household kept their doors and windows closed, worried about when bandits would attack. Everyone was on edge.
When they heard Hu Shao leading his men banging gongs in the village, asking everyone to come out and tell them something, all the villagers hurriedly came out of their homes.
Each person was carrying large or small bags or shoulder poles as they left their homes, looking as if they were moving as a family, leaving Hu Shao and the others dumbfounded.
"Village chief, where are you going?" Hu Shao asked the village chief, puzzled.
The village chief looked at him with delight and said obsequiously, "Lord Hu, didn't you come to take us away?"
Hu Shao was completely confused. "Why do you want to leave?"
The village chief's face immediately fell when he realized that the man didn't seem to be there to lead them away.
"The bandits from Chi'an are about to attack. Shouldn't we find somewhere to hide?"
Upon hearing this, Hu Shao immediately burst into laughter.
"Don't be afraid. Master Yun led his men to suppress the bandits a few days ago. The bandits won't come to plunder our village."
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