Chapter 9 Begins
Upon hearing this, Li Zheng stopped talking and left with Bao Ge'er. Needless to say, everyone knew what happened next. The court mobilized troops, but would those people be willing? The emperor was old now, and only cared about eating, drinking, and having fun. He didn't have many years left anyway, so he didn't care about how the people lived. He left it all to the ministers and enjoyed himself. This was nothing, but the emperor's fault was that he didn't appoint a crown prince. However, the emperor already had four powerful sons, not to mention his other sons. Would they let such a good opportunity go? No, they would only make things worse, giving themselves a reason to recruit troops and strengthen themselves, intending to fight for the throne.
"The young master followed us into the woods outside the city and lost us. I guess we are not from the city." The young man looked at the unfinished food of Li Zheng and her brother without saying a word, wondering what he was thinking.
Li Zheng, who was outside the city, was looking down from a tree to see who was following her, but since no one was coming, she just let it go, thinking it was better to have less trouble than more.
Upon returning home, Li Zheng went to Carpenter Li's house in the village and ordered a cart. It was like the small supermarket carts, only larger and lower, making it easier to push than a cart. Then she went home and started cooking dinner: steamed buns and pancakes, stuffed with meat and sauerkraut. She also pickled some vegetables and took a bowl to Aunt He's house. After much deliberation, she decided to tell the villagers, otherwise the food would only become a way for those people to make money.
"Auntie, are you home?"
"Hey, why did Zheng come here and bring things with her?" This child is very polite.
"Sister-in-law, I made some pickles and brought you a bowl. It's so hot now and I have no appetite. This will stimulate your appetite."
"Oh, our family loves this dish. I don't know how you made it, but it tastes so good!" It's been hot these past few days and they haven't had much appetite. They don't like to eat, but now it's better.
"Sister-in-law, I went to the town to sell medicinal herbs today. The shopkeeper told me that the price of grain in the neighboring mansion has increased, and he told me to buy some grain and keep it at home. I thought it would be no big deal to buy the grain, and I could just keep it at home and eat it slowly." Anyway, I have to go to the clinic once a month, and I am familiar with the shopkeeper there, so I am not afraid of being exposed.
"Are you really saying that?" It's not that I don't believe it, but it's already May and the autumn harvest is almost here. After the harvest, we'll have food, so this one month won't make a difference.
"Yes, aunt, I was thinking that the autumn harvest is coming soon, and I can just buy it in the village then. But then I thought, why is the shopkeeper telling me all this for no reason? I guess the shopkeeper is well-informed, and it is not necessarily inconvenient for him to tell us what happened." I can only say this much, no more.
"Okay, don't worry. Auntie will discuss it with your uncle and we will go tomorrow." I thought to myself that this child was kind-hearted and there would be nothing wrong in going to town tomorrow.
As soon as Li Zheng left, Uncle He asked, "What did Miss Zheng say?"
"It is said that the owner of the Xinlin Medical Clinic in town told Miss Zheng to prepare more food. Miss Zheng also asked us to go to town to buy some food tomorrow."
Old Man He was silent and said, "Boss, go to the village chief's house and tell him."
"Oh." Aunt He was also stunned when she saw it.
The village chief's family was having dinner. When they saw Uncle He coming, they asked, "He Shi, why are you here at this time? Have you eaten? Come and eat with us." The village chief's wife heard this and went to the kitchen to get a pair of bowls and chopsticks. "No, village chief, my father asked me to tell you something."
"Hmm? What's the matter? Let's go inside and talk." The village chief took him into the main room. "Tell me, what's the matter."
"Just now, Miss Zheng came over and said that the owner of the Xinlin Clinic in town asked her to go back and buy more food. My father heard this and asked me to come over and tell you."
"Okay, tell your father I understand." After He Shi left, the village chief sat in the house for a while and came out and said, "The eldest, second, and third brothers, after dinner, go tell every family in the village to gather at the village entrance after dinner tomorrow morning."
The next morning, the villagers were noisy at the entrance, saying, "What's the matter with the village chief calling us?" "Who knows?" "We finally have a few days off, I don't know what's the matter?" "Okay, okay, stop talking, the village chief is here."
"I gathered everyone here today to tell you something. What about yesterday? My fourth child brought me a message saying that the grain prices in the neighboring town have increased, and he was worried that the prices here would also increase, so he asked us to buy more grain. Anyway, it won't go bad if we keep it at home." The village chief had his own considerations for not mentioning the clinic. He spoke quietly because he didn't want to reveal himself.
"But village chief, the autumn harvest is only a month away. Why buy more food? Isn't that a waste of money?"
"Yes, village chief."
"I know it's time for the autumn harvest, but has it rained this month? And it's only May and it's already so hot. What if it doesn't rain later? Okay, if you want to buy, come and sign up with me later. Bye."
With the village chief's organization, Li Zheng felt relieved and hoped that everyone would buy more.
"Zheng girl, do you still want to buy some food? Your sister-in-law will report it to you later." Aunt He came over hurriedly.
"Auntie, are there many people buying this?"
"Alas, most families believe that the village chief is planning to buy some, but there are still a few families who don't want to buy because the autumn harvest is coming soon, and they can't be persuaded." Aunt He is also worried. What if the harvest is not good this year? Alas.
"There's nothing I can do about it, sister-in-law. Let me buy 200 kilograms." It's still necessary to buy some food openly and keep it stored away.
"Okay, sister-in-law, I'll report it for you. The village chief plans to send a few strong laborers from each family to push the carts. It may be dark when they come back." After giving the money to Aunt He, he left in a hurry.
After returning from the village after buying food, as if to confirm their actions, it never rained again. The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and the land was getting drier and drier. To ensure the harvest, everyone carried water to irrigate the land every day, but this was just a drop in the bucket! The wet land quickly dried up, and everyone began to get impatient. At this time, the village chief once again ordered people to go to the town to buy food, and this time no one objected. When the grain-buying team returned, everyone's face was very bad. After asking, they found out that the black flour that used to cost three cents per pound had now risen to sixty cents per pound, not to mention white flour. The price of rice was even higher. But they had to buy it, because if they didn't buy it today, the price would go up tomorrow!
Even more alarming was the fact that the village river's water level had dropped! To prevent looting, the village chief had sent people to guard the river. Each family was only allowed two buckets of water per day. When the river ran out, the only remaining source was the village's old well. Fortunately, Li Zheng's well had dried up; otherwise, would she have refused the villagers' requests for water? And since there were only the two of them at home, what if someone with ulterior motives came?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
