A few days passed like this, and all the forsythia on the mountain had been picked. On this day, Li Yan was preparing to pay the villagers.
In order to calculate the amount, Li Yan did not settle the wages for the villagers immediately on the day of completion. Instead, she extended the payment for one day and agreed that they would come to her house to collect their wages at 9:00 PM today.
Before the time came, people came to the gate of Lijia Village one after another. They did not go into Li Yan's house, but just stood outside the door and greeted each other excitedly.
"How many pounds did your family pick in total, and how much money did you earn?"
The man chuckled and said with a happy face, "Not much, not much. Our family picked more than 2,200 kilograms in total! That's just over two taels of silver! How about your family?"
"My family's production is similar to yours, also over 2,000 kilograms." Then he sighed with some regret, "Such a lucrative job, it's a pity that there aren't enough people at home to turn around, otherwise I would definitely make more money!"
Another villager from another village said enviously, "Hey, don't be ungrateful. Your son and daughter-in-law both have decent jobs and make quite a bit of money each year. Besides, these jobs aren't cheap for outsiders; they only hire relatives!"
The sighing villager quickly added, "I'm content, but I think the money is a little too easy to make!"
"I have to thank you girl for this!"
The villagers nodded in agreement.
Seeing the villagers arriving one after another, Li Yan hurriedly moved the things she had prepared in advance outside the door.
Strings of copper coins were placed in front of the villagers, and everyone felt even happier.
Li Yan smiled and said to the villagers, "Uncles, please wait a little longer. I will call out the names of those uncles who will come to me and verify the amount with me first. Once it is confirmed, they can go to my grandfather to collect the corresponding copper coins. Uncles, do you have any objections?"
Naturally, everyone had no objection.
The villagers who were saying their names came forward happily one by one and first checked the numbers with Li Yan. After confirming that they were correct, Li Yan asked them to put their fingerprints on the record and then go to Grandpa Li to collect their wages.
The villagers who received their heavy wages were all smiling. They were not in a hurry to go back, but continued to stay in front of the Li family's door to see how much wages others received, secretly comparing in their hearts whether they had received more!
Just as the villagers were happily receiving their wages, a group of people came to the entrance of Lijia Village.
Leading the way, County Magistrate Zheng looked at the crowd gathered in front of the Li family's gate from afar and couldn't help but wonder, "Why are there so many people gathered in front of the Li family's gate? Did they know the news in advance?"
In fact, during this period of time, County Magistrate Zheng had been thinking about the memorial he had mentioned above.
It stands to reason that since high-yield crops were grown in the jurisdiction of this official, the previous slanders that he was not attentive to agriculture and sericulture would be self-defeating.
However, he did not receive the emperor's decree that day, and his heart was hanging in the air all day long.
This morning, while he was handling official business at the government office, a bailiff came in in a panic to report, "Sir, Sir..."
The yamen runner stammered nervously, "The imperial edict has arrived!"
County Magistrate Zheng was startled and his hand, which was writing an official document, suddenly trembled, and he wrote an extra stroke. The originally neatly written page was ruined in an instant.
County Magistrate Zheng put down his pen without a care in the world, straightened his clothes, and strode out the door. When he was leaving, he bumped into Li Erlang who came over after hearing the news.
Li Erlang cupped his hands, "The imperial edict from the palace has arrived, sir!"
County Magistrate Zheng nodded and motioned Li Erlang to follow him.
Then he led a group of officers to the front hall.
In the hall stood a eunuch in a standard green robe, flanked by a row of armored guards with swords.
County Magistrate Zheng glanced at the eunuch and saw a roll of imperial edict embroidered with dragon patterns in Huang Chou's hand.
Seeing County Magistrate Zheng coming, the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict slowly unfolded it.
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor issues this decree. I have heard that Zheng Zheng, the magistrate of Rongcheng County, is diligent in his administration, cares for his people, and governs effectively. He has cultivated high-yield crops within his jurisdiction, ensuring that the people have no worries about food and enriching the national treasury. This is your achievement. I hope you will continue to do your utmost to care for these crops and ensure the well-being of the people!"
"Thank you for your grace, Lord. I will accept your order."
After hearing the eunuch's order, the knife hanging over Zheng County Magistrate's heart finally fell. He shouted loudly and prepared to stand up to receive the order.
What a coincidence that the father-in-law who came to deliver the imperial edict this time was the same one who came to Rongcheng last time.
Seeing County Magistrate Zheng step forward to take the imperial edict, he said with a smile: "Master Zheng, we meet again!"
"Thank you, eunuch, for taking the trouble to come here again."
County Magistrate Zheng stepped forward to take the imperial edict and handed over a large-denomination silver note from his sleeve.
The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict took the banknote naturally and was even pleased with the other party's understanding.
Magistrate Zheng was an upright official, but he was also familiar with the social interactions in official circles. He had no power in the court and was a minor official in a remote area, so he could not look down on the emperor's attendants.
If you offend these villains, you never know when a word they say in front of the emperor will bring disaster to you.
This is the reason why they say little devils are difficult to deal with.
"Father-in-law, you have worked hard on your journey. I will send someone to order a banquet right away. I hope you will come and enjoy the feast."
"There's no rush. We have an imperial edict for the girl from Li Village. County Magistrate Zheng, please lead the way!"
Li Erlang felt a pang in his heart when he heard this. How could there be an imperial edict from his own family?
County Magistrate Zheng was stunned for a moment when he heard this, but then he reacted and immediately ordered his followers to prepare the carriage.
He led Li Erlang and a group of yamen runners to Lijia Village.
County Magistrate Zheng looked at Li Erlang, who was sitting in the same carriage with him and frowning, and said comfortingly: "Don't worry, it should be a good thing!"
The emperor did not punish him for the high-yield crops, so Li Yan, who planted and donated high-yield crops, will definitely be rewarded by the emperor.
Li Erlang's anxious heart calmed down a little after hearing the comforting words from County Magistrate Zheng.
The group quickly entered Lijia Village.
When County Magistrate Zheng, dressed in an official robe and followed by a large group of yamen runners, appeared in front of the Li family's door, the villagers were shocked by the scene.
Since ancient times, people have been afraid of officials.
The originally noisy and cheerful scene was frightened after seeing such a scene. The villagers dared not say a word and unconsciously gave way.
Li Yan, who had just checked the number with the last villager, put down the account book and greeted the person who came.
"Go home first and gather your family members. The eunuch is here to convey the imperial decree. Ask your mother and aunt to bring Hu Tou and Hu Niu to the yard." Li Erlang instructed his daughter.
Li Yan was stunned when he heard this, but he quickly reacted. He asked his grandfather to call his uncle, and then he ran back home to talk to his mother and aunt.
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