Seeing that things were not going well, the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture rushed forward to protect Chi Yan, and said sternly, "What do you want to do? Assaulting an official of the imperial court is a crime!"
The village chief hurriedly scolded, "Li Erzhu, don't be reckless! Who told you to come here with weapons? You better behave yourself and put those things down!"
The man who had just spoken slammed the hoe he was carrying heavily on the ground, his dark red face revealing his displeasure: "Village chief, these people are clearly bullying us! Why don't they go after those corrupt officials? Isn't it because they think we ordinary people are powerless and helpless!"
Having said that, he glared fiercely at Chi Yan, "You're the corrupt official who said there would be a flood?"
The guard glared at him: "Watch your mouth!"
Chi Yan raised his hand to indicate that he was alright, and looked at the other person with a relaxed expression: "That's right."
Li Erzhu gritted his teeth: "Who knows what you're up to? I'm telling you right now, we absolutely are not moving out!"
"Whether to move or not is a matter of personal choice; the imperial court will not force anyone," Chi Yan said slowly, then suddenly changed his tone, "Of course, if anything happens, the imperial court will not be responsible!"
Li Erzhu sneered, "Do you think I'm easily intimidated?"
Chi Yan raised an eyebrow, put his hands behind his back, and looked at him with a half-smile: "What good would it do me to scare you? I went to all this trouble to get you to move out, and if it doesn't rain then, I'll just attract a lot of criticism. Am I just bored and looking for trouble?"
A hint of suspicion flashed in Li Erzhu's eyes, and the villagers behind him looked at each other, which was exactly what they couldn't understand.
They knew their own worth; they were just a bunch of farmers. What could they possibly have that would make these high-ranking officials lower themselves to scheme against them?
Looking at the village chief, Chi Yan decisively offered a tempting offer: "Please pass on a message, village chief: any household that agrees to relocate can apply for relief funds from the government based on the number of people if their crops or houses are damaged in the future. However, those who do not relocate and suffer losses as a result will have to bear all the consequences themselves."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding people began to stir.
The expressions of Li Erzhu and the others also changed.
The village chief couldn't help but ask, "Is the relief fund that the adults mentioned really available?"
Unlike verbal promises, these are real benefits, which are much more convincing!
"Absolutely no lie."
After observing the expressions on everyone's faces, Chi Yan continued unhurriedly: "At the same time, for those who agree to move, I will personally help them harvest their rice and dry it before the rainstorm arrives, so as to minimize their losses."
Upon hearing this, Li Erzhu scoffed without any politeness: "You think you can take me on?"
Chi Yan looked like someone who had never done farm work before; how could he endure such hardship?
Besides, how much work can he do all by himself?
Aunt Li, who had just spoken, became somewhat anxious: "Sir, harvesting and threshing grain is hard work! I'm afraid you can't do it..."
Chi Yan raised his hand, choosing to prove himself through action: "I will come tomorrow, and everyone will wait and see."
Li Erzhu asked with skepticism, "Sir, you're not just making excuses, are you?"
He looked over and said, "Won't we find out tomorrow?"
——
Sure enough, Chi Yan made a special effort to tidy up before coming to the fields today.
After obtaining permission, he went to Aunt Li's field, picked up a handful of heavy ears of grain and examined them carefully. The grains were plump and full, indicating that the grains were ripe and could be harvested ten days earlier without much problem.
Aunt Li looked him over and asked cautiously, "Sir, do you know how to harvest rice?"
She wondered if she should teach him first, while Li Erzhu and the others were waiting to see what would happen.
Chi Yan smiled and politely declined, then grasped a handful of rice stalks by the root and swiftly and accurately cut them off at the base with a sickle.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
