Exile at the beginning: I rule the world by drawing cards

Chapter 54 Asking people to grow konjac (two updates in one)

As dusk fell, the gorgeous glow faded and the last afterglow fell into the sea of ​​clouds. The villagers who had been tired for a day gradually gathered towards the old locust tree.

Li Zheng went to the county government for a meeting today, but no one knew exactly what happened. They could only guess secretly in their hearts.

There was a cool breeze in the evening, and Li Zheng, holding the charter, steadily walked through the crowd and stood on the big rock.

He looked around and spoke slowly: "Everyone must know that I went to the county government for a meeting today. It's bad news. This year's taxes have been increased by another [-]%."

These words were like thunder on the ground, instantly exploding in the crowd.

"Raise taxes again?! This year's harvest is not good at all. This is driving us to death!"

"Half of my field was flooded due to heavy rain last month. The rice harvested today is less than half of previous years. Where can I get the grain to pay taxes?"

"The government really doesn't treat us as human beings. It raises taxes every year. When the rice fields were hit by disasters, there was no money allocated by the government!"

The villagers were so angry that they gnashed their teeth, and some were so angry that they wanted to pick up their hoes and fight the government to death.

Li Zheng raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, "It is the intention of the state to increase taxes. Don't be resentful towards the county magistrate. Shantang County next door has increased taxes by [-]% this time. We have already settled the calculations."

Someone said: "Uncle Li Zheng, what should we do with the taxes this year? Last time we paid the taxes reluctantly, and now they have increased again, I'm afraid we won't be able to produce so much food."

Others chimed in.

Li Zheng cleared his throat and said in a deep voice: "Next, what I want to talk about is about food. Last time, the Zhou family's wife proposed ditching rice fields, and I believe many people have witnessed its effect. This time, The Zhou family’s daughter-in-law has come up with another way to increase grain production, and it’s in my hands!”

"From the Zhou family, come up and tell everyone in person."

He raised the thin piece of paper in his hand and suddenly named Qin Mengshang.

The eyes of everyone around him suddenly turned this way. Qin Mengshang, who was standing in the crowd, was stunned. He didn't expect that Li Zheng would do this.

Li Zheng waved her hand and urged her to come up: "You proposed this method, so naturally it's your turn."

Qin Mengshang had no choice but to pass through the crowd and stand next to Li Zheng. His voice was clear and gentle: "Uncle Li Zheng is right. It is true that rice in the south can be harvested twice a year..."

She explained the principles and operation details of regenerated rice again.

After hearing this, everyone's first reaction was that it was unreliable.In the past, the rice stubble left in the fields would sprout new shoots, but they would not produce rice at all and could only be burned as weeds.

After the autumn harvest, everyone has to plow the fields in preparation for spring plowing in the coming year. If ears of rice don't grow, wouldn't it be a waste of time to cultivate the fields?
Qin Mengshang continued: "Normally, the bud tips grown from the rice piles left after harvesting cannot produce rice ears, but as long as the key supporting nodes are retained, axillary buds will grow, and the rice can grow and ear again."

"Really or not?" Old Man Hu squatted on the stone next to him, "I have been farming for 50 to [-] years, and I have never seen rice piles grow again. Little daughter-in-law of the Zhou family, please don't fool me, old man .”

"If we really leave such high rice piles, our rice-cutting hands won't know where to put them, which will delay things!"

"That's right. The river bank is also rushing to finish the work. We can only harvest rice in these two days, so leaving three or four inches should be enough, right?"

There are different opinions, doubts and concerns.

Although Qin and Meng Shang proposed to open canals in the rice fields last time, which indeed solved the water accumulation problem, this time it was related to food and tax payment, so they did not dare to try easily.

Li Zheng knew their concerns, but he believed Qin Meng Shang, "The government levies two taxes every year. We have handed over half of the grain at home for the May tax. If we can't get any food for the September tax, we can only go to Xishan." Corvee! The current solution is here. If you think it is feasible, just do as Zhou's wife said. If you don't believe it, I won't force you to do it. But I will say something ugly ahead. If any family can't pay the grain then, , don’t expect the village to collect food and pay taxes for you!”

Li Zheng's attitude was tough, and those who stirred up trouble kept their mouths shut.

After all, the tax has increased by [-]% this year. If they can't pay it, the government's hard knife is not something they can fight with the hoe in their hands.

Besides, what Qin Mengshang said last time about opening ditches in rice fields was indeed useful. Even Li Zheng believed her. Why didn't they believe it?
Ji stood up and said, "I think it's feasible. I'll try it when the rice is harvested tomorrow!"

She had listened to Qin Mengshang's words before and saved the rice in the field. Later, she earned more than a tael of silver from the folding table drawing.No matter what Qin Mengshang said, she believed it.

"But only six acres of my family's farmland are confiscated. Is it still too late to leave rice stubble?"

The speaker was Wang Fugui. The last time it rained heavily, the river swelled, and half of his family's field was flooded. However, he listened to Qin Mengshang's advice and dug ditches in the field to save the remaining rice.

Now that the government has raised taxes, his family will definitely not be able to pay the taxes based on their current harvest.

Qin Mengshang said: "The autumn harvest has just begun, so there is still time. Although the second season's rice yield is not as good as the first season's harvest, it can increase the yield by half on the original basis."

Assuming that the grain yield from one acre of land is [-] jins, then the second season of rice will produce [-] jins of rice, for a total of [-] jins.

This is much higher than the original harvest!
Wang Fugui couldn't hide his excitement: "Okay, I will do as you say tomorrow!"

"This can get nearly half the food. Even if it's troublesome to cut the rice, I still have to keep the rice stubble!"

"If it's true what Zhou's wife said, then you don't have to worry about taxes this year!"

With the first person to stand up, there will be the second and third people
Widow Zhang, who was behind the crowd, looked at this scene and curled her lips sarcastically: "What does an exiled female prisoner know?"

Her family didn't have any land, so she didn't have to worry about it, and she didn't even think about it when she spoke.

"So many people in the village don't know that rice piles can produce rice again. How come you are the only one who knows? I'm afraid you didn't hear it from an official, so you just used it to fool everyone."

The women present could hear the strangeness behind these words.

But it makes sense if you think about it.Lingnan is a place of exile. There are murderers, deceivers, and even more criminals.

No one knows what crimes the Zhou family has committed, but being able to live in the village means they are not extremely evil people, so they can only be a family of officials.

These days, the Zhou family goes to town almost every day, saying they are doing business, but no one knows what kind of business they do.The Zhou family's daughter-in-law is so beautiful, and she is out doing business in public, so I don't know how eye-catching she is.

In the region of Lingnan, having too good looks is not a good thing. It is easy for people to miss you and make others think.Feeling the strange looks from around him, Qin Mengshang smiled slightly.

She had been in Sanjiang Village for a few days, and although she had become familiar with her in the village and could chat with her by chance, many people were still prejudiced against her because she went to town to do business.

Today was just an opportunity to mention something she had been thinking about for a long time.

"To be honest with you, the reason why I know so many things about Nongsang is because my brother once served as an official in the court, and I heard many things from his son. Unfortunately, I was exiled here with my husband, and I broke up with my brother. These days, I often go to the town to set up a stall, and I also hear from vendors traveling from north to south talking about many new things happening in other state capitals, including things about regenerated rice."

The elder brother of the Qin family once served as an official in the court, and he was at the feet of the emperor!The origin of the Zhou family is indeed not simple.

Everyone was surprised and didn't react much.No matter you were once a dragon or a phoenix, now in Lingnan, like them, you have to rely on your hands to earn a living.

A curious woman took the opportunity to ask more questions about her business.

In just one month, I was able to find the money to buy land.Although it is just a piece of wasteland, it must have made a lot of money.

Qin Mengshang had no intention of hiding it, and said frankly: "I just used the white flour to make some food to sell, but after the autumn harvest, there will be fewer people eating cold skin."

They have never tasted Liangpi, but things made with white flour definitely taste good.But white noodles are expensive, so they are only willing to eat thick noodles. After calculating this, the cost seems to be quite high.

Qin Mengshang's voice changed: "However, I signed a contract with Changxing Restaurant, and I have to provide at least thirty kilograms of konjac tofu every month. If you have time after everyone is busy with the autumn harvest, I would like to ask someone to help me grow konjac. Experience in growing vegetables. Those who are rich will be given priority, and wages are negotiable.”

What?
Signed a contract with Changxing Restaurant?
That is the largest restaurant in Yongzhou. They usually only dare to take a look inside when passing by. Who would have thought that the Zhou family's daughter-in-law would be able to sign a contract with Changxing Restaurant? !
Now everyone was not calm anymore and chased Qin Meng Shang asking questions.

"Daughter-in-law of the Zhou family, does Changxing Restaurant really collect konjac? Is that thing edible? If I dig it up, can I sell it to them?"

"What do you mean by asking someone to grow konjac? You can get paid by helping you grow vegetables?"

"Little daughter-in-law of the Zhou family, please explain yourself clearly."

Widow Zhang was rudely pushed to the side by a group of women. She was pushed by someone unknown and her hair became crooked!
Li Zheng couldn't resist and hurriedly withdrew. The men also retreated to both sides to clear the place.

"Aunts, please be patient," Qin Mengshang said calmly, "I bought ten acres of wasteland from the village and planned to use it all to plant konjac. With just three people in my family, it would take seven or eight days to clear the land. I will plant more konjac later. It goes without saying, so I’d like to ask for your help.”

Auntie Qian from the village opened her mouth and asked, "How do you calculate the wages?"

Who doesn’t know how to dig the ground and grow vegetables?What they care most about is wages.

Fang, who was watching the excitement nearby, took advantage of the opportunity: "The Zhou family has a relationship with Changxing Restaurant, so the salary can't be less than thirty cash, right?"

Thirty cents? !

The men only earn [-] cents a day to move goods at the mouth of the river. They just dig up the soil and get [-] cents for all kinds of konjac. It is not a good deal!

The women's eyes gradually turned fiery when they looked at Qin Mengshang.

Mrs. Chen's face darkened: "How dare you ask for thirty cents for such a simple job? Are you really going to become a rich man just because you have a relationship with Changxing Restaurant?"

Mrs. Ji also spoke up and said, "How can a job of helping me cost thirty cents? Thank you for your daring to think about it!"

A wealthy aunt from the same village said, "Since thirty cents is not enough, what about twenty cents? I work in the Hedi kitchen for twenty cents and still take care of a meal. If I don't care about the meal, it counts as twenty cents a day, right?"

Twenty coins a day is indeed enough.

Since konjac needs to be planted in a large area, naturally it cannot be treated like ordinary vegetables.From planting seedlings, fertilizing to harvesting, the entire process requires dedicated care.

Qin Mengshang nodded: "It's calculated as twenty cents a day, but I only need five people."

Now my family has ten acres of land. If one person manages one acre, it would take ten people.But one acre of land is not particularly large, and one person can manage two acres of land.It won't be too late to hire people when we buy more land in the future.

There are at least eleven or twelve women surrounding here. Who should I choose if there are only five?

You know, [-] cash a day is [-] cash in a month. You can make money to support your family without leaving the village. Who wouldn't be surprised?
Aunt Fugui said: "I have been able to farm since I was a child. It is not difficult to grow konjac. I can do this job."

Another woman also said: "I am very strong and agile. I guarantee that I can dig out the ground for you in one day!"

"Me too, me too"

Qin Mengshang tugged on Mrs. Chen's sleeve and whispered: "Auntie, I just came here and am not familiar with the situation in the village. Please help me with the selection of people."

Mrs. Chen raised her chin and gave her a look that said, "Don't worry when I do the work." Then she ruthlessly exposed the people who had just recommended themselves.

In the end, the only ones left were Aunt Fugui, the Qian family's daughter-in-law, Aunt Sun, Chen's second daughter-in-law, and Aunt Wu who lived at the entrance of the village.

Although those who were not selected were regretful, they had no complaints. The ones who were selected did have a good reputation in the village.

Mrs. Fang, who originally wanted to stir up trouble, not only didn't see the good show, but instead let the second room have access to the money-making business, which made her feel as uncomfortable as eating a fly.

On the way back, I couldn't help but start to complain: "Mom is so partial. I was right next to you. Why didn't you let me go? The second sister-in-law's natal brother runs boats in the Xunjiang River all the year round. Where is the lack of these twenty coins? Unlike me, My mother’s family has no brothers to help me and no son to help me, so it’s my turn to do this job.”

Before she finished speaking, Mrs. Chen, who was walking in front, suddenly turned around, her eyes seeming to poke holes in her.

"Do you think I'm deaf because I'm old? Don't think I didn't hear what you just said in front of the Zhou family's wife that you wanted [-] cents for wages. I know your frivolity better than anyone else! Stop complaining here and there. Yes, if you have nothing to do, go and follow the fields to harvest rice tomorrow!"

The sun was so bright during the day, wouldn't it take a layer of skin off if she was asked to harvest rice? !
Fang's face turned pale and green.

Mrs. Cao, Chen's second daughter-in-law, glanced at her lightly and said nothing.

Her third sibling is not bad, but she is too small-minded and a little stupid.

He made Zhou's wife unhappy, and now he took the initiative to get in on her. Isn't this just trying to offend someone?
The methods Qin Mengshang proposed twice in succession were approved by her father-in-law, which showed that her father-in-law and mother-in-law valued her very much.It's just Fang who is stupid and petty and can't tolerate others, and he often stirs up troubles.It’s a great kindness to the Zhou family’s daughter-in-law for not arguing with her!
(End of this chapter)