My game can make money starting from the Three Kingdoms period.

The effects of the drought are like a stone thrown into a lake, spreading out in layers.

The severe drought and locust plague of 194 years will take at least two to three years to subside.

The game begins in year 195, when rainfall gradually increases and the fields begin to be cultivated again.

However, spring planting requires autumn harvest, and with the massive influx of refugees, daily expenses are enormous. Even though Xuzhou was a wealthy city, life was not easy.

Although Ah Xiang owned hundreds of acres of fertile land, the grain provided by the governor to the refugees was insufficient, and the desperate refugees began to plunder everywhere, and her tenants also suffered as a result.

The fields were neglected and were looted and trampled upon.

Ah Xiang estimates that the harvest from the land she rented out this year will be less than half of the usual amount.

In other words, this year is just as difficult as last year.

Ah Xiang was very fortunate that she had bought property in the city.

In order to protect their base of influence, the government has abandoned the order of villages and towns on a large scale and concentrated troops to garrison the city.

Living in the city is at least safe.

"Did you receive instructions from your ancestors?"

Ah Xiang placed all her hopes on her youngest son.

Having tasted the sweetness of success, Lu Congshan said shrewdly and confidently, "Our ancestors said that we are fortunate to have Ah Xiang."

"The ancestors are here, praising me?!" Ah Xiang was flattered.

Lu Congshan nodded, "It seems that our ancestors also knew that Mother was beautiful, kind-hearted, gentle and virtuous, so they gave her these instructions to comfort her."

Ah Xiang's cheeks flushed red from the compliments.

This book was definitely worth reading!

Lu Xiao, from God's perspective, was taken aback. He did indeed convey four words, but they were: "Study hard to become an official."

In Lu Congshan's words, it was fortunate that Ah Xiang was there.

This kid is only four years old, and he's already this clever. What will he be like when he grows up?!

He only wanted to be respected by others through reading, not to actually learn to read and write... As for becoming an official, he didn't even have that concept yet.

Rather than telling the truth and being spurred on by Ah Xiang's words about studying hard, it's better to conceal the truth and instead flatter and praise her to please his mother, thus avoiding having to listen to her tiresome words.

Kill two birds with one stone.

"This kid is really got the makings of an official!"

Lu Xiao couldn't help but praise him.

At this moment, the mother-in-law said:

"Let's not send students to school this year. Although a few bushels of grain are enough to pay for a teacher, if we continue to spend money, our food reserves won't be enough to last until the autumn harvest."

"No, we can't give up halfway! We must read this book! Once the government quells the rebellion, we can go out of the city to dig for wild vegetables to eat. We'll definitely make it through this year!"

Compared to other ordinary people, the Lu family is already in a very good situation.

Those who don't know the taste of human flesh surpass far, far more than any other people.

once

Lu Congshan listened to the teacher's lecture.

He fiddled with bamboo slips in the hall, his mind elsewhere.

Mr. Chen Shi, unable to bear it any longer, shouted, "Lu Congshan! Life is so hard, yet your mother still gives you food to support your studies. You have no ambition, your learning is absurd, truly, you are hopeless! Stand in the back hall!"

Lu Congshan went to stand at the back with ease.

Today, with disasters and calamities raging, children who used to come to study did not have the spare money and food at home to support their education, and had long since dropped out and stayed at home.

Only Ah Xiang insisted on sending her son to school. This moved the teacher, who then personally taught him.

Chen Shi was born into the Chen family, a prestigious family in Xuzhou, but his branch of the family fell into poverty and poverty.

Most of those who came to him for education were children from the lower classes.

"You've squandered your mother's good intentions, which chills my heart! I will punish this person on your mother's behalf!"

Seeing Mr. Chen Shi approaching with a ruler in hand, Lu Congshan, while raising his hand, retorted, "May I ask, sir, can reading put food on the table?"

"Of course not!"

"If you can't, why bother reading?"

"Without reading, one will not know propriety, righteousness, integrity, or a sense of shame! Without reading, one's future will be bleak!"

"In that case, with your extensive knowledge, sir, your future looks bright?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Shi hesitated to strike with his ruler, rendered speechless by a five-year-old child.

This child is truly intelligent!

They just don't focus their attention on important matters.

"Congshan, oh Congshan, if you had been born into a wealthy family, your words and style alone would have been enough to make you famous and later get you recommended for official positions. What a pity, what a pity..."

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Xie." Lu Congshan cupped his hands in a childish gesture. "As you know, I was not born into a wealthy family. Therefore, studying is basically useless to me. After all, farming doesn't require classical Chinese texts or memorizing the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Book of Han."

Chen Shi was both pleased and furious upon hearing this.

I am pleased that Lu Congshan is so insightful at such a young age, but I am angry at his lack of ambition and ashamed of his mother.

Just as Chen Shi was at a loss, a man appeared in front of the hall, breaking off a willow branch to greet him.

It was Ah Xiang who came to welcome Lu Congshan home.

The whip fell, making the gentleman's heart tremble.

"Madam, please calm down! The mountain is still small..."

"Sir, don't stop me! I heard everything this boy said!" Turning to Lu Congshan, he said, "Kneel down! Is studying useless?! Are you trying to trample your whole family's hopes into the mud?!"

Each lash is sharpened, each stroke unleashing its fury.

This was the first time Lu Congshan had been whipped like this by A Xiang. Tears streamed down his face, but he knelt upright, gritting his teeth to endure it.

Ah Xiang is just a simple farmer, she can't articulate grand principles, but she knows that a sapling won't grow straight if it's not pruned.

If we don't get rid of Lu Congshan's bad temper, his life will be wasted because of it.

"Yes, farming doesn't require all that you're talking about! But do you really want to waste your whole life on that tiny plot of land?!"

Lu Congshan gritted his teeth and sobbed, naturally proud and unconvinced.

Enraged, Ah Xiang's hand trembled, and in a moment of carelessness, the willow branch struck Lu Congshan's face.

Her delicate cheeks were instantly disfigured, and blood flowed freely.

Ah Xiang's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to check on him with worry, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

At that moment, a child rushed over and stood protectively in front of Lu Congshan, saying, "Mother, hit me too!"

"Chutian! Get out of the way!"

Chen Shi recognized Lu Congtian. "Is this the lady's son?"

"It is indeed the eldest son, Lu Congtian. Why do you say this, sir?"

"I caught him a few times, even though I mistook him for a petty thief."

Upon hearing this, Ah Xiang's eyes darkened. She raised her willow branch, intending to strike Lu Congtian, "Well, well! What kind of elder brother are you? You've become a thief!"

"Madam, you've misunderstood!" the man immediately interjected.

He explained, "I saw Congtian listening to the lecture outside the hall several times. At first, I thought he was a petty thief, but later I realized that Congtian was studying."

"So that's how it is. But, Congtian, do you know your mistake?"

Lu Congtian knelt down with a thud and kowtowed to the teacher in apology, "My family has no money or food to support my brother and me in our studies. We were eavesdropping on your teachings, and we beg you to punish us!"

"Then let me ask you, can reading put food on the table?" The teacher posed Lu Congshan's question to six-year-old Lu Congtian.

Lu Congtian replied, "Although it cannot be eaten, it makes people feel as if it is sweet."

The gentleman was satisfied with the answer, and then asked meaningfully, "Since your family is poor and only one of you two brothers can study, I am willing to let you go to the mountains instead. Are you willing?"

Lu Congtian answered without hesitation, "No."

"Why?" Chen Shi would not press Lu Congtian if he hesitated even slightly or agreed.

"The gentleman once told the story of Kong Beihai sharing pears when he was young. As the elder brother, he would not let his younger brother share the pears.

"Good! Well said, elder brother Dan! I will not let my younger brother yield!"

Lu Congshan was moved, "Brother... I am ashamed."

"Madam, please have both of them enroll in school from now on."

Watching all this, Lu Xiao hissed in shock, as if his plan to cultivate corrupt officials was about to fall through...