Chapter 876: Trivial Matters of Selling Grain
"Don't talk nonsense! What could happen to you?" When Zhang Tingzhang heard this, he became anxious on the spot, "You are the one who got into trouble."
"Yes, yes, something happened to me." Sir Si'er responded quickly, and then asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, will there be any trouble?"
“There will always be some trouble, otherwise why would the government buy food at this time?”
Zhang Ting let out a long sigh and said, "This is a troublesome thing. Is it big or small?"
“If the imperial court could send the grain to Liangzhou one day earlier, I think there wouldn’t be any trouble.”
“But even if your family’s food is less, it doesn’t matter after thinking about it. Anyway, the prince is so capable.”
Si'er's master glanced at Zhang Tingchang, his lips moved, but in the end he remained silent.
When Zhang Tingzhang saw his appearance, he couldn't help but said angrily:
“If you fart, let it go! This is in your home, it makes me feel like I’m raiding your home!”
"I can... help a little bit." Si'er's adult finally summoned up the courage, but his voice was still low, "It's okay to do your best."
At this point, his face, marked by years of suffering, showed a look of worry, "Otherwise, I would feel uneasy."
He doesn't understand any big principles. He only knows that his family can live like this because of the legacy of the monarch.
The hope of turning the family around lies in the school. As for the Nanxiang School, it was established by the prince himself.
If the reason for collecting grain at a high price in the warehouse is because the prince needs grain, then it is right for him to sell his own surplus grain.
“Besides, the wheat will be harvested in more than a month, so we don’t have to worry about the family going hungry.”
When Zhang Tingzhang heard this, he gave a thumbs up: "What a man!"
“I only have one and a half months’ worth of food left at home, and I plan to sell the rest.”
Zhang Tingzhang also expressed his plan, "I originally wanted to stay for two months, but the person at home was more decisive than me and only allowed me to stay for one and a half months."
Telling about the embarrassing things at home, Zhang Tingzhang smiled a little embarrassedly:
“She said that the price of food is so high now that it’s really not possible. After the wheat is harvested, she will go back and buy some more. She may make a few more bushels.”
Si'er's master smiled honestly: "Yes, I will earn a few more bushels."
It doesn’t matter whether you make money or not.
Cangtou Qianshou, which family is short of those few copper coins?
What is missing are those tickets, okay?
The people, who have just emerged from the hunger of the past few years, value food more than anything else.
At this time, most of the people who are willing to spend their stored grains have the simplest wish: to help the prince a little bit, just to have peace of mind.
Feng Sang and Feng Can are not called for nothing.
“Then it’s settled, before it gets dark, I’ll go to other houses in the village.”
Zhang Tingzhang stood up and said, "After a few days, the villages in our pavilion will collect the grain together and sell it, and let outsiders see that although we don't have much ability, our conscience is worthy of heaven and earth."
As he spoke, he walked out of the yard.
“You...walk slowly.”
Si'er's master held it in for a long time and then said something.
Zhang Tingzhang has long been gone.
A few days later, as the sun just rose and covered the earth with a layer of gold, the official road started to be noisy.
As we enter the twilight of April, it rains more and more, or it becomes gloomy from time to time. It is rare to see a day without morning glow.
Taking advantage of this rare good weather, people who were willing to sell grain carried the grain and pushed it on chicken carts. Zhang Tingzhang even found a few ox carts.
He raised his whip and waved it in mid-air, "Go!"
The oxcart began to creak and creak as it headed towards the school.
In fact, the few villages that Zhang Tingzhang was responsible for did not have much surplus grain.
At least it was much smaller than the other kiosks that arrived at the warehouse near the school one step ahead of them.
“Hey, Zhang Laizi, you are here to sell grain too!”
Someone came over and said hello.
Zhang Tingchang glanced sideways at the other party and sneered:
“What’s the matter? The higher-ups have released a message and won’t let me come over?”
"How dare you! It's just your pavilion. Who doesn't know that there are more hills. When it comes to planting mulberry and raising silkworms, no one dares to speak in front of you, but when it comes to this food..."
The visitor half-turned around, raised his chin, and motioned Zhang Tingzhang to look at the pile of grain bags on the ground in front of the school:
“See, sack! It was specially given to us by the warehouse, specially used to hold grain!”
Seeing the other party's triumphant look, Zhang Ting let out a long "poof" and said disdainfully:
“How great is the food?”
"Ah…"
It must be great to have a lot of food!
"Haha..." Zhang Tingchang said one more word than the other party, and then pushed the four children beside him forward, "Food is valuable, isn't knowledge valuable?"
“Today, our office will send people to help with the warehouse. If nothing else, I can still help!”
Si'er must have taken up one of the places recommended by the school to be sent to Qiongdu this year.
I saw Si'er's blushing face and a somewhat embarrassed look, and then I saw Zhang Tingchang's arrogant demeanor.
The other party was as disgusted as if he had eaten a blowfly, gritted his teeth and said:
“Old man Zhang! I have never seen such a shameless person like you, so you are cruel!”
Speaking, he immediately turned around and left.
Zhang Tingchang pressed the opponent's head, and suddenly his thoughts became clear, he felt comfortable, and burst out laughing.
I immediately arranged for someone to find a place to unload the grain, and I went to negotiate in person.
The manager of the warehouse was overjoyed when he learned that another batch of grain sellers had arrived.
Hearing that the most alert child in the school also came to help, the steward's face suddenly turned into a chrysanthemum smile.
In these ten pavilions, I really want to find a few people who can write and do calculations. They are the few students in the math class.
Those pavilion chiefs and so on are easy to talk about when they are in the army.
When you get to the place, there is no one to supervise you, and you can still recognize a few words. It is considered a great thing to be able to memorize the Nine-Nine Jue.
And they have their own things to do, so how can they find time to help?
“Excellent, excellent, excellent!”
The steward took the book and pen and asked Si'er to sit at the table, "Just remember how much food is shouted outside. This shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"
Si'er looked at the account book and saw that it only wrote where the pavilion and the country were, and how much grain was sold.
For him, it was still within his capabilities, so he nodded immediately.
Seeing this, the steward said to Zhang Ting Zhang again, "I will stay with the baby for now and have dinner with the people in our warehouse tonight. Then I will personally take him back to the village."
“Don’t let me lose you, my pavilion is just hoping to produce a reading seed!”
Zhang Tingzhang still ordered again and again.
“What are the rules here that others don’t know but you don’t know?”
The steward said angrily, "Don't worry, if you give him another piece of meat, it will be considered as reward."
“That’s good, that’s good.”
Zhang Tingzhang said cheerfully.
“Looking at what you’re doing, do you want me to tell you another piece of gossip?”
“What’s the matter? Tell me and listen.”
“I heard that after the deadline of three days, villages that can sell grain will have more silkworm seeds after the summer harvest.”
“Is this true?”
Zhang Tingchang's eyes suddenly widened and he screamed.
The mulberry trees in Yuexun are different from those elsewhere. They are mulberry trees that can produce good silkworms.
But besides mulberry trees, silkworm seeds are even more important.
The first season of silkworms is raised in a year, and everyone has their own silkworm seeds on hand.
Even if something unexpected happens, you can borrow some from the government.
But if you want to raise silkworms for the second season, most of them have to be obtained from the government.
As for the official source of second-season silkworm seeds, they basically come from the Xinghanhui.
The second season of silkworm seeds cannot satisfy all families, so the government usually distributes them in schools and notifies nearby villages to come and get them.
Moreover, priority is given to families with students at home, which is considered a kind of subsidy.
At the same time, this is also a means for Xinghan Society to promote education and cultivate junior technicians.
The illiterate lower class are purely consumables for capital and can be replaced at any time.
They simply cannot provide the efficiency that society needs for further development.
Yuexun County has achieved great development in recent years, which is inseparable from its unique administrative structure.
Because Xinghanhui can take advantage of the power of the government to reach the grassroots level and vigorously promote what it wants to develop.
The Great Han Dynasty Prime Minister divided Yuexun County into a toss for Feng Junhou, and in the end he did not disappoint.
But Zhang Tingzhang was a little disappointed at this time, because he heard the steward say:
“I’ve heard it too, but do I take it seriously? How can I guarantee it?”
“What’s the point of letting me listen to the news when it’s not true, and making me happy for nothing?”
Zhang Tingzhang said dissatisfiedly.
Hearing this, the steward sneered and did not mention the topic again.
Just because it is gossip, the truth of the matter is often revealed in the end, you know what a ball it is!
It is impossible for the government, not even the Xinghanhui, to admit this kind of thing!
It is true and false, and it is in the clouds and fog, which makes people have nothing to say and no handle.
Those who are still unwilling to sell after three days are basically hesitant or want to wait for food prices to rise again.
No matter how much the government wants to benefit the people under its rule and achieve political achievements for itself, the Xinghan Society is so full that it will approve silkworm seeds for these people?
I saw the steward waving his hand impatiently, trying to drive Zhang Tingchang out like a fly, "Go, go, go! I don't have time to grind my teeth with you!"
“Are you in a hurry? I’ll have a word with my nephew again.”
Zhang Tingchang was holding on to the doorframe, unwilling to move. He looked at Si'er and said earnestly, "Si'er, Manager Liu often goes to Qiongdu!"
“You have established a relationship with him this time. When you go to Qiongdu in the future, if you need to contact your family for anything, just look for him.”
Si'er looked at the steward and then at Zhang Ting Zhang, feeling a little at a loss.
“The old man is not done yet, roll, roll, roll!”
The management directly pushed and pushed the person out.
Zhang Tingzhang didn't care and walked away happily.
After coming out, I returned to the place where I unloaded the grain in my pavilion. I saw the people in the pavilion squatting around the grain pile to bask in the sun. I immediately moved a stone and squeezed in together to brag.
The heads of the countryside, the head of the country, did not have much insight, and the gathering together was basically a little thing about the trivial matter.
Which family planted several acres of mulberry forest this year, and which family opened two acres of land at the foot of the mountain?
Even if someone carries a piece of meat home, it is considered news.
Everyone rarely has leisure time on weekdays, and the sun is just right, so it’s really hot.
At this time, a middle-aged man and a young man came side by side.
The middle-aged man's eyes were sharp. He glanced at the group of people and saw the leader among them at a glance.
I saw him arching his hands towards Zhang Ting:
“May I ask if you are the leader among them all?”
"Don't dare. My surname is Zhang. I am the director of Wu Pavilion in District B of Shili Township. I have met two noble people."
Zhang Tingzhang did not dare to be negligent and quickly returned the gift.
The two men in front of them carry the aura of those in power, and the entourage behind them all carry swords, and the standard can be seen as being used in the military.
Just by listening to the name of the place reported by Zhang Tingzhang, we know that it was newly built after Feng Yongping settled Yuexi.
When the middle-aged man heard Zhang Tingchang’s words, he immediately smiled on his face and waved his hand:
“I’m not a noble person, but I’m just passing by. I saw grain harvesting here, so I came over to take a look.”
He looked at the food behind everyone, with a curious look on his face, "Where did all this food come from?"
Although he tried his best to be friendly to the people, he could not hide the overwhelming aura of wealth and nobility in his body.
Zhang Tingzhang did not dare to neglect, with a simple and honest smile on his face, scratched his head, looking like a complete country bumpkin:
"That's it. We heard that the price of food was high, and we thought we had some surplus food at home, so we collected some food to see if we could exchange it for money and buy some clothes for our family."
“Now is the time when the economy is in recession, and everyone is trying to borrow food from other places, but everyone still has some food left at home?”
The middle-aged man asked in surprise.
“Elsewhere? Where else?”
Hearing what the other party said, Zhang Tingzhang became vigilant, "In the past few years, I haven't heard of any famines nearby..."
As he spoke, he looked specifically at the entourage behind the two of them.
That's right, he is indeed a member of the army.
Zhang Tingchang, who had retired from the army, was very sure of this.
So what are the backgrounds of these two people?
The middle-aged man smiled awkwardly, but the young man next to him came to his rescue:
“Don’t be surprised, Mr. Zhang Ting. My clan uncle just came from Guanzhong and doesn’t know the situation here in Yuexi, so that’s why I said this.”
“Oh, so that’s it.”
Zhang Tingzhang suddenly understood and slapped his thigh, "How else can we say he is a Wei thief? How can a thief have the ability to feed our people like a big man?"
“I heard that over there, the government takes 50% of the land you farm. How can you live like this? Once you join the army, your whole family will be a dead soldier for generations to come.”
“The men of the family died fighting for the imperial court at the front, while the wives and daughters at the rear were forcibly married to others by the government. Is this something human beings can do?”
Zhang Tingzhang was under the command of Feng Junhou back then, and he had heard a lot about the affairs of the Wei thieves.
Some people came over from the Wei rebel army and told everyone about their own affairs.
Zhang Tingzhang may have forgotten a lot of the words he has learned over the years, but this kind of thing can really be remembered for a lifetime.
"So the big man must kill the thieves so that everyone can live a good life in peace..."
Everyone has lived a good life these years, and the more they dare not imagine the life of those people under the rule of Wei Thief.
How many things has Cang Tou Qian Shou seen?
In their eyes, Zhang Tingzhang who followed Feng Junhou all over the country was a very knowledgeable person.
People in the village would chew their tongues for a long time when they saw others carrying meat home without restraint.
So even though I had heard Zhang Tingchang talk about these things a long time ago, it still sounds interesting to me now.
No way, the sense of superiority always comes from comparison.
What’s more, I have only come out of the hard times for a few years.
It's just that the more everyone agrees with Zhang Tingchang's words, the weirder the middle-aged man's face becomes, even a little embarrassed.
The young man glanced at him and seemed to be suppressing a smile.
He seemed to be much more down-to-earth than the middle-aged man. He squatted down and talked to everyone without any care:
“My fellow villager, if you sell the food at home at this time, your family won’t be short of food, right?”
“No...there is no shortage. I have plenty left at home.”
Si'er subconsciously wanted to stand up, but when he saw that the other person was also squatting, he had no choice but to follow the other person and continue to squat on the same spot, waving his rough hands.
“Everyone says that the government has done well in recent years, but do you think anything went wrong?”
The young man asked with a smile.
As soon as these words came out, everyone suddenly looked panicked and quietly did not dare to speak.
"Don't be nervous. In fact, we are sent by the county government. This matter today is a big deal for the county."
As the young man spoke, he pointed at the grain:
"So the officials actually know what everyone is thinking. We are sent out this time to ask everyone if they have any requests?"
Hearing that the young man admitted his identity, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
This is right, otherwise being secretive would make people uncomfortable.
The government sends people to the countryside to inspect farming at least twice a year.
Everyone has basically seen him from a distance, and even elderly farmers will be called to ask questions. Seeing that the man is young, he doesn't think he will be too big for an official position.
So many people are not too nervous.
There were old farmers in the crowd. They even talked to the people sent by the officials last time, and they were more courageous. Now they tentatively said:
“Mr. Geng, our village has many mountains and little land, but the officials have not allowed us to plant more mulberry fields. We must grow food.”
“Aren’t these mulberries and rice all the same? I wonder if we can go back and talk to the officials in the government office, so that we can plant more mulberry fields next year?”
The young man laughed and pointed at the old farmer:
“My fellow villager, are you taking advantage of my youth and trying to harm me? The amount of grain to be grown in each pavilion and village was decided at the beginning.”
“As long as you don’t encroach on farmland, if you plant mulberry trees in other places, it’ll be fine, but not in designated farmland.”
“Otherwise, where would there be so much food?”
The old farmer failed to succeed. He showed a simple and honest expression and smiled sheepishly:
“Yes, yes, I was confused and made Mr. Lang laugh.”
The young man chatted with everyone for a while, then got up and left.
It was Zhang Tingchang who looked at their leaving figures with a sly smile on his face.
Can the people sent from the county be accompanied by elite soldiers?
Who are you coaxing?
I thought about it carefully and made sure I didn't say anything that crossed the line, then I smiled proudly.
After the two officials led their entourage away from the crowd and walked for a long time, the middle-aged man suddenly asked a heart-wrenching question:
“When I came to Yuexi, I saw that the people would always call them Feng. Aren’t they afraid of being tabooed?”
(End of this chapter)