CHAPTER 229: CHAPTER 224 CHANGE 1

Zhao Kuan copied the drawing he had already completed onto a canvas. After confirming there were no errors, he put down his pen and withdrew; his task for the day was finished.

Seeing this, Zhao Rong glanced around. Noticing there were only a few of them in the room without any elders, he promptly put down his pen and asked, "Brother Kuan, Uncle Ming asked us to join the world to support our third sister, but haven’t we already been helping her? How exactly are we supposed to join the world?"

Upon hearing this, the other young members immediately looked at Zhao Kuan, "Yes, how exactly are we supposed to join the world?"

Zhao Kuan had been kneeling for a while; his knees and neck were sore. He stood up and twisted his neck, saying, "Before, it was for a bet. This time, Uncle is asking us to genuinely help our third sister, or rather, to earn her approval through our efforts."

"What does that mean?"

Zhao Kuan glanced outside and lowered his voice, "It means that in the future, the Zhao Family in Xiping, or rather in Yu State, will follow the orders of our third sister."

The young members were shocked and exclaimed, "That’s impossible, isn’t Uncle Ming still here?"

Zhao Kuan replied, "That’s why I said it’s in the future."

Then a young member mused, "How do we earn our third sister’s approval?"

Zhao Kuan shrugged, "I don’t know."

Seeing everyone looking at him, he spoke earnestly, "I truly do not know, but for now, don’t we need to draw diagrams and organize Mr. Xiahou’s manuscripts? Let’s focus on organizing the manuscripts first."

"That’s right," Zhao Rong said, "If our third sister needs us, she’ll naturally come to us. Let’s start by getting the drawings done."

They assumed there was no one outside and that Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t find out about their discussions anytime soon. However, as soon as they left the courtyard, Zhao Zheng disclosed the matter to Zhao Erlang.

Returning to the county government, Zhao Erlang shared this with his sister.

Upon hearing that so many family members were waiting to be directed by her, Zhao Hanzhang was delighted, "Let them wait for now. Finish the drawings on hand. There are still a few small matters that do not require their involvement yet; I will invite them for larger matters."

Fu Tinghan noticed she was leading them on again, knowing the county affairs were detailed and intricate, and the current affairs differed vastly from future ones.

Clearly, she intended to wait until she fully controlled Xiping County before utilizing the Zhao family members extensively, but judging by the current situation, this isn’t too far off.

"Here are the newly logged grain accounts, have a look."

Zhao Hanzhang took it, "Send a batch to Shangcai; there are several projects announced over there which also need substantial grain."

Fu Tinghan agreed.

In Zhang Family Village at Shangcai, Zhang Dayan carried a bow and arrow, grasping a young deer, and strode into the village.

The village was quiet; due to the cold winter and to conserve food, most people were huddled at home, not venturing out.

Zhang Dayan first took the deer home and then went to the village chief’s house, which wasn’t too far from his home.

He shouted over the fence, "Third Uncle, Third Uncle, are you home?"

After a while, the village chief opened the door, huddling his neck and said, "Why shout? If I weren’t home, where would I be?"

Seeing him wear only two layers in such cold weather yet unscathed, and appearing burly and robust, the village chief envied him, "Dayan, did you catch another prey?"

Zhang Dayan nodded vaguely, "Third Uncle, I met Bao Sanzhu from Da Jiao Village on the mountain. He said Zhao Manor is recruiting workers to dig canals and reservoirs. They provide two full meals a day, and you can earn ten cents. Should we send someone to inquire?"

The village chief was leaning against the door, weak from hunger, and drowsily said, "We probably won’t be selected; before winter, they took in many refugees. They use them without pay, why would they hire us?"

"Who says they don’t pay?" Zhang Dayan clarified, "Bao Sanzhu said those refugees earn ten cents a day, plus they receive clothes. But since we’re outsiders, we wouldn’t receive clothes."

The village chief perked up, "Zhao Manor is that generous? Even the refugees they took in are getting paid?"

"Yes, I’ve confirmed it’s undoubtedly true," Zhang Dayan assured, "They don’t cheat even the floating migrants, let alone us; after all, we’re Shangcai people."

The village chief hesitated.

"Third Uncle, if we don’t earn some grain soon, even if we manage through the winter, survival won’t sustain us through spring, and there’s still half a year until the wheat harvest next year."

Upon hearing this, the village chief gritted his teeth, "Go call a few people, and let’s go to Zhao Manor to confirm. If they genuinely need people, then we’ll return to gather and bring people over."

Zhang Dayan immediately responded and set off.

This year hasn’t been easy; though the chaotic army hasn’t reached Shangcai, Shangcai still has to pay military taxes, plus three new autumn taxes added this year. To meet the County Magistrate’s tax requirements, people in the village have nearly exhausted all resources.

As soon as the winter wheat was planted and the weather started to turn cold, every household began hibernating, consuming only a small amount of grain-infused soup daily to stay just above survival.

More grain is reserved for spring, then the strong laborers would need to go to work in the fields, and they would require two meals a day to maintain some strength.

The village chief’s household fared slightly better; while not hibernating, they weren’t fully fed either, trying to conserve grain.

Only Zhang Dayan could hunt and knew some herbal methods, and could venture into the mountains, so his days were slightly better.

But his family was the only one in the village living well, and he worried someone might rob them out of hunger when he was not home.

So upon hearing this news, he quickly returned, thinking if all the able-bodied young people in the village could work at Zhao Manor, life would improve significantly.

Zhang Dayan gathered people, along with the village chief’s son and several able-bodied young men, and took some food as they headed to Zhao Manor. It took them two days due to the distance.

Unlike the bleak sights outside, even before reaching Zhao Manor, they saw people working in the fields.

Zhang Dayan, full of stamina, approached directly to inquire, and saw over twenty people digging, "Brothers, what are you all doing?"

The workers glanced at him and responded, "Digging a canal."

"Is this for Zhao Manor’s canal?"

One nodded, and Zhang Dayan quickly asked, "Is the manor still hiring?"

The person finally addressed Zhang Dayan seriously, seeing they were all capable young men, and nodded, "Yes, we need people for digging canals, reservoirs, logging, quarrying, and stone transportation."

Zhang Dayan queried, "How much do you earn a day?"

"It ranges from eight to fifteen cents, depending on the type of work. Heavier tasks earn more," the person answered, "We provide two meals a day."

The group hastily asked, "Where do outsiders stay?"

"The estate has accommodations for workers, and it’s warmer than staying at home."

Upon hearing this, the people from Zhang Family Village urged Zhang Dayan to quickly seek the manor’s steward.