CHAPTER 230: CHAPTER 225 CHANGE 2

Ji Yuan entrusted these trivial matters to the manor head, Zhao Tong, only asking about them daily.

Zhao Tong had to pay wages every ten days, and his heart would ache each time. He actually didn’t want to recruit more people, but Mr. Ji specifically instructed him to accept anyone who arrived, without turning anyone away.

After the work was done, those who were diligent and capable were kept, while those who were sly and lazy were dismissed.

So when he saw Zhang Dayan and a few others, although he was calculating the daily increase in food and copper coins, he still accepted them.

Zhang Dayan and the others stayed and worked for two days, ate two days of full meals, and slept on warm beds, which confirmed for them that the work was doable and the Zhao Family was trustworthy.

So after some discussion, they decided to let Zhang Dayan and the village chief’s son return to call more people, bringing everyone capable of working from the village, while the rest stayed here.

Then Zhao Tong saw them again five days later, with nearly a hundred people following them.

Zhao Tong: ...

This matter even alerted Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan personally came over, seeing them with sallow faces and thin bodies, with some nearly unable to stand, he ordered to bring up two buckets of porridge.

The porridge was quickly distributed, but everyone got a bowl, and their faces barely improved a little.

Ji Yuan stood by Zhang Dayan and asked, "Are the days in your village really this difficult now?"

Zhang Dayan, while drinking porridge, replied, "It’s not easy. This year has been too cold, and there’s little grain left. Since winter began, five people have died in our village, and just a few days ago, shortly after the winter solstice, three died overnight. We can’t even tell if it was from freezing or starvation."

Ji Yuan frowned.

Zhang Dayan sighed, "I don’t think next year will be any better. The elders in the village say there was little snow this year, but the weather was frigid. By next year, we could face drought."

Ji Yuan seemed to ponder.

At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang was also squatting in the wilderness, deep in thought, surrounded by several helpers who held bowls in their hands.

The vegetable soup in the bowls was steaming, and they were eating soup and bread, occasionally lifting their heads carefully to glance at Zhao Hanzhang.

This was their first time seeing the County Lord, and she was indeed as rumored to be, a kind and approachable young lady.

But for some reason, no one dared to act rude in her presence.

Zhao Hanzhang regained her focus and asked the anxious strong man beside her, "So you want to bring your cousins’ family here to Xiping?"

The robust man, Jiao Dalang, nearly buried his head into his knees, nervously said, "If it’s not possible, then..."

"It’s fine," Zhao Hanzhang squinted and said, "You can bring them here. Isn’t there still empty houses in your village? Bring them over and settle them temporarily in the empty houses. They can first work and earn wages in Xiping County. If they decide to stay after spring, come to the county government to register."

She added, "This year it’s too late, but once they register at the county government, they can be allocated some land. If they’re worried about taxes and don’t want the land, they can also work as long-term laborers for the county government, with monthly pay similar to the refugees who came."

Jiao Dalang’s eyes lit up, feeling conflicted. After seeing the treatment Zhao Hanzhang offered to refugees, they all wanted to become long-term laborers.

But as farmers, land was their lifelong obsession, and he was reluctant to give up land to work long-term.

Yet now it’s truly hard to be a common citizen; the taxes are too heavy. They have land and property, but after all the family labor, there’s scarcely any grain left after taxes.

Zhao Hanzhang noticed Jiao Dalang’s dilemma, smiled slightly, and said, "This year I’ll waive your autumn tax, and for next year’s taxes, I’ll levy them according to the annual prospects, adjusting and waiving some as needed, so no need to worry."

Zhao Hanzhang still prefers them to be common citizens. Although using long-term laborers is more convenient for her, she hopes they can thrive in Xiping and improve their lives through their own efforts.

Having gotten Zhao Hanzhang’s assurance, Jiao Dalang immediately went to their little manager to ask for leave, and rushed home to find his father, "Father, the County Lord said brother and the others can come over. Just temporarily live in our village, and if they truly decide to settle in Xiping, they can be allocated land next year."

Upon hearing this, Jiao’s father immediately got up, "Then what are you waiting for, go find your uncle and aunt."

The days in Shangcai were tough this year, and since the winter solstice, the stored grain was diminishing, making the villagers anxious.

At this time, they heard that Xiping County, next door, was building reservoirs and water channels. Initially, they sympathized with the people there, thinking it must be hard for them to work in such cold.

But later they heard it wasn’t forced labor, but the county government was using labor to provide relief. Those who worked not only got to eat, but also received daily wages.

People quietly watched for a while. Some even went to visit relatives in neighboring counties, only to find those relatives boiling thick wheat porridge and having steamed buns with every meal.

It was said the steamed buns were made from mixed wheat bran, wheat flour, and bean flour, appearing brownish-yellow, but tasted okay.

Much better than their meager servings of wheat porridge.

It was said those buns were distributed by the county government, as everyone’s ration was fixed, with some people bringing home the leftover for their old and weak family members.

Thus, people in Shangcai County all envied and admired those in Xiping County.

Back then, marauders were rampant in Xiping County, many died, and they sympathized with them, wondering if they’d survive the winter with so many things looted. Unexpectedly, they were living better through the winter.

"Why are you rushing?"

"I heard Qian Jin’s family had visitors."

"Relatives coming to borrow grain?"

"That requires Qian Jin’s family to have grain to lend, it’s his cousin from Xiping, heard he’s come to take him over for work."

"Really, can we from Shangcai also go over for work?"

"Others might not, but Qian Jin probably can, especially with his relatives being there."

"If you say so, then I can too. I’m related to Qian Jin. Isn’t Qian Jin’s relatives my relatives too?" After saying this, the person pushed open the door and jogged over to Qian Jin’s house, hunched up.

This way, the whole village seemed to be related to Jiao Dalang, meaning the whole village could go?

Jiao Dalang, sitting at the Qian Family’s place, was dumbfounded, surrounded by people. It took quite an effort to break free, and he said troubledly, "I only mentioned bringing my cousin and cousins, not so many people. If you all want to go, I can’t guarantee our County Lord will accept everyone."

However, some villagers were more concerned about, "You can really eat well and earn money working over there?"

"Yes, I dig the water channels, earning ten cents a day."

"Is your county still accepting refugees?"

"We are. Any traveler willing to stay is accepted by our County Lord, but they need to be diligent. Anyone caught slacking or causing trouble will have their pay forfeited or be directly sent to grind or mill."

Why does Zhao Hanzhang distribute food and wages, yet everyone still fears her?

Because her decrees are very strict. Anyone intentionally lazy or stirring trouble, once caught, is either docked pay or directly taken to grind or mill. The latter, as punishment, has no pay.

Few dare to provoke Zhao Hanzhang lightly. If any do, they’re likely in the mill or whereabouts unknown.