CHAPTER 315: CHAPTER 309: FULL OF VITALITY

In order to gain reputation, Zhao Hanzhang personally went to the scene to distribute relief grain to everyone.

The relief grain was distributed according to the village, as the distances varied, so the arrival times of the village chiefs were different. This conveniently prevented too many people from gathering at once, allowing others to observe.

The first to receive relief grain were naturally the city residents. As soon as the grain arrived and the county government’s notice was posted, the village chiefs in the city led their people to collect the relief grain.

Fu Tinghan calculated the relief grain each village was entitled to receive based on the number of households and people they reported, as well as the data recorded in the county government. Zhao Hanzhang and County Magistrate Gao counted it out together and personally handed the grain to the village chiefs.

After they returned, the village chiefs would distribute it according to households.

While distributing the relief grain, Zhao Hanzhang also told those coming to transport the grain how much each person was entitled to receive, with children under twelve given half, so that each family could calculate their rightful share.

This was to prevent the village chiefs from embezzling the relief grain. In addition, she also dispatched County Magistrate Gao to conduct inspections, both to promote agricultural tasks and to prevent such incidents.

Speaking of promoting agricultural tasks, Zhao Hanzhang was engaged in such work at the moment.

As she distributed the relief grain, Zhao Hanzhang instructed the young and strong to carry the grain, while she talked with the village chiefs and village elders, "The autumn harvest is approaching, now is the time when rice is filling and beans are starting to swell, one must not allow people to eat the green crops again."

She sighed, "As I traveled from Xiping, I saw patches missing here and there in the fields, which broke my heart. If this grain could stay another month, who knows how much could be harvested and how many lives could be saved."

The village chiefs and elders deeply agreed and immediately promised, "You can rest assured, County Lord. We will persuade them when we return, and no longer allow them to cut the green crops."

A village elder added, "It’s because they are too hungry and unable to survive that they considered eating the green crops, but with hope, who would want to ruin the grain like that?"

"Fortunately, the County Lord is kind-hearted and gave us relief grain. With this grain, if we save some, we can make it to the autumn harvest."

The village chief, being better informed, had heard that in Yu Yang, they were providing relief through work, so he tentatively asked, "County Lord, I wonder if we can take advantage of the agricultural off-season to repair the waterworks or something?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "For now, agriculture remains a priority. When you go back to the village, you must tell them to go to the fields to weed and control pests. It’s the rainy season, and it’s not suitable for constructing waterworks. We’ll talk about it in the winter."

Zhao Hanzhang paused and continued, "Tell them not to worry too much about the autumn taxes. Focus on achieving a good harvest first. I will write to the Inspector and request a reduction in our taxes for Ru Nan County this year."

Upon hearing this, not only the village chiefs and elders, but even the young and strong who were eavesdropping perked up and immediately put down the grain to bow to Zhao Hanzhang, "Thank you, County Lord, for saving our lives."

Zhao Hanzhang quickly helped them up and sighed, "This is Hanzhang’s responsibility; how can I accept your thanks?"

These words made them even more moved, and even the village chief couldn’t help but bend deeply in gratitude, "We are blessed indeed to have such a lady as County Lord; it’s truly a fortune earned over three lifetimes."

Having verified the relief grain allocation for one village, Fu Tinghan wrote a note and handed it to Wu Erlang, then looked in Zhao Hanzhang’s direction.

Wu Erlang’s eyes were reddened with emotion and excitement, and he said to Fu Tinghan, "Master, to be able to follow the lady is surely a great merit accumulated from my previous life."

Initially, he thought Fu Tinghan was the leader, but now he had been influenced by Ting He, and commenced addressing Zhao Hanzhang as lady and referring to Fu Tinghan as master.

Fu Tinghan’s expression was calm, but his gaze towards Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but reveal a hint of a smile. She was still the same, perhaps employing skills and consideration, yet her sincerity was no less.

She always managed to make people feel her earnestness.

The county seat of Sui Ping was bustling for several days, and once the village chief from the farthest village had collected the relief grain with the young and strong, Zhao Hanzhang decided to leave.

She and County Magistrate Gao would visit villages whenever they had time, to comfort the people and encourage them in their agricultural work.

"There is still time to weed and control pests now. Mobilize everyone’s enthusiasm; it’s good to have one more pound of grain by the autumn harvest."

County Magistrate Gao agreed.

As soon as Zhao Hanzhang left, he took the government officials to the countryside to conduct inspections.

The people had received the relief grain and were no longer too hungry to move. Some diligent ones had already started working in the fields. Most people, with renewed energy, began planning whether to go and pull a few weeds, as their fields had quite a bit of it.

Once County Magistrate Gao arrived, they immediately sprang into action, even if it was just for show in the fields.

County Magistrate Gao didn’t just look and leave but stood by the field encouraging them, "The County Lord has said, our Sui Ping found it difficult with the summer taxes this year. Everyone has worked hard, and for the autumn taxes, she will indeed write to the Inspector to reduce some taxes. That way, after the autumn harvest, only a small amount of tax will be paid, and the remaining grain will be ours. By then, we can even enjoy a good winter."

"What the County Lord said is true?"

"Of course, it’s true. If you don’t believe me, do you not trust the County Lord?" County Magistrate Gao added, "Even when she was County Magistrate of Xiping, she managed to have taxes reduced there. Now as County Lord, it’s certainly possible."

Hearing this, everyone found it reasonable, so even the lazy and perfunctory villagers started taking things seriously. After paying the taxes, the surplus grain would be theirs.

As long as it was not like the summer taxes where almost all the grain had to be handed over, they had plenty of motivation.

Sui Ping County gradually regained its vigor. Everyone worked hard, aiming to weed and control pests before August to harvest more grain.

Things proceeded smoothly in Sui Ping County. Zhao Hanzhang directly headed to Biyang County.

Biyang County was considered the most southwestern corner of Ru Nan County. The County Magistrate’s surname was Hu, and Zhao Hanzhang did not notify him in advance. She brought Fu Tinghan and others towards the county seat, observing the villages and fields along the way.

It was not much different from Sui Ping County. After all, this year Inspector He had imposed mostly heavy taxes in all counties of Ru Nan County, but there were still slight differences.

The people seemed indifferent towards their County Magistrate, some not even knowing his surname.

Because there was no County Magistrate accompanying them, Zhao Hanzhang specifically sought out a couple of village chiefs to speak with, coincidentally encountering one whose family was brewing wine.

Catching the wine fragrance wafting through the air, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but look at the village chief with admiration, "The village chief’s family is quite well-off, to produce such fine wine."

In a village where people could starve, brewing wine meant having plenty of grain, money, and power.

The village chief, however, sighed wryly, "Lady, you jest. Brewing wine is wasteful of grain. Although my family still has some assets, in these times, it’s merely scraping by; how dare we claim to be well-off?"