CHAPTER 1547: CHAPTER 1464: VILLAGE CHIEF SIR

Just when the people of Dorne were struggling to fill their stomachs during the harvest season, the farmers of the Great Tang Empire experienced a completely unexpected harvest.

Those regions that resumed production in the spring saw substantial yields thanks to the various quality seeds from the Great Tang Empire. Most grain-producing areas increased their output by one to two tenths, and many places even increased by more than five tenths.

The fields were filled with bountiful crops, causing local people to cheer with joy. Their past life was too harsh, too heavily oppressed by the nobility and landlords, so today they finally tasted such sweet happiness.

Indeed, happiness is reflected through comparison; in the past, when you couldn’t afford to eat, and now you can eat lobster, you feel happy; but if you originally ate lobster and now can eat two lobsters, the sense of happiness isn’t as strong.

In the past, under the oppression of landlords, gentry, and nobility in these countries, most of the harvest would be taken away, and the people’s lives were extremely difficult.

Now, it’s different; the Great Tang Empire doesn’t levy heavy agricultural taxes, and other tax burdens have been abolished, so the people’s yields have suddenly increased.

Moreover, those village officials eager for results help arrange buyers, and the smooth roads further reduce transport costs, so the local farmers’ income has suddenly risen to levels they never dared to imagine before.

Looking at the rice and flour reserved at home, calculating the money made from selling excess rice and flour stored away... These farmers showed unprecedented smiles.

At this moment, even if someone said they were not subjects of the Great Tang Empire, they wouldn’t agree. Clearly, they have been Tang People for generations! Since ancient times! No doubt!

And then, something even more surprising happened to these farmers: the agricultural subsidies promised by the Great Tang Empire after occupying these areas began to be distributed.

The village officials went one by one to the farmers’ homes, handing money calculated proportionally to those diligent farmers who had toiled for a year, making the scene suddenly emotional.

"Sir..." The old farmer who had previously doubted that the agricultural subsidies were a hoax now had tears in his eyes, and his voice trembled slightly.

"No need to call me sir here, we can call village chief," the young village official shyly reminded.

"Call you whatever, this old man has lived a lifetime, and today I’ve truly met good officials. My grandfather was bullied by the nobility back then, died at less than forty, and my father died at thirty-seven from cold and hunger at home..." The old man emotionally recounted their past tragic experiences.

After speaking, he clutched the stack of bills in his hand and said with a sobbing voice, "Today, I’ve really caught a good time."

He was genuinely moved, having met countless officials in his lifetime, but had never seen village officials like the one before him. He could feel that the officials genuinely cared for them, striving to better their lives.

In life, meeting an encouraging benefactor is already quite challenging. Yet he met a country, one that led him forward!

Clutching the money tightly with his fingers, he couldn’t stop trembling. With this money, in the coming year he could live a life he never dared to envision.

He could buy a radio, repair the window he had long wanted to fix, and even buy his wife a new dress, as she hadn’t bought a new one in years.

"Indeed, Your Majesty is merciful, the Great Tang Empire is prosperous and flourishing, we’ve caught a good time," the village official nodded in agreement with a smile.

After a pause, the young village official thought for a moment and kindly continued to advise, "I’ve given you this money, but there are still a few things I’d like to discuss."

He thoughtfully adjusted his tone, suggesting, "I think it’d be best not to squander this money but to invest it in farming, where it might yield greater returns."

"Soon, the city will establish an agricultural mutual assistance association, with tractors, sowing machines, and harvesting machines, all handy tools. Next year, once you’ve hired mechanical equipment, the harvest will be more abundant and less labor-intensive." The village official said, observing the old man’s demeanor, concerned he might resent the interference with the use of his money.

Unexpectedly, the old man pondered briefly and agreed with his view: "Sir, you have my best interests, I understand. Though I’m old, I’m not foolish. I’ll listen to you and save this money without spending it first."

"I don’t quite understand those new things, but when the time comes, please guide me more. I know you genuinely want to help me..." The old farmer bashfully scratched his head, saying something that surprised the village official.

Trust is earned from others’ goodwill; sometimes, the people are cunning, but at other times, they’re sincere. They possess their little wit and wisdom, along with the simplest sense of good and evil.

Momentarily stunned, the young village official soon smiled; his half-year effort had finally yielded results, gaining something called prestige among the locals.

It was his dream outcome; with prestige and affection, he could influence the people’s choices with his knowledge. As long as these lifelong impoverished folks were willing to listen and trust him, he could find a way to help them prosper.

After all, the Great Tang Empire was still in a primal growth phase; as long as there was hard work, one could truly grow rich. The so-called competition didn’t exist yet, and the market was far from saturated; as long as there’s production, there’ll be ways to profit.

That’s actually this young village official’s greatest confidence; he knew his naive methods were bound to succeed, even if they seemed simple and crude, they were extremely effective in this special period.

"Though I can’t promise great wealth, I can ensure that everyone can lead increasingly better lives, with food to eat, meat to eat, and houses to live in..." The young village chief vowed: "Please trust me... Also, sir, you don’t need to call me sir. In the Great Tang Empire, we don’t use such titles, just call me village chief."

"Vil...lage chief..." The old farmer felt a bit unaccustomed to such titles and was momentarily a bit uncomfortable: "Alright, sir, I will call you the village chief in the future. This old man will follow your lead from now on!"

It seems... the title of sir won’t be shed anytime soon. The village official smiled wryly as he began organizing the autumn farming jobs, with the old man listening intently, forming a tacit understanding between the old and the young.