The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 223 - 212: Dealing (Additional - for 200,000 Votes from Yunqi)

Chapter 223: Chapter 212: Dealing (Additional Chapter for 200,000 Votes from Yunqi)

Zhou Erlang had already sold all his tofu and was now selling bamboo wares when he spotted the steamed buns wrapped in lotus leaves in their embrace. Unable to help it, the tantalizing aroma wafted over to him in waves.

Thinking of how expensive grain prices were these days, Zhou Erlang couldn’t help but chastise in a low voice, "Don’t waste money when we’re out, let’s endure it a bit longer, we’ll go back soon, and tomorrow, we’ll bring our own dry food."

It was mainly because they hadn’t expected the soaring prices in the county town, otherwise they would have definitely brought their own provisions.

"By the way, how much are buns now?"

Zhou Liulang: "Two coins each."

"Meat buns?"

"No, vegetarian buns."

Zhou Erlang’s eyes widened, "It doubled?"

Manbao nodded empathetically, "Second Brother, the brother who was selling buns said that the price of rice has already risen to thirty-two coins."

Zhou Erlang fell silent for a moment, then turned and said, "Eat quickly, and then let’s head home."

After all, the bamboo wares were not selling, so it was better to go back home.

They hadn’t ventured out for too long and had no clue that the world outside had changed to this extent; they needed to hurry back to the village to inform Old Zhou.

Manbao, holding a bun, savored her food, and only after filling her stomach did she sit on the flatbed cart, swaying all the way home.

Hearing that grain prices had skyrocketed, Old Zhou fell silent for a long while before saying, "Count our food at home, let’s eat sparingly."

Manbao sat beside him, tilting her little head up to look at him.

Old Zhou, stroking her little head, said, "Being a bit more frugal each day can save lives at critical times, Manbao, you are going to suffer."

"I’m not afraid of hardship!" Manbao clenched her tiny fist and said, "Dad, don’t worry, I will earn a lot of money."

Old Zhou said pensively, "Sometimes, even money can’t buy food, I only hope that this year the County Governmental Office will show mercy and allow us to pay taxes with money instead of grain."

Otherwise, if grain prices continue to rise without falling, they wouldn’t be able to buy any even with money. Just the thought of the autumn taxes his family owed made Old Zhou shiver uncontrollably.

It was only at this moment that Old Zhou felt the disadvantage of having so many sons, for the autumn taxes were several times more than other families had to pay.

Old Zhou glanced disapprovingly at his sons and frowned with worry.

Manbao whispered into his shoulder, "Dad, I read in a book that if a place has a natural disaster, the imperial court might exempt it from taxes."

Old Zhou wasn’t very hopeful and said, "Our village wasn’t flooded, so the exemption doesn’t apply to us, and besides..."

What Old Zhou left unsaid was that even if the autumn tax was exempted, the County Governmental Office would always find other contributions to collect that amount again, just like during the great drought of the eleventh year of Dade.

Just after the Chief informed them that the court had exempted their tax for the year, the County Governmental Office’s people came asking for contributions, which ended up being three times higher than the previous years.

The exempted grain tax had almost entirely ended up as contributions.

Manbao then boasted, "I got my friend to tell her father about it."

Seeing her triumphant demeanor, Old Zhou couldn’t help but smile and asked, "Who is your friend’s father?"

"The County Magistrate."

Old Zhou: ...

County Magistrate Fu returned home in the dark again, his boots covered in mud. He didn’t go to the dining hall but chose to freshen up first. Only after washing himself clean did he head to the dining hall.

Seeing his wife and children seated at the dinner table, he frowned and said, "Didn’t I tell you? If I come back late, you should just eat without waiting for me."

Mrs. Fu served him food with a smile, "We haven’t waited long, and the children wanted to dine with you too. You must be tired today, sit down and eat first."

County Magistrate Fu then sat down to dine.

The Fu Family followed the rule of not speaking during meals, so everyone ate in silence. After they finished, they sat together and drank tea, and Mrs. Fu finally asked, "Do you need to go to the villages again tomorrow?"

County Magistrate Fu sighed, "Tomorrow, I have to visit several villages near Dali Village to confirm the extent of their losses."

Mrs. Fu felt sorry for him and muttered, "You should just let the Chiefs report to you. Why must you see for yourself? Look at you, going from one village to another, often through areas with deep waters and numerous rivers. I’m afraid you’ll..."

"The waters of the Luojiang don’t join the Minjiang River. Though there are some disasters, there are no major floods, don’t worry, I’m fine."

Fu Wenyun took the opportunity to ask, "Father, isn’t there a Qili Village next to Dali Village?"

"Yes, how do you know?" The County Magistrate recalled and then said, "Your little friend told you, right?"

Fu Wenyun nodded without hiding anything, "She came to the city with her brothers to sell things today."

County Magistrate Fu asked with curiosity, "What did she say? Did she mention the situation in their village?"

County Magistrate Fu remembered Manbao because she was very smart and also a very young girl.

Fu Wenyun didn’t conceal anything and told her father everything Manbao had said, then asked on her behalf, "Father, what will they do if there’s no harvest this autumn?"

County Magistrate Fu was silent and didn’t speak for a while. After a long moment, he put down his teacup and stood up, "You all rest, I need to go to the front hall."

The front hall of the Fu Family was the County Governmental Office.

County Magistrate Fu hurried off.

Mrs. Fu couldn’t help but glare at her second daughter, "Your father can finally rest for a while, can’t you talk about something happy with him? Must you bring up official duties at home, too?"

Fu Wenyun lowered her head.

Seeing her mother’s discomfort, Fu Wenxuan quickly grabbed her mother’s hand with a smile, "Mother, my sister meant well to remind our father. Otherwise, if a real disaster occurs, Father will be even busier."

"Could it not wait until tomorrow? Besides, how much could your sister, who’s only a few years old, possibly know?"

Mrs. Fu felt that such matters shouldn’t involve girls, especially since Fu Wenyun was only eleven years old.

In the past, County Magistrate Fu wouldn’t talk about these matters with his children, especially his two daughters.

But since last year’s meeting with Zhou Man and Bai Shan, County Magistrate Fu no longer avoided discussing these topics with his children. While his older daughter wasn’t interested and he did not insist she listen, if his second daughter showed interest, he would not send her away. Sometimes, when he discussed affairs with the Assistant County Magistrate, he would specifically call her forward to make tea.

This time, the concerns his daughter raised were also on his mind. In fact, he had discussed them with the Assistant County Magistrate and others earlier, but a decision had been hard to reach.

There were both supporters and opponents on the issue.

County Magistrate Fu walked to the front hall but didn’t summon the Assistant County Magistrate and others. Instead, he sat behind the desk and, after a long silence, had someone call the steward.

The matters were usually discussed with the Assistant County Magistrate, County Lieutenant, Registrar, and others, but this time he wanted to hear the steward’s opinion.

Compared to the others, the steward was his aide-de-camp and the one most loyal to him.

The steward arrived quickly; he too had accompanied County Magistrate Fu to the villages today and had just eaten and bathed and changed his clothes.

Seeing him enter, County Magistrate Fu closed the door, turned around, and said to him, "Uncle Wen, have you ever considered what will become of me after this autumn passes?"