The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 45 - 43 Absurdity
Chapter 45: Chapter 43 Absurdity
Chapter 45 -43 Absurdity
Ruo Xuan blinked her eyes: “Do people really need to be taught what to do when entrusted with a dream by a deity? Does this need to be taught? Humans are not flowers; when a flood comes, just find somewhere to hide!”
But Ruo Xuan still thought for a moment before saying, “The Deity said that the crops in the fields must be harvested immediately, otherwise the flood will spoil them; it’s also necessary to prepare some food and clothing in advance, placing them in high areas to fend off hunger and cold, transferring domestic poultry and livestock, stored grain, and valuables to higher ground; as soon as the rain seems abnormal, everyone must quickly seek refuge in high places, and there’s more…”
Ruo Xuan racked her brains and thought of something else, “Strengthen the levees to prevent breaches, and clear the river channels to allow the floodwater to recede faster! That’s all the Deity mentioned! Then, in my dream, I saw the flood come, destroying houses and submerging good fields, and as creatures suffered and perished, I woke up in fear!”
This is all a flower knows; she really can’t come up with anything else, so don’t make it hard for her!
Now, Lord County Magistrate Zhang was truly shocked. Destroying houses and submerging good fields, could it really be that serious?
Moreover, these methods for defending against floods, although simple, were indeed effective; these shouldn’t be within the understanding of a three-year-old child.
Could it really be a dream entrusted by a deity?
Lord County Magistrate Zhang looked up at the clear blue sky without a cloud in sight, questioning if there could really be a flood.
Forget it, do your best and leave the rest to fate!
He had made his preparations; even if there were no floods, the worst that could happen would be having a negative mark of incompetence on his record, making it harder for him to garner the trust of his subordinates and the people in the future. But as long as he wholeheartedly worked for the people’s welfare, they would eventually trust him one day.
Clearing waterways, strengthening, and building levees was something that would need to be done sooner or later; better to do it sooner rather than later!
Having made up his mind, Lord County Magistrate Zhang couldn’t help but ask, “Did the Deity say when the floods will come?”
Ruo Xuan gently sniffed her little nose, judging from the scent of water carried by the wind: “Rain will start after five days.”
Lord County Magistrate Zhang: ….They even have the timing, the Deity really did entrust the dream with such diligence and care.
In the end, Lord County Magistrate Zhang went from half-doubting to half-believing!
To believe halfway, is to prepare halfway; he couldn’t understand why he started to believe and felt uneasy about it.
He quickly thought of a response plan in his mind and said to the head of the village, “Head of the village, starting today, the Governor’s Office will also buy Zizania; one wen per catty for fresh ones, and three wen per catty for dried ones. Please tell the villagers they can bring the Zizania they harvest to the Governor’s Office.”
When the villagers heard that the Governor’s Office was paying one wen per catty, everyone immediately felt that the Ruo Family was really too good, and this County Magistrate was not very competent!
The villagers did not know that Lord County Magistrate was collecting it to provide relief during disasters, and that it would be used for the people free of charge when the time came.
One wen per catty was Lord County Magistrate Zhang giving the villagers wages. And one wen per catty was not low considering that Geng Grass is a wild plant that does not cost money; with a bit of effort, they could easily harvest a catty.
Ruo Chuan could offer twenty wen per catty because they had prior knowledge, which of course, couldn’t be compared to the materials for disaster relief.
The most important thing was bulk purchase; for the Governor’s Office, it also represented a considerable amount of silver. With the need to clear waterways and strengthen the levees, the Governor’s Office didn’t have that much silver to spend.
Only the head of the village saw the whole picture: Geng Grass was originally a worthless thing, and being wild, selling it for one wen per catty was already quite good.
They were benefiting from the light cast by the Ruo Family to sell at a high price!
But there were other people in the village; villagers who didn’t earn any silver would be jealous seeing others earning it, and he even worried they might cause trouble.
Now that the Governor’s Office wanted to buy Zizania, even if it was for one wen per catty, many villagers were very willing to harvest and sell, which also alleviated his concerns.
The village head said promptly, “On behalf of the villagers, I thank Lord County Magistrate. I will definitely notify the other villagers.”
Lord County Magistrate Zhang nodded: “Furthermore, this year anyone who harvests their crops early will get a ten-catty reduction in field tax per mu, but the tax must be paid with this year’s new grain, within a five-day limit. After that time, no exceptions will be made.”
The villagers erupted upon hearing this!
“Lord County Magistrate, is it true? But the grains in the fields aren’t ripe yet! Can the tax collection date be postponed by a few days?”
“Yes! If it’s delayed a few days, we’ll be able to harvest!”
…
Lord County Magistrate Zhang waved his hand, “No, there’s only five days.”
About the possibility of a flood, the County Magistrate didn’t say anything, because he knew that no one would believe it even if he did.
Only by enticing them with profit would people be willing to harvest their rice early; even if not all villagers were willing to do so, he thought saving some was better than none. If there was no flooding, the remaining crops could mature and be harvested, which would also be a cause for celebration.
The villagers were about to say more when Lord County Magistrate released another astonishing piece of news that immediately diverted everyone’s attention, “The Governor’s Office will soon be recruiting people to dredge the river channels and reinforce the riverbanks. Any able-bodied villagers with spare time can register for the work, two hundred silver per day, meals not included.”
Two hundred silver a day, such wages were absurdly high!!
In the past, for dredging river channels and reinforcing riverbanks, the Governor’s Office would simply draft strong men into service without pay.
So the villagers exploded in chatter once again, “Is it true, Lord County Magistrate? I want to sign up!”
“Lord County Magistrate, two people from my family want to sign up!”
“Lord County Magistrate, me and my two sons want to sign up!”
…
One after another, they scrambled to enlist. As for cutting Zizania, there were still people at home – no worries about a shortage of hands!
Five days was indeed an extremely short time, and there was not much that could be prepared in advance. The County Magistrate didn’t have much time to talk with everyone, only telling them that everything he had said was true and that the Governor’s Office would soon issue a notice, and they could go to the office in the afternoon to get the details of the work.
After giving these instructions, he asked the village head to notify the village heads of the nearby villages, and then he hastily departed.
The villagers were ecstatic, quickly helping to load the one thousand pounds of Zizania onto the cart before rushing home to tell their families the significant news, arrange their household chores, and then head into town to register for dredging the river channels.
The village head also excused himself from the Ruo Family and hurriedly went to notify others.
After everyone in the village had gone, Granny Lei asked her granddaughter, “Xuanbao, what did you say to the Lord County Magistrate?”
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The whole family turned to look at Ruo Xuan, feeling that the County Magistrate’s sudden issuance of several decrees was somehow related to Xuanbao.
“I told the County Magistrate that I dreamt of a flood happening in five days.”
The courtyard suddenly fell silent for a second.
The thought that emerged in everyone’s mind was: Could it be that the Lord County Magistrate actually believed it?
Ruo Jiang panicked, “I’ll chase after the County Magistrate and bring him back!”
Madam Jiang nodded, almost in tears, “Hurry!”
Xuanbao was just a three-year-old child. How could her dreams be trusted!
The County Magistrate must have gone mad!
Ruo Zhou said, “I’ll go, I can run fast!”
Granny Lei stopped everyone, “Hold on!”
They all looked at her.
Granny Lei looked at Xuanbao, “Is this true?”
Ruo Xuan nodded, “It’s true.”
Even Granny Lei, who had made preparations, felt a surge of panic upon confirmation, but she quickly composed herself and made arrangements:
“Number Four, Number Six, rush into the city to deliver the Zizania to the tavern. We won’t sell the wild boar today; inform Number Five that he must return home within the next two days.”
“Number Two’s wife, Number Four’s wife, go back to your parental homes and inform your in-laws. Say that our elder had a dream and tasked me with the message. When you head back, take ten pounds of meat and a basket of Zizania.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang felt unhappy at heart. How could such dreams be believed? Even if she told her family, they wouldn’t believe her!
Absolutely preposterous!
The County Magistrate actually believed it too – utterly preposterous!
