Gu'an County is under the jurisdiction of Zhuozhou, Shuntian Prefecture.
The vegetation is desolate and the yellow sand is exposed. Although it cannot be called a barren land, it is extremely desolate.
Especially in the fields on both sides of the Lugou River Basin, due to excessive logging and land clearing, the sky is covered with yellow sand when there is a slight strong wind, and people who are hit by the wind and sand can't open their eyes.
In the fields, there were people in groups of three or three, diverting the water from the Lugou River into the fields, hoping that if they poured more water, the sandy land would have a good harvest this year.
Wei Liang, the county magistrate of Gu'an County, rolled up his sleeves and weighed the crop seeds distributed by the court with the government officials today.
Gu'an County is too barren, and the grain harvested is never enough to eat. The seeds for planting in the second year need to be distributed by the court. However, there are many villages and towns under the county government. In order to be able to truly distribute these seeds
In the hands of the common people, Wei Liang also registered and compiled them, distributed them to each village and town based on their head count, and then distributed them to the villagers.
Every March is the time when seeds are distributed.
But this year, for some unknown reason, the imperial court's grain seeds were more than half a month late. If they were to be distributed one by one, it would be delayed for more than ten days.
The crops were sown in spring, even though they were half a month late, but the final grain harvest was not even the slightest difference.
When the rain subsided a little, Wei Liang called for help and started distributing seeds.
This Wei Liang is in his early forties this year. He has no one in the court and has been serving as the magistrate of Gu'an County in obscurity.
Although the salary is not much, it is still enough to support a family. Although it is not a big fish and meat, it can still be enough for a simple meal.
"Master Wei, Yongqing's seeds have been weighed, and it's time to distribute them to Cao Village." The two government officials lifted several coarse sacks and put them aside, raised their sleeves and wiped the sweat from their foreheads.
"Okay, let me see how much Cao Cun should be divided." Wei Liang put down the large scale in his hand, turned around and walked to the table under the eaves, and picked up the account book on it.
"Cao Village has a population of 514 and 113 acres of cultivated land. This year, the imperial court does not distribute many seeds, so let's give them ten kilograms of seeds per mu of land. A total of one thousand one hundred and thirty kilograms, weighed
." Wei Liang said, and walked to the big scale again, waiting for the yamen to move the seeds out of the warehouse.
After a short while, two government officials came out carrying a cloth bag. It sounded like it was making a sound, and there should be a hundred and forty-five seeds in the bag.
After putting it on the ground, a government official said: "Sir, this is the only bag of seeds in the warehouse."
"Ah, no? Cao Village should have distributed more than a thousand kilograms of seeds. This bag can only be about a hundred kilograms at most. How can we divide it when they go back? Without seeds, the fields will be barren again this year." He looked at the cloth on the ground.
Bags, and looking at the empty low warehouse, Wei Liang felt very unhappy.
Gu'an County was originally poor and relied on government relief. Since he took office, he had wanted to rely on his passion and lead the people of Gu'an to gradually get rid of poverty.
Even if you don't live a good life, it's okay to have enough food for your family.
However, in the barren sandy land of Gu'an, crop yields are inherently low. Some villagers, regardless of their own persuasion, directly boiled the grain seeds that were going to be put into the fields into the pot.
Originally, the yield was still low, but now it is better. There are no seeds, the fields are barren, and the yield is zero.
But even so, Wei Liang did not punish the villagers too much. If they were not hungry, who would boil the seeds and eat them?
People who are digging for food in the fields, don’t they know the importance of seeds?
In this way, Gu'an County became poorer and poorer, and because he had no political achievements, Wei Liang stayed there for more than ten years. From a young man in his prime to the sloppy middle-aged man he is today, the official title of county magistrate has never changed.
"How about we ask Shopkeeper Li to 'borrow' some seeds?" a stubble-faced government servant whispered.
"Borrow it again. I don't know how many times I have borrowed it before, but the county government has never repaid it once. If I borrow it again, I'm afraid shopkeeper Li won't pay it back." Wei Liang shook his head, with a look of helplessness on his face.
To be honest, if there were no seeds in Cao Village, I could imagine the future with my eyes open.
However, if you let yourself borrow it again, how can you say this?
As the saying goes, it is not difficult to borrow something and borrow it again. I have never paid it back once, so how can I have the shame to talk to others again.
"But if Cao Village doesn't have seeds to go to the ground and relies on tree bark and grass to feed itself, and two hundred people can survive by the end of the year, it will be good." Hu Zhuzi, the yamen official, raised his sleeves and wiped his eyes.
The tattered appearance of the cuffs was very unpleasant to Wei Liang's eyes.
Especially such a rough and arrogant man couldn't help crying when he mentioned that only two hundred people in Cao Village would starve to death by the end of the year, and Wei Liang's nose couldn't help but feel sore.
"Oh, I'll go ahead and borrow the seeds again. If I borrow the seeds, you will send them to Cao Village. This year, you must watch them plant the seeds in the ground before you come back.
"
Putting down his rolled-up sleeves, Wei Liang was about to go out.
"Sir, would you like me to take the cart with you?" Hu Zhuzi asked loudly.
If they could borrow the seeds, they would not be allowed to cook and eat them under any circumstances this year. Thinking of the people in the ditch near Cao Village who were looking for wild vegetables in the grass, the government officials wanted to send them the seeds now.
"Take the cart, what if someone doesn't want to borrow it?" Wei Liang turned around and glared at the government servant.
Just as he was about to leave, he seemed to remember something again and hurriedly walked into the county government's own earthen house that integrated offices and accommodation.
It doesn’t look good if you open your mouth and your hands are empty.
However, my salary is just enough for the family to have a simple meal. If I want to come up with a decent gift, I really don't have it.
After rummaging through boxes and cabinets, I finally found a paper package in the wooden box behind the door.
Inside is a bag of tea that his brother Wei Qi, who is a Qianhu member of the Hangzhou Prefecture Guard, asked someone to bring him last year.
This is the finest West Lake Longjing. It was hidden by his wife, saying that it was given to him by the magistrate of Zhuozhou when he came to Gu'an for inspection.
A bag of tea leaves is not enough to make Master Zhizhou look at me differently.
But without giving any gifts, Lord Zhizhou will definitely report the poverty and backwardness of Gu'an truthfully.
Without political achievements, there will never be any hope for your promotion.
"What are you doing with the tea? That's for Lord Zhizhou to inspect Gu'an." The wife came in and when she saw the package in Wei Liang's hand, she wanted to snatch it.
Wei Liang hurriedly stepped back, hid the package behind him, and said flatteringly: "This tea is going to be given away to someone anyway, and I just happen to be giving it away this time."
"Who should I give it to? No one can give this tea except Master Zhizhou. You have been poor all your life, and your family can't even afford a decent gift. I want to keep this tea for you to give to Master Zhizhou. Let's
If you don’t want to be promoted, you just need to be scolded less. Just put down the tea leaves." Looking at Wei Liang, my wife seemed to recall Lord Zhizhou’s scolding.
"If Mr. Zhizhou wants to scold me, let him scold me. I want to take these tea leaves to save my life." Looking at his wife, Wei Liang said seriously.
"Help, who to save?"
"The imperial court's seeds were gone when they were distributed to Cao Village. I plan to give the tea leaves to Shopkeeper Li and borrow some more seeds from him," Wei Liang said.
"How many times have you borrowed it from Shopkeeper Li, but you haven't paid it back even once. I am a businessman and I have to make a living."
Looking at Wei Liang, the wife whispered.
"It was because I didn't return it that I felt so ashamed that I wanted to give the tea to him. Besides, if there are no seeds in Cao Village this year, it's not certain whether anyone will be alive at the end of the year. If all the people in Cao Village starve to death,
I will never be able to get over this hurdle in my life." Wei Liang said.
Looking at Wei Liang, my wife held back her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes: "You have been a magistrate all your life, and you always think about the people. Look, our own family is no longer able to open the pot?"
After saying that, he turned around and ran out sobbing.
I originally thought of using this only "valuable thing" to give Wei Liang a little "favor" in front of Master Zhizhou, but I never thought that he would use it to lend grain seeds to Caocun.
Wei Liang's wife was extremely sad.
Wei Liang took the package, looked at it, and then looked at his wife who ran away angrily. Then, with a sudden heart, he walked out of the door and walked towards Shopkeeper Li's shop.
