Sister Han is good at farming

Chapter 169 Grain Collection

"I need to prepare this Panax notoginseng before using it as medicine."

"It's up to Doctor Li to make the decision!" Ruan Qingqing bowed respectfully to him.

"Okay, let's all disperse!"

On the way home, Ruan Wantie asked Ruan Qingqing, "Daya, why did you insist on saving that kid? I didn't have time to think about it because things were urgent. What's the point of accumulating merit for your brother? If you were a kind-hearted person, you wouldn't have raised a knife and shouted to kill me and your brother!"

"Then what kind of person does Dad think I am?" Ruan Qingqing raised her eyebrows.

"Someone who won't suffer any loss, isn't bad-hearted, and has a sense of justice." Ruan Wantie blurted out without even thinking.

"Then why did Dad save him anyway?" Ruan Qingqing asked back.

Ruan Wantie frowned, "Now is a time of trouble, and you have always been a person of integrity. If you want to save him, you must have a reason."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Qingqing felt that the heat around her immediately dissipated a lot, and even the croaking sounds of frogs sounded much more pleasant.

She grinned silently.

"Dad, remember I told you that he has calluses on his palms?"

"Remember!"

"Generally, these people are those who have been holding weapons for a long time, and they are skilled in martial arts. I want to use this life-saving grace in exchange for his protection of our family's safety until we get through this battle." Ruan Qingqing said as she looked at the starry sky in the distance.

"You do have intentions! But Daya, how can you be sure that others will listen to you?" Ruan Wantie was puzzled.

Ruan Qingqing's eyes deepened, "Because he is a ruthless person! Generally, ruthless people don't make promises easily, but if they make a promise, they will definitely do their best to fulfill it."

Ruan Wantie nodded thoughtfully, then frowned, "No! Daya, in these war-torn days, why do you still keep an unknown person around? Aren't you afraid that he will bring trouble to us?"

Ruan Qingqing shook her head. "It is precisely because of the war that our family must be protected even more! In this chaos, I am afraid that all the evil spirits will jump out. We cannot do without some means of survival! As long as he promises not to leave before the war is over, the troubles he brings can be temporarily ignored."

"Daya, what are you worried about?"

"Xiyuguan can't hold on!"

Ruan Wantie's eyelids jumped suddenly, "How is this possible? Didn't we just have 20,000 people transferred over there?"

"But there are powerful enemies outside and treacherous people inside! In addition, the current leader is missing, I am worried that the border will not be able to hold out for long. And our county has the highest grain production in the country. Dad, what do you think we will face once the city is captured?"

Ruan Qingqing asked him coldly and calmly.

Ruan Wantie couldn't help but shudder, "If I were a barbarian, I would definitely lead my army straight here and rob as much as possible."

"Yes! The barbarians fought with us Yunqing just because they were short of food, so that they could steal supplies and food from us."

"No, Daya, why do you have so little confidence in Xiyu Pass? Dad remembers that you went to find Master Fu and others to solve the problem of Xiyu Pass before."

Ruan Wantie felt that there must be some reason that he didn't know.

Ruan Qingqing pursed her lips and said, "The last time Lord Fu came, I asked around and the two suggestions I made were both suppressed. Xiyu Pass can only be defended by the soldiers at the risk of their lives!"

"What about Shiping and the others?" Ruan Wantie shook his body and asked tremblingly.

"It's hard to say!" Ruan Qingqing shook her head.

"No, my family and everyone in Zaoziling has already planted late rice, corn, soybeans, sorghum and other crops. If the city falls, wouldn't we have done nothing?"

For the first time, a fierce look flashed across Ruan Wantie's eyes.

"Dad, I plan to have everyone build some simple fortifications outside the village. We have to harvest the crops this autumn no matter what."

"Ruan Qingqing, just tell us what to do! I know you have big ideas." Ruan Wantie said.

"Let me think about it carefully." Ruan Qingqing lowered her brows and thought.

"Why haven't you and your daughter come home yet? If I hadn't heard that you were both with Doctor Li, I would have suspected that you two were lost."

Wang brought Ruan Lanlan and other little carrot heads to the road to greet them.

Ruan Qingqing smiled at her, "Mom, how can we get lost in the village?"

"It's been so long, and I haven't seen you guys come back yet. I guessed that something might have delayed you. Today I heard that the grain collection order would be issued soon, so I was worried that you would rush to the government office overnight to ask for an explanation!"

Wang told Ruan Wantie and his daughter in detail with a worried look on her face.

"Go to the county government office to ask for an explanation overnight? Mother, but what's wrong with this year's grain collection?" Ruan Qingqing immediately grasped the key information in Wang's words.

Wang sighed heavily, "I heard that this time the grain collection will be 70% of the harvest from the fields."

"Seventy percent!"

Ruan Wantie and Ruan Qingqing shouted at the same time in high pitch.

"This is leaving us no way to survive!"

"Other things are easy to deal with. This year, because you came back late from the capital, we didn't plant early rice. The most grown are potatoes and sweet potatoes. We have to change them to rice or wheat when paying taxes. We originally paid 70%, and with the addition of the grains we planted, I'm afraid the wheat we harvested this year won't be enough to pay the tax!"

Wang said with a sad face.

Ruan Qingqing's expression also became serious. This imperial court is becoming more and more inhumane!

This shows that the border may no longer be able to withstand the pressure.

The next morning, Zhao Zhen took a thick account book and checked the tax for each household. Another patrol came to the village to urge the villagers to pay taxes early.

For a while, everyone was complaining.

"If this continues, they won't even need foreign forces to invade, they will kill themselves!" Ruan Qingqing pursed her lips and said, "No, I still have to go to the county government to talk to Lord Fu."

"Daya, it's useless for you to talk about this situation! It should be a request from above, and Lord Fu can't make the decision himself. Now that there are wars everywhere, there are fewer people growing crops, and the arable land that can be used to grow crops has also decreased a lot. I guess they have no choice but to catch us sheep and pluck as much as they can."

Ruan Wantie stopped him.

"But it's not a good idea to continue like this. It might arouse public anger and even lead to riots." Ruan Qingqing said anxiously.

"I'm afraid it has already appeared in some places." Ruan Wantie sighed deeply, "We haven't had many smooth years. It's always been this disaster or that disaster. I'm worried that if it continues like this, it will be worse than the three-year drought!"

The light in Ruan Qingqing's eyes flickered, "Dad, let's start building the fortifications after everyone pays the taxes! Otherwise, Zaoziling will never have peace!"

Ruan Wantie nodded solemnly, "I'll go discuss this with your grandfather and Village Chief Li right away!"

"Dad, tell everyone to stock up on daily necessities as soon as possible and try to go out less in the future."

Ruan Qingqing warned worriedly.

"Okay!" Ruan Wantie responded with a heavy heart.