Chapter 66
Whenever there is a big event, every village is going to convene a meeting in a specific place to say that Dafang village is under the big camphor tree in the middle of the village. For example, when spring ploughing reminds people not to delay the season, when autumn drying reminds people to pay attention to fire prevention, when to pay taxes after autumn harvest, or when the imperial court wants to recruit soldiers, levy corvee, etc., are all notified by Li Zheng.
However, there are few such things as conscription and corvee. They are usually regular spring ploughing, autumn harvest and other things. At this time, when something is announced, it's still important, so people have to be a little worried. No wonder the third aunt sighs.
Lian Fangzhou's shortcut: "take care of him! Anyway, I'll know by then! Our family are all half-aged children, so it's not necessarily possible to spread out anything! "
Third aunt and grandmother think about it. It's true that they don't think about it anymore.
In the evening, Lian Fangzhou, Lian Ze and Aunt Zhang, Uncle Li, came back first. After a simple washing, they agreed to go down to the camphor tree together.
When they arrived, there were many villagers standing under the big camphor tree. They were talking about what would happen.
However, it is obvious that Li Zheng's tone is very tight. At the last moment, no one knows what will happen. This kind of discussion and speculation is just a waste of time!
The more people get together, the more dense and noisy they are. Lian Li and Qiao Shi also came. They saw Lian Fangzhou and Lian Ze standing together with Uncle Li and Aunt Zhang. Lian Li didn't say anything. However, Qiao Shi "Pooh" a few words in a low voice and then turned around to stop looking at them.
After a while, Zhang Lizheng finally came, stood on the high stone platform under the big camphor tree, glanced at it, and asked loudly as usual, "have you all arrived?"
And they all answered in a great tumult, "here we are! Come on! "
Zhang Lizheng coughed for a while and said in a high voice, "everyone is quiet. Listen to me!" So repeatedly shouted several times, the next people finally quiet down, staring at Zhang Lizheng.
Zhang Lizheng then said slowly: "the news just came down from the county government, there are two new seeds issued by the government, asking all our families to test the seeds next year --"
before saying a word, the next "boom" started.
"What? New seed? Is that reliable! "
"Trial? With our own fields? "
"Nonsense! Where do you plant without your own fields! "
"That's not good! What about the crops? Do not grow crops next year waiting for starvation
"I think so. Now we're forced to plant something that we don't know. Then we won't have a meal for the government to take care of?"
"You are dreaming. Who is in charge of our people's life and death?"
"Well, don't quarrel, don't quarrel. I haven't heard what Zhang Li is saying yet!"
"……"
Zhang Li was not in a hurry when he heard the noise below. He seemed to have expected that the big guy would react like this. He stood on the top and looked quietly, quite calm.
"Well, how can it be such a thing! I don't know what is planted here, but what can be bigger than food? Alas! " Aunt Zhang sighed.
"What's the way? The government has spoken. Can we not do it?" Uncle Li is an honest man. After thinking about it, he said: "it's a big deal. Let's burn more coal and save more money. Then we will not be hungry to buy food."
This words pour some reason, Aunt Zhang then nods, also not so nervous and tangled.
However, she was a little sad, because she thought that this year would be a fat year and many things could be added. Now it seems that she has to plan again.
Lian Fangzhou smiled and said, "Uncle Li and Aunt Zhang, let's listen first. Maybe it's a good thing!"
Uncle Li and Aunt Zhang both laughed. They both had the same thoughts: can the government have good things? It's a good thing that someone has already done it. As for that!
Zhang Li was just watching the big guy chirp almost, and then he loudly asked everyone to calm down. Then he said: "these two things are called potatoes and cotton. Potatoes can be used as food. Cotton is used for making clothes..."
At this point, it's "boom" again.
Even Fangzhou's brain "boom" for a while, suddenly raised his head to look at Zhang Lizheng, secretly suppressing the excitement.
Potatoes and cotton are really good things!
However, no matter how good things have to be found, they are good things! For people who have never met before, that's not necessarily true!
For example, at the moment, all the villagers with agitated faces are extremely angry.
"I've never heard of beans growing in the soil since I've planted them all my life. Who is it! Just call peanuts! "
"There must be no way to compare it with peanuts. I'm sorry to call it that."
"Then what cotton is even more outrageous. Flowers can also be used to make clothes. Why don't we all wear tree leaves?"
There was a burst of laughter in the crowd. But after the laughter, it was more excited and angry.
Everyone agreed that: the government simply deceived people too much! This is the life of the farmer!
"Elder sister, I'm not afraid. Let's burn more charcoal with Uncle Li. And next year, I can go hunting in the mountain!" Lianze thought lianfangzhou was worried and scared, and he whispered.
"Sister is OK! You don't have to worry! " Lian Fangzhou smiled at him.
Everyone's rebellious mood far exceeded Zhang Lizheng's expectation. Zhang Lizheng was a little impatient, so he said in a loud voice: "don't quarrel! Listen to me! Do you think it's enough to quarrel? You don't have to take the seed to complain? "
When the people saw that he was really angry, and though they were helpless to hear this, it was true, they all stopped in frustration.
"Zhang Lizheng, you have to think about something for us! No way! Next year, the whole family can't go to the West and the North! " Some of them begged hard and got the unanimous support of the big guy.
"I don't know about your difficulties!" Zhang Lizheng sighed for a long time and said, "but this is the decision of the court. Each of the three provinces in Southwest China has three counties for trial planting. Yuhe county is one of them. What can we say? You look for me. Who do I look for? I'm not like you, I have to plant! Who wants to have that kind of ability? OK, when it comes time to be reported to the county yamen, don't blame me for not reminding in front! "
Zhang Lizheng's words came down, and everyone was silent. They lowered their heads in dismay and frowned tightly.
"Zhang Lizheng, not all the fields in every family have to grow these two things, right?" Someone asked.
When everyone's spirits came up, they all looked up at Zhang Lizheng and said, "since we can't escape, let's plant. At least leave some room for the big guy to grow food!"!
Zhang Li is seeing that everyone is being held, and his face is relaxed. He says: "the government is still very considerate of the big guy. How could it do this? Half of the fields in each household are planted with potatoes and cotton. For the rest, please come back to me and take the seeds! Two Wen for one pound of potato seed and five Wen for one jin of cotton seed! "
"Ah, and money!" Someone exclaimed.