Chapter 52 Zhounanzhuang

Jiang Tangtang said: "It's not urgent to send interest money. If you have another errand to Lingnan, just bring it over. There is no need to make a special trip."

  Liang Jiamin saw that Jiang Tangtang was not being polite. But she really trusted him and felt very comfortable. She stopped talking about making money and simply talked about the situation of the government office.

  Finally, he said: "Zhou Cheng and I have had some dealings. If you encounter something very difficult, you can try him."

  Jiang Tangtang thanked Liang Jiamin for his kindness. When he heard the gongs being beaten over there, he knew that he was going to Guanzhuang. He didn't say anything more. After saying goodbye to Liang Jiamin, he returned to the team where the Lu family's main house was.

  Xue Banxian, He Qiuniang and others were waiting outside the official office. When they saw Jiang Tangtang coming out with the official officer, they immediately followed him.

  The official escorting Jiang Tangtang and others to Guanzhuang had already been greeted by someone, but he ignored them and allowed a few people to follow them.

  After leaving the county town, we headed all the way to the countryside. Slowly, we walked further and further away. After walking straight for more than two hours, we finally reached Zhounanzhuang.

  At first, Jiang Tangtang didn't know what they were going to do when they were exiled to Guanzhuang. It wasn't until they arrived at Zhounanzhuang and listened to the steward's lecture that she finally understood.

  In short, they were exiled here to become farmers.

  But compared to ordinary farmers, their status is lower. For example, ordinary farmers could take the imperial examination, and if they had promising descendants, they could also change their families.

  But they couldn't. Before the emperor pardoned them, the descendants of the Lu family would be sinners for generations and had no right to participate in the imperial examination.

  Apart from this, one cannot leave the penal colony. Moreover, there was no land allocated to them, so they had to clear up wasteland themselves. During the autumn harvest next year, the same amount of grain as the local villagers must be handed over to the court as tax.

  If you do not hand over enough food, you will be punished.

  After listening to Manager Xia's words, Mrs. Su suddenly fell to the ground. Even Mrs. Lu, who had always been strong, seemed to have been shaken out of her soul, let alone the young Lu Zhixi.

  If they are asked to open up wasteland for a family that has never farmed before, how will they do it? If you have been a sinner from generation to generation, how can you still run in these days?

  Jiang Tangtang didn't panic and asked Manager Xia: "As long as we hand over the grain specified by the court during the autumn harvest? It doesn't matter how much land we open up?"

  Manager Xia said: "In order to prevent criminals from delaying farming, inspections are conducted every half month. , if the land cleared by the end of the month does not reach the prescribed number of acres, the whole family will be whipped."

  Jiang Tangtang clicked his tongue in his heart, and then said: "Then if we are really too busy, can we ask for help?"

  "This The village doesn't care about it."

  But generally, prisoners who are exiled here have difficulty with food and housing, so they don't have the money to hire people to open up wasteland and farm the land.

  Manager Xia thought to himself and took a serious look at the cow and donkey behind Jiang Tangtang.

  However, this family's financial resources are somewhat stronger.

  After all the years he had been in charge, this was the first time he saw someone coming to exile with cattle, carts, donkeys and other livestock in their hands.

  Hearing that foreign aid could be invited, Jiang Tangtang felt relieved and asked: "So the rule about not leaving the penal colony means that you can't leave Yazhou, but you don't care about your activities in towns like Yazhou?"

  Manager Xia Said: "In principle, this is the case, but in order to prevent the possibility of escaping on charges, you have to report to me in advance before leaving the village. If you do not come back at the specified time, the family members left behind will be punished."

  Although every time you go out, you have to report to me in advance . It needs to be reported, but overall, Jiang Tangtang is quite satisfied. If you operate it properly in the future, you should be able to do business.

  Then Jiang Tangtang asked Manager Xia about what to grow in the land and whether there were any regulations on the farm.

  "There are no clear regulations on this, but apart from coins and silk cloth, the main grains paid in taxes are wheat and rice."    

  After answering Jiang Tangtang's doubts, Manager Xia pointed to the dilapidated thatched house not far away and said, "This is where you will live. Just settle in today! Come to me tomorrow morning to pick up farm tools."

  Looking at the crumbling thatched house, Jiang Tangtang's face His expression was almost unsteady, "Manager Xia, can we build the house ourselves?"

  "Of course." Manager Xia said, "Tomorrow I will take you to the reclaimed woodland. Then you can see where you want to build the house. Just ask me to approve the homestead."

  After Manager Xia left, the group moved their things to the thatched house.

  This thatched house not only leaked air from the roof, but also had fungus growing on the wooden pillars. When I opened the door, there was a strange smell inside. I don't know how long it had been since no one had lived there.

  "Mom, are we really stuck in this place from now on and can't go back to the capital?" Lu Zhixi couldn't help it any longer, covering her face and crying.

  The journey to exile was hard and tiring. She kept thinking that it would be better to wait until the exile. Unexpectedly, she thought it would be even worse in the exile. Not only do they have no place to live, they also have to farm.

  Her whole life was over.

  Su Shi couldn't stop wiping her tears.

  Jiang Tangtang broke off the fungus from the wood and looked at it carefully and said: "There are so many fungus, just enough to fry a plate. Aunt He, come over and help break off these fungus. Aunt Hu, take off the beef from the car and wash it... ..."

  Under Jiang Tangtang's command, everyone immediately became busy.

  The cries of Su Shi and Lu Zhixi also became smaller and smaller amidst the busy noise. Lu Shiyan looked at the woman with hands full of mud, trying to build a stove, and felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart.

  She said nothing, but used practical actions to dilute the sadness and despair in everyone's hearts.

  He was holding a bucket and was about to fetch water, but was stopped by Jiang Tangtang, "What are you doing?" Jiang

  Tangtang glared at him: "The injury is not healed, so don't move around and cause trouble to everyone." She said, holding his hand The bucket was taken down.

  Lu Shiyan was amused by her expression, "The injuries on my body have already scabbed, I'm just carrying a bucket of water, it doesn't matter." "

  Doctor Xue said that you can't do gravity until the injury is completely healed." Jiang Tangtang said: " You should rest well these days! When the injuries on your body are healed, you can start treating your legs. Just leave such small things as fetching water to me!"

  Anyway, no one can compete with her for the job of fetching water.

  "The matter of treating the leg..." Lu Shiyan said with some difficulty, "Why don't we forget it! You heard what Manager Xia said. For our current plan, it is better to open up wasteland first." "

  You don't have to worry about clearing up wasteland. Well, I have my own solution! Just take a good rest and wait for your leg to be cured!"

  After Jiang Tangtang finished speaking, he left with the bucket.

  There was a creek not far from the thatched house, and Jiang Tangtang planned to go there with a bucket to show off.

  After walking for a while, he met a woman wearing a headscarf. The woman looked her up and down and said, "Are you the sinners who just moved here?"

  Jiang Tangtang didn't like the name sinners very much, and he didn't want to talk to her. He just nodded slightly to her and left with the bucket.