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Zhou Sirlang and Xiao Qian led the oxen and guided the plow, while the others followed behind, breaking up the soil turned over by the plow before further loosening it.
Due to the scorching sun in the middle of the day, they were concerned that the water buffalo would get tired. Therefore, they intentionally rested for half an hour.
After giving it water to cool down, they continued working. But even so, before the evening meal, they had plowed over an acre of land.
The Qian family did not return the oxen immediately; borrowed oxen were not typically returned in this manner. Zhou Rulang was tasked with leading the oxen to graze and bundling up the freshly cut rice stalks from the field to send back to the Bai family along with the oxen.
The rice stalks were used as fodder for the water buffalo.
Owning a water buffalo that could consume rice stalks directly was considered quite extravagant, possibly the only one in the entire village.
After the evening meal, the entire Zhou family, along with Manbao and Qian Shì, went to the small bay together.
At this time, the sun had not completely set, but the sunlight was no longer scorching.
The twelve family members almost filled the field, borrowing some tools from their neighbors. They divided into three rows - left, center, right - and started planting from the edges of the field and the middle.
Each row was further divided into upper and lower sections.
Manbao and a few others were responsible for picking up the large stones and grass in the field. Before it got dark, everyone had finished the arrangement and even started sowing.
Upon seeing the field divided into rows, Qian Shì and a few daughters-in-law discussed which vegetables to plant in each section. Once everything was decided, she said, "Since it's hot, don't plant tomorrow morning. First, spread the manure in the morning, have the evening meal tomorrow evening, then come back.
Xiao Qian Shì agreed.
The next day, the whole family came together once again.
Xiao Qian Shi, along with three sisters-in-law and Zhou Xi, were in charge of planting. Meanwhile, Zhou Dalang and others brought water for irrigation. It only took an hour to finish planting; the speed at which it was done was impressive.
This made the villagers who were watching nearby very envious.
The commotion caused by the Zhou family was unprecedented, leaving the villagers intrigued.
Many people came to the small bay today to watch the excitement. They stood on the embankment, watching the Zhou family work in the field and chat with them.
Someone asked Zhou Erlang if vegetables sell well in the city, knowing that these vegetables were to be sold in the county town.
"Fairly well, it's just that the bamboo products don't sell well." They are considering selling vegetables. "After all, even city dwellers need to eat vegetables, don't they?"
"Who doesn't have a piece of idle land at home?" It is better to grow your own vegetables. Why go out to buy them?
"Zhou Erlang, if your vegetables don't sell well, just take some from me." "I'll sell them to you cheap."
Zhou Erlang replied, "These vegetables are not worth much." "If I buy from you and can't sell them, I will incur losses."
He continued, "Selling our own produce is a transaction without loss." If we can't sell them, we just bring them back home to eat or feed them to the chickens. When you purchase items from other sellers who do not accept returns, what should you do? If Zhou Erlang feeds the vegetables to the chickens, isn't it similar to using money to buy vegetables for the chickens to eat? Are Uncle Jin's chickens too expensive?
Everyone burst into laughter, brushing off the topic.
But there were still some envious and eager individuals privately discussing the idea of trying their luck in the city to make some money.
However, as soon as the idea was raised, someone poured cold water on it by saying, "If you go out to sell vegetables, who will take care of the work in the fields?" The bugs have not been dealt with, and the grass has not been completely cleared. Today, I saw the Jin family all busy fertilizing; it's clear they've finished everything.
"Exactly, all the tasks in the fields are crucial." "That's the source of our livelihood."
So, that topic was dropped. But the next day, a few people accompanied Zhou Erlang to the county town to sell their vegetables.
When they saw Zhou Erlang, they felt a little awkward.
Zhou Erlang, however, cheerfully greeted them, inviting everyone to join him.
He was genuinely thrilled to have someone accompany him daily to the city to sell goods, instead of waiting for others from the village to join him.
With the current influx of refugees in Luojiang County, law and order are not as secure as before. He was afraid of being robbed while traveling, so the more people, the better.
Just going to the county town to sell vegetables doesn't guarantee sales. With the same vegetables and price, people would naturally prefer to buy from someone they know, as social interactions play a significant role.
At least, when everyone went out with Zhou Erlang that day, only Zhou Erlang returned with an empty cart. One unfortunate individual only managed to sell a single portion of vegetables, and that was only possible with Zhou Erlang's assistance. It was barely enough to cover the protection fee, and they even ended up losing money on transportation.
The next day, when Zhou Erlang left the village again, he was alone. No one seemed willing to attempt again after the outcomes of the previous day.
Upon returning in the evening, he shared the incident with his family as a joke. Manbao said, "They really can't endure much." If things don't work out on the first day, they should try again on the second day. "If after persisting for ten days or half a month, and there is still no improvement, then they can call it quits."
Zhou Erlang chuckled, "That's right. When I first set up a stall to sell bamboo products, I couldn't sell a single item either." I sat there watching others and learning how to attract customers. It was embarrassing, but I had to muster the courage to interact with people. "It's not something everyone is naturally good at."
At this point, Zhou Erlang paused and said, "Except for Lao Si."
Zhou Dalang laughed, "Lao Si can't help it; he was born with a thick skin."
Zhou Sirlang, feeling offended, said, "Teach your own kids, why drag me into this?"
Xiao Qian Shì responded, "It's easy to talk about these things." Nowadays, it's not the same as it was before. When selling bamboo products, you could even go to the large market instead of the county town. But now, can they go to the big market to sell vegetables?
The bustling market in Dali Village was the farmers' market day, where every household sold vegetables.
"When going to the county town, not only do you have to pay an entrance fee, but you also have to pay protection fees to set up a stall." Even if you spend a whole day there without eating or drinking, it can be quite expensive. Experiencing a loss once is acceptable, but consistently losing money for ten days or half a month, totaling seventy or eighty wen, is no laughing matter. "Who can afford that?" Manbao furrowed her brows.
"Why isn't Magistrate Fu regulating this?" She pondered.
If he could regulate it, that would be a surprise. Zhou Erlang replied, "The Magistrate isn't in the city." I don't know where he went. Even if he wanted to regulate, he can't.
"Then where did he go?"
"How would I know?" I heard from the yamen runners when I went to deliver a message that Magistrate Fu left the county two days ago.
Manbao decided to write a letter that evening to inquire about Fu Wenyun. Wasn't he supposed to find a way to help with the disaster?
She also wanted to see if Zhou Daliang's family would receive any assistance.
Zhou Daliang was Si's good friend, and both of their families were facing significant challenges. This had been bothering Zhou Sirlang lately.
Before receiving a response from Fu Wenyun, Baishanbao mentioned, "My uncle said that the Magistrate went to Panama, so our state might also reduce taxes." My uncle took people to Panama early in the morning.