Sister Han is good at farming

Since the irrigation was connected, the land has gradually become greener, and the wilted sesame and sorghum have become more upright. Although there was a threat of locusts before, except for a few families who did not grow sesame, most families suffered almost no losses.

Chi the hunter and his family, as well as the workers who were guarding the various reservoirs, have all disappeared.

"They were sent by the county magistrate to guard the water wheels and pipes along the way." This is what Ruan Wantie told Ruan Qingqing.

It wasn't all smooth sailing for them to get water, as the waterwheel and the road section were disrupted by people. Zhou Zheng had no choice but to send people to guard that area.

When the water in Wudaoling Reservoir was full, Zhou Zheng received an order from his superiors to go to the capital to receive his reward. He also took with him the birthday feast woven by the Quanfu elders.

Shortly after he left Lulin Prefecture, a large-scale locust plague broke out again in the two prefectures of Jianghuai and Jiangxia above Lulin Prefecture, so that not a single inch of grass could be seen in these two prefectures.

Once the news spread, the whole country was shocked!

The governors of the two prefectures opened the city gates and persuaded everyone to flee. The garrison troops with high ranks and horses escorted the rich to flee first, while the ordinary soldiers mixed in with the disaster victims and fled slowly downstream along the Qianlong River.

All of a sudden, the disaster victims from the two prefectures rushed frantically to the outside of Lulin Prefecture.

The garrison pressure on Lulin Prefecture suddenly increased.

"The emperor has ordered that Lulin Prefecture and Yuanxiang Prefecture must not stop the refugees from going east. Lingzhu Prefecture and Shaoyun Prefecture will receive the refugees."

Some cavalrymen arrived at the city gate, holding the imperial edict and shouting.

Now the garrison troops dared not even to stop them and could only open the city gates and let the refugees pass.

"Daya! It's bad! I heard that a large number of refugees have gathered outside our Lulin Prefecture. Most importantly, the prefect has allowed those refugees to enter the city!"

Ruan Wantie, who had just heard the news, couldn't wait to tell Ruan Qingqing.

"Dad, how many refugees are there? Where do they come from? Where are they going? How will the court arrange it?" Ruan Qingqing couldn't help but feel anxious after listening to this.

How many cases in history have led to riots or even uprisings due to improper handling of refugees?

These refugees have poured into their Lulin Prefecture. If they are not handled properly, will they have any chance of survival?

"People from the two prefectures of Jianghuai and Jiangxia on the Qianlong River have flocked here. The emperor ordered them to pass through our Luling Prefecture and Yuanxiang Prefecture and go to Lingzhu Prefecture and Shaoyun Prefecture in the east for resettlement.

I heard that when Lord Zhou wrote to the governors of Jianghuai and Jiangxia to warn them of the locust plague, they didn't take it seriously. When the locust plague broke out in June, the county magistrates in the two prefectures asked Lord Zhou for advice, and Lord Zhou responded one by one. Most of them didn't take it seriously again. It was their repeated disapproval that led to the current situation. It's really infuriating and hateful!"

Ruan Wantie was so angry that veins on his hands popped out.

"Dad, there's no point thinking about these things now. Are those refugees escorted along the way?" Ruan Qingqing asked the question that concerned her most.

"It's such a huge group of people that the garrison troops have no way of escorting them. I heard that they will be escorted by soldiers and civilians from the county they pass through." Ruan Wantie sighed.

"Are they also going to pass through Qingshui County?"

"Well, they went along the Qianlong River, and we in Qingshui County can't get around it."

"Dad, let's tell the village chief and the others! Everyone should be alert. In case some refugees with bad intentions rush into the village and rob, everyone should be prepared."

Ruan Qingqing warned worriedly.

"Well, in this special period, we should be more careful." Ruan Wantie nodded in agreement, "I'll go talk to them right away."

"Sister, sister! Two more ducks are missing from our family today!" Ruan Shian ran into the yard with sweat all over his forehead and said anxiously to Ruan Qingqing.

"Two more missing?" Ruan Qingqing frowned. "Did you see any wild animals nearby?"

Ruan Shian shook his head.

“Where did you release the ducks today?”

"It's still over there at the Wudaoling Reservoir."

"Come on, I'll go with you and take a look." Ruan Qingqing put down the work in her hands, took off the straw hat hanging on the wall and walked out.

Ruan Shian wiped the sweat from his forehead and followed him out.

"Sister, it's here! I used to release the ducks here." Ruan Shian pointed to Ruan Qingqing when he arrived at the place.

"When the duck was lost, did you hear any strange noises?" Ruan Qingqing immediately lowered her head and looked around.

"No." Ruan Shian shook his head like a rattle.

Ruan Qingqing did not give up, but searched more carefully.

Before she found the mill below the reservoir, a fishy smell pierced her nose.

She walked in calmly, looking around vigilantly, then touched the long stick behind the door.

As soon as she got the long stick, she felt a cool breeze coming from the door. Without thinking too much, she bent down and hit the long stick in her hand upwards.

"What a quick move!"

It's a man's voice.

Ruan Qingqing's expression changed and she turned around quickly to get out of the opponent's attack range.

"I never thought there would be a girl with such outstanding martial arts skills in this small mountain valley!"

Ruan Qingqing's face darkened. "Who are you? What are you doing hiding here?"

"Ha ha……"

When he smiled, a mouthful of blood appeared. The white teeth and the red blood, under the strong impact of the red and white colors, Ruan Qingqing felt uncomfortable in her stomach for a moment, and the fishy smell lingering in her nose made her retch immediately.

"You drink duck blood raw?"

Ruan Qingqing glanced at the duck feathers not far away and understood everything instantly.

"There's no other way. It's all for survival!" said the young man calmly.

"Are you a refugee from Jianghuai Prefecture?"

He smiled bitterly, "I guess so! Who is your father, little girl?"

"What do you mean by also?"

Ruan Qingqing asked.

"I am Deng Wei, the chief guard of Lord Zhao Siming, the prefect of Jianghuai Prefecture. I came to Qingshui County to look for Lord Zhou, but I missed him."

"Well, Master Zhou left Lulin Mansion a few days ago. Why are you looking for Master Zhou?"

The young man's eyes suddenly lit up, "Little girl, are you familiar with Lord Zhou?"

"I guess so! So why are you looking for Lord Zhou?" Ruan Qingqing asked calmly.

"Redress the injustice, redress the injustice for my lord the prefect!" Deng Wei said gritting his teeth.

"If your prefect has a grievance, shouldn't he report it to the court? Why is he looking for a seventh-rank county magistrate like Lord Zhou?" Ruan Qingqing was puzzled.

"Now the officials in the court are in collusion with each other. I only trust Lord Zhou!" Deng Wei said angrily.

"Do you have any proof of your identity?"

"Yes, I have my master's warrant and my ID card." Deng Wei said as he took out the two items from his lapel.

Ruan Qingqing pretended to look at it carefully and then gave it back to him.

"You must have eaten all the ducks that fell from my house recently, right?" Ruan Qingqing asked him, raising her eyelids.

"I have strength and can do the work, just give me food!"