Crossing the farm gate, the whole family reunites in the disaster year

The sky was getting light, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth.

Erlang had just returned from collecting grass for the pigs when he ran into Cui Jingwen, who was out running to fetch water. He greeted him from afar.

Since he started exercising, Cui Jingwen feels that his endurance has improved a lot. Now he no longer has chest pain after fetching two buckets of water due to panting.

"Mom, I'm going to feed the chickens!"

Ever since Xiaoliu discovered that there were three more chicks at home yesterday, he has been thinking about feeding them and has completely forgotten about Dahei.

After coming down from the mountain last night, he was still lying in the chicken coop watching. Only after Lin promised him that she could feed the chicks after he woke up did he go to bed obediently.

Lin gave him the insects that Old Man Cui had dug yesterday, and scooped a bowl of millet and gave him a small handful.

"Go ahead, don't feed too much."

Xiaoliu ran happily to the backyard.

Cook the remaining millet into porridge and beat two eggs into it.

The millet porridge in the pot was bubbling. Lin sat in front of the stove, listening to Xiaoliu's mumbling in the backyard.

"...You both like to eat millet. If you eat more, you'll be called Big Rice, and if you like to eat bugs, you'll be called Little Bug."

"Eat well and grow up quickly. I will protect you. When you grow up, you will lay eggs. Our family eats four eggs a day. Remember?"

It was not until breakfast that Xiaoliu reluctantly came out of the chicken coop.

"Mom, how long will it take for them to lay eggs?"

Lin gave him another half bowl of porridge. A chick needs to be at least four or five months old to lay eggs. Now it is August, and it will be ready to lay eggs in winter.

"When it snows, you can lay eggs."

Xiaoliu tilted his head and calculated that it would be the Chinese New Year when snow would come. The short coat he was wearing now had to be changed into a long coat, and after the long coat was worn, he could put on a cotton coat. He would have to wear the cotton coat for a while before the Chinese New Year.

"It takes so long, can we get them to lay eggs earlier?" He still didn't give up.

Lin reasoned with him, "Look at the wheat that Grandpa grows. He plants it in the spring and doesn't harvest it until the fall. The same goes for chickens. They only lay eggs when they grow up."

"So that's it."

Xiaoliu felt a little disappointed, as he thought he would be able to eat their eggs soon.

It was the time to go to the fields to work, but the village was suddenly bustling with activity, and many people rushed to watch the fun.

Wulang was quick on his feet and soon found out the information.

"The head of Liushu Village has brought a few people over here and told us to take care of them. Oh, Third Aunt, the head of the village wants you to come too."

Hearing this, the children couldn't wait to go out and see, even Old Mrs. Cui, who seldom went out, went.

The big locust tree was crowded with people watching the fun.

"Well, brother, I mean what I said. I've got the man here for you. You can decide how to deal with him."

Zhu Lizheng was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday, but he looked much more energetic.

He listened to the sound of flowing water for half the night last night and couldn't stop feeling happy. Xiahe Village was so generous this time, so he couldn't let the man named Wang look down on him. He would go back and immediately catch those bad apples and escort them here at dawn.

The five people behind Zhu Lizheng were tied up tightly.

The villagers who were watching the excitement realized what had happened. Thinking of the water they had drunk, they couldn't help feeling nauseous, and a pregnant young woman vomited with a "wow".

"You can't find water yourselves and you come to disgust us. How can you be so malicious?"

"Send them to the government office and let the county magistrate give them a beating."

"They must also taste those disgusting things."

"I recognize him. He was the one who stole the rabbit I caught in the woods before."

Everyone was indignant.

The five people were unable to move and shook their heads in horror.

They did this kind of thing a lot in normal times, and Zhu Lizheng would always protect them. When Xiahe Village came to find them, he would drive them out and at most curse them a few times in the village.

Who knew that this time they would be handed over to Xiahe Village.

They will be beaten to death.

"We know we were wrong. Please don't send us to the authorities."

"We kowtow to you. We truly know we were wrong and will never do it again."

No one in Xiahe Village sympathized with them. They were often bullied. Today, they were finally caught and they must be severely punished.

The village head was a little troubled.

I've been looking for the county magistrate every few days recently. It's okay if it's good things, but it's just trivial matters like these that are not worth causing trouble for the county magistrate.

Turning around, he found Lin: "Mother Jingwen, the water was discovered by your family. What do you think about this?"

Lin said calmly, "Send it to the government."

The village head choked and asked: "If we don't send it to the government, what other methods are there?"

Lin looked at the village head in surprise, then thought for a moment and said, "Then let them work for the village. When their attitude improves, we'll release them."

This is the labor reform in later generations. It is better to let them work for Xiahe Village than to beat them up, so that the free labor force will not be wasted.

The village head's eyes lit up, this was a good idea.

"Mother Jingwen's method is good, what do you think, Zhu Lizheng?"

"It's up to you guys to do with it. I won't interfere this time."

"Then do as Jingwen's mother said. These five people will stay in Xiahe Village to work for a month. If they do a good job, they will be sent back."

It was a rare thing that someone they hated would help them with their work, and for free.

The villagers discussed what to let them do.

"My pigpen is half collapsed and hasn't been repaired yet. It's just right that you came to my house and rebuilt the pigpen."

"Your pigs can't run away, so just wait." An auntie poked her head out and called out, "My son needs a new house for his wife, so please help build one for my family first."

The whole village was buzzing with people talking at once, and the head of the village was having a headache.

"You guys should figure out your own family affairs. I've thought about it. Let them reclaim wasteland for the village. There's a piece of vacant land to the west. Let's go there."

The five people's destination was arranged, and the village head selected a few people to escort them to work, and all the villagers followed.

Zhu Lizheng stayed there without moving and called out to Lin.

"I've found the people you want. They're two brothers from the village. They're honest and hardworking. If you're looking for someone to do the work, they're absolutely reliable."

The village head interrupted him: "They have a few acres of land of their own, and they need to plant another 12 acres. Can they handle it? Don't try to fool them."

Zhu Lizheng was so anxious that he stared at her: "Who do you take me for?"

"Their mother contracted a chronic disease, and they sold all their land to cure her illness. They don't have a single acre of land left."

"That's fine. You're reliable." The village head muttered.

The fact that they sold their land to pay for their mother's medical treatment shows how filial they are. As to whether they are the kind of people Zhu Lizheng described, we have to meet them in person to judge.

Lin asked, "What percentage of rent do the tenant farmers here collect?"

The village head thought for a moment and said, "It's usually 30% to 70%, with the tenant farmers taking 30%."

Lin nodded and had a plan in mind.

"Then please ask Zhu Lizheng to bring us together. If the deal goes through, we'll split the profits 40% to 60%."

"No trouble, no trouble. I'll bring them here later."

Zhu Lizheng was overjoyed. With 40% grain, the Li brothers could have enough to eat just by planting these 12 acres of land.

Without further ado, Zhu Lizheng hurried back to call for help.

The village head followed behind and reminded them: "Don't forget to bring the farming tools of those five people. Our village doesn't have any extra farm tools for them to use."

"I know, I know."