Farming and reading family

Xu Boyan knew this was the case, but there was nothing else he could do.

Just like the flood in He County before, the officials above were not thinking about how to control the flood, but taking the opportunity to annex land.

"That's true, but if the average farmer manages his business well, sells silk and satin to offset taxes and labor service, keeps able-bodied men at home, and uses the remaining land to grow crops for a living, he can still make a living." This is what Xu Boyan had considered.

"Life is still passable." Gao E repeated with a self-deprecating smile.

Xu Boyan didn't know why Gao E had such an expression. Most people would be angry or think about what to do in the future if they knew about such a thing.

But why is Gao E making fun of herself?

"You shouldn't be affected at all." Xu Boyan looked at Gao E casually, noticing her expression. "You might even earn more than before."

Gao E is the person who grows the most mulberry trees in He County now, and she owns thousands of acres of fertile land. She can rest easy in a place like He County.

Gao E didn't answer the question directly: "It seems that Lord Xu is also concerned about the country and the people. What if Prince Qing wants to engage in excessive military expansion in the future?"

Xu Boyan was silent for a while: "So I need Chu Rong."

"You need Chu Rong?" Gao E was a little surprised.

"Well, although Chu Rong was not a general back then, the people he led always had the upper hand in fighting against the Shuoxi barbarians. Otherwise..." Xu Boyan hesitated to speak.

Gao E didn't know much about Chu Rong's past. She only knew that Lu Qingluo praised Fei Bailing and Jin Ruyi said he was a great hero.

"Is there any hidden story behind the matter of Chu Rong?" Gao E guessed.

"It's not a secret, it's just the power struggle in the court. Chu Rong is upright and was plotted against." Xu Boyan did not explain the specific process.

"You mean... someone doesn't want Dachang to recover the land of Shuoxi?" Gao E asked suspiciously.

"Shuoxi is involved in a lot of things." Xu Boyan no longer said that Gao E didn't understand these things. "Because of the war, the price of Shuoxi's specialties in Dachang has increased by at least ten times."

"There is also the food and fodder allocated by the court to the army, which is a huge amount every year." Xu Boyan knew that many people must have their interests involved.

"So... let the people shed tears and the soldiers bleed?" Gao E laughed when she heard this.

Xu Boyan did not respond to this statement, but that was the fact.

"Okay, I understand." Gao E saw that Xu Boyan had been silent. "I'm just an ordinary farmer. It's not my turn to worry about those things. It's useless for me to worry about them."

After hearing Gao E say this, Xu Boyan felt a little relieved and suddenly realized that he had talked so much with Gao E.

When I was in Beijing before, I had to be very cautious with every word I said and had never had such a simple and free chat with anyone.

Xu Boyan took two more pigeons away, and took Zhu Mo and Bai Hao with him as well.

The two people had been talking about leaving, and now that they were really leaving, they were actually a little reluctant. Before they even left the village, they asked when they would come again.

"You said that when we get old, we will live in Baotou Village, chat with the old man at the entrance of the village, and pick some ground ears and longhorn beetles when it rains. What a comfortable life it will be." Bai Hao began to fantasize.

Xu Boyan looked back at Baotou Village. This kind of place really makes people feel at ease.

"Don't think about it." Zhu Mo said unhappily.

"I can't think of it." Bai Hao also knew that they might not be able to live such a life in their entire lives.

Thinking of this, he glanced at his grandfather. This time, it was a close call, but he wondered if he would be so lucky in the future.

A few days later, the things Xu Boyan mentioned were delivered.

They originally said they would deliver 20 kilograms of dried yellow-legged grass, but a whole truck ended up delivering it, and it looked like it was more than 20 kilograms.

The three carts of ebony were neatly packed, each piece was as thick as an arm and could be used for a long time.

Next, Gao E went to the kiln herself to supervise the firing, fearing that any accidents would occur.

With the yellow-foot grass, Yu Zhao and Xing Jia took people to Qinzhou City to buy the remaining herbs and give Zhenghui and Yunzhou a medicinal bath as soon as possible.

Things went more smoothly than Gao E had expected, but some things were like a sharp knife hanging over Gao E's head, such as the matter of Que'er.

Xu Boyan said to wait, but he didn’t know how long he would have to wait and whether there would be any changes in the meantime.

Master Ma now lives in the kiln. After the Chinese New Year, he opened two new kilns and kept burning bricks. Most of them were used by Gao E herself.

When he was not busy, Master Ma started making roof beasts. People who came to buy bricks and tiles would also buy the roof beasts as well. Gao E gave all the money to Master Ma.

Although Master Ma had a salary and Ma Xiaowu also went to school with the Chen family's children, Gao E didn't mind Master Ma keeping his skills and earning more money.

Gao E came over to talk to Master Ma during her break.

"I don't think Xiao Wu is good at studying. He should follow me to learn how to make roof beasts. It's better for him to learn a few words so that he won't be cheated." Master Ma said with a smile.

He had never dared to think that his grandson could read before.

"Master Ma, don't say that. Xiao Wu can read now and can choose what to do." Gao E has always respected her children's choices.

"What if he doesn't learn how to make roof beasts? My craft will be lost." Master Ma didn't want his craft to be lost.

"Master Ma can accept a few apprentices if he sees anyone who wants to learn," Gao E suggested.

Master Ma knew that Master An had several apprentices because Master An had no descendants, and his grandson was in good health, so he didn't want to pass on his skills to others.

Gao E saw Master Ma's silence and guessed what he was thinking: "Master Ma, you can write down your craft in detail, so that if there are children or grandchildren in your family who like to make roof beasts, they can learn it."

Master Ma's eyes lit up: "We have to draw this roof beast."

"That's no problem. Hu Zhexing and the others all draw very well." Gao E agreed.

"Okay, okay." Master Ma was very satisfied. "Then I'll go find them later."

Gao E thought it would be a good thing to sort all these things out and keep them.

After the black gold charcoal was cooked, Gao E took He Jiabei, Lian Xin and others to Ghost Crying Mountain and personally took a look at the situation in Ghost Crying Mountain.

There are a few more stonemasons here, and most of the work of mining strange stones is handed over to the stonemasons. Half a year has passed, and Ghost Crying Mountain doesn't seem to have been damaged at all.

Only then did Gao E deeply understand the concept of mountain. It seemed that this strange stone would be enough for her to mine for many years.

He Jiabei widened his eyes. How many assets did his boss have?

When Yu Zhao was not at Ghost Crying Mountain, Wei Kai was in charge. When he heard that the boss had arrived, he immediately ran down from upstairs.

"Boss." Wei Kai called out and saw the carriage behind him filled with baskets. "This is..."

"The charcoal you asked for." Gao E finally completed another task, and she would no longer have to be urged by Lu Qingluo from time to time.

"I have something to show the boss too." Wei Kai said excitedly, "Let's go up the mountain."

Gao E asked Lianxin and the others to move the charcoal, and she followed Wei Kai up the mountain.

I just went up the mountain first, and after reaching the largest cave, I started walking down.

"This is..." Gao E felt a chill as soon as she stepped into the downward passage.