The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

"This...this...isn't this bad?" County Magistrate Yang hesitated.

I want to try my best to persuade you again!

After all, he has a share of the profits from several big customers, so helping these people is helping himself.

Besides, he thought his request was not excessive. Wasn't this the rule since ancient times?

"There's nothing wrong with it, just convey my original words," Zhang Ping'an's face was so gloomy that it looked like water was dripping from it.

He continued, "Why is the court raising taxes? As someone in the government, County Magistrate Yang, you know this best. These are grain and fodder destined for the front lines. It's because of the soldiers on the front lines that we have peace. Yet they're cutting back on this and taking some of it away. Where's their conscience?"

You are still speaking for them. You are simply unable to distinguish right from wrong and are short-sighted. It is so disappointing!

The world is in a bad place right now, and the north is in mourning. If the barbarians really invade the south one day and the country is destroyed, no matter how much wealth they accumulate, it will only be a wedding dress for others!

Seeing Zhang Pingan getting more and more excited and his tone getting worse, County Magistrate Yang didn't dare to offend him again, so he said awkwardly: "Your Excellency is right. This is so long ago. The rules should be changed. I will go and tell them right away. Your Excellency, please don't be angry...don't be angry!"

As County Magistrate Yang spoke, he stepped back and then quickly slipped away.

Zhang Ping'an was still a little angry even when he returned to the back court.

Although he knew that these termites could be found everywhere, when he really heard and saw them, he couldn't help but sigh secretly at the decline of morals in the world!

If it were ordinary people, it would be fine. After all, they can only take care of the three acres of land in front of them. They can't even afford enough food and clothing, so how can they think about anything else?

But these wealthy gentry have no worries about food and drink, and most of them are educated. They have a wide influence in the local area. They are the cornerstone of the court and can also play a guiding role among the people. If even they are rotten to the core, then it is really time for this court to change the dynasty!

Although Xu and others didn't know what had happened, they knew that it must be something troublesome in the government office, so they comforted them with a few words.

Zhang Laoer's words were the most direct: "If the sky falls, there's always someone higher to hold it up. Don't worry about it, just eat!"

Ever since Zhang Ping'an suggested that the family eat simpler meals, Xu thought it made sense and was willing to listen to his advice.

Tonight, I specifically asked the chef to prepare fewer dishes. The whole family, including Yingniang, only had six dishes and one soup, and they were still able to have a good meal.

Time passed quickly, and three or four days later, Mr. Zhou's letter finally arrived.

Attached to the letter was a silver note worth 50,000 taels.

It was used to cover the burial expenses and pensions of the soldiers and boatmen who died while going to Luzon, as well as the medical expenses and living expenses of the injured.

According to the current pension standards, 50,000 taels is more than enough.

Zhang Ping'an didn't hesitate to accept it. He planned to pay off the pensions owed on the county government account, and then redistribute the rest to these people. This was the money they earned through their hard work!

In addition, Lord Zhou was most concerned about the planting of sweet potatoes. Because the camps were not fixed and communication was difficult when fighting on the front line, he arranged for a confidant to go to Ci County to assist Zhang Ping'an in planting sweet potatoes in February.

If there is anything, just let him discuss it with his confidant. This person is completely trustworthy!

The letter repeatedly emphasized the need to be cautious and to conduct trials in small quantities and multiple times to ensure success!

The next day, when the yamen runner came to report that someone had come from Lin'an to help manage the experimental fields, he thought it was Lieutenant General Zhou, after all, he was most familiar with Ci County.

Unexpectedly, the person who came was a complete stranger, to be precise, an old man with a young girl in her prime.

This old man was a little different from other old men. He had a hunched back and was very thin, but his eyes were serious and he was not stage-frightened. It was obvious that he had seen the world. He wore ordinary fine cloth clothes and kept himself very clean.

Zhang Ping'an noticed that he even had a sachet hanging around his waist, which faintly smelled of mugwort and tangerine peel.

Unless they are wealthy, ordinary people rarely hang sachets.

The girl following beside her was much simpler, with clear and bright eyes, fair skin, double buns, and a colorful silk hairband with two small milky white beads hanging from the bottom. It was obvious that even though she was not well off, she was well taken care of.

There was some curiosity in his eyes, but he didn't look around. It seemed that he had good upbringing.

The old man bowed respectfully to Zhang Ping'an and introduced himself as Ding Youjin, who was sixty-two years old.

He used to work in the imperial farm of the Tian family, but he stopped working when he got too old. His wife and son and daughter-in-law all died in the war when the capital was moved. Now he only has his granddaughter Dingxiang to depend on.

He was good at farm work and had some fame in the capital. After coming to the south, he didn't know anything else, so he used his connections to get a job in Lord Zhou's house and earn some money to support himself and his granddaughter.

This time, I was suddenly sent here to help plant sweet potatoes.

Although Zhang Ping'an felt that the old man was a bit old and should enjoy his retirement, based on his understanding of Lord Zhou, he would not make these arrangements for no reason, and there must be a purpose. Maybe this old man is really capable!

"You must be very tired after the long journey. I will arrange for someone to take you to the inn to stay and rest. After the Lantern Festival, you can go to the farm to work. Planting sweet potatoes will not start until February, so there is no rush!" Zhang Pingan arranged.

"Thank you very much, sir," Old Man Ding bowed and expressed his gratitude.

After the two men left, Chen Jianqiu couldn't help but say, "This old man is so old, why did he send someone like this? What if he falls and gets hurt in the fields?"

"I guess Lord Zhou has his own intentions, so let's not ask too much," said Zhang Ping'an.

Two days passed in a flash, and it was the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Ci County is considered a relatively wealthy county in the Jiangnan region. The fifteenth day of the first lunar month in previous years was very lively, with lion dancing, swordplay, and juggling performances on the streets. Of course, there were also hanging lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, and releasing river lanterns.

Although people were depressed for a while this year due to the tax increase and were more cautious with their money, it did not affect their willingness to come out and join in the fun on this day.

If you don’t have money to buy things, it’s nice to satisfy your eyes!

Qian Youyi is pregnant this year, and her mentality has changed a lot. Now she is willing to go out for a walk, but there are so many people and she is worried about her belly.

She could only ask Zhang Ping'an to help her guess two lanterns and release the river lanterns for her.

"Didn't you buy Kongming lanterns? What if God messes up all the lanterns?" Zhang Pingan joked.

"Pooh, pooh, pooh, no way. I wrote the same wish. The more gifts, the less blame. God won't get it confused," Qian Youyi said coquettishly, with a rare liveliness on her face.

"The tone of your voice is becoming more and more like mother's," said Zhang Pingan.

Qian Youyi didn't care at all and replied casually: "What's the big deal? What mother said sometimes makes sense!"