The Story of a Destitute Noblewoman Farming

"But our area is considered good. I heard that many places haven't done as much as our county. Even the reservoirs are only built a few small ones because of lack of money. The crops are still growing, so there is no extra water for irrigation.

The harvest will probably be only half of what we had this year, and many people are unwilling to switch to growing sweet potatoes and continue to grow the same crops, which has resulted in even worse harvests."

When the elders said this, they couldn't help but shook their heads.

"The rain should be coming soon. We should all work together to catch those who are causing trouble. I'm even more worried that if there's a shortage of food, someone might take a risk. When I came back from Hezhou, I heard from Lord Zhao that small groups of bandits have started to appear in the neighboring prefecture. They're stealing food and running away."

"There are actually bandits here. This is not good. If they come to our place, we will be in trouble."

The elders of the tribe were also very worried when they heard the news. What made them happiest now was that the food could at least last until next autumn harvest.

"We have unanimously decided to expel Laibao's family from the village. If they reform, they will not be expelled from the clan. If they do not repent, they will be expelled from the clan, and Laibao and his parents will also be whipped before they can leave."

"Okay, then let's follow the advice of the elders." Lu Linlang knew that it was impossible to beat these people to death for the mistakes they made, and driving them out was already the best outcome.

The next day, Lai Bao's family was whipped in front of the whole village and was driven out of the village. The villagers did not collect their food. As long as they reformed themselves, they could still live well outside.

Laibao's sisters took them to a relative's house, but when they heard that they were driven out for stealing the village's property, no one was willing to take them in. They had no choice but to go to a cave in the mountains, which was not far from the village and where they could see the villagers' activities.

"It's all your fault. We don't have any older sons, so the villagers bullied us and flattered Lu Linlang. Now we've been kicked out, and we don't know how we're going to survive this winter."

Laibao's father Mancheng thought of the injury on his back and saw his daughters being timid, which made him even angrier.

"Master, I heard a few days ago that Landlord Ma is looking for a concubine. He said that if a concubine gives birth to a son, there will be benefits in the future. I think these girls are a waste of food at home. Why don't we send them to Landlord Ma's house? If anyone gives birth to a son, it will be good for us and the son in the future.

I heard that Landlord Ma gave five taels of silver to his last concubine. In these times of natural disaster, who has that much money? We still have four daughters here. If one can't afford it, the others can. At worst, we can ask for less money. Landlord Ma will definitely agree."

Laibao's mother had just asked her daughters to apply medicine on her, and she felt a little more relaxed now. Seeing her four daughters going to find something to eat for them, she couldn't help but feel proud when she thought of the news she heard that day. Before in the village, if she dared to send her daughters there, she would probably be punished by the village chief and would not get any money.

Now that they have been driven out, that's perfect. They don't have to be bound by clan rules and can realize their own ideas. With the money, they will go to the city to buy a house and do business, and they will be able to become city dwellers in the future.

"Really? You heard the news correctly, didn't you? If that's the case, then the original price for four girls would be twenty taels. No way, no way. We've seen the world, and twenty taels is too little. Landlord Ma is already in his fifties. Giving away four young girls from our family is too cheap. It's better to sell them in the city."

"Have you forgotten what happened to Lu Linlang in the county? People in the city don't dare to take girls from two families anymore. If we go there and get caught, we don't know how we'll be punished. That girl named Xiao Liu sent her father to jail because of this. I think it's safer for her to become Landlord Ma's concubine. This isn't like selling your daughter."

"You're right. I think we should move to the next county. Here, we're still under constant surveillance, and Lu Linlang has spies in the county."

"Okay, after we send them away, we'll go live in the next county."

"Mom, my fifth sister is only ten years old. Isn't she too young? I think we should keep her here so that she can take care of us when we move to the next county." When Lai Bao heard that his parents were going to sell his fifth sister, he felt a little reluctant when he thought about how nice his fifth sister was to him and that they were twins.

"Laibao, you are too soft-hearted. Let me tell you, as a man, you can't be soft-hearted. If a man is not bad, he can't get rich."

The three of them were plotting in the cave and did not notice the figure of a little girl outside the cave. She sat on the ground silently crying. When she thought of something, she quietly ran back to the mountain to find her sisters.

"Big sister, third sister, fourth sister, our parents are planning to sell us to the landlord next door, Ma, as concubines."

"Become a concubine. I heard that the concubines of landlords are well fed. We can't eat enough at home either. Besides, my parents are definitely thinking about me. I will be your support in the future. I think being a concubine is not bad either."

When the eldest sister Pan Di heard this, she was not surprised at all, and she also felt that her parents' thoughts were normal. She was the eldest in the family, and she knew all the difficulties her parents faced. It was because they had no sons before that the villagers bullied their family. Later, when Lai Bao was born, the situation improved a lot.

"I heard that Landlord Ma is already in his fifties. I want to go home and not go to someone else's house." The third and fourth sisters were a little scared, and they thought of Yangchun.

"Sister, why don't we go find our second sister? She will definitely be able to help us."

"Why are you going? You're not allowed to go. She's an ungrateful person. Now she's with someone else and doesn't even recognize her parents. She even dares to hit me. If you go, she'll just laugh at you. Do you really think she'll help you?"

Pan Di thought about the contemptuous look on his second sister's face when she saw him, and her current dress and appearance, which he could not even envy, and he felt a little jealous.

She was asked to go to school before, but she was unwilling to go. She deliberately took her homework to do, did not listen in class, and did not allow her younger sisters to listen. If anyone took it seriously, she would beat them.

Yangchun wanted to come and talk to her sisters, but she stopped him and taught them how to curse Yangchun. Fortunately, Yangchun did not come later.

Thinking of this, she remembered that Yangchun was prettier than her and had changed her name. Humph, she should be called Zhaodi, that was her real name.

"Don't worry, when we get to Landlord Ma's house, we sisters will try to give him a son as soon as possible. Then all the property will be ours. If any of you dare to run away, I will ask my parents to catch you and break your legs."

Pan Di was always scolded by her parents and younger brother at home, but in front of her younger sisters, she always showed off her authority as the eldest sister, so much so that her younger sisters were a little scared. When they saw her serious expression, they didn't dare to say anything.