Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Acquiring Cotton Seeds (Requesting monthly tickets, Recommendation tickets)_1 (1/2)

Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Acquiring Cotton Seeds (Requesting monthly tickets, Recommendation tickets)_1

Translator: 549690339

The inspection round ended, and Magistrate Wu returned to the county government office.

His carriage was not only loaded with two gourds, large and small, but also with a basket of grapes and a basket of yellow duck pears.

Mister Liao, who was squeezed off the carriage, could only huddle on a donkey cart with two scribes, gnawing on a duck pear in one hand, deep in thought.

His hometown lay in a small town in Zhouhe County, roughly the same size as Chuanhe Town. The life of the people there was very hard; they were not only oppressed by the harsh conditions of life, but also by the local squires and petty officials.

His family used to live quite comfortably until they offended the relatives of the local Lizheng. From then on, his family fell into misery.

The Lizheng would find all sorts of reasons to tax the Liao family. Every time his family bought a new sickle or raised a chick, Lizheng would come to collect taxes. Even when children wore flowers on their heads for festivals, they were reported and had to pay taxes.

In the end, with no other options, his parents had to sell their land and move to Qinchuan county to live off his meager salary.

Although their life in Qinchuan County was impoverished, at least they did not live in constant fear, unlike his two elder brothers who were still struggling in that small village.

If only their family could live in Chuanhe Town, where the local customs were simple and honest and the village and local officials were upright and honest. With him looking after them, there would be no worries about daily life.

Alas, when he returned to the county government, he would discuss with Mingfu and see if he could allow the Liao clan to settle here.

If possible, he would have his relatives settle down in Chuanhe Town. Even if they had to cultivate wastelands, it would be better than struggling for survival in Zhouhe County.

Dongchen Village.

As soon as the Mingfu official left, someone came to the East Village asking to buy cotton seeds.

These people were dressed extravagantly, obviously stewards of wealthy households.

The villagers of the East Village had been instructed by the Lizheng and the village officials not to sell cotton and cotton seeds to outsiders, so they paid no attention to these out-of-town people who looked like stewards.

Unexpectedly, these people did not give up and raised the price of cotton seeds to one tael of silver per catty.

The news caused a stir among the villagers.

Someone was tempted and secretly sold fifty catties of cotton seeds, earning fifty taels of silver.

He set a precedent, and the steward repeatedly found him, asking him to sell more cotton seeds.

Ultimately, this situation ended up being discovered and reported to the village officer, Chen Sanyou.

Chen Sanyou was furious and immediately went to his elder brother, Chen Fu, demanding an explanation for the villagers.

Indeed, the one selling cotton seeds was the second son of the Chen clan leader.

The clan leader, Chen, was also very angry. He immediately summoned his second son, Chen Jiazhen, and questioned him as to why he had sold the cotton seeds privately.

“It’s just a few catties of cotton seeds, not a big deal.” Chen Jiazhen replied dismissively, “You can sell too, one tael of silver per catty, it is more profitable than selling Jin’er. Who would pass on earning money?”

Chen Fu was so angry that he raised his stick to beat him.

Chen Sanyou was also furious, pointing at his nephew and scolding him: “Don’t you realize this is a request from the county magistrate? Are you short of money?”

Chen Jiazhen ducked his father’s bamboo stick while protecting his head, not forgetting to retort, “Can the county magistrate give us one tael of silver per catty? I’m not crazy. Why reject making money and choose instead to sell cheap to the government?”

Chen Sanyou was momentarily speechless, but he agreed with the words of the county magistrate.

Once the cotton seeds were taken by wealthy families, it would not be easy for other villagers to plant cotton.

Chen Sanyou did not bother to argue with his second nephew, and directly said to his brother Chen Fu: “How many cotton seeds does your family have left? Take them all out. The cotton seeds were originally given by Jiang Sanlang. I will return them all to the Jiang family. You should not plant cotton in your family in the future to avoid such incidents and prevent the whole village from losing face.”