Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space
Chapter 287. Requesting Grain

Chapter 287: 287. Requesting Grain

"You speak of patiently waiting, but who can afford to wait patiently at such a time? We don’t have a single grain left, and people are about to starve to death..."

"Exactly, it’s been so long since the disaster struck, yet there’s been no response from the court. If the court had acted swiftly, not so many people would have died. My father and mother wouldn’t have starved to death either..."

"I’m the only one left in my family... sob..."

The speaker’s tears fell like rain, and they couldn’t even stand steady, crouching down on the ground.

"..."

The more people spoke, the more agitated they became, and it seemed a collective outrage was imminent. The head officer also couldn’t help but feel anxious. It’s not been long since the incidents on the mountain, and if it weren’t for the natural fear people have for the authorities, those dozen officials and a few dozen servants and their families would never have been able to stand against the people on the mountain driven mad by hunger.

In reality, it was the official status they held that indirectly protected them.

"Everyone, please listen to me quietly. The county magistrate has always been known in Shanggu Town for treating the people like his children. The magistrate truly is trying to find a solution, so everyone please wait a bit longer..."

"But how long do we have to wait? The longer we delay, the more we miss the chance to plant crops. When will we be able to grow food again? It was so hard for us to survive..."

"...We barely survived, are we now to starve to death again? If that’s the case, what’s the point of the government?"

"Exactly..."

The head officer was anxious too! His family was also waiting for food and seeds to be planted.

Seeing the increasingly agitated people with reddened eyes, the head officer and the officials began to sweat nervously. If the people became enraged, they would have no chance against a punch from each of them.

They feared they wouldn’t even have a piece of clothing left. Thinking of the starving people from the mountains... the officials shuddered in unison.

"Everyone, please don’t panic, listen to me. We’re all from the same village, and I fully understand your feelings at this moment. But you must know, this disaster has affected not only our area but also several neighboring counties. It’s a calamity rarely seen in hundreds of years. The magistrate is worried too and has been constantly seeking solutions. He has vowed, even at the cost of his official position, to procure seeds for everyone. I’m asking fellow villagers to trust him just once, but this will take some time."

The head officer shouted at the top of his lungs, trying to drown out the tumultuous, angry crowd below.

As he spoke, his body couldn’t help but sway a few times.

Fortunately, the name of the county magistrate still carried some weight. The people of Shanggu Town held a certain trust in this magistrate, and gradually the furious and noisy voices began to fade. People looked at one another with eyes full of sorrow, and finally the old man who had started speaking earlier opened his mouth again.

"Of course, we are willing to believe in the magistrate. Magistrate Liu has always cared for the people. It’s just that planting seeds is urgent, and we don’t know exactly how many days it will take."

After the old man finished speaking, many around nodded in agreement. Only by planting seeds can everyone truly be at ease.

"I can assure you, by the hour of the dragon tomorrow, the seeds will arrive..." A hoarse voice with a sense of age rang out from the back of the crowd, and a young man in worn official attire stood at the back of everyone.

When they turned their heads to see who spoke, the crowd immediately knelt down, with some already in tears, their thin bodies trembling with excitement.

"It’s Magistrate Liu..."

"Thank goodness, Magistrate Liu is here..."

"Magistrate Liu, is it true... that there really are seeds?" The excited crowd couldn’t help but move closer to Liu Yongping, and seeing this, the officers beside him quickly surrounded Liu to protect him.

Liu Yongping raised his hand slightly, making the officers retract their movements somewhat, but they still guarded closely.

The pairs of expectant eyes caused Liu Yongping to furrow his brows tightly. In a voice that was young yet weary like an old man, he said, "Fellow villagers... please rise. Though I am just a minor official, my word is my bond. I have been negotiating for these seeds over the past few days, and there is now progress. If all goes well, the seeds will arrive tomorrow. Not much, but enough to guarantee each person five liters. However, everyone must prepare to pay..."

"Isn’t it free, sir?"

"Yes, magistrate..."

Hearing that money was required made the once somewhat relieved populace knit their brows.

In previous disasters, the court always provided some relief grain, and some seeds were distributed for free.

So does Magistrate Liu mean... the court isn’t helping them this time?

Liu Yongping pressed his hand down, "I understand your feelings. I too wish there were relief grains, and I wish the court would send seeds, but the extent of this disaster is vast. The people I sent out have not yet returned, and I don’t know the status of the outside world. As for these seeds, they are what I managed to gather through every effort and do not belong to the court. If there are doubts and an unwillingness to pay, of course you can choose not to take them. But I must remind you, the seeds are not plentiful, and missing this opportunity, there’s no telling when we can get them again."

Liu Yongping said in a deep voice with a serious expression.

Just these seeds alone took convincing every large household in town with emotional appeals, logical reasoning, and even threats before they agreed to sell a portion of their seeds.

He dared to say this minor county magistrate had exhausted himself for the people of Shanggu Town.

"But... sir, we have no money at all. We’ve been robbed clean, and our entire family can’t scrape together a few copper coins. How are we supposed to survive? Sir, I beg you to show some mercy and give us a share."

"Please, sir, have pity on us..."

"..."

Once someone started, those without money began to follow suit, kneeling and kowtowing, pleading.

Looking at the crowd of kneeling people, Liu Yongping felt deeply troubled, but his capabilities were limited. He didn’t have the power to sustain so many seeds.

Unless... Liu Yongping narrowed his eyes slightly.

Unless he used the tax silver that hadn’t been sent away before last year’s great calamity.

It’s just a pity about the tax grain reserves, as most of it is buried beneath floodwaters, not much could be moved in time.

Otherwise, these grains could alleviate the current crisis.

"Sir... have mercy on us..."

Liu Yongping exhaled heavily, so be it... In the current situation, relying on the court is probably out of the question. He could only find a way himself, and it would be no big deal if he lost his position as county magistrate.

After all, given the magnitude of the floods, significant losses are unavoidable and beyond human control.

His bloodshot eyes firmly locked onto the crowd continuously kowtowing in front of him.

He spoke, "I understand your difficulties. In this way, those without money can come to the official residence to register later, and they can exchange labor for grains."

Even his not-so-loud voice gradually quieted the noisy crying, and everyone straightened up, looking at Magistrate Liu ahead, their eyes filled with confusion.

It was a seemingly gentle young man who stood up, with the old man who had spoken first by his side.

Standing up, he bowed in a scholarly manner to Magistrate Liu, "Greetings Magistrate. Is what you said about exchanging labor for grains what a student understands? Does it mean... we can use our labor to get the seeds we need?"