The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 392 - 381: Choked (Extra update as reward for "Meeting by Water")

Chapter 392: Chapter 381: Choked (Extra update as reward for "Meeting by Water")

Manbao rolled a pancake and took a bite, then picked some vegetables, occasionally raising her head to glance toward the direction of Old Master Bai and the others.

Old Master Bai didn’t allow the three children to eat with them at the table, but had them sent back to their room, while the adults ate and drank wine under the peach tree in the courtyard, chatting casually.

Yang Heshu only knew of the Bai Family in Qili Village but was curious when he found out that there was another Bai Family, so he asked about it.

Old Master Bai then explained with a smile, "My cousin Bai Qi once served as a county magistrate under Yizhou. He passed away at a young age, leaving behind my aunt and an orphaned mother and child. As my cousin and I were very close, my aunt brought her family here to live, although their household registration is still in Longzhou. Regard this as their secondary residence."

Upon hearing this, Yang Heshu understood right away that it was likely due to being ostracized in the clan, possibly involving disputes over property, which was why they had taken refuge here.

So, he said with a smile, "Having both families live close to each other for mutual aid is not a bad arrangement."

Yang Heshu had quite an enjoyable conversation with Old Master Bai and Mr. Zhuang. During his many days in Luojiang County, there were not many with whom he could have a meaningful conversation, let alone people he met in the countryside these last few days.

Even the local Land Officer, except for asking about farming matters, couldn’t really engage in any other topics with him.

When Yang Heshu left the Bai Family full and content, the three had already become as cheerful as close friends.

His attendants had stepped out of Bai Manor first, and with a wave of a hand, a horse-drawn carriage turned out from the side. Old Master Bai expressed his surprise, "I didn’t know that County Magistrate Yang had brought a carriage. I had instructed my servants to prepare one for you, but it seems like it won’t be needed."

Yang Heshu smiled self-assuredly, "The carriage was following behind the whole time. Since it’s an inspection tour, it’s best not to be too ostentatious."

Standing in the back, Manbao couldn’t help but think that if they didn’t want to be ostentatious, shouldn’t they have taken a donkey or simply traveled by ox cart?

Who could afford a horse?

Manbao looked enviously at Yang Heshu’s horse, wondering when she would be able to get one for Keke.

Old Master Bai thought the same, but upon glancing at County Magistrate Yang’s face, he let it go, as the young man clearly lacked thorough consideration.

Yang Heshu hadn’t forgotten the three children, especially Manbao and Bai Shanbao, whom he really liked and admired. So he invited them, "If you three friends visit the county town, I invite you to be my guests at my mansion, as a thank you for your hospitality today."

Manbao said it was no problem and whispered to Bai Shanbao, "Although I often go to the back courtyard of the county governmental office, I’ve never been in the side gate for a hundred steps."

Bai Shanbao replied, "I haven’t either."

"Next time we go, we should check it out. Second Sister Fu said their garden is quite nice."

Bai Shanbao expressed doubt, "Nicer than my home’s garden?"

Manbao hesitated, "It should be, your home was only built a little over two years ago, but the county governmental office has been established for a very long time."

Seeing the two children interacting with him briefly before turning into a private whisper, Yang Heshu couldn’t help but stiffen his smile. Oh well, they are still children; if they can pay attention to one thing, they will inevitably ignore another.

It wasn’t until Yang Heshu got on the carriage that the two children realized that the important guest was leaving.

So the two of them, along with Bai Erlang, waved goodbye to him. Manbao also reminded him, "County Magistrate Yang, please remember the matter of buying the ox on credit. If the regulations are set, please notify me, and I will be the first to go to the city to support you."

Yang Heshu replied with a stiff smile, "Sure, I’ll let you know."

Manbao waved eagerly until the carriage crossed the river, and then she lowered her hand.

Mr. Bai curiously looked at Manbao, while Mr. Zhuang asked directly, "I’ve also heard from County Magistrate Yang. You want to get an ox on credit from the county governmental office but why not get the ox directly on credit instead of first getting silver and then the ox?"

Manbao was about to reply when Keke, in her mind, coughed lightly. Manbao then covered her mouth, saying, "I can’t tell you now. If too many people know, there might be leaks."

Mr. Zhuang then laughed, "Alright, if you don’t want to say, then don’t. When you lead the ox home, we’ll naturally find out."

Manbao felt that it would still be a long time, after all, delivering the ox would take time, wouldn’t it?

They had just finished planting their wheat here and settled all the wages of the day laborers when, after a night of cold wind, the Land Officer came to inform them.

"The county governmental office has bought a batch of oxen, thinking that everyone is struggling with farming. So the new county magistrate has decided that every poor household can go to the county governmental office and get an ox on credit. The shortest repayment term is six months, and the longest is within three years to repay the money and interest for the ox."

Standing not far from her father, Manbao listened as Old Zhou, who thought this nothing to do with him, took out his pipe from his waist and began to carefully fill it with tobacco, puffing away.

Interested families asked, "What counts as a poor household?"

"It’s very simple. A family without an ox, having only Yongye Fields apart from their house, and those who have never bought land qualify."

There you go, the majority of the families in Qili Village met the criteria.

What would a farming family do with extra money?

Get married, of course. But marriage is a major affair for future generations and a basic need for survival; it can’t be considered wealth.

So what do they do after getting married and still having money left?

Raise children.

Right, that too is part of the grand plan of propagation, and it doesn’t count as having wealth either.

If there’s still surplus money after raising children, it’s up to each family’s plan, but it boils down to three categories: buying an ox, purchasing good farmland, or investing in a shop.

That was the standard Yang Heshu had settled on from his twenty years of experience and his observations during this period.

Sure enough, quite a few people in the village were tempted.

An ox, at the very least, was worth the labor of two strong men in a family, so some people immediately raised their hands to sign up. However, others asked loudly, "Land Officer, how is the interest calculated?"

"Twelve wen for every tael of silver per month."

Once this information was revealed, those who had raised their hands quickly withdrew them, then quietly asked their neighbors, "How much is an ox worth in taels?"

As they were standing close to the Land Officer, who happened to have sharp ears and overheard the question, he cleared his throat and said, "An ox, depending on its size and health, varies from around three taels and two hundred wen to five taels. You can estimate somewhere in the middle, let’s say four taels."

"Then, Chief, how much interest would four taels accrue in a month?"

The Chief extended his hand and began counting on his fingers, with the villagers watching eagerly, not minding the slow calculation since most of them couldn’t do it themselves.

Old Zhou took a puff of smoke and then whispered to Manbao, "How much would that be?"

"Forty-eight wen."

Old Zhou smacked his lips and said, "Forty-eight wen for a month, then how much for half a year? And if it’s not paid off after half a year, how much would it be after three years?"

Manbao thought for a while and hesitated before finally saying, "It would be one thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight wen."

Old Zhou was choked by the smoke.