The Lu family was originally the recipient of poor support from Xinghua Village. Suddenly, in just one month, their situation suddenly changed. The business in the town started, and the family had enough food to eat.
In the past, the Lu family were afraid of being bumped into when they went out. They were all sallow and skinny, with a pitiful appearance, but now they all have bright eyes and red faces. They are smiling when they go out, and their voices are louder when they speak.
Such changes made other people in Xinghua Village very unwilling.
To put it bluntly, it was jealousy. I don’t know from which day the Lu family was isolated by other families in the village.
The Lu family's troubles were revealed behind their backs, and when facing each other they either pretended not to see it, or made some sly remarks with a fake smile.
But when they heard Mrs. Zhang said that she needed fifty cents a day to find someone to harvest wheat, many people's faces changed and they rushed to recommend themselves. They smiled enthusiastically.
No one is stupid and can't live with money. With fifty cents, you can buy a few days' worth of food.
Zhang ordered some men and asked Su Ruyi to decide. These men were all reliable and willing to work hard.
Su Ruyi counted the heads, and there were exactly six. They cost 300 yuan, which was the daily turnover of their stall.
Then hire them all.
Try to get the food issue done as early as possible.
Mrs. Zhang felt panicked and felt very uneasy.
She knew how the people in the village viewed the Lu family. Although she didn't get too close to other people's families in the past, she could still chat normally when they met. Now, she always feels that the way others look at her is wrong, and the words they say are inappropriate. It doesn't taste right.
Zhang's hair is like a radiance on her spine.
"Su Ruyi, are we going a little too far?"
Su Ruyi: "Which one?"
"That's it! We regard our family as a noble lord's house, but we are not a noble lord!"
Zhang said anxiously.
It's just arrogance, so arrogant!
No one else in the village wants to talk to him!
Su Ruyi laughed, she knew what Zhang meant.
It means that the first bird is shot. In a nest, everyone is pretty much the same. If you suddenly stand out from others, you are an outlier. You are easily excluded and suffer disaster.
Su Ruyi has tried her best to keep a low profile, but the Lu family is now in the spotlight and cannot shrink back.
"Mom, don't worry about what others think. We live our own lives. We don't steal or rob."
"You are still young. You don't know that people's minds can be very evil sometimes..."
"I know. Anyway, that's it. Let's move forward. We can't go back and live the days of not having enough food, right? Don't think so much and live your own life."
If you want to live a better life than others, you must dare to be different from most people and be able to withstand pressure.
Zhang thought for a moment: "How about inviting two people?"
This makes it appear that my family is not so wealthy.
Su Ruyi: "Only six. If we invite two or six now, there is no way to change the villagers' view of us. So why don't we just take some time off and finish this matter quickly to feel at ease."
It is no longer realistic to try to hide it, so it is better to openly admit that we have strength now.
The next day, Su Ruyi went to invite the six people, who came from six families respectively. Each person was given 20 coins first, and then given after the rest.
Men who have been doing farm work all year round are ultimately more efficient than women in doing things. There is no way around it, men are born with greater strength than women.
Su Ruyi and Zhang no longer had to work by themselves, so they were responsible for delivering water and walking around nearby, acting as supervisors for the master.
Cutting wheat, drying it, threshing it, and raising it.
The Lu family had planted half of their fields, and the wheat was not growing well, so six grown men finished the work in two days.
There is a Dachangba in the village that is dedicated to drying grain. Each household occupies one area. Your family uses it and I use it. Li Zheng, who is in charge of their village, leads the officials to drive the donkey cart and is there with buckets and sacks for collecting grains. Waiting nearby, waiting to hand over food.
The amount of grain each household pays is calculated on a per capita basis, one stone per person over fourteen years old, five dou per person under fourteen and over ten years old, and no need to pay for those under ten years old.
The five adults of the Lu family plus a child who is just ten years old have a total of five stones and five buckets.
The Lu family's harvest this year was really not good. They planted ten acres of land. While other people could produce three to four hundred kilograms of wheat from one mu of land, theirs could only produce about two hundred kilograms.
The harvest of more than two acres of the land still needs to be handed over, and there is not much left. The family can barely survive the winter and have enough to eat until spring.
Zhang was heartbroken and depressed.
Su Ruyi carried a large bag, and Zhang carried half a bag. They went to the donkey cart to hand over the grain. The one who had finished handing over was emptying the wheat in the bucket into the sack.
"Which family?"
The official guard was holding a small booklet and a pen, crossing out the name of each household after handing it over.
Li Zheng said hurriedly: "Master, this is from the Lu Duotian family."
"From the Lu family?"
The two officials who were originally absent-minded seemed to have become interested, and they both looked over, their eyes were quite meaningful, and the corners of their mouths were slightly twitching.
Su Ruyi knew in her heart that she had become a target again, but she didn't show anything on her face.
He smiled and said, "Yes, sir, we are from the Lu family, come here to hand over the food."
As he spoke, he put down the sack on his body. There was a large piece of linen cloth spread on the ground in front of the donkey cart. Two wooden measuring tools were placed on the linen cloth. The measuring tools had a big word "official" printed on the side. With the blessing of this word, this shabby Measuring tools suddenly show their majesty.
Mrs. Zhang also laughed along with her and stepped forward to help Su Ruyi pour the wheat in her pocket into the measuring tool.
"Wait a minute, let's do it."
The official who didn't hold the notebook strode over, snatched the sack from Su Ruyi's hand, grabbed the sack and began to tip it over. His movements were wide open and closed, and many golden wheat grains rolled out of the measuring tool.
What is rolled outside the measuring tool does not count, and the farmers themselves cannot take it back. Everyone knows who it ends up in.
"Master——"
Zhang's mouth trembled and she screamed.
"What's wrong? What do you have to say?"
The one holding the notebook looked at her arrogantly.
"No, nothing."
Zhang's face turned pale and she hurriedly shook her head, took a few steps back, and quietly squeezed Su Ruyi back.
She was worried that Su Ruyi's temper would cause conflict with the official.
Su Ruyi naturally understood her mother-in-law's hint and told her not to say anything and not to contradict the official.
Su Ruyi was not stupid enough to get into trouble with these officials.
If someone thinks that he can do things all over the world with reason, then he is simply too young, or he has read too idealistically.
The rules in this world are all made by those in power. How can those at the bottom easily use rules to restrain those in power above!
She silently looked at the grains scattered on the linen cloth and said nothing.
Su Ruyi estimated that a large bag of wheat would definitely be enough for one stone. Everyone knew that officials were prone to urine, so they would prepare more. The half bag on Zhang's shoulder was an extra.
Before the bag was empty, Zhang started to sweat.
