Li Zheng lowered his head and looked at the stones on the ground.
Cheng Wanwan could also understand that ordinary people in ancient times were like ants in front of officials, and they did not dare to express their anger.
Look at the women and farmers in Dahe Village. They usually love to watch the excitement. Now that the county magistrate is here, they are either hiding in the rice fields or having their doors closed. In their eyes, the county magistrate is like A man-eating tiger.
Cheng Wanwan could only speak for Li Zheng: "My second son is a wild boy. He goes to the mountains every day and is very familiar with Dadong Mountain. Finding water sources is not difficult for him. But in the mountains near other villages, my second son is very familiar with Dadong Mountain. I’ve never been there, and I’m afraid it will take a lot of effort to find a water source. I walk around and look for it, and a day passes. If I can’t find it one day, I still have to go there the next day. How can I organize so many acres of land at home?”
When Cheng Wanwan raised the topic, Li Zheng became bolder and sang in harmony: "It's okay. Dashan Niang can just ask the villagers to help take care of the fields."
Cheng Wanwan sighed: "If you ask someone to do a day's work, you can't get paid. Our family is so poor that we can't even afford a single copper."
The county magistrate put his hands behind his back: "If your boy can really discover other water sources, it will be a great merit and I will reward him well."
Cheng Wanwan silently complained that rewards were usually just a few words of verbal praise, which was neither painful nor itchy.
She paused and said: "From discovering the water source to digging ditches to divert water into the fields, this is not a matter that can be solved by one person. Dahe Village must send at least four or five people to assist. It is the busy time of farming, and everyone's home is full of farm work. Waiting for the meal, because you are thinking about family affairs, who can devote yourself wholeheartedly to helping other villages find water sources? It is impossible for other villages to find water, and their own rice fields are overgrown with weeds and bugs because no one is taking care of them. By the time the harvest comes, The yield per acre is not as good as others."
Master Yuan's anger rose again: "How dare you slack off in your duties as the magistrate!"
Cheng Wanwan was not afraid at all: "The woman is just telling the truth. The autumn harvest is not far away. Who is willing to leave the work at home and work for others? Your Excellency, the county magistrate, the woman was once a member of a big family. In the future, When a family is separated, you can fish in troubled waters and be lazy if you can. When there are huge benefits in front of you, you don't need anyone to push you. The woman can stay up all night and complete the things she is told. The county magistrate feels that the woman is so Does it make sense?"
Li Zheng was so frightened that he was sweating profusely, and Dashan Niang was too courageous. How dare she say this in front of the county magistrate?
Didn't you see that Master Yuan is so angry? If the county magistrate becomes angry, they will all be punished.
This was the first time for the county magistrate to see ordinary people say such a long list of words in front of him. It was different from the usual words of flattery and compliments. These words were very meaningful, and he actually felt that they made sense.
When he gave an order, the people in the village had to do it, but they couldn't do it willingly.
Doing something seriously and doing something half-heartedly have completely different results.
During this severe drought, all the villages in the surrounding towns were dry. Only Ping'an Town found a water source. This was a great opportunity for him to make political achievements.
After achieving political achievements and showing his face in front of the prefect, he might be able to move up in his position during the assessment in a few years.
The master immediately understood what the county magistrate meant and said, "Everyone in Dahe Village who helps find water sources and dig ditches will be rewarded with one hundred copper coins a day."
Satoshi's eyes widened.
I'm a good boy, and I'll pay you a hundred cents a day. This is a good job that you can't find anywhere. The magistrate is so generous.
With this money in hand, he can deduct fifty cents per person and treat it as public property of the village. It will then be used to pay the wages of the patrol team. Two cents will be paid for two hours of patrolling. There are many people rushing to do it.
"Your Majesty the County Magistrate, this is not what a civilian woman means." Cheng Wanwan said with a look of fear on her face, "How can I ask for wages for doing things for your Majesty the County Magistrate? If I can't find a single water source, it will be very hot to hold the money."
The corner of the magistrate's mouth twitched. He had already understood what this woman was thinking. She thought one hundred coins was too little.
However, it was the first time for the county magistrate to see such a person, and he felt strange. Besides, this woman had raised a son who was worthy of success, so it was normal for him to want more benefits.
As long as it can improve his political performance, it is not a big deal to reward him with more copper coins.
The county magistrate said: "In your opinion, what should we do?"
"If a water source is discovered, the county magistrate will give you a reward. If we can't relieve the county magistrate's worries, we are not qualified to take money. How about this?" A smile appeared on the corner of Cheng Wanwan's lips, "Thirty-five You must visit all the villages within three days. If you do this, you will not be able to sleep for three days..."
Master Yuan, who had always been very irritable, looked at Cheng Wanwan twice. A peasant woman could come up with such a method. It seemed that he underestimated the farmers.
He gave the magistrate a viable look.
The county magistrate nodded and said: "If you find a water source, you will be rewarded with two taels of silver."
Li Zheng's eyes suddenly widened.
Two, two taels of silver?
Their family farmed for a year, and together with his decent monthly salary, they could only save two taels of silver a year.
If we could find ten water sources in the thirty-five villages after Dahe Village, that would be twenty taels of silver!
I'm a good boy, why did Dashan Niang convince the county magistrate?
Cheng Wanwan curled her lips. She was in the ancient times when groundwater had never been exploited. There was a high probability of water in the valley between the two peaks.
As long as there are continuous mountain peaks, it is not difficult to find water.
The county magistrate praised: "My sister-in-law is completely different from ordinary peasant women. No wonder she can raise a son who discovered the source of water."
Cheng Wanwan kept a low profile: "This is because the children's father is good at teaching his children. In the early years when there was no war, he would come back every year and teach the children many important principles. Although he has gone, his principles have always been taught by the children. Let’s keep it in mind.”
The county magistrate sighed. It turned out that she was a widow whose husband died in the war. No wonder she would care about the silver coins for the reward. Everyone in the world has their own difficulties. As a parent, he should be considerate. Isn't it too little to give two taels of silver to a water source?
Just as he was talking, a bullock cart stopped at the door.
Zhao Ergou and Zhao Sanniu moved the barrels down, and they walked tremblingly into the house. Their eyes were straight, and they did not even see the county magistrate standing at the door.
When I walked in, I tripped and almost fell.
Cheng Wanwan explained: "The two sons of the peasant woman went to town and came back. The peasant woman asked them to go into the house to change clothes and then come out to see the county magistrate."
Her face looked a little solemn.
When these two boys came back from delivering the goods, they looked disheveled. Could it be that something had happened?
If she had known better, she would have gone with him for the first delivery.
She stopped thinking about it and followed her into the house. She saw the two boys locking themselves in the back room. She raised her hand and knocked on it, then lowered her voice and said, "What happened?"
Zhao Ergou pulled Cheng Wanwan in, his eyes widened, and he took out a cloth bag from his arms: "Mom, it's silver!"
Cheng Wanwan looked over and saw an ingot of snowflake silver in the cloth bag.
