Chapter 152: Miao Chu Chapter 151: Gourd

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Han Lidao said: "Linghe Town falls under Weizhou's jurisdiction; originally it bordered Huazhou, but after the Yellow River changed course, a major tributary cut through both Huazhou and Weizhou, directly blocking the roads from several large market towns near Linghe Town to Huazhou."

He explained seriously to Song Miao, saying: "Although it is a temporary flood surge, judging by past years' conditions, it will take at least half a month to recede; right now the river current is extremely fierce, boats cannot travel, and land routes are also blocked — people cannot get through, so it is not easy to make much of an effort."

Hearing him say people could not get through, Song Miao hurriedly said: "Today I met an old woman; she is from a village under Linghe Town's jurisdiction who came to sell vegetables — is there perhaps another road that can connect?"

Han Li immediately grew interested and asked: "How did she get here?"

Linghe Town was originally a large county with a very large population under its jurisdiction; from the previous dynasty through the early years of the current dynasty's founding it had always belonged to Huazhou, but later, because the Yellow River changed course on its southern route, looping westward, for the convenience of administration it was demoted from a county to a town and transferred to Weizhou.

Now the Yellow River has changed course several times again; because its flow direction was already different from before, after court deliberation it was decided last year to reincorporate it into Huazhou.

But the edict has not yet been issued at this time, so naturally it still belongs to Weizhou.

Before long, that Li Popo was invited out.

Song Miao first indicated Han Li, explained his background, then said Huazhou was about to dig a canal to divert water but lacked manpower, and wanted to exchange corvée labor with Weizhou, but worried that transportation was inconvenient and recruited people could not get through.

After everything was explained, she then asked Li Popo exactly where her home was, how far from Linghe Town proper, whether there were any nearby villages or towns and what their populations were like, how she had come this morning, and how she had originally planned to return.

Originally, as long as Song Miao asked, Li Popo was already very willing to answer; now hearing her explain the background — that they wanted to open a canal and dig a river — she became even more excited.

She urgently asked: "My family has three mu of fields all flooded by water; they only recently receded a little; my daughter-in-law strained herself rushing to plant and couldn't hold up, so she fell ill; everyone in the village fears the summer flood will come and drown them again — if that Wang River is dug through, will it stop flooding our place??"

Han Li said: "Not necessarily completely flood-free; if the water surge is too great, there is still a possibility of overtopping the embankment, but in any case it will definitely be better than now."

Weizhou and Huazhou are separated by the Yellow River's main channel; although Weizhou occupies the relatively higher ground, when the flood surge arrives both sides suffer disaster — it is merely the difference between fifty paces and a hundred paces.

Matters in the world have always been: whoever suffers the greatest harm is the most anxious.

Li Popo's family fields have been flooded year after year in recent years; faced with such a natural disaster, ordinary human power fundamentally cannot resist; now hearing the government intends to act, she simply knew everything and told everything, even racking her brains to help offer ideas.

She said: "I came via a small trail; only during these few days of rising water each year is it passable — even locals don't all know it; fortunately my son travels between villages and market towns, so he knows a few more paths than others."

She then explained clearly how she took a boat upstream on a certain tributary, then crossed a mountain, then went downstream again; what time of day boats were available each day, and how long it took to get here.

After finishing everything, she still did not forget to ask: "I came to sell vegetables and can rush back; if I come for corvée labor, I'm afraid by the time the work is done I won't be able to get back in time — what then?"

Han Li said: "We can erect sheds, put communal bunks inside; conditions are poor, but enduring a day or two is barely manageable."

He added: "Originally one day included only the noon meal; if we do it this way, we can change to two shifts — early and late — the early shift includes breakfast, the late shift includes dinner — it's just that Song Stall's partner people will have to work harder……"

Song Miao did not say anything about it not being hard, but replied: "Hardship is only for this period; if we succeed, it won't count as hardship in vain."

Meanwhile Li Popo, listening to Han Li speak, exclaimed again in surprise: "This round of corvée labor even includes meals??"

She asked again: "Does that count as having fulfilled one's corvée obligation?"

Originally this manpower was divided into two parts: one part was locally conscripted corvée labor, providing one meal; if done well there would be a tiny subsidy, and it could count as fulfilling corvée; the other part was temporarily recruited vagrants — besides providing one meal daily, these people could get a larger subsidy, but it did not count as fulfilling corvée; later when they returned home they would still have to serve corvée.

Li Popo then asked the subsidy amount the vagrants received.

Upon learning the figure, she suddenly asked: "If we locals are willing not to count it as corvée service, and treat ourselves as vagrants to do this work, can we be paid at the vagrant rate?"

Han Li hesitated a few breaths, then nodded: "Yes."

He also stated age and physical restrictions.

Li Popo had still been sitting, but now she could not help standing up.

She was not used to sitting on such a high stool; she looked left and right for a low bench, couldn't find one, so she simply moved the stool she was sitting on aside, found a corner, squatted on the ground, and started counting on her fingers.

After a moment of calculating, she stood up and walked back, saying to Han Li: "Scholar sir, my mother's clan has over eighty people; they can pull three to four hundred people from the surrounding villages — not all are able-bodied men, but all are from the fields, ages and strength are suitable, every single one is an old hand at digging soil and excavating earth."

"They live in villages; coming out and going back is inconvenient. Scholar sir, if the yamen can provide a place to stay, even a few tiles to shelter their heads and a few wooden planks propped up, that's more than enough — as long as it's calculated at the vagrant rate, I guarantee they'll all be willing to come!"

She added: "My son doesn't know when he'll return; if he can return in these two days, he alone can help bring everyone out; even if he doesn't return, shouting for someone with reputation in the clan can also lead them — why not recruit from our side!"

Right now disasters everywhere, yet everyone knows the summer flood still looms; working the fields is no good, not working is no good either; they all live by watching the sky and the land — who isn't panicked inside?

The yamen's subsidy for vagrants isn't much, but it's still money, and it includes a meal; if this river channel is dug well and the embankments repaired, and it truly prevents the summer flood from breaching and the river from flooding, then it's working for themselves and earning money at the same time!

She felt moved just listening; going back and repeating the words, there will definitely be more people willing to come than unwilling.

Han Li then said: "I won't have you work for nothing, old lady; for every person you recruit and bring to Huazhou City to register, and who reports to the digging site, I'll pay you a commission of ten cash per head — this commission anyone can collect, until the quota is filled."

Li Popo was so startled her voice nearly cracked; she hurriedly asked: "Recruit one person and get ten cash??"

Han Li nodded: "Exactly."

How much money could that be?

He had just calculated: even if three thousand people were recruited, the total would only be thirty strings of cash — compared to arranging unwilling clerks to relay messages layer by layer, and preparing carriages, horses, manpower, all kinds of duty personnel, and fodder for mules and horses, the cost is less than half.

He added: "If you're not at ease, tomorrow I'll get an official document from the yamen……"

"At ease! At ease! Scholar sir was introduced by Song Xiaoniangzi — where would there be any unease!" Li Popo immediately said.

She finished speaking, then seemed to think of something, became extremely anxious, sighed again and again, saying: "Alas, my son — who knows where he is right now! He always wanders through villages, walks the countryside, knows best where people are — ten cash per head, such a good thing! Alas! Alas!"

After sighing many times, she couldn't help asking again: "Scholar sir, what is the latest by which people must arrive? Will it happen that if they arrive late you'll have enough people and won't need them, so they'll have run a trip for nothing?"

Han Li only thought briefly, then replied: "No; anyone who comes during the fourth month will be accepted, but after that it's hard to say."

Before setting out he had already memorized the basic conditions of population, taxes, etc. for the various prefectures and counties in the two capitals' regions; he knew how many people and how many able-bodied men Weizhou's five counties and sixteen townships had in total.

Right now three counties in Weizhou are also recruiting corvée labor to repair embankments; at most half the manpower is available — even if they all came it would be a dream — the able-bodied men still wouldn't reach twenty thousand, and they would come in batches anyway.

With this scale of manpower, wave after wave, he believed he could still manage the arrangements.

Li Popo asked many more details; one listen showed she was a veteran of many years, now seriously planning to act.

Han Li did not perfunctorily brush her off; he answered every question, and answered in great detail, finally adding: "Coincidentally I also need to make a trip to Weizhou City; tomorrow morning I'll bring a few people and follow your route for a run, and also send a companion back with you, carrying an official document; if villagers don't believe it, it can serve as proof."

Li Popo naturally would not refuse; she bowed deeply to both Song Miao and Han Li, startling the two into hurriedly stepping aside, but she absolutely refused to let them off, insisting they accept her bow, and said: "Song Xiaoniangzi is truly this old body's lucky star! And many thanks to Young Master Han; if I can get this sum of money, find a good doctor, and cure my daughter-in-law, I truly…… truly……"

Song Miao hurriedly returned the bow, and said: "If you can bring this many people, it also counts as helping the yamen greatly; Young Master Han will also breathe a sigh of relief!"

Li Popo gave an "Mm", spoke more words of guarantee; as she spoke her eye rims reddened, her voice turned muffled, she turned her back and wiped her face, then hurriedly excused herself saying there was something behind her, and left in a rush.

Song Miao really couldn't bear to see an old person weeping like that; after she left, Song Miao finally let out a breath, turned around, and saw that Han Li also looked much more relaxed, so they exchanged a smile.

Han Li smiled for a long while, poured her a cup of tea, and said: "I'll go arrange tomorrow's matters later, but if it weren't for Stall Owner Song's sharpness this time, we wouldn't have found a shortcut to Weizhou in a hurry—who knows how much effort it would have cost—Old Lady Li charges ten wen per person as a headcount fee; Stall Owner Song helped so much, what kind of favor would be appropriate?"

Song Miao was already smiling, and hearing this made her dimples deepen even further; she said: "Young Master, don't talk about money and favors all the time—what you've given is already enough; talking too much hurts feelings, not to mention you'll spoil people's appetites and make them greedy!"

After speaking, she held up the tea cup, raised it toward him across the air, and smiled: "Just consider this as my thanks."

She held the tea, stood up, and walked toward the back.

Han Li watched her enter the Second Gate until she was out of sight, then poured himself a cup of tea.

The tea had been sitting for a long while and was already cold; who knew what leaves were brewed—it wasn't proper tea leaves at all, just tea stems and broken leaves, bitter and astringent upon entering the mouth.

But Han Li took a sip, glanced at the Second Gate—actually seeing nothing—and for some unknown reason, facing that empty Second Gate and bare doorframe, he felt the tea had flavor, more interesting than the Dragon-Phoenix Tea Cakes he used to get from his senior brother, as if he could taste the returning sweetness.

After finishing a cup of tea, he also returned to the Back Courtyard, told Wu Gong, Lu Wenming, and others about Old Lady Li's matter, and specially selected three students to follow him to Weizhou tomorrow.

After finishing all instructions, he returned to his own room.

At this time Kong Fuyang was still calculating at the table.

Han Li didn't disturb him; he took the keys from the table, unlocked and took a Blank Commendation Order, then took paper and brush, took some ink ground by Kong Fuyang from the inkstone, said a word, told him to wash up and sleep early, not to stay up late, and said he was taking his things, then left.

Song Miao returned to her room and tidied up a bit, checked the plan she wrote in the afternoon, made some additions and deletions, and had just finished when she heard someone knocking at the door.

She first thought it was Xiang Yuan arriving with a letter from the courier, but hearing the voice, it was actually Han Li's.

As soon as she opened the door, the other person stood at the doorway and handed over an envelope, saying: "This is that Blank Commendation Order."

He also said: "I'm just outside; if you want to sit later, it's best to choose a table closer to me."

Song Miao smiled and agreed.

After Han Li delivered the Commendation Order, he said no more, went out to the Outer Hall, chose a seat facing outside where he could clearly see the doorway, spread out paper and ink, and began writing the notices and official documents needed for tomorrow, making all the arrangements.

After he left, Song Miao calculated in her mind and felt the time agreed with the Xiang Family earlier was approaching; she thought it over, put her things away, had just locked the door, when she suddenly remembered something, and not in a hurry to go out to the Outer Hall, she turned back to the Kitchen instead.

Looking around the Kitchen, she finally saw what she was looking for in the corner.

It was a gourd.

Song Miao took the gourd, opened it to look inside, smelled the scent, confirmed it was correct, then found a grass rope to tie it up and carried it out the door.

After walking a few steps, she saw someone coming toward her—it was exactly that courier.

Seeing Song Miao, he hurriedly greeted: "Young Lady, there's a person surnamed Xiang outside, bringing a child, saying they made an appointment with you this afternoon and have come to visit at this time."

Song Miao thanked him, went out to the Front Hall, and indeed saw Xiang Yuan bringing Liang Yan sitting in the hall.

She hurried forward to greet them.

Just after sitting down and ordering tea, Xiang Yuan pointed at Liang Yan and smiled: "This mischievous child previously refused to say; if I hadn't pressed him, we wouldn't know he received so much care from Young Lady Song; these past two days things were busy, no time to attend to it, now having some spare time, I simply brought him to sit and express thanks."

He also said: "At noon Young Lady came to deliver money, which made me think carefully afterward; indeed I wasn't careful enough in doing things, asked suddenly and rashly, fearing I caused you to misunderstand the sincerity—after returning, I've already clarified this matter and made a contract."

Speaking, he indeed took out a folded contract from his pocket and handed it to Song Miao.

Song Miao reached out to take it, but didn't hurry to open it; instead she smiled and said: "Liang Yan is especially patient and has a good temper, helped me a lot—it's not that I took care of him, just mutual exchange."

Speaking, she placed the gourd in her hand before Xiang Yuan, saying: "I was just about to send this to Master Xiang, afraid I wouldn't have a free hand; didn't expect such a coincidence to meet you at the door, saving a trip."

Xiang Yuan looked at the gourd, blinked, and asked: "What is this?"

Song Miao said: "A small thing, a return gift for Liang Yan—he helped me peel garlic before, so I return him a gourd of garlic."

She also said: "It's a side remedy my family used when I was young, garlic soaked in white vinegar, specifically treats nasal congestion, and can also treat stuffy nose when catching a cold—I saw his nose often uncomfortable, badly blocked, or with lots of nasal mucus; open the lid and smell it, it will feel better; the garlic inside can also be eaten, the longer it's soaked the more effective."

Thank you to Book City Crazy Mom for gifting me 9 Small Gifts, such great heart:)

Thank you to book friend _cA for gifting me two Small Gifts, book friends, Qingfeng Danran, JaneJane, Wuya Kejiu,, lulu666 five friends each gifting me one Small Gift, thank you everyone, all heartfelt gifts have been seriously received, special thanks (#^. ^#)

Thank you Food Friends for monthly votes and various votes, still over one hundred short, just a little short of three thousand, fight again in August! During serialization I will thicken my face to hardily ask for votes, disturbing everyone! Still want to fight for operating funds for Xiao Miao, even if just once >_<