webnovelfull Chapter 120 Solving the refugee problem
Chapter 120 Solving the refugee problem
Shen Wanning stepped forward and said, "In reply to your question, sir, we were just discussing the matter of accepting refugees. To prevent them from causing unrest, the county magistrate and I have agreed that I will hire them to work and pay them. This way, the refugees will have an income and be well fed and well-watered, so they will naturally not wander around and cause trouble."
"Oh? So you are really a kind person! In addition to cassava, you can also think of this method to help refugees. It is really righteous! I will definitely report to the emperor that there is such a righteous woman among the people!" Eunuch Xiang's words also indicate that he remembers the money Shen Wanning gave her and will speak well of her in front of the emperor.
"I'm just trying to do my bit. I can't accomplish this on my own. I need the support of the village head and all the villagers. I also believe that the villagers of Daqing Village can get along well with the refugees and eventually become one big family."
While everyone was there, Shen Wanning deliberately took all the credit for the success. The villagers of Daqing Village were somewhat touched by this and regretted their words about not moving their fields out.
After saying this, Eunuch Xiang looked at Shen Wanning with even higher regard. This woman must have done more than what she did today.
Originally, Eunuch Xiang wanted to have the gifts delivered to her, but the villagers were so enthusiastic that they were willing to help Shen Wanning carry the gifts in. So in the end, the gifts were unloaded directly at the village entrance, and the villagers helped carry them back to the Lin family.
After seeing off Eunuch Xiang, the people of Daqing Village began to cheer.
"Oh my god! I actually got to see the imperial edict! I've made it big! The ancestral tombs of our Daqing Village are smoking!"
"Yes, yes, that was the eunuch beside the emperor! He was just like what was described in the storybook, white and beardless."
"I really envy the Lin family for having such a lucky daughter."
"You don't know, I just touched the brocade a few times, it's as soft as the clouds in the sky. It's so comfortable!"
"The imperial edict just mentioned a set of red gold headgear! It's a pity it's in a box, so I don't know what it looks like."
"Didn't they say there were still a hundred ounces of gold? I've never seen what a gold ingot looks like in my life. I really want to see it!"
Watching everyone's discussion, the village head walked up to Shen Wanning, rubbed his hands, and said, "Wanning, I have a humble request. Could this imperial edict be placed in our Lin family's ancestral hall for worship? Let our ancestors see it, and by the way, let our descendants also pay homage to it."
Shen Wanning shook her head. "Uncle Village Head, I'm afraid that won't work. It's not that I'm stingy, but right now, with the refugees about to arrive, I'm afraid if someone were to destroy this imperial decree, it would be disastrous. That would be a crime of treason, and our entire Daqing Village would be punished. In serious cases, they might even be beheaded and their entire clan exterminated."
Shen Wanning wasn't kidding; such a thing could have happened in ancient times. The imperial edict wouldn't be as safe anywhere else as it was in her delivery station.
"It was a close call. Fortunately, Wan Ning reminded me, otherwise it would have been a disaster if I had made a big mistake. You should keep this imperial edict at home!" The village head patted his chest, feeling a little scared.
"Okay, Uncle Village Chief, let's continue our discussion."
The village head stood on the stone again and waved his hand, asking everyone to quiet down. "I just mentioned moving your land away from Mr. Lin. What do you think about it?"
"I...I am willing to move my land away from the third son of the Lin family."
"I do, too!"
"Since it's true that the Lin family's daughter received a reward, then the emperor's strict investigation must also be true. We are willing to move out."
"I do, too!"
The villagers responded one after another and expressed their willingness to move their fields out.
The village head continued to ask, "What about accepting refugees?"
"If they can guarantee they won't hurt us, then we're willing."
"Yes, yes, yes. Although we want to be exempted from taxes, we want our lives more."
Hearing the change in everyone's attitude, Shen Wanning stepped forward and said, "The county magistrate will send all his officials to help us manage the situation. We will all be fine. Not only will the county magistrate commend us for accepting the refugees, but word will also reach the emperor, who will remember our contribution to Daqing Village."
"Will the emperor give us rewards?" a villager asked in a low voice.
Shen Wanning shook her head. "The emperor's heart is hard to predict. I don't know. But if we make contributions again in the future, the emperor will reward us along with this one."
"Okay, we're willing to work with the refugees. As long as they don't cause trouble, we're willing to accept them and treat them like villagers."
"Yes, I am willing to do that too. As long as they work hard and treat us well, we will naturally not make things difficult for them."
One call and a hundred responses.
Someone took the lead, and others responded, and the matter was settled.
"Well, your contribution to Daxia will never be forgotten. Anyone interested in working as a helper in my household can register with my second brother. I'll help you build some thatched houses for the refugees over the next few days. Once my saplings arrive, you can come and help plant them. The wages will start tomorrow, and will be one hundred coins a day."
"Can I sign up for my brother from my mother's side? He is just over 20 years old and in his prime. He can do both building houses and planting trees." Wei Fangfei, the eldest daughter-in-law of the village head, asked.
"Of course! It's the same as before, as long as they are hardworking and have good character. And we will select fifty people from the people working this time to help manage the fruit trees. The wages are still one hundred coins a day. In the future, when the fruits are ripe or it is time to pick tea, we will hire everyone to help again, and the wages will remain the same." Shen Wanning promised loudly.
This made everyone cheer again.
"That's great. If we want to work in the future, we don't have to go to the county anymore. We can just work at Lao Lin's house."
"Yes, yes. We don't have to worry about not making money and having no food to eat."
"This is really good news. When the daughter of the old Lin family said she was going to open a workshop, I thought she was joking, but it turned out to be true."
"What are you guys still talking about? Hurry up and go to Old Lin's house to register. If you're late, you won't be able to register."
"Hurry up, I want to register too."
Everyone rushed to the Lin family, fearing they would not be able to register. Shen Wanning watched from behind, smiling and shaking her head.
"Mom, let's go back and take a look. We haven't told my second brother about this yet, so as not to scare him and his wife." Shen Wanning said with a smile, holding Aunt Zhang's arm.
"Okay, let's go back together." After saying that, Aunt Zhang turned around and said to the head of the village, "Head of the village, since the matter has been settled, let's go back first."