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The Last Immortal Cultivator on Earth Volume 5200 Part 3 Chapter 1131 Military Disaster and Man-made Disaster

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    Years later, in the middle of February, there was still a foot of snow covering the mountains and plains.

    People in Zhaocun cannot leave the village or go to Huangsha Town, and they are anxious in their hearts.  Fortunately, as early as half a month ago, it had not snowed again, the temperature was rising, and the snow on the dirt roads in the village had long been cleared, so the villagers could communicate with each other.

    Basically, Zhang Weidong knows everything that happens in the village.

    On this day, just after lunch, Zhao Erbao and his wife came over to visit.  Xu Qing chatted with Zhao in the next room, and there was always endless things to talk about every day.  In the middle room, Zhang Weidong was drinking tea with Zhao Erbao, one was tasting it and the other was drinking it.  In the yard, a group of children were playing the game of eagle catching chicks. Xiao Yueyue and Goudan laughed heartily. It seemed that during this winter, the two of them had grown taller and gained weight.

    The yard of the Zhang family has now become a paradise for many children, where they can read, read, play games, and have breakfast.  If Zhang Weidong hadn't asked for children under ten years old, there would probably be more teenagers and girls willing to come.

    "Last year at this time, the snow had already melted, and everyone was plowing the land and planting seeds. This year, it will be half a month late, and the crops may not be harvested!" Zhao Erbao, who has always been optimistic, was also a little worried and sighed from time to time.

    Zhang Weidong knows nothing about farming, not to mention that the growth patterns of crops on this planet are definitely different.

    It is said that auspicious snow heralds a good harvest. This snow is plentiful. How could it be wrong?

    "There must be a road before the car reaches the mountain. It's useless for you to worry!" In this regard, Zhang Weidong could only comfort him but could do nothing to help.

    Zhao Erbao suddenly smiled bitterly.

    Zhang Weidong could not understand his mood.  Most of the tenants' annual harvest is on the farmland.  There is a natural disaster in this field. If the harvest fails, people may die.

    Zhao Erbao hesitated for a moment and said, "Brother Zhang, when we go back to farming, don't you rent some land?"

    Zhang Weidong immediately laughed and said: "I don't know anything about farming. It's a waste of time and energy. It's better not to farm."

    "I don't know how to farm. I can teach you. The days to come are still long, and you can't always count on fishing," Zhao Erbao tried his best to persuade.  "You were alone at first, and now there are two more people. You have to plan carefully."

    In his opinion, fishing is not a long-term solution, and farming is a stable livelihood.  Besides, resting on one's laurels is not a problem.

    "Thank you, Brother Zhao, for reminding me, but I have other plans and won't let Xu Qing and her daughter suffer."

    Zhang Weidong was so stubborn that Zhao Erbao gave up after a moment of persuasion.

    Finally, Zhao Erbao came up with an idea to generate income, which was to rent the fat and strong mule raised by the Zhang family to the villagers to cultivate the land. It would be idle anyway.  Even Zhao Tiedan's cow would be rented out in previous years to earn some money.

    This is a small matter, Zhang Weidong nodded in agreement: "Okay, why not do this. I will leave the mule to you."

    Zhao Erbao agreed immediately.

    After another half month, the snow finally melted.

    The ground was very moist, which was perfect for plowing and planting. However, Zhang Weidong and Er Zhao drove a mule cart and an ox cart and went directly to the town with some villagers.

    After four months of wintering, many people¡¯s supplies have been exhausted and they have to go to the town to purchase some. Some people¡¯s completed work can also be sold in the town. In addition.  You can also get some news from outside the mountains.

    Although Huangsha Town is a bit closed, it is located on the border between Qing State and Qi State, and is not as stable as imagined.

    But this time, Zhang Weidong did not prepare river fish.  Both cars were empty.

    When we arrived in town, it was the first market of the New Year. There were actually a lot of people going to the market, which was comparable to the size of the market before winter.

    Some villagers dispersed and agreed on a time to meet back.

    "Let's go sit at the tea stall"

    I came across a tea stall with a big bowl of tea on the roadside.  There are a few tables and stools under the simple thatched shed. The fire is hot, the big teapot is boiling hot, and the fragrance of tea overflows.

    It¡¯s cold spring weather, it¡¯s still very cold outside, especially when the wind blows, but drinking a bowl of hot tea here will keep you warm all over.  However, such a large bowl of tea is made from low-grade tea powder, the color of the tea soup is average, and there is no choice.

    ¡°Dude, three big bowls of tea!¡±

    ¡°Hold on objectively, I¡¯ll be here soon!¡±

    A large bowl costs 1 copper coin, which is very affordable.

    After fastening the frame, the three of them found a place to sit down. Soon, hot tea was served.  The tea stall also provided dry food, pickles, sauerkraut, etc., but none of the three of them asked for them.

    "I heard that Marshal Zhenguo's army was defeated. They even lost Zhengliu City, Dafort, and Kaiyuan Pass on the border. They are currently stationed 100 miles away from Wulin County."

    "What, it's impossible? How can youknew?  "

    "This happened before winter. There was a heavy snowfall and the news didn't come back in time. The town party leader Mr. Li only received the news yesterday. The news is true."

    "This is troublesome. Our Wulin County is only 200 miles away from the Great Fortress. Without the Great Fortress, the Qi army can march straight in, in case it cannot be stopped."

    "Hush, be quiet, can this be nonsense?"

    "Hey, I just went to the rice store, and even the price of chestnut rice increased by 2 copper coins per kilogram, and it was 7 copper coins per kilogram. How can I live like this?"

    "Not only the prices of chestnuts, but also other prices have gone up."

    ""

    When Er Zhao heard this, he suddenly became worried.

    Zhao Erbao said: "This seems to be true!"

    Zhao Tiedan said nothing and frowned.

    After drinking tea, the three of them went directly to the only rice store in the town. There were many people buying food. Looking at the big red paper posted, the price of the staple food chestnut rice had indeed gone up, 7 copper coins per pound!

    ???????????????????????????????????????????????? Oil shops, butcher shops, cloth shops, tea and wine shops, all without exception, the prices of goods rose in response, and the increase was huge.  Everyone is talking about the defeat of the Wang ** team at the border and how brutal the Qi ** team was, which became the reason for the skyrocketing prices.  As a result, there was an influx of people buying rice, oil, and salt. They were all stocking up. They didn't panic because they had food at home.

    The owners of various shops are making a lot of money. In just one day of the market, their income is as much as two months¡¯ sales.

    Zhang Weidong also bought some scarce supplies such as calico, salt, pork, white flour, vegetables, and daughter's red wine, and spent a lot of money.  As for staple food, the family still has enough food to last for a year.

    The whole morning¡¯s shopping basically filled up two cars, but Zhao Erbao and the others couldn¡¯t be happy no matter what.

    So much so that we didn¡¯t even have lunch in the town. After meeting other villagers, we drove directly back to the village.

    Back in the village, Zhao Erbao unloaded his things, and when he entered the house, he saw Mrs. Zhao with red eyes and sighing.

    "What's going on?" Zhao Erbao asked hurriedly.

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible to survive this day!¡± Ms. Zhao wailed.  Wiped away tears.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Tell me quickly.¡±

    "In the morning, I went to Zhao's house to deliver needlework. The old woman said that the needlework was not good and took away a lot of my wages. She was also sarcastic. Moreover, Butler Zhao came to the door and said that our land is top-grade and the rent will be increased. The land rent  You have to pay 80%. If you don¡¯t pay, you will have to switch to the wasteland in the east of the village, and the land rent will still be calculated at 70%.¡±

    "Shit!"

    Zhao Erbao was angry.

    What kind of prime farmland?

    The top-grade land in Zhao Village is only a few hundred acres, and they are all in the hands of people who have good relations with the Zhao government. Generally, tenants can only cultivate middle- and lower-grade fields.  For example, the ones from Zhao Erbao's family are just a small amount of middle-grade fields and low-grade fields.  There is a piece of wasteland to the east of the village, but it is a mass grave, a deserted area, with few people walking around, and it is not even considered low-grade farmland.

    "Don't worry about this. I'll go find them to argue!"

    Zhao Erbao went out and planned to go to Zhao Mansion to ask, but after calming down, he turned around and went to Zhao Tiedan's house. After asking, he found out that Zhao Tiedan's family was also facing the same problem.

    The two wanted to ask for an explanation, so they went to other tenants' homes to understand the situation, but the results were different. The tenants didn't know about it at all.

    "Brother Erbao, this is strange. It seems to be specifically targeting us?" Zhao Tiedan said.

    "Walk!"

    "Where to go?"

    "Look for Butler Zhao!"

    Zhao Tiedan said worriedly: "It's useless to go there just because I'm afraid."

    The two of them are illiterate, but they are not stupid.

    This increase in land rent only targets the two of them. Someone in the Zhao family must be making things difficult for them.

    Zhao Erbao said: "You must always ask for clarification!"

    When I arrived at the Zhao Mansion, I begged to open the door.  The little concierge holding the door had a very arrogant attitude: "Zhao Erbao, Zhao Tiedan, are you the only ones who still want to see the housekeeper? Get out of here!"

    Zhao Erbao was furious and almost took action.

    After four months of wintering, under Zhang Weidong's strict supervision, his strength increased rapidly, making him an ordinary servant.  Strength is no match for him.

    Zhao Tiedan quickly held him back, and the two returned home.  Making trouble in front of the Zhao Mansion is no small matter.

    However, the two did not tell Zhang Weidong, and Xu Qing only found out about it from Zhao.

    In the evening, Zhang Weidong called the two of them over to chat while drinking.

    "So, Zhao Mansion is deliberately making things difficult? It's probably me who has caused you trouble!" Zhang Weidong said.

    "Brother Zhang, it has nothing to do with you!"

    ""

    Zhang Weidong asked noncommittally: "?The government is making things difficult for you. Are you going to accept it or reject it?  "

    "If you accept it, how much rations are left for a year? Is it enough for the family? If you don't accept it, then it's easier to say."

    Zhao Erbao asked in confusion: "Is it easier to say if you don't accept it?"

    Zhang Weidong nodded and said: "Yes, the Zhao family didn't say not to rent land to you, right? If you don't rent land, then who will farm the land? If no one farms the land, it won't be good for them!"

    "But if you don't plant it, I think it's a good thing!"

    "Even if the Zhao government gives in and still pays 70% of the land rent, can this year's harvest exceed last year's? It's probably difficult! And now that the border is unstable, everything is going up. Whether the price of grain for landlords and grain dealers will go up is another matter.  I don¡¯t know how much, but if I don¡¯t have the ability to make more money, life will probably be more difficult than last year!¡±

    "So, why don't you rent the land and just follow me, I'll give you wages, and I'll pay dividends at the end of the year, so that the whole family can have enough food and clothing, and still have ten or twenty silver coins left at the end of the year. I still have this point  I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t delay your martial arts practice.¡±

    After saying this, the two fell silent immediately.

    Zhang Weidong did not rush them and said: "This matter is not a trivial matter. You can go back and discuss it with your family and give me an answer later."

    The three of them didn¡¯t drink much, and the good daughter Hong in a small jar came to an end.

    Zhao Erbao and Zhao Tiedan went back with their worries.

    Turning on the oil lamp, Xu Qing came over and sat down: "Brother Zhang, what business do you plan to let them follow you? Is it too risky?"

    Zhang Weidong promised that in addition to food and clothing, he would also receive ten or twenty silver coins a year. She had never heard of such a good thing.

    "I'm still somewhat sure. Otherwise, even if they continue to farm, the situation outside is so bad, their lives will be even more difficult. Prices are soaring, land rents are not reduced due to natural disasters, and the harvest is not as good as last year. I estimate that Qingguo's life will be even worse."  With this huge defeat, the taxes on the people will also increase. Do they have any choice?" Zhang Weidong said.

    Xu Qing was shocked: "Are there still more taxes?"

    "It's probably close to ten!"

    "How are you going to live like this?"

    Zhang Weidong clapped her hand and said with a smile: "Don't worry, even if others can't survive, you and Xiao Yueyue are definitely not among them. You can only make the best of it, believe me!"

    Xu Qing was so shy that she said tenderly: "I believe you!" (To be continued.)
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