English Novel
Chapter 126: Mouse Droppings_l
Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Mouse Droppings_l
Translator: 549690339
Mr. Liao was finally satisfied and went with Sun Licheng to check on the Jiang Family’s cotton field on the South Slope.
By this time, the cotton had grown quite tall, some even beginning to form flower buds.
Yet, there were many weeds in the field, which needed to be weeded out in time.
“The Mingfu asked me to come over to check on the growth of the cotton crops, to see if it needs additional fertilization.” Born a scholar, Liao Qilin’s family were also farmers, he therefore understands some things about farming.
Jiang Sanlang said: “We certainly need to fertilize it. This field of ours is of inferior quality. We have already spread pond mud and decayed plant water manure. We estimate that the yield per mu should reach around five to six hundred jin. If we don’t fertilize, the yield per mu from an inferior field would only be two to three hundred jin.”
Liao Qilin nodded his head, gesturing him to continue speaking.
“Not only do we need to fertilize, we also need to thin out some of the cotton leaves when they start forming flower buds, firstly, to let more flowers bloom, and secondly, to give the cotton bolls enough sunlight.”
Jiang Sanlang said: “I also learned this from other old farmers, regardless of the crops that bloom and bear fruit, their leaves cannot be too lush. Otherwise, they would snatch nutrients from the fruits.”
“Hmm, that makes sense.”
As they walked and observed the situation of the cotton field, Mr. Liao suddenly asked: “Brother Jiang, I heard that every household in your village grows wood ear mushrooms and the income is quite good. Is that true?”
Jiang Sanlang ambiguously said: “It’s just to supplement the household expenses. Previously, many families in our village could not even afford food, so we had to come up with ways to earn some money. Otherwise, just like the next village, everyone would go begging when they run out of food.”
Liao Qilin chuckled: “Brother Jiang, don’t be overly cautious, I was just asking casually. Do you know where the mushroom seeds came from?”
“At first, my daughter found them in the mountains, and later we gradually started planting them. Now, the seeds are all saved from our own harvest, and there is just enough for our own needs.” Jiang Sanlang said.
This was not a secret. Rather than letting Mr. Liao hear distortions from others, it was better for him to explain it himself.
Liao Qilin laughed: “To be honest, the people in my hometown are also having a hard time. If they could also find some additional sources of income like your village, it would prevent them from fleeing their fields with their families.” Jiang Sanlang didn’t quite know how to respond.
Sun Licheng chuckled as an effort to change the subject: “Not every household in our countryside grows wood ear mushrooms, many farmers are still struggling to feed themselves. Our seeds supply is limited and many are waiting for Jiang Sanlang’s family to share some.”
Jiang Sanlang glanced at Sun Licheng without responding.
Indeed, recently, many people from outside the village have come to ask for seeds to grow wood ear mushrooms, but the homegrown seeds could not be given away, so he had not promised anything yet.
Whether other people in the village sold or not, he couldn’t control that.
Zhou Mao, the steward, once mentioned that their purchase of wood ear mushrooms depends on supply and demand. If supply exceeds demand, they would resort to lowering the price or temporarily suspending purchases.
He already mentioned this to the villagers, so very few people sell mushroom seeds to outsiders.
However, nothing is absolute. Every family has relatives in other villages, and it was possible for them to secretly give some to their close relatives.
Liao Qilin’s seemingly casual remark may indicate his intention to find secondary occupations to increase income for his hometown.
After the group of people looked at the cotton fields, Mr. Liao specifically checked the mushroom sheds of the three Jiang brothers, then he went to look at the others’ , saying a few words of praise before finally getting on the horse cart to leave.
Before leaving, he reminded Sun Licheng: “The malicious villagers who break the law should be severely punished, such blatant extortion and blackmail really ruin the village’s atmosphere.”
“Certainly, Mr. Liao, rest assured. I will definitely teach them a lesson. I hope you can say a few good words for us to the Mingfu.” Sun Licheng said earnestly.
“I will clarify everything at the Mingfu’s. The village head may personally visit here to inspect the cotton harvest. Don’t let anyone spoil the village’s reputation again.”
“Yes, yes, thank you for reminding me, Mr. Liao.” Sun Licheng bowed to Mr. Liao, and watched as the horse cart drove away.
Back at the village hall, Sun Licheng was furious.
The Leng family was simply a disgrace, and if he didn’t teach them a lesson today, they would think he was a pushover.
“Summon Zuo Cheng, the husband of the Leng family! Also fetch Lizheng from the Leng Village!”
He didn’t believe that he couldn’t deal with a woman who couldn’t behave properly.
In a short while, Zuo Cheng came over, followed by his daughter.
Sun Licheng asked: “What’s your wife doing? Why does she keep harassing the Jiang family?”
Before Zuo Cheng could speak, his daughter said: “That woman is no longer with our family, my dad wrote a divorce letter yesterday and told her to go back to her mother’s house.”
Sun Licheng frowned: “Why did you divorce her all of a sudden?”
Zuo’s daughter: “Not only does that woman not follow women’s virtue, but she is also an insatiable wolf. We can’t afford to keep her! She gives birth to children but doesn’t raise them, and time and time again steals money from home to her mother’s house. Lizheng, what family can stand a woman like
Sun Licheng turned to ask Zuo Cheng, “What do you think?”
Zuo Cheng sighed: “Lizheng, I simply can’t afford to keep her anymore. She has stolen thirty taels of silver from me in half a year, and she doesn’t care even when our two children are starving and shouting for food. As soon as she has free time, she runs back to her mother’s house, and only when the money is spent does she deign to come back.”
“Before I could even say a few words to her, she brought her brothers to beat me up. Look at my head, the egg-sized bump hasn’t gone down yet. If it wasn’t for my son-in-law arriving in time, I would have been beaten to death by her family.”
“It’s really like this?” Sun Licheng looked at the Leng family with an even worse expression.
What kind of family is this? It was utterly a group of ruffians.
Just then, the Lizheng from the Leng Village arrived.”Lizheng, you called me.
What’s the matter?”
Sun Licheng pointed to the three members of the Leng family, “These three from your village went to Chen Village to extort, how should we resolve this?”
The Lizheng of Leng Village seeing that trouble was stirring up again because of Cao Pozi’s family felt extremely annoyed. He clasped his fists towards Sun Licheng-
“Lizheng, I can’t control this family. However you deem it should be handled, so it shall be handled. The families who are in joint responsibility with them said that if Cao Pozi’s family cause trouble again, they will join in a petition to expel them from the village.”
“Well then, since you have no way of handling it, they should be sent to the officials for extortion.’
Sun Licheng was thoroughly irritated by these trouble-causing villagers. Every single one of them seemed to give him troubles especially today, they hit his sore spot.
Leng’s family and Cao Pozi were frightened; they fell to their knees and begged for mercy: “We didn’t extort anyone, Lizheng, you cannot send us to the officials.’
Leng Da also begged for mercy, he didn’t dare to be arrogant anymore.
Sun Licheng ignored them, he only ordered his son to record the things from start to finish, and then made them press their fingerprints.
The Lex family refused to follow through, but they were held down by the villagers, forcing them to press a large handprint on the confession.
Leng’s family and Cao Pozi cried loudly, repeatedly promising not to make the same mistake next time, and begged not to be sent to the officials.
Because once sent to officials, this would mean the end of their lives.
The prison was not a place for women, once they entered it was uncertain whether their reputation would be preserved and whether they could come out alive.
Seeing that the heat was about right, Sun Licheng then showed a combination of kindness and sternness, making them pay a fine and had the Lizheng from the Leng Village ensure they got home.
The Lizheng of Leng Village was very cooperative, he had been cold with Sunlicheng all along, occasionally intimidating Cao Pozi’s family.
This trick was very effective, Leng and Cao Pozi indeed became much quieter after returning home and no longer caused any more fuss..
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