Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The Wasteland South of the Citv 1 (1/2)
Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The Wasteland South of the Citv 1
Translator: 549690339 y—
The situation of the wasteland to the south of the city was explained in a letter by the wet nurse to Wei Ruo, indicating that land belonged to no one and was by law the property of the Government Office. If the common people wanted to cultivate it, they would require approval from the government.
In the past, the magistrate of Xingshan County did not object to the reclamation of ordinary wastelands, and the wasteland to the south was even more unclaimed, given it was land that most people did not want. If someone had the guts to dare to till a barren piece of land where no crops would grow, they had no reason to disagree.
However, the current situation is different due to the ravages of the Japanese Pirates. Although the southward direction of the city is less likely to be affected by the pirates due to its strategic geographical advantage, making it a hundred times safer than the east of the city, there are still risks involved, hence the Government Office is not very keen on allowing ordinary residents to exit the southern gate of the city.
The common people can’t get that land at all, as the Government Office won’t permit it.
If the Military Prefecture made a request, would this situation change? Although Wei Ruo did not want to have overt involvement with the Military Prefecture in such matters, the image of emaciated beggars she saw on the street plagued her mind from time to time.
In addition, during these days, she was beginning to understand the plight of Xingshan County. While natural disasters and human suffering might not have affected the Military Prefecture significantly, it was the common people at the bottom of society who deeply felt the bitter effects.
She knew that if the matter could be resolved, she would be able to help some people within her power. Although she could not assist everyone, every individual she could help meant a saved life!
Moreover, she was indeed eager to experiment with improving saline-alkali soil.
After much reflection, Wei Ruo decided to visit Yun, who lived in Cangyun Garden.
Yun had just finished checking last month’s account books with the shopkeeper.
Just as the shopkeeper exited, Wei Ruo entered.
“Ruo, how come you’re here today? Wait a moment, let your mom finish dealing with these account books,” Yun said without consciously avoiding Wei Ruo, not realizing that Wei Ruo might understand the content of the books. Wei Ruo was patient and stood by, scanning the contents of the account book Yun was handling.
After browsing a few pages, she realized the shop was running at a loss. Unsurprisingly, the Wei Family had been falling on hard times for the past two years. Crop failure in the rural properties had led to corresponding losses in the shops.
After a while, Yun finished going through the remaining account books, put them all away, and invited Wei Ruo to sit down next to her.
“Ruo, did you come to see me with a specific matter in mind?” Yun inquired. It had been over a month since Wei Ruo returned to the Wei Family, and this was only the second time she had sought Yun out. The first time, it was because she wanted to visit the rural property north of the city. Therefore, Yun was convinced that Wei Ruo must have some request this time too.
“Mother, I’ve heard that the yields from our family’s rural properties have not been good these past two years. The crops produced aren’t even sufficient for our own consumption,” Wei Ruo said.
Upon hearing this, Yun’s visibly paused; obviously, she had not expected Wei Ruo to say this.
After a slight sigh, she responded, “This is not something you need to worry about. I wonder which servant has been speaking out of turn. I need to correct them.”
“It’s not the servants. When I went to the north of the city that time, I noticed it,” Wei Ruo explained.
-Ah, right. You should understand these things,” Yun agreed.
After all, she had grown up in the countryside and had been exposed to farming from a young age. It was only natural that she knew more than the typical lady shielded in the boudoir.
Yun explained, “The situation isn’t unique to our family. The entire Xingshan County, even the whole Taizhou prefecture, has had poor harvests this past two years. Naturally, our properties in Xingshan County were not exempt.” “However, Ruo, there is no need to worry too much. Our family situation isn’t that dire. Thanks to your father’s salary, we also have some savings. Life may be a little harder, but we won’t be left destitute. The ones truly suffering are the common people. They already had a hard time dealing with the Japanese Pirates; these poor harvests only add insult to injury. Their lives grow harder each passing day.”