Chapter 208: Fake?
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling, Great-aunt, and the others went to the fields to harvest wheat. This year, because there was not enough rain, the wheat was not long enough, and the grains of wheat were not supple enough. Fortunately, there was no insect disaster, so the harvest was still within acceptable range.
Because the military fields were different from the freehold fields, two soldiers were sent out for inspection per five families.
Because the soldiers were randomly assigned, the soldiers and farmers did not know each other and could not fake the data. This being the first year, no one was prepared. However, it was unknown if there would be any tricks in the future.
However, she believed that Qi Haoran and the others would have a way to counter that. Mu Yangling only hoped that the higher-ups would not oppress them and forcibly collect grains.
They started harvesting the 72 acres of wheat, beginning from the high-grade land. Halfway through, the rice was ready for harvest, too.
Compared to noodles, Mu Yangling was more used to eating rice, so she decisively harvested the rice first. The crops she harvested were piled up on the wooden board in three piles. After drying them to a certain extent, they dragged them to the field to thresh.
After working for so many years, this was the first time Great-aunt had harvested so much wheat and rice. It was also the first time she harvested so much grain. Although she was tired, she was extremely happy.
She counted on her fingers for a long time before saying happily to Mu Yangling, “Even after handing over the military rations, we’ll still have a lot of grains left. If not for the fact that each family has to send one person to risk their lives at the frontline, it’s actually not bad to be enlisted as a military household. At least we can get so much land for free. As long as we’re willing to work hard, we won’t starve.”
“That’s because we’re lucky.” Mu Yangling worked the millstone to thresh the grains as she said, “I heard that the section under General Lu Ji of the East Camp can leave behind 40% of their grains. The most ordinary soldiers can’t even keep 30% of the grains their family harvests. Even if they slog away on the fields, a year of harvesting will only barely provide enough food for the family to subsist on. In the event of an illness or a joyous occasion, their savings will be drained.”
Stunned, Shu Wanniang said, “Didn’t the Imperial Court stipulate how much grains are to be collected? Isn’t General Lu Ji afraid of being impeached by the censors?”
Sighing, Great-aunt said, “Don’t all officials shield each other? For example, when we paid taxes previously, it became heavier and heavier every year. Could it be that the Imperial Court increases the taxes every year? Isn’t the extra money still going into the pockets of those officials? Therefore, Ah Ling is right. Fortunately, we met General Qi. Otherwise, we might as well just work outside without any land to our name.”
Mu Yangling also said, “The imperial censor and His Majesty might know about these things, but they just turned a blind eye. His Majesty orders a major renovation of his Imperial Garden every few years and has a taste for rare gems and precious paintings. Since the person at the top is already so greedy, how can the people below not follow suit?”
“Ah Ling is more discerning than your mother,” Great-aunt said with a smile.
Mu Yangling glanced at her mother and said, “Great-aunt, my mother is very smart. She is aware in her heart.”
Shu Wanniang tossed the wheat at her and said, “You sure know how to flatter me.”
Mu Yangling grinned. After dragging the stone mill a few rounds, a soldier-like person came to look for Mu Yangling. “Miss Mu, Little General wants to see you. Hurry up and pack up before leaving with us.”
Mu Yangling’s eyes flashed. She stopped in her tracks and asked with a smile, “Where is Little General?”
The soldier pointed in the direction of the 5th Division and said, “He’s on that path. He said that he has something to discuss with you.”
Mu Yangling’s gaze swept across the area. Seeing that more than half of the villagers of Chenggu Garrison were here, she was slightly relieved. She threw down the rope and said to her great-aunt, “Great-aunt, continue working here with my mother and cousins for a while. I’ll be back soon.”
Mu Yangling went forward and moved the twins’ chair to Shu Wanniang’s side. She waved at Old Man Sun next door and said, “Grandpa Sun, Little General is looking for me. Please take care of my family.”
Old Man Sun was stunned for a moment before saying with a smile, “Ah Ling, don’t worry. I’ll get your uncle to come help you out with the stone mill later. Hurry up and go. Don’t let the Little General wait too long.”
Mu Yangling nodded with a smile. She turned around and said to the soldier, “Let’s go, but I have to go home and change my clothes first. It’d be disrespectful to the general if I show up in these dirty clothes.”
The soldier seemed to find it troublesome, but seeing that Mu Yangling was indeed dirty, he couldn’t object. However, he urged along the way, “Miss Mu, please hurry up.”
Mu Yangling nodded and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be quick.”
Seeing that Mu Yangling and the soldier had left, Old Man Sun wanted to call his eldest son over to help the Mu family thresh. Over the past half a year, everyone had finally understood that the Mu family had a close relationship with the Little General. One wouldn’t go wrong building a good relationship with them.
However, just as he was about to speak, he felt that something was amiss. The Little General came to look for Mu Yangling every few days either personally or by asking the servant called Fei Bai to call her over. When Mu Yangling went, she had never said anything to the villagers. It was precisely because the Mu family kept a low profile and did not show off or bully them with the Little General’s backing that the villagers had a good impression of the Mu family and were willing to help if anything happened. However, why did Mu Yangling specially mention it to him this time?
Old Man Sun stopped what he was doing. Holding the stick, he frowned and carefully considered the strangeness of the matter. His eyes couldn’t help but fall on the Mu family’s wheat field.
The Mu family was actually not slower than them. Although their family had fewer people, they also planted less land than them. Their family had scattered wheat seeds on all the land, but their family still had more than 60 acres of grassland and 28 acres of cornfield left. Hence, the two families finished harvesting their grains on the same day.
However, the Mu family was already one step ahead of them. This was because when it came to threshing, Mu Yangling could take on five burly men alone. She wouldn’t feel tired even if she dragged the stone mill for an entire day. In addition, they didn’t plant much wheat and grains, so their progress was even faster. Therefore, why would the Mu family need their help?
Old Man Sun could not figure it out no matter how hard he thought about it. His intuition told him that something was wrong.
On the other side, Shu Wanniang had already turned pale with fright. She pulled Great-aunt back and said, “Aunt, something’s not right. That soldier wasn’t sent by Little General.”
Knowing her daughter, she immediately sensed the abnormality in Mu Yangling’s words and actions. She had wanted to ask, but Mu Yangling had not given her a chance to speak throughout. Now that this person had left, the more she thought about it, the more she felt that something was amiss. Thinking about the Little General, she suddenly realized that there was something abnormal about that soldier.
Great-aunt was confused. “What do you mean that soldier wasn’t sent by Little General?”
Shu Wanniang was so anxious that she spun around in circles. “Aunt, it’s hard to explain this. We have to quickly send someone to inform Little General and get him to bring people to save Ah Ling.” At this point, Shu Wanniang stood up and pushed her children in front of Great-aunt. “Aunt, help me look after the two children. I’ll go to the camp to look for them.”
After hearing the gist of it, Old Man Sun quickly ran over and pulled Shu Wanniang back. “You can’t go. I remember now. Ah Ling might have already realized that something was wrong. Just now she told me to keep an eye on you. If you go out and encounter evil people and get abducted, you’ll implicate Ah Ling.”
This time, Great-aunt understood what was going on. She said in a panic, “Ah Ling was tricked away?”
“She wasn’t tricked into leaving. She left with that person on purpose.” Old Man Sun also came back to his senses and said, “She’s putting herself in danger. This girl is too bold.”