Wei and Jin cooks

When the people in Shangjiao Village heard this, they perked up and asked, "Do you still sell grain in the market? Is it expensive?"

"It's not expensive. It's a stall set up by the county emperor. It sells grain imported from outside. It's slightly cheaper than what the grain store sells, but it's only sold to people who work for relief, and each person can only sell it at most. Buy five buckets."

Chen Fang said: "If you want to buy grain, you have to get the wooden sign with me later. Only by holding the wooden sign can you buy grain. You have to return the wooden sign to me later."

The villagers in Shangjiao Village happily agreed and asked where the market was. They were relieved to learn that it was in another big village, not too far away from here.

This is a benefit specially reserved for workers by Zhao Hanzhang.

Since the winter solstice, food prices have begun to rise, and the increase is not small. After Zhao Hanzhang announced the work-for-relief program, food prices dropped slightly, but they are still rising slowly.

The closer we get to spring, the higher food prices rise.

Zhao Hanzhang knew that the situation in Xiping County was pretty good, because since taking over Xiping County, she had been working for relief. Although every household did not have much food, they would not go hungry in the short term.

The situation in other counties is much more serious than that in Xiping County.

She did not want to conflict with the gentry in Xiping County over the price of grain, especially since a considerable number of grain shops in Xiping County were opened by members of the Zhao clan.

Therefore, Zhao Hanzhang did not release a large amount of grain to stabilize prices, but she also took some measures to express her attitude.

For example, she asked people to set up food points in the villages and towns below to sell food to all the people who were doing work-for-relief.

Those who come out to do work-for-relief in such a cold day are basically not in a good financial situation. However, the work-for-relief announced by the Yamen except for some tasks that women can do, such as making quilts, making clothes, and rubbing thatch. , most of the other work is road building, digging canals and reservoirs that can only be done by strong laborers.

They were full, but there were still old people, wives and children at home.

That's why Zhao Hanzhang deliberately set up a grain point so that they could buy grain at a slightly lower price.

In order to prevent others from taking advantage of the loopholes, she gave each supervisor the power to issue wooden sticks. Workers who wanted to buy food at the grain point could go together with wooden sticks to buy food.

As soon as this move came out, the price of food in Xiping County dropped slightly. Everyone was very sensible and did not cause trouble for her on this matter.

In addition, a considerable part of the grain shops in Xiping County still belong to the Zhao clan. With Zhao Ming here, they will not cause trouble with Zhao Hanzhang on this matter.

Eight days later, Chen Fang took the account book to the county government office to withdraw copper coins, and then distributed them to everyone.

As a rule, they are given a day off every time they are paid.

The people in Shangjiao Village got the money and ran to the market to buy food with the newly distributed copper coins.

One hundred cents in ten days. Now the grain price is wheat at twenty cents per dou, beans are cheaper at twelve cents per dou, and rice is more expensive at twenty-two cents per dou.

This is the only time Zhao Hanzhang's grain snacks have such a price. In the county grain stores, the prices of all kinds of grains are about two to five cents more expensive.

This is one of the reasons why Zhao Hanzhang was able to recruit so many workers in winter. Because of this benefit, the value of copper coins for work-for-work relief increased by 20% to 50%.

Therefore, families who can endure hardships and are willing to endure hardships, even if they are richer, will come out to participate in the work-for-relief program.

Some people in Shangjiao Village spent all their money to buy grain, while others kept part of their money and bought only some grain.

Then they would carry the food home together.

The remaining people in Shangjiao Village are staying at home. The family has lost some strong laborers who can eat. The food they can eat every day has also increased a little more, but they still dare not let go and eat. Eat an extra meal of wheat porridge that you can see the bottom of.

When Qian Jin and the others entered the village, the village was very quiet, but the young people were very excited, with irrepressible smiles on their faces. As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the village, they shouted, "Child's mother, child's mother, we are back, I Bring back a lot of food——"

There was some noise in the quiet village. Someone walked out holding on to the wall. They were overjoyed to see the young men carrying or carrying grain bags. They seemed to have strength under their feet. They took a few steps forward steadily and asked urgently. Said: "Is it food?"

"It's grain. I bought five buckets of it."

A young man had already passed them and walked to his home. As soon as he entered the door, he was surrounded by his mother and younger brothers and sisters. He said proudly: "I also bought five buckets."

Not everyone bought wheat, but some bought some beans so that they could buy five measures of grain and still have some money left over.

The family gathered around to look at the copper coins they brought back and marveled, "They are actually rich."

"We will send food once every ten days. We have asked. It will take at least twenty days of work before the river can be dredged. Then we can bring back food twice. I guess the family can save some food and eat until the spring wheat comes. "

"Then if you dig a little slower, won't you be able to work for a long time?"

"Don't dare to be lazy. There is a bastard in Xiajiao Village. He was lazy when digging a canal. He was told twice but he still didn't change. Then he was arrested and no one knew where he was sent."

"Everyone in Xiajiao Village is like this, not to mention those of us who go out of town. I heard that if you don't obey, the officials will directly catch you and throw you into the mountains to mine, and you won't be able to come out for the rest of your life."

The family members were shocked and quickly warned, "Then don't be lazy and be diligent."

"We are working hard, huh, unlike the people in Xiajiao Village, who don't know how lucky they are despite being blessed. They are just digging canals, but we are digging canals."

At this time, Chen Fang was lecturing the villagers in Xiajiao Village, "The people from Shangjiao Village were here a few days ago. In front of them, I gave you face, so I didn't say anything. Now that they are not here, we will Let’s talk about it.”

Chen Fang scolded: "Are you always so procrastinating in your military service? Isn't it too tiring for you? That ditch was completed a full day later than planned!"

"It's cold and the ground is frozen, making it difficult to dig out the upper layer."

"Fart, no matter how difficult it is to dig, can it be more difficult than dredging the river?" Chen Fang sighed: "Look at the people in Shangjiao Village. They occasionally step into icy water, don't they still do a good job?"

"Don't be lazy just because I'm lenient. You've seen the results of Zhuzi. If he doesn't finish the work on time next time, he won't be the only one who will be arrested."

When Zhuzi's family heard about Zhuzi, they immediately cried and asked, "Li Zheng, where did they take Zhuzi? Are they trying to kill him?"

"Who wants his life?" Chen Fang said: "What's the use of his life? Don't worry, he won't die. Isn't he lazy? He got paid but didn't do anything. The county king punished him to go around."

He said: "In order to prevent people from being lazy and escaping, all the punished people have to change places. Now the prisoners in our area are all taken from other places. It's okay if the pillars don't move. They can come back after a while. , if he runs away, he will never be able to enter Xiping County again in his life."

Zhuzi's family was horrified. They originally wanted to find Zhuzi and let him run away, but they didn't expect the county king to even consider this.