Chapter 296 Can't answer
After leaving the lo-mei shop, Wei Ruo and Xiumei went to the backyard of Sibaozhai. The two shops were close to each other. Wei Ruo specially set up a passage at the back of the two shops, which was convenient for the nanny and Uncle Xu to take care of them, and also convenient for them. She comes and goes.
Wei Ruo and Xiumei changed their outfits in the room and set off for Caili Villa.
On the way there, Xiumei asked Wei Ruo: "Miss, why are you so generous to Mr. Lu?"
Xiumei has been with Wei Ruo for so many years, and she is very clear about her lady's attitude towards money. There are only two situations where the lady will be particularly generous: either for the right person or for the right thing.
"I may not be able to avoid some troublesome things. Mr. Lu's family is a way out for me. I don't ask for anything from him now, but I will ask for something from him in the future." Wei Ruo explained.
The trouble refers to Chu Lan, whether it is Xu Heyou's identity or Wei Qingruo's identity, there is a possibility of being entangled by Chu Lan, and her fear and hatred for Chu Lan is deeply rooted in her bones.
Lu Yuhong is one of the few people that Chu Lan trusts, and it is worth her money on him.
"The young lady just asked Mr. Lu to help him talk to Mr. Xu about that matter. Will Mr. Xu listen?" Xiumei asked again.
"It's not that easy. Even if Mr. Xu listens to the persuasion, this marriage is not something he can settle. It's mainly because of the wishes of the elders of the two families. I begged Lu Yuhong to give him an excuse to let him let go of his guard against me. Forget it, I asked him to take advantage of me so that I could feel more at ease, but I had nothing to ask, but he resisted." Wei Ruo explained.
Lu Yuhong is not a delicate person, so he is not suitable for doing this kind of thing. She just said that, and she used Lu Yuhong to make a statement on Xu Fengyuan's side, but Wei Ruo had no hope of how much effect it would actually have.
Of course, it is useful to say something like this, at least it can explain her attitude to Xu Fengyuan.
"I see." Xiumei smoothed it out.
"Meimei, speed up a bit more. While it's early, let's go to Caili Farm to get things done, and then pick up Madam Zhang later, don't make it too late." Wei Ruo said.
She took Madam Zhang with her when she went out today, which was requested by Yun Shi.
But Mr. Yun didn't know that Nanny Zhang belonged to Wei Ruo now. After leaving the gate of the Captain's Mansion, Wei Ruo put Madam Zhang in a small courtyard and went back to pick her up after she finished her work.
"Okay!" Xiumei flicked her whip on the horse pulling the cart, speeding up.
When we arrived at Caili Farm, we saw the burly Manager Zhao. Seeing his sad face, Wei Ruo asked, "What's the matter? Are the new seedlings not growing well?"
Zhao Hai quickly waved his hands: "No, the new seedlings are growing very well."
"Then why are you making a sad face, as if my decision to let you all change the seedlings has harmed you." Wei Ruo said.
"No, this has nothing to do with you, Young Master, it is... yes..."
Zhao Hai hesitated for a long time and did not say the second half of the sentence.
"Is it because the tenants in Zhuangzi are having trouble living?" Wei Ruo helped him finish the sentence.
Zhao Hai was stunned for a moment, then nodded like a pounding garlic: "Yes, last year's harvest was not good, and the grain was scarce. Now the fields are full of seedlings, but everyone's family has run out of grain. Want to buy grain? Now this Food is too expensive for a person, where can I buy it. Everyone digs wild vegetables and peels tree roots, but there is not enough to eat..."
This situation is not limited to the farmers on Caili Farm, it can be said that the whole Taizhou Prefecture is like this.
Except for those who have just harvested wheat, their barns are full, and those who rely on the rice harvested last autumn have basically eaten up all their food.
There is a shortage of food, and the price of food in major grain stores has naturally risen accordingly, making life even more difficult for the people at the bottom.
Xiumei couldn't help sighing, thinking of the grand occasion at the entrance of Sibaozhai and Xuji Braised Meat Shops today, she couldn't help feeling in her heart that Zhumen's wine and meat stinks and the road was frozen to death.
The common people here cant afford to eat, while the rich and powerful over there are still scrambling to buy high-priced liquor. The two worlds are separated and merged.
"Let's go, take me to see those people." Wei Ruo said to Zhao Hai.
Zhao Hai didn't know what their young master wanted to do, he nodded dully and led Wei Ruo to Zhuangzi.
Before coming here, Wei Ruo had anticipated the situation in Zhuangzi and knew what he would see, but when he actually saw it, he still couldn't help but feel a little sad in his heart.
Most of the people left behind in the farmers homes are children and the elderly, but they are not idle either. Some are weaving straw sandals, some are weaving bamboo baskets, and some are doing housework.
The adults in the family are mostly in the fields at this time, or they will go to the nearby mountains to try their luck. If they can hunt back some prey, they can exchange the family's rations for several days.
When Wei Ruo passed by, they saw Wei Ruo, but their eyes were empty and dull, the same eyes as the displaced people Wei Ruo saw on the street.
Most of them did not take the initiative to greet Wei Ruo, but carefully avoided them. Even if they greeted Wei Ruo, they were timid, and their tone was full of fear.
For them, in such a period of grain shortage, Wei Ruo, as a landlord, could kill them.
There was not enough food in the first place, and if the landlord forced them to pay rent again, they would have no way to survive.
Zhao Hai followed behind Wei Ruo, looking preoccupied.
"You don't seem to be very willing to accompany me to inspect?" Wei Ruo stopped and turned to ask Zhao Hai.
"No, no, I..." Zhao Hai wanted to deny and refute, but he was not very excited. He couldn't think of any good reason for a while, so he could only stand there, guilty of not daring to look Wei Ruo in the eyes.
"Are you still thinking about hunting in the mountains?" Wei Ruo asked.
"How do you know about Shaodong's family?" Zhao Hai looked at Wei Ruo in surprise.
Because there is not enough food, Zhao Hai plans to take some young and strong people from the village to go hunting together. The prey in the nearby places must be gone, and they plan to go to the farther mountains.
There are many dangers there. People who are not familiar with it may not be able to get out. Most people dare not go, but at the same time, the probability of hitting prey is also higher.
If you really catch wild boars and hares, you can go to the city to exchange for food. I heard that sweet potatoes are sold cheaply, so I can exchange more.
"It's not difficult to guess. You're not the only one who came up with this idea recently. Didn't the government just post a notice a few days ago, and there are young people nearby who went hunting in the deep mountains and didn't come back." Wei Ruo had heard it before.
Hearing this, Zhao Hai said sadly: "That's nothing to do, the children are all starving, and they can't sit still."
After Zhao Hai finished speaking, he realized that he had made a slip of the tongue. How could he say these things to the Young Master?