Chapter 13: Chapter 13: People’s Sufferings !
Translator: 549690339
“Xiumei, go find out to which village this mountain belongs,” Wei Ruo instructed.
“Alright.”
Xiumei trotted off toward where there were people. Most of those working in the nearby fields were locals. Asking them should get the answer Wei Ruo was seeking.
Soon, Xiumei returned and informed Wei Ruo that the mountain was named Xiaoyang Mountain and belongs to a nearby village called Yueying Village. Due to the severe terrain making the cost of terracing too high, the area had been left to go wild. The locals got their firewood from this mountain.
“Did you ask if they would be willing to sell?” Wei Ruo queried.
“Of course I did.”
Having been by Wei Ruo’s side for so many years, Xiumei knew her intentions well.
“The one I asked isn’t from Yueying Village, but he said as long as the price is right, the villagers would willingly sell. These years, due to the Japanese Pirates issue, the common folks in Xingshan County are having a hard time. Yueying Village is particularly suffering, while other villages still have a few fields to cultivate, Yueying Village only has barren mountains.”
“Hmm, I see,” Wei Ruo muttered, pondering.
Madam Zhang, listening to the conversation between the master and the servant, could not help but chuckle.
“Miss, are you thinking about buying this Xiaoyang Mountain?”
“Just asking, getting acquainted with the situation,” said Wei Ruo casually.
“You can ask, but keep the idea of buying the mountain to yourself. Our Military Prefecture only bought Mantou Mountain three years after we arrived in Xingshan County. Even now, even though the people of Xingshan County are having a hard time, the cost of a mountain is still not going to be low. A price of fewer than a thousand taels of silver wouldn’t be considered.”
“A thousand taels… that is indeed a lot of silver,” Wei Ruo murmured thoughtfully.
“As long as you understand, Miss. If you miss the days in the countryside, you can visit Mantou Mountain and look at our fields. But don’t physically work on them like before. The laborers will have a good laugh if they see it!”
It’s alright to do some gardening at home, only the people in their residence know about it. It’s still embarrassing, but at least it’s contained within the family.
If she can’t restrain herself from doing the same outside, then she would become the laughing stock of the entire Xingshan County.
“Okay.”
Wei Ruo didn’t argue this time and decided to head back to Mantou Mountain.
After wandering around near the foot of the mountain for a few rounds, she returned.
###
Within the Colonel’s residence, Wei Qingwan was supervising Wei Yilin copying “Xue Er.”
Wei Yilin was playful and active since young, not suited for studying.
Today, he was sent home by his tutor for causing trouble at school. Upon hearing about it, Yun was very angry and punished him by making him copy “Xue Er.” Wei Qingwan was tasked with supervising.
Wei Yilin pouted, extremely unwilling, and his eyes darted around restlessly.
“Yilin, write quickly. If you don’t finish before it gets dark, you won’t get dinner and will have to go hungry,” Wei Qingwan said with a heartache.
“Three times is too much! Sister, dear sister, help me copy, you can imitate, you can imitate my handwriting, mother won’t notice,” Wei Yilin pleaded with Wei Qingwan.
“That’s not right…” Wei Qingwan wore a troubled expression.
“Sister! My lovely sister! You’re my only lovely sister!”
Hearing the word “only,” Wei Qingwan’s heart stirred.
In their house, only her little brother genuinely cared for her, and she did not want to lose his affection and trust.
“Well… alright then,” Wei Qingwan said, “but I’ll only help you copy once, you have to do the other two copies yourself.”
“No problem!” Wei Yilin immediately brightened, “I knew it, sister loves me the most, she’s nothing like the newcomer. I don’t know what she does all day, today she even coaxed mother into letting her go out.”
“She went out? Where did she go?” Wei Qingwan asked in surprise.
“She went to the north of the city to look at farmland. Don’t you think she’s strange? If she likes to farm so much, then why didn’t she stay in the countryside? There’s no need for her to come here,” Wei Yilin complained.
“Did mother accompany her?” Wei Qingwan followed up.
“She went by herself. Mother is busy, there are so many things in the house that need her attention, she doesn’t have time to do such things!”
“I see…” Wei Qingwan mused thoughtfully, her expression slightly despondent.
Seeing Wei Qingwan’s sad expression, Wei Yilin quickly comforted her. “Sister, don’t worry, even though Mother treats her very well, I am sure that in Mother’s heart, like mine, she likes you much more than Wei Qingruo!”
Wei Qingwan shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, she has suffered in the countryside for so many years, so it’s right for father and mother to be nicer to her. I owe her so much, how can I ask my parents to treat me better than her?” “Sister, you think too much and consider others too much,” Wei Yilin pouted, feeling helpless.
“We’re one family, it’s right for me to think about everyone. Yilin, you’re not young anymore. You should also think about father and mother more and stop causing trouble.”
“Alright, alright,” he mouthed the words without meaning them.
###
On the way back from the north of the city, Wei Ruo watched the passing scenery through the carriage window.
She saw many beggars begging along the streets, more than she had seen in any other place.
The streets lacked the prosperity she imagined a county should have. It was not even as bustling as Huaibei Town.
After asking Madam Zhang, she learned that many of the beggars were local fishermen. Due to Japanese Pirates’ activities, they could not fish, lost their livelihood, and hence had to resort to begging.
Besides, the recent years of unfavorable weather had greatly reduced rice production, leading to crop failure. Farmers with scarce resources had also been forced into begging.
Having learned the reason, Wei Ruo looked again at the beggars in tattered clothes and skeletal figures. Her mood inevitably dropped.
Especially when her gaze met with theirs – a rich young lady in splendid clothes seated in a carriage with servants – it felt like a shiver went through her modern soul.
Their eyes lacked light. When they looked at Wei Ruo, their eyes were empty, numb, devoid of jealousy or hatred, as if they had accepted their sufferings in life.
A little further on, Wei Ruo saw a vendor selling seafood.
She learned that the catch was brought back by fishermen who risked being killed by Japanese Pirates by fishing at night.
However, since everyone’s living conditions were not good, business was slow, and a large basket of seafood was left unsold.
Wei Ruo noticed the seafood was still very fresh, so she ordered Xiumei to buy the entire lot.
Upon hearing Wei Ruo’s decision to buy everything, Madam Zhang’s eyes widened in shock. She then tried to explain as tactfully as possible to Wei Ruo, “Miss, seafood is expensive. As the number of sellers has decreased, prices have increased. This basket requires at least two taels of silver!”
Where would Wei Ruo get the money to buy so much?
Taking things without being able to pay is bad for the reputation of the Military Prefecture.
Otherwise, it might result in a tab being set up, resulting in the Military Prefecture having to pay for her reckless actions.
“Mmm, I know. I’ll use my own private money,” Wei Ruo said, recognizing Madam Zhang’s concerns.
Private money? Where would she get private money from?
Chapter 13: Chapter 13: People’s Sufferings !
Translator: 549690339
“Xiumei, go find out to which village this mountain belongs,” Wei Ruo instructed.
“Alright.”
Xiumei trotted off toward where there were people. Most of those working in the nearby fields were locals. Asking them should get the answer Wei Ruo was seeking.
Soon, Xiumei returned and informed Wei Ruo that the mountain was named Xiaoyang Mountain and belongs to a nearby village called Yueying Village. Due to the severe terrain making the cost of terracing too high, the area had been left to go wild. The locals got their firewood from this mountain.
“Did you ask if they would be willing to sell?” Wei Ruo queried.
“Of course I did.”
Having been by Wei Ruo’s side for so many years, Xiumei knew her intentions well.
“The one I asked isn’t from Yueying Village, but he said as long as the price is right, the villagers would willingly sell. These years, due to the Japanese Pirates issue, the common folks in Xingshan County are having a hard time. Yueying Village is particularly suffering, while other villages still have a few fields to cultivate, Yueying Village only has barren mountains.”
“Hmm, I see,” Wei Ruo muttered, pondering.
Madam Zhang, listening to the conversation between the master and the servant, could not help but chuckle.
“Miss, are you thinking about buying this Xiaoyang Mountain?”
“Just asking, getting acquainted with the situation,” said Wei Ruo casually.
“You can ask, but keep the idea of buying the mountain to yourself. Our Military Prefecture only bought Mantou Mountain three years after we arrived in Xingshan County. Even now, even though the people of Xingshan County are having a hard time, the cost of a mountain is still not going to be low. A price of fewer than a thousand taels of silver wouldn’t be considered.”
“A thousand taels… that is indeed a lot of silver,” Wei Ruo murmured thoughtfully.
“As long as you understand, Miss. If you miss the days in the countryside, you can visit Mantou Mountain and look at our fields. But don’t physically work on them like before. The laborers will have a good laugh if they see it!”
It’s alright to do some gardening at home, only the people in their residence know about it. It’s still embarrassing, but at least it’s contained within the family.
If she can’t restrain herself from doing the same outside, then she would become the laughing stock of the entire Xingshan County.
“Okay.”
Wei Ruo didn’t argue this time and decided to head back to Mantou Mountain.
After wandering around near the foot of the mountain for a few rounds, she returned.
###
Within the Colonel’s residence, Wei Qingwan was supervising Wei Yilin copying “Xue Er.”
Wei Yilin was playful and active since young, not suited for studying.
Today, he was sent home by his tutor for causing trouble at school. Upon hearing about it, Yun was very angry and punished him by making him copy “Xue Er.” Wei Qingwan was tasked with supervising.
Wei Yilin pouted, extremely unwilling, and his eyes darted around restlessly.
“Yilin, write quickly. If you don’t finish before it gets dark, you won’t get dinner and will have to go hungry,” Wei Qingwan said with a heartache.
“Three times is too much! Sister, dear sister, help me copy, you can imitate, you can imitate my handwriting, mother won’t notice,” Wei Yilin pleaded with Wei Qingwan.
“That’s not right…” Wei Qingwan wore a troubled expression.
“Sister! My lovely sister! You’re my only lovely sister!”
Hearing the word “only,” Wei Qingwan’s heart stirred.
In their house, only her little brother genuinely cared for her, and she did not want to lose his affection and trust.
“Well… alright then,” Wei Qingwan said, “but I’ll only help you copy once, you have to do the other two copies yourself.”
“No problem!” Wei Yilin immediately brightened, “I knew it, sister loves me the most, she’s nothing like the newcomer. I don’t know what she does all day, today she even coaxed mother into letting her go out.”
“She went out? Where did she go?” Wei Qingwan asked in surprise.
“She went to the north of the city to look at farmland. Don’t you think she’s strange? If she likes to farm so much, then why didn’t she stay in the countryside? There’s no need for her to come here,” Wei Yilin complained.
“Did mother accompany her?” Wei Qingwan followed up.
“She went by herself. Mother is busy, there are so many things in the house that need her attention, she doesn’t have time to do such things!”
“I see…” Wei Qingwan mused thoughtfully, her expression slightly despondent.
Seeing Wei Qingwan’s sad expression, Wei Yilin quickly comforted her. “Sister, don’t worry, even though Mother treats her very well, I am sure that in Mother’s heart, like mine, she likes you much more than Wei Qingruo!”
Wei Qingwan shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, she has suffered in the countryside for so many years, so it’s right for father and mother to be nicer to her. I owe her so much, how can I ask my parents to treat me better than her?” “Sister, you think too much and consider others too much,” Wei Yilin pouted, feeling helpless.
“We’re one family, it’s right for me to think about everyone. Yilin, you’re not young anymore. You should also think about father and mother more and stop causing trouble.”
“Alright, alright,” he mouthed the words without meaning them.
###
On the way back from the north of the city, Wei Ruo watched the passing scenery through the carriage window.
She saw many beggars begging along the streets, more than she had seen in any other place.
The streets lacked the prosperity she imagined a county should have. It was not even as bustling as Huaibei Town.
After asking Madam Zhang, she learned that many of the beggars were local fishermen. Due to Japanese Pirates’ activities, they could not fish, lost their livelihood, and hence had to resort to begging.
Besides, the recent years of unfavorable weather had greatly reduced rice production, leading to crop failure. Farmers with scarce resources had also been forced into begging.
Having learned the reason, Wei Ruo looked again at the beggars in tattered clothes and skeletal figures. Her mood inevitably dropped.
Especially when her gaze met with theirs – a rich young lady in splendid clothes seated in a carriage with servants – it felt like a shiver went through her modern soul.
Their eyes lacked light. When they looked at Wei Ruo, their eyes were empty, numb, devoid of jealousy or hatred, as if they had accepted their sufferings in life.
A little further on, Wei Ruo saw a vendor selling seafood.
She learned that the catch was brought back by fishermen who risked being killed by Japanese Pirates by fishing at night.
However, since everyone’s living conditions were not good, business was slow, and a large basket of seafood was left unsold.
Wei Ruo noticed the seafood was still very fresh, so she ordered Xiumei to buy the entire lot.
Upon hearing Wei Ruo’s decision to buy everything, Madam Zhang’s eyes widened in shock. She then tried to explain as tactfully as possible to Wei Ruo, “Miss, seafood is expensive. As the number of sellers has decreased, prices have increased. This basket requires at least two taels of silver!”
Where would Wei Ruo get the money to buy so much?
Taking things without being able to pay is bad for the reputation of the Military Prefecture.
Otherwise, it might result in a tab being set up, resulting in the Military Prefecture having to pay for her reckless actions.
“Mmm, I know. I’ll use my own private money,” Wei Ruo said, recognizing Madam Zhang’s concerns.
Private money? Where would she get private money from?
