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Chen Changsheng’s eyes opened wide: “You think planting will ensure you can pay your taxes? You’re free to choose, plant or don’t plant. After I’ve said my piece, don’t come complaining to me if you can’t get your seedlings. However, Chen Maomao, can your family afford to take the risk of losing both the seedlings and the crop?”

Chen Maomao, who was singled out, didn’t say a word, his face bitter.

Currently, his family was the poorest in the village. They used to be above Chen Ergou’s family, but since Chen Ergou brought his own downfall, their condition hasn’t improved.

Alas, from being the second poorest to being the poorest in the village, he found it hard to raise his head in front of the villagers.

“I, I believe you.” said Chen Maomao: “Our family has ten acres of paddy fields near Chuanhe. This year, this year, I won’t plant anything. But, Brother Changsheng, could you spare some cotton seeds for me? I plan to grow cotton on the South Slope.”

He gave up on his aspiration to plant peppers. With expensive pepper seeds and years needed for the plant to flower and bear fruit, his family simply couldn’t afford the wait.

Chen Changsheng snorted, “I don’t have many cotton seeds either, you should think of other ways. Oh, and a piece of advice – while it’s not too busy now, go cut some bamboo on the South Slope and build a hut. Move your bulky belongings there. Just in case of a flood, at least they won’t get ruined.”

More than half of the forty household owners nodded in agreement; only a few people were dismissive.

Among them, Chen Laoshuan was the most scornful.

His house was made of bricks, not even a heavy flood could wash it away. He didn’t see the need to worry like the others.

He stood up, dusted off his clothes and said, “I’m going back home, you guys continue chatting.”

His youngest son had already gone to the county town for exams, while the eldest son and grandson also accompanied him. At home, he was left with his wife, daughter-in-law and small grandson; and they had to plan for the spring planting season, too busy to chit-chat here.

Those who shared his mindset also requested permission to leave, after all, they needed to plow the paddy fields, irrigate, then sow and cultivate rice.

Chen Changsheng let out a sigh, waved them off and then addressed the remaining villagers: “You should also go home and get ready, follow me to the South Slope tomorrow.”

Many of the farms in West Village were located on the South Slope, right next to Dongchen Village, just spreading to the east and west.

“Alright, we’re off to the South Slope tomorrow.” The remaining villagers were excited. Many of them had wanted to establish residence on the South Slope, but the village chief had not agreed. Of course, some people couldn’t afford to build anything because they didn’t have the money.

But now it was different – with the village chief taking the lead, who would be foolish enough not to join!

So, one day, the villagers of Dongchen Village were surprised to find that straw huts and bamboo shelters were sprouting up like mushrooms in the land belonging to the West Village on the South Slope.

The villagers of West Village warmly waved and greeted Dongchen villagers who came to watch from afar.

While grazing horses, Yingbao would also visit to take a look before returning to cultivate chestnut trees, apple trees, and acacia trees on her own land.

In addition, Yingbao planted one thousand each of Auricularia and Tremella in her mushroom hut. The nutrient base for cultivating the mushrooms was not spiked with Five Dingzhi, but soaked and cooked using water from the Pupil Spring, which both eliminated any harmful eggs and disease in the base and increased yield.

Of course, she also had a batch planted in her cave, also one thousand each.

Seeing her preparations for mushroom cultivation so early, her parents also started to cultivate some, adding two more huts to their farm and increasing their cultivation to one thousand of each type.

Jiang Dalang and Jiang Erlang, after discussing it, also decided to follow their younger brother, each planting an equal amount.

After all, it was easier to mix the nutrients together when preparing, and it also saved the trouble of sterilizing the compost.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, it was soon March.

One day, a horse-drawn cart arrived in the village abruptly followed by two attendants. One of them was a teenager Yingbao recognized – Aqiu, a servant of Lin, the third wife of the Wen family.

The carriage came straight up to the entrance of the Jiang family’s house, and a middle-aged man with a short beard in his thirties got off the carriage.

Aqiu also quickly dismounted from the horse, calling into the courtyard, “Is anyone home?”

Yingbao ran over immediately, asking, “Who are you looking for? My parents are not at home.”

Her father had been very busy lately, often not seen for an entire day, while her mother was in the vegetable garden tending to the fields, planting cucumbers and melons.

Upon seeing Yingbao, Aqiu smiled and said, “It’s Yingbao. This is our Lord Lin, who has been entrusted by the Wen Family. He’s here today to collect the wood ear mushrooms from your house.”

Yingbao glanced at the haughty-looking Lord Lin and frowned, “Entrusted by the Wen Family?”

“Yes,” Aqiu saw that Yingbao seemed doubtful, and explained, “Our Lord Lin is the biological brother of Madam Wen.”

Yingbao replied truthfully, “I’m sorry, but all the wood ear mushrooms from our house have already been sold.”

In the past, Madam Wen had indeed mentioned that someone from the Wen family would come to purchase them, but she had not asked her to keep them in storage.

And in her recent letter, Lady Wen had not mentioned this matter, only that their entire family had moved to Luzhou and asked her to send her letters to the Kang’an Pharmacy in Luzhou.

At the beginning of March, she had just sent a letter to Lady Wen in Luzhou, along with two pounds of golden ear and two pounds of snow ear mushrooms. However, to her surprise, in the middle of the month, the Wen family sent someone from the Lin family to collect the wood ear mushrooms.

Upon hearing this, Lin Lu frowned and scolded, “What? You people are so audacious, even daring to sell the Wen family’s orders at will?”

Yingbao immediately became unhappy upon hearing this, “And who might you be? How come I can’t sell my own things?”

She had not signed any contract with the Wen family, and the Wen family had not paid any deposit. Why should she wait for their purchase? Wouldn’t it be better to sell it in her own shop and get three or four times more?

Seeing that even a maid from the Jiang family dared to talk back to him, Lin Lu became even angrier, “Impudent! Where are the adults from your family? Have them come out to speak with me!”

“My family members are busy and don’t have time to entertain guests. If you don’t have anything else, I won’t keep you,” Yingbao had no interest in dealing with such unreasonable people.

Seeing that their master was about to lose his temper, Aqiu hurriedly interjected, “Master, children don’t understand the rules. You shouldn’t let her get your goat. I’ll go find her elder and have them come to speak to you.”

Lin Lu snorted and walked away to a place far from the entrance of the Jiang family’s house.

The other servant hurriedly fetched a stool from the carriage for his master to sit and rest upon.

Aqiu ran to the field to find the members of the Jiang family and indeed brought back Old Jiang and Jiang Erlang.

Old Jiang and his eldest son, not understanding why, followed Aqiu back to their house, just to see a thirty-something man sitting not far from the entrance of their house. His face was white with a short beard, dressed in fine long clothes; it was easy to see he was not from a farming family.

“Gentleman, may I know why you are looking for us?” Jiang Erlang asked.

Lin Lu gave him a sidelong glance without rising, and said, “I have been commissioned by the Wen family to take the golden ear mushrooms. How much have you prepared?”

“Take what golden ear mushrooms?” Jiang Erlang wasn’t very clear about the transactions between Lady Wen and Yingbao. He only knew that when Lady Wen was around, she often bought golden ear mushrooms from Yingbao but never from anyone else.

Fearing that their master would have another conflict with the Jiang family, Aqiu hastily explained, “Our master has been entrusted by the Wen Family, to collect the agreed mushrooms.”

Jiang Erlang was surprised, “This is not the right time to collect the golden ear mushrooms. Our mushrooms were recently planted and haven’t fully grown yet.”