Great Tang Idyll

Book 1: Chapter 66

The people at the Bin Prefecture Division now hated the surrounding prefecture divisions to the bones. In their mind they thought, why did your division meddle in so much, so be it that your county used the curved-plough, so be it that your division sent a memorial to the throne, but why was the memorial filled with praises of the San'shui County Magistrate, and why were the auspicious omen and the gifts to the civilians also mentioned.

When the auspicious omen occurred, it was said that it belonged to the county, however when the Magistrate sent items out on New Year's Eves, it was not mentioned. The higher ups had sent a document questioning the accountability and it has arrived at the Bin Prefecture Division already. The wording was not strict, but it unceasingly questioned everything in all aspects from every direction. Why was this not reported by the Bin Prefecture Division, but instead it was reported by every other prefecture divisions?

However, the people at the Prefecture Division felt scared because the wording was not strict. If it was strict, it meant that the higher ups were on closer terms with you. This type of calm and ordinary questioning was the scariest--- making the slightest mishap could result in being stripped of their position or even sent to the prison to suffer.

While everyone was busy with the spring tillage, the people at the prefecture division was discussing how to handle this matter.No one dared to continue to suppress the past work efforts of the San'shui County Magistrate. Out of desperation, they gathered together to discuss a solution.

*

The gloomy sky was heavy, and it looked like it was about to fall down at any given moment. The wind also made an appearance to help incite fear. During this time, all the farmers raised their heads to the sky and anticipated for a rainstorm to fall.

The same was true for the people in San'shui County. However, the sky only remained gloomy for a few hours, and the clouds dispersed, and the wind stopped when noon arrived.

When the farmers saw this occurrence, their hearts sank. Today was the start of the Grain Rain¹ season, so it should be the time to sow the seeds. But without rainfall, who would dare sow seeds? The elders that were able to predict the forecast and weather from observing the skies had expressed horror and panic in their eyes. They were done for; rain will not fall for the next few days.

Magistrate Cheng of San'shui County sat inside the administrative office and stared at the sky with a daze too. After a while, he turned his head and asked the person beside him, "How's the water at Xiao' luo'shui?" This time he finally called it by its full name.

"My lord, the water is very shallow. It hasn't rained in the past few days and the melted snow has already flowed away." The person beside him replied back carefully.

"It's over Hurry up, immediately gather workers, I want to wells to be made. " Magistrate Cheng stood up tremblingly and ordered for everyone in the administrative office to come. He assigned the people to different areas in the surrounding region and got them to form well-digging teams. However, he was worried that everyone was waiting to sow seeds so there won't be enough manpower.

Everyone left and Magistrate Cheng stood alone at the entrance of the administrative office. Occasionally, a few people that passed by came to greet him but he wasn't in the mood to respond to every person. The people had a vague idea of the hard situation that the Magistrate was in. There has not been rain for the past few days, and even when the Grain Rain season came, there was still no rain. Furthermore, it didn't look like it will rain within the next few days.

In the evening, there was finally good news, but Magistrate Cheng felt that the news was no longer worthy of getting excited over. The Prefecture Division had finally ordered a person to deliver a report and its overall idea was that they acknowledged his work and contribution, and will report this to the imperial court.

"My lord, your credit will no longer have to be shared with other people." The magistrate assistant stood his side and spoke to cheer up the Magistrate.

"Credit, credit, what credit is there now, if this drought is not handled properly, then I will have a demerit. Have the people I have sent to the different areas return yet? What is the situation?" Magistrate Cheng did not have any energy; he sat in a chair with his back completely supported by the back of the chair but he still slid downwards.

"Most of the people have returned. There was no water at Qi'yang Village so some villagers stole water, and some were even injured as a consequence. The stolen water was barely enough to plant millet but if there were to be a few more rainless days, then a new plan needs to be contrived. Xi'he Village was still fine as there was still a bit water left in the river so they might be able to last for another half month. Now they are using a dam to block the river flow, but the village downstream, Dong'he Village, will be doomed. As for Nan'shan Village..."

Streams after streams of news were released from the magistrate assistant's mouth and there were usually about not having water. When water was not needed, it was readily available; but when it was needed, it was realized that there wasn't enough. Even the places that did have water will not last long.

"There isn't a single piece of good news? It's all like this? Oh right, there's one more place that wasn't mentioned. The Tu'qiao Village and Zhang Farm, how about them?" Magistrate Cheng suddenly remembered that the person sent there hasn't return yet.

"My lord, there is a river over there, but the water is formed by the convergence of four small rivers. For three of the other rivers, the previously mentioned villages that lacked water have redirected the river water to their own villages. As for the remaining one, even on normal days, the waters level is only waist-high, so it is not of much use. More importantly, the previous years have been like this too. It seemed like a drought, but in fact, it will start to rain nonstop a few days before or after the Gu Rain season. The people and I have grown use to seeing this."

The magistrate assistant sighed, that Zhang Farm have given the administrative office a lot of surprises, but this time, no one can escape.

"Reporting to.. my lordmy lord, I have returned, I have returned from the Zhang Farm." As soon as the magistrate assistant finished his words, there was a voice outside the door, and then a person ran into the room. His travel-worn appearance made it obvious that he rushed on the trip back.

This person was carrying a large package on his back, and it didn't seem heavy. He stopped when he arrived at the center of the yard but he didn't say anything as he was panting to catch his breath.

"So, you have returned, find a place to rest. What are you carrying on your back? You've taken things from the Zhang Farm again? On normal days, its fine to ask for things, but they're experiencing a drought there right now, how could you..." Magistrate Cheng was so angered that he couldn't continue his words.

"My lord, I didn't ask. It it was them. The.the farm wanted to give it to the administrative office. Thethe stuff brought backgoodgood stuff, it's wood fungus. Fivefive kilograms. Drieddried ones." This bailiff replied back with his words spoken in short bursts.

"What? Five kilograms of dried fungus, how could you dare accept such a valuable gift? The drought is like this already. This wood fungus is worth a lot of money. Digging a well requires money, importing food from other locations requires money. Send it back, we cannot accept this gift." Magistrate Cheng and the magistrate assistant were both shocked. Where did the Zhang Farm get so much dried wood fungus?

The bailiff was still panting and he felt even more anxious because he couldn't continue explaining. In the end, he picked up the Magistrate's cup that was on the table and drank all of the water in one gulp. He wiped his mouth and finally felt comfortable. He opened the package and said, "My lord, they planted this fungus themselves. They told me to bring it back and share it with the people at the administrative office. Originally, they intended to give ten kilograms, but I didn't dare to accept it so I only brought back five kilograms. After its soaked in water, the people in our office can have some and taste this new food."

"It's planted? Wood fungus can be planted?" The Magistrate and the magistrate assistant were shocked again and they even got up from their chairs. Neither of them knew how to make judgements of the Zhang Farm anymore.

They were able to produce cucumbers in the winter, they have vegetable oil, they made a lot of money after buying the carrots that no one wanted, they also found a simple method to turn brown sugar into white sugar, they made spicy sauce, they made the curved-plough just a while ago and now they're able to plant wood fungus. Are there anything in this world that they could not make?

"Well, since they can plant them, then they must have made a fortune again. Even if it's a drought, they would not be scared. How's the situation over there? Has nothing been planted yet?"

Magistrate Cheng was relieved now. Wood fungus is precious. If a person wanted to eat, they would have to go find it in the mountains or on a tree or maybe even at the places that transport lumber wood. This was all money.

"My lord, they're done planting already. All the fields at the Zhang Farm, Wang Farm and Ge Farm have been planted. The Ge Farm borrowed water from the Zhang and Wang Farms. "

"Done planting? Borrowed water? The Ge Farm does not have water, how could it be that the Zhang and Wang Farms have water. " The county magistrate felt a little dizzy. Even if the Zhang and Wang Household did not lack water, how could they have water to give out to others? He suspected that the bailiff was lying, so his calmed his expression down.

"It's true, my lord. I do not dare to lie. You might not know, but the Zhang and Wang Households have dug six large ponds, and all the ponds are filled with water. There was still a thin stream of water at the little river and it has been drained into the ponds. When I came over there, they had seven wells already and three more were being dug. The well at the Ge Farm was only recently made and the water was sweet and cool; it was very tasty. When I was there, I drank three bowls of water in a single breath. The horse that I rode also drank, it drank."

"Enough, don't talk about these random nonsense. You mentioned that the Zhang Farm had six ponds filled with water? And they also had seven recently made wells?" Magistrate Cheng interrupted the bailiff's useless words and asked about the key points again.

"Yes, my lord, I saw it with my own eyes. The children from the three farms were also playing inside the ponds. There were more than 1,000 ducks and geese in one of the ponds. Some people were carrying the water into the mountains. I even helped them. On the mountains, there were about 6,000 chickens that were laying eggs. All of the families on the farm were raising pigs too.

In addition to these, I also saw foods that were brought in from other locations. It should be because land was needed during the spring tillage, so the foods were brought to the empty areas surrounding the two farms. The piles of food were like mountains. I only dared to bring back the five kilograms of wood fungus after seeing that. I can tell that they were not poor. "

As soon as he talked about Zhang Farm, his eyes gleamed. He listed everything on the farm through and through and then he pointed again at the 5 kilograms of the wood fungus.

Magistrate Cheng and Magistrate Assistant Zhang Ming'sheng sat their bottoms onto the chair again to be precise, they fell back down to their chairs. Their two pairs of eyes stared straight at the wood fungus. Suddenly, they both said, "If this was known earlier, then it would have been great if all 10 kilograms were brought back."

"My lord, if you really want it, I can make another trip to there. I don't mind the trouble. I need a different horse." The bailiff was a down to earth person and did not speak empty words. He turned around to leave as he said this.

"Stop there. Are your driven crazy by poorness? Are you prideless? When they gave it to you, it's giving; what will it be regarded as if you go there to demand? This Zhang Farm is amazingly peculiar. They raised so many livestock, they dug ponds ahead of time, and even made seven wells. No wonder the Ge Farm was able to borrow water from them. That Ge Ying'xi has encountered a good neighbor. Just a while ago, he tried to create troubles for them behind their backs. In the end, he didn't succeed and the Zhang Farm found out what he did. Despite so, they're still willing to lend water to the Ge Household. If they were government officials, then would definitely be good officials that brought fortune to their lands." Magistrate Cheng called for the bailiff to stop and commented.

"My lord is also a good official." The magistrate assistant, who sat next to him, added.

Translator's Note:

1. Grain Rain

The name is taken from the phrase "hundreds ofgrainborn fromrain" (). The Grain Rain season is the 6th solar term out of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar; it begins around April 20th and ends around May 5th. During this period, rain levels increase and is crucial for the planting and growths of crops and plants.