The autumn harvest ended, and everyone's spirits were low. The yield was not just a little less than last year.
There were also rumors that Tian Jing was not the lucky star they thought she was.
Tian Jing had no interest in arguing with these villagers who only gossiped behind people's backs.
When her wealth accumulated to a height these people could only look up to, the sour remarks would likely increase. Could she possibly retort to them all?
After the wheat was planted, it was time to pay the public grain tax. Those people looked as if their fathers had died.
Village Chief Ou waved his hand, "Those who are unhappy don't have to pay. Town Chief Ji said that paying once a year is also acceptable, as long as it's the new grain."
New grain?
Not only could they not guarantee a good summer harvest, but summer grain was also wheat. Who would be willing to give up all their wheat?
"We'll pay, but Village Chief, look at this year's harvest. If next year's summer harvest is also... then you must ask the Town Chief to adjust the amount of public grain we have to pay."
Village Chief Ou shook his head. "I cannot promise you this, and Town Chief Ji cannot promise it either. The public grain is set by the higher authorities. Unless it's for several consecutive years... it will not be easily adjusted."
"This will starve us to death."
These words angered Village Chief Ou. He roared at the top of his lungs.
"With your previous harvests, you didn't starve to death. Now you will? Feel your faces and bellies, full of flesh and fat."
"Where did that flesh and fat come from? You are truly ungrateful."
"Without the help of Town Chief Ji and the couple Li Zhengguo, would you have gained this flesh and fat?"
"Are you shameless, eating from a bowl and cursing the hand that feeds you? If you hadn't been so troublesome, would this year's harvest be like this?"
"At least the cotton brought in income, right? Before you planted watermelons, didn't the income from cotton make you all overjoyed?"
"When you planted watermelons, you only planted them. Tian Jing nurtured the seedlings, Li Zhengguo taught you the techniques, and Ouyang Meihua and Li Liguo collected the watermelons."
"You didn't even have to exert yourselves to transport them to the market. You only needed to count the money in your own purses."
"And the result? It only made you more greedy. Greed is like a snake swallowing an elephant!"
"Didn't you say your seedlings were no worse than Tian Jing's? Didn't you say it didn't matter if Li Zhengguo wasn't home and you could prune and tie the vines yourselves?"
"Next year, Tian Jing will not sell a single seedling to anyone outside. You can nurture your own seedlings."
"Next year, if you ask Li Zhengguo to guide you in anything again, you must pay a consultation fee. Techniques are advanced knowledge. Why should it be given to you for free? What have you given in return?"
"One moment you put the lucky star hat on Tian Jing, the next you take it off. Everything depends on your words."
"You always have your way, whether you're right or wrong. If you're so capable, do it yourselves."
"Ever since the land was distributed to households, you've still been thinking of relying on others, of me pulling you along."
"Haven't I pulled you along? You not only failed to run forward with me, but you also pushed back with all your might."
"Push! Since you are so capable and united in opposing me, then continue to be united."
"Stop coming to me for help with this and that. I'm only in charge of collection and distribution. Everything else has nothing to do with me."
Village Chief Ou had never been so furious. He stunned the villagers into silence.
They honestly went to pay the public grain tax.
Facing the large truck, Captain Ou had more to say, "Next year, if you ask Li Liguo to help you pay the public grain tax again, you will pay for the fuel together."
"Do you think this large truck runs on water from Ku River? Ungrateful wretches."
...
The village was silent for many days.
Villagers avoided each other, not wanting to speak.
It wasn't just because of the harvest, nor just because of Captain Ou's scolding.
It was more because Tian Jing truly stopped selling seedlings to outsiders.
She only nurtured seedlings for the Wang and Niu families, and her brother-in-law's family.
It wasn't until the topping-out ceremony of the quadrangle courtyard in the east of the village that they regained their spirits and rushed to grab things.
In the quadrangle courtyard, only the main building in the inner courtyard was completed.
This ceremony was entirely managed by Grandpa Xiao himself.
Secretary Yang and Brother Wang and the others knew nothing about the beams, rafters, or purlins of the quadrangle.
They were completely confused about the different types of beams.
They followed the arrangements of the master craftsman and Grandpa Xiao.
The beam moved, the firecrackers exploded.
Villagers crowded and scrambled for the colorful objects sprinkled down.
Upon grabbing them, they discovered that the colorful items were not only steamed buns made of mixed grains but also paper-wrapped candies.
As soon as the main beam was in place, they hurried to lay the tiles.
For the topping-out feast at noon, it was still the master craftsman and the workers, plus the Li family and the village chief, secretary, and the Wang and Niu families.
In the afternoon, they rushed to cover the main building with tiles.
Seeing that snow was about to fall, they had planned to finish the inner courtyard before the snow. However, the wood carving was not keeping up.
The master craftsman looked down on the carpentry skills of the villagers and workers.
They even looked down on Li Zhengguo's skills and meticulously carved themselves.
Therefore, the pace was naturally slow.
...
It began to snow. The workers were paid and sent home, and they would resume work after the Awakening of Insects next year.
Master Zhao and his master both stayed behind. They planned to use these four to five months to carve all the pillars, beams, rafters, purlins, doors, and windows.
When manpower became available in the spring, the materials would also be ready.
These past two months had been a waste of manpower, making them feel guilty.
Li Zhengguo comforted them, saying that he had utilized the workers reasonably.
"Weren't the workers helping with transporting watermelons and vegetables? And the septic tank, and replacing the soil in the garden, all kept them busy. They weren't just waiting for your materials."
"Once the second floor is completed, and flower walls are built on the first floor, flowers and vegetables can be planted."
Speaking of this, Master Zhao's master completely changed his previous mindset.
"Growing vegetables, growing vegetables. The vegetables here are too delicious."
"Master," Master Zhao reminded him, "This is Mr. Xiao's quadrangle courtyard, not yours."
The old man was stunned for a moment, but still insisted, "I just want to remind them to grow vegetables. A major reason I don't want to go back for the New Year is that I can't bear to leave the vegetables here."
Li Zhengguo smiled. "Grow them, grow them. Plant flowers in the first half and vegetables in the latter half. My grandpa loves vegetables too."
"Master, don't worry. This winter, we'll dry vegetables for you."
"When you go home next year, tell your son and grandson to carry a sack of dried vegetables for you each."
"The taste won't be as good as fresh ones, but they will definitely be more delicious than ordinary vegetables."
"Good, good, good, hahahaha."
The master craftsman clapped his hands and laughed. "You've spoken to my heart. I'll shamelessly ask for three more sacks, as I have one more apprentice and two grand-apprentices."
Master Zhao: "..." After so many years, he finally realized his master was a glutton.
While the master craftsman stayed, Sister-in-law Niu and two close friends took turns cooking.
Taking advantage of the light snow, Li Zhengguo and Tian Jing went out to 'buy' grain.
Due to this year's harvest, the Li family didn't have much more than the villagers.
They moved some corn from their own store and took it to Lin Guangde's processing workshop to be milled.
Rice, white flour, and cornmeal were all delivered to the master craftsmen.
With ample food and a continuous supply of fresh vegetables, the master craftsmen had no objection to not going home this year.
They simply mailed their wages home first, with a short note explaining their situation.
A shed had already been built in the courtyard where the master craftsmen were staying to store the lumber.
The cut-off scraps were perfect for heating the kang.