Zhang Chi rolled up his trouser legs, carried a fish basket in his hand, and took his two younger brothers home. In July, the fire was flying, but the sun was still vicious at noon, and it felt like it was tingling when sleeping on his body. The flowers on the trees on the roadside had already faded, and were full of various fruits.

When we arrived at the door, the yellow dog at home shook his tail and came out happily.

After entering the door, Zhang Chi put down the fish basket and said to his mother in the house: "I'm really lucky today. I caught five or six big eels. I stewed them in the pot for a while, and it's also a good dish."

The mother said, "You should go back to the army in five or six days. Don't walk around and stay at home more often."

Zhang Chi agreed with a smile, but didn't care. When he came home, of course, the fields around the village attracted him. What does it mean to sit at home?

At this moment, the gate of the courtyard was opened, and a man came in. Seeing Zhang Chi standing there, he said, "I saw that he was my brother from afar. I think this is your home. It's true."

When Zhang Chi saw that it was Yang Biao who joined the army together. He shook his hands and said, "Justower, I went out to catch fish with my two younger brothers, covered in mud and water. Please sit down, I took the water and washed it and talked together."

Yang Biao waved his hand after hearing this: "You don't have to be polite. I'm here to tell you that the grain-collecting boat has arrived at the entrance of our village again. This time is different from last time. The people in the surrounding villages have picked up wheat and rushed to sell it. You should also be faster, otherwise you will be anxious to queuing up!"

Zhang Chi did not dare to neglect, so he hurriedly asked his fifth brother to go to the field to find his father. He quickly washed his hands, asked Yang Biao to sit down, and asked about selling food.

Last time, the supply and marketing cooperative came to collect grain, but not many people sold it, and everyone was waiting and watching. As a result, the supply and marketing cooperative stopped collecting grain, and the purchase price of local grain merchants dropped again, and everyone was very anxious. Seven or eight days ago, the first time the grain seller got cash from the supply and marketing cooperative, and everyone was moved. Now, the nearby townships are staring at the wharf of Daliushu Village. As soon as the grain collecting ship arrived, the news quickly spread.

Yang Biao said: "When I came out of the village, many people carried the loads. There were already a long queue at the pier. If I went too late, I don't know how long it would take! Besides, the ships in the river are always limited in loading food. If they are full, they have to wait for the next time."

Zhang Chi nodded repeatedly: "What I said is, what I said is. By the way, the price has not dropped, right?"

Yang Biao said: "Just the last time, it's still thirty coins per dou."

The two of them were talking, and their father came back from the field. Without putting down the hoe, they came over to ask Yang Biao.

After asking clearly, my father said, "This matter cannot be delayed. We sit here for an hour, and we may have to wait for a day at the pier. We have prepared the wheat at home long ago. Erlang, Sanlang and I will get up immediately!"

Yang Biao said: "Dad, I want to go home too, and I will carry a load for you."

How could my father be willing? After saying a few words, Yang Biao insisted on choosing, so he had to agree with him. He was in his prime and was not afraid of being tired.

Several people took the grain from the warehouse and carried two stones one by one. The father tried and said, "Sanlang is still young and I am afraid he can't take such a heavy burden. Forget it, he carries one stone, and we each carry two stones. This time it can't be sold out, but there are not many left, so it will be easy next time."

There was no dry food at home, so my mother took a small bag of rice and brought it to several people. Yang Biao was from Daliushu Village. When he arrived at the place, he could borrow the pot from their home to cook. In this era, when he went to other places to cook, many people still brought their own rice.

Carrying a load of more than 200 kilograms and walking dozens of miles in one go, people in later generations may find it great. But in this era, it is common for ordinary people. A few people did not delay the road and arrived at Daliushu Village ten miles away.

As soon as I entered the village, I saw the streets densely packed with people. Everyone was surrounded by a burden, and they could not see at first sight.

Zhang Chi exclaimed: "Last time I collected grain here, I saw the fun. This time I came, I came to sell grain. When will we come here? Do you have to spend the night here?"

The father said, "What's so strange? Take a few steps and we'll take a seat! When we have a place, we'll go and take a look at the pier."

Several people lined up to the end of the line, put down their burden and took a breath.

Yang Biao said: "You guys take a break here first. I'll go home and get some water. It's hot and I'm thirsty all the way."

Zhang Chi felt dry mouth, so he naturally agreed. He sat next to the load with his father, opened his clothes and fanned the air.

Soon, Yang Biao came back and drank water for several people. Several people squatted under the shade of trees on the side of the road and talked about gossip.

Yang Biao said: "I went home and asked. The food collection this time is the same as last time. However, there are only two ships, and I guess they can't load much. Fortunately, we came early, so we must have sold this time. If we were one day in the evening, it would be hard to say."

Zhang Chi said: "I saw it last time, I thought there were not many wheat growing around me. I didn't expect that there would be so many!"

My father said, "I didn't see the money last time, so everyone will not sell it. I really saw the money this time. Who will keep the wheat at home? People here are still used to eating rice. If the price is right, the wheat will be sold naturally."

It is not paddy fields, so it is naturally not suitable for growing rice. Xiangyang and Dengzhou areas either grow wheat or millet. Every family planted it, even if it didn’t grow much, the combined amount was amazing. This year, the harvest was bumper, and grain merchants kept the price very low. The supply and marketing cooperatives purchased it at a high price, so the people naturally had to sell the wheat as soon as possible. If they exchange it for money, they felt at ease.

In Xinye City, Yang Shen quickly walked into Wang Xiao’s official hall and said happily: “Observe, the supply and marketing cooperative paid the last grain payment a few days ago, and the people got the benefits. As expected, this time the money was collected much smoother.”

Wang Xiaoliu said: "Does the people want money to sell food? When they see that they can get the money, they will naturally become active."

Yang Shen thought for a while and said, "I heard that the grain merchants outside had suppressed the wheat price in Xiangyang a few days ago. Why not, we should also suppress the wheat price. Even if it is twenty cents, it would be a lot of money. With money in the yamen, many things can be done."

When Wang Xiaolie heard this, he suddenly raised his head and looked at Yang Shen. He said, "We collect grain and sell grain, not only to make money, but also to allow the people to earn income in the bumper harvest. Now the grain merchants outside are willing to collect at a high price. What reason do we have to suppress the selling price of the people? If we cannot sell it, the grain will only be stored in the warehouse after collecting it. It is reasonable to suppress the price. It is not now!"

Yang Shen touched his head: "Is it just to make money when doing business? We need money everywhere, but we don't have money, so of course we have to make money."

"You are an official, not a businessman!" Wang Xiaoli stood up with a stern expression. "There are many ways to make money by being an official. The easiest way is to increase taxes and levy miscellaneous donations, which is not easier than doing business! You can't do that! Official business requires many issues. In many cases, whether to make money or not is not the most important thing. This year, there will be a bumper harvest of winter wheat in the surrounding states. If we don't take action, the grain merchants will inevitably put the buying price to an extremely low, and the selling price will still be so high. This is what the grain is meant by the low grain.

Yang Shen said: "I understand the humble vocation."
Chapter completed!