Chapter 26: Grinding Wheat

ow, it's incredibly difficult for someone from a farming family to become educated these days. To have achieved official recognition and honor is even rarer than one in ten thousand.The wife of the sc...The Qi family has three brothers who support their elderly mother.

When Qi Lao's mother was young, she worked by the light of a lamp and the oil lamp. It damaged her eyes, and now she can only see blurry shapes. She can only move freely in her own courtyard and rarely goes out.

The Qi family originally had five brothers, not just three.

Neither the second nor the third child was able to keep it.

His family had little land, so one person could keep busy at home. Qi Si worked as a clerk in the coffin shop in town, and Qi Wu, introduced by Qi Si, apprenticed to Liao, a carpenter who specialized in making coffins.

A family of honest people, they keep to themselves and are never loud.

Villagers knew their place, but the fact that Qi Si and Qi Wu were involved in such a profession made some people wary. Few interacted with them, so they gradually became invisible in the village.

Every year, Yan Xiucheng would hire people to help with his work. Qi Da had never been able to get a spot in the past, but this year, due to the drought, everyone in the village was focused on their own small plot of land, which ultimately worked out for him.

As soon as the news about Yán's family replacing labor with grain came out, countless people envied them.

The village head picked on his family for a reason. Firstly, the Qi family had little land, and Qi Four and Qi Five just returned home, having ample labor.

Another thing is that the Qi brothers are strong and sturdy.

Otherwise, the coffin shop owner wouldn't hire Qi Si as a clerk. He single-handedly does the work of two people, carrying and moving things with ease.

Qi Wu is the same, Liao the carpenter is different from other carpenters, he only makes coffins.

All of them are thick planks made of solid wood, which most people can't handle.

Qi was a simple and honest man. Besides the one sentence he shouted outside the gate, he didn't say a word. He unloaded stack after stack of bundled wheat from his cart and carried it into the courtyard, neatly arranged for payment.

Qi Si came with him. After all, he was a clerk in town, even if it was a coffin shop, dealing with people less often, he would still say a few polite words.

"Second Brother Yan, I see that your wheat is all dried and ready to be ground. What day are you planning on doing it Just let us brothers know."

"Don't say, I'm really in a hurry. I'm going there this afternoon. It just so happens that we bought a new ox at home..."

If Uncle Yan wants to say something, let the ox pull the mill. It will definitely be super fast.

"I don't want to,," the eldest brother took over and said, "We have a new ox at home. It would be convenient to haul the wheat together, saving us several trips. The grinding of wheat is quite tiresome for both of you brothers, there's no need to grind it fine, just enough to eat."

Qi Si's face beamed with joy. "Don't worry, Mr. Xiucai, leave it to us brothers."

Qi Dàyě opened his mouth and smiled, looking very happy.

As soon as the two brothers stepped out of the yard, it seemed much more spacious.

"Big brother, our family can also use the ox to grind the flour." Yan Lao'er was reluctant. Using the three-treasure mill to make noodles cost nothing, but using the Qi brothers meant they had to give them food.

"You saved that bit of grain, but wore out the oxen. Are you going to make me ride them all the way to Guan Prefecture!" Yan Huaiwen particularly despised Yan Laoer's stingy ways.

"Our three treasures are in great shape. Pulling a cart is nothing," Old Second Yan muttered in rebuttal.

To be honest, Lao Yan speaks quite smoothly when he doesn't glare. But the moment his eyes widen, he seems inexplicably guilty.

"Everyone go back and tidy up. We've already milled the wheat at home, just wait for the villagers, we'll set off in a day or two." After Yan Huaiwen gave his instructions, he went back into the house.

Yan Xiang Heng came over and whispered, "Uncle, are we really leaving Why is it to the north"

"Didn't your father tell you" Yan Lao Er asked.

"Father said our crops won't grow with this drought, and he wants to lead everyone in the village north to Guan Prefecture. But Uncle, haven't we reached that point yet"

"You wait a moment and go draw some water, see if our village's old well has run dry!" Old Yan Er wouldn't dare oppose Old Yan. Whatever he said would have to be serious:

You're staying at the academy and haven't gone out, so you don't know what's happening in town. Those wealthy families have already left, and we're still here, foolishly clinging on. In another while, if things stay like this, with not a single drop of rain falling, just imagine what it will be like

Then, Yan Xiang Heng thought to himself, "In another while, it'll be time to pay the grain tax. Half of our wheat will have to go. If it doesn't rain... Oh no, Uncle! Father is going to take all the wheat to mill. What will we use to pay the tax then!"

Old Yan glared at him fiercely and muttered softly, "Nephew, please be quiet! You've wasted all your studying. How could you ask such a foolish question Didn't your father just tell us when we're leaving"

"These past few days..."

"Then why don't you hurry up and pack your things!"

"Huh Oh...oh!"

Yan Xiang Heng suddenly understood, patted his head and went back home to pack up.ees are too pitiful, Big Brother. Why don't we save them if we can!"As for these people we've saved, they insist on following us. Well, this is a bit of a hassle, but there are precedents to follow. W...