Zhao Qingfeng was stunned for a moment. When he grasped the implication of her words, his face instantly flushed bright red.
He left only a fleeing back view.
Ye Zhinan couldn't hold it back and lowered her head, covering her face to snicker.
"I actually think Qingfeng is a good lad. He's someone one can rely on," Han Xiangmei said, nudging Ye Zhinan with her elbow, eager to hear her opinion.
She scratched her forehead awkwardly and replied helplessly, "Mother, for now, it's most important to ensure our own safety. We need to discuss other matters slowly."
She casually brought up another topic to divert the conversation.
Zhao Qingfeng used to be a decent person. Even though she had stayed in the boudoir for a long time, she had heard of him.
As long as people in the capital mentioned him, everyone would praise and compliment him.
But that was past glory.
Working in the mines was tiring, life was tough, and there seemed no end to the hardships.
Without the protection of his family and a promising future, no one could predict how a person would change.
Moreover, her heart was set on other things. She was determined to seek justice for the Ye family.
...
When Ye Zhinan arrived at the fields, she noticed many people gathered around, watching the commotion.
She never liked getting involved in such things. She just carried her hoe and focused on her own work.
"Who touched my land?"
Looking at the pulled - out corn in front of her, an unknown fire flared up in her heart.
Everyone was struggling to make a living through hard work. How could they use such despicable means to disgust each other?
Her corn was the best - growing in the whole field. Even Sister Hong said she had a bit of a talent for farming.
But overnight, it had turned into wasteland. She couldn't accept it!
"What are you shouting about? Everyone's crops have been damaged," a woman in the crowd snapped. She turned sideways to show the crops behind her.
Those crops had been burned. The stalks had turned to ash, and only the charred roots stubbornly poked out.
"Do you know who did this?"
"They said it was the bandits from the mountains. They cause trouble every few years, just to give the government a hard time."
Ye Zhinan's eyelids twitched, and she was momentarily speechless.
She didn't know if the bandits were too arrogant or the government was too useless.
"Did the constables come up with a solution?"
Ye Zhinan looked around and only then noticed that there were no constables in sight.
Such a big incident had occurred. Logically, they should have come to check the situation. Why were they absent?
"They just said for us to reclaim the land and hand in the grain by the end of the year. Otherwise, we'll all be punished."
Ye Zhinan frowned tightly. She had expected the government to stay out of it, but she hadn't anticipated them being so shameless.
With just a threat, they had swept aside all the problems and wanted to be irresponsible. Their calculations were too good.
"No, we have to get an explanation," the leading woman said, rolling up her sleeves and grabbing her hoe, ready to go to the government office. But before she could take a step, Ye Zhinan grabbed her.
"Going to argue now, the government probably won't be able to do anything. The grain has to be handed in, and we also need to vent our anger, but being impulsive won't solve the problem. We need to plan carefully."
Half of the taxes paid in the entire northern border came from the grain they grew. With such a large shortfall, she didn't believe the prefect could sit still.
The higher - ups hadn't said anything yet. Why were they in such a hurry?
"Do you have a way?"
Ye Zhinan sat on the ground and shook her head. She had no solution, but her attitude was very calm.
"The constables want to force us to find a way. We just won't let them have their way."
"But if we're punished..."
"The people in our several households add up to a hundred or so. If every family is punished, it'll be hard for the higher - ups to explain."
She had accurately guessed the constables' thoughts. They didn't want to do anything themselves and just threatened them.
But they had forgotten that they were also in a precarious position and had their own weaknesses.
This vast northern border was not an impregnable fortress. As long as there was any news, it would eventually leak out.
Everyone calmed down and stared at this seemingly delicate woman in front of them.
"Then what do you think we should do now?"
Ye Zhinan stood up from the ground, patted the dust off her body, and her gaze was firm.
"Just do as they said. Pull out all the burned crops and plant new ones."
She clearly saw the light in everyone's eyes dim a bit, but they still picked up their hoes and got back to work.
She stroked the cornstalk beside her, and a solution gradually formed in her mind.
Not far away, Qin Yihuai stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed intently on Ye Zhinan, who was standing upright.
"Our information came too late. The supervisor's men got there first," Chen Zhenhai said with a gloomy face, looking at the burned crops around him with heartache.
Half a year's hard work had been burned to nothing. The days ahead would probably be very difficult.
"The bandits in the mountains have become more and more arrogant in recent years. They've figured out that there's corruption in our county, so they keep causing trouble," Chen Zhenhai grumbled, completely oblivious to the reaction of the person beside him.
Qin Yihuai's fist suddenly tightened at his side, the veins bulging. He was trying his best to suppress his anger.
He had thought about pacifying the mountain bandits, but unfortunately, he was just a low - ranking official. Even if he proposed something, it would be like a stone sinking into the sea, without any effect.
"Distribute new seeds to them. When we get back, carefully inventory the grain we've stored and see how much is still usable."
He had been a patrol officer for three or four years. Every now and then, he would encounter the situation of bandits burning the grain.
Over time, he had gained experience. Every year, he would save the surplus grain for emergencies.
Even old rice could maintain its quality if properly stored. Ordinary people couldn't tell the difference. It would be more than enough to deal with the tax officials.
"The grain we've saved is indeed enough, but if something like that year happens again..."
"No, with her here, it definitely won't happen."
Chen Zhenhai scratched his head, not understanding the meaning behind Qin Yihuai's words.
But he noticed that Qin Yihuai had been in a good mood recently, and there was a light in his eyes.
It was very different from his former lifeless appearance.
"You've changed a lot," Chen Zhenhai couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. Let's go back and check the inventory."
He regretted talking too much and quickly changed the topic, pulling Qin Yihuai back.
...
Ye Zhinan collected the unburned stalks and the plant ash on the ground. She hugged them like treasures and took them home.
When Han Xiangmei saw her dirty and disheveled appearance, her eyebrows instantly knitted together. She picked up a broom and started hitting her.
"People who don't know might think you've been out scavenging. As a young girl, don't you know how to be clean?"
Ye Zhinan waved her hand. Plant ash was excellent fertilizer. Her mother didn't cherish it and even disliked her.
She proudly opened the bundle in her arms. The dust billowed up, making both of them cough.
"Cough... I'll have to trouble you to store the plant ash properly. It'll come in useful later."