Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
By the time it would be discovered before the planting, it would be too late.
There was a large amount of seeds prepared for more than 300 mu fields, and it was not very easy to make up for the loss.
If the Zhao Family managed to successfully implement the trick and ruined the fields with the bad seeds, the whole plan for spring plow would be ruined.
But Ding Erzhu had a habit of walking around and checking things, so he happened to catch the two tenants.
That was such a huge crime they were committing!
Ding Erzhu directly sent his men to fetch Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan.
Hearing the shocking news, Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan came to the Zhang Village directly.
The two tenants could not be kept any more,
They had committed a big blunder, and Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan would reclaim the fields from the tenants. It was already kind enough for the couple not to send them to the governmental office.
Spring plow was not only important for all households, but also a very important affair for the court. All civilians needed to eat, and a good production was what a country needed to ensure.
There would be chaos and rebellion if civilians could not be fed.
So, seeds and bulls were very important things.
It was forbidden to kill bulls meant for plowing, even though the bulls were raised by the family themselves. Else, they would be fined and cast into prison.
Same was true about the seeds. Anyone who intentionally ruined the seeds would be considered to have committed the same crime.
But the tenants' family were not aware of this. They cried and begged forgiveness.
Qiao Xuan asked Lin Mian's family to help them out. She could not bear to see the scene, but her mind would not change because of this.
Their family might be innocent. But that did not matter right now.
Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan would not keep them since they committed such a crime.
They needed to set an example for the rest, to build their reputation.
Shao Yunduan did not have much time for this, since he needed to work on his exam preparation.
When the family members were taken out, Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan let the tenants stay. Ding Erzhu was asked to remain and watch as well.
"Who told you to do so?"
Ding Erzhu was startled when he heard Shao Yunduan's question.
He had not thought about this. He had assumed that it was just an off-hand mischief.
The two tenants were frightened as well. They lowered their heads and remained silent.
Shao Yunduan brought out two notes of 10 liang each.
"Tell us the truth, and you will get 20 liang each and be allowed to leave the county with your family. Otherwise you get nothing. You failed in implementing the plan. Do you think that the person behind would give you what they promised you?"
Qiao Xuan added. "We more or less understand who is behind this. But we just need confirmation. You don't have to tell if you don't want to."
The two tenants got swayed and committed the crime. But they got caught. They were so distressed by this. So, they could not stand it any more, hearing what Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan said.
What they did would spread out soon and they would not be able to be hired by anyone. So, leaving the county was probably the only way out.
They could leave with or without the 20 liang. That depended on them.
One of them said, "Housekeeper of the Zhao Family came to me. They promised us 20 liang and low rent for their fields…"
The housekeeper was not worried that what they did would be exposed one day.
Qiao Xuan was just a concubine's daughter whom Officer Qiao and Madame Qiao never cared about. The Shao Family were just a countryside family whom the Zhao Family did not need to worry about either..