Chapter 92: Speak Out
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“If you don’t believe me, you don’t have to listen to me. You can also reject the items if Jiang Chuan and family manage to find stuff in the mountains.”
The village chief spoke rudely, not giving the woman any chance to talk back.
“Chief, what are you saying? What makes you so sure they will be able to bring things back? I will burn incense and pray to Buddha if they don’t get stuck in the mountain like the last time again. I don’t have high hopes they will be able to bring anything back.”
Mrs. Sun’s words instantly reminded everyone of the situation when the entire village went up the mountain to look for Jiang Chuan’s family. Their expressions became subtle. Looking for someone was a physical task. They did not want to travel so far for three or four people again.
The village chief’s face was livid with anger, but he had to admit that it was possible they might get stuck up there again.
“There’s no need for you to worry. My family has prepared many things to enter the mountains. If there are no accidents, we will return safely. If there really is an accident, there will be no way anyone can find us, so there is no need to trouble anyone.”
Suddenly, a voice interrupted, causing everyone’s expression to change. The person who spoke was Jiang Xia.
“Jiang Chuan, you’re here.” The village chief’s expression relaxed when he say Jiang Chuan and Jiang Xia.
“Where are Zhou Lan and Xiao Gu?” The village chief looked behind the two of them and continued to ask.
Jiang Chuan maintained his smile and said, “Zhou Lan took Xiao Gu with her to pack our stuff. We are going up the mountain early tomorrow morning.”
Jiang Chuan had been in the modern business world for many years, he did not care that people were talking behind his back. However, Jiang Xia was the opposite.
She wanted to use her ability to help others as she did not want things to end up the way they did in the history books. Perhaps she would change for mind for a while people of people like Madam Sun, but if she did not help the others, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
“Jiang Chuan, you have to consider this matter more!” the village chief said, really concerned about their safety.
Jiang Xia did not want to promise anything. After all, it was uncertain if they would bring anything back. The good news is that the higher-ups will be inspecting the countryside and that would make the village chief happy.
“Uncles and Aunties, although I’m young, I’ve heard a saying that people who don’t think far ahead will have immediate worries. You all work in the fields every day. Everyone knew what the situation was like this year. When you all saw the autumn harvest, did you all not calculate how much food we could get? We’re not in the city where you can get food once you have a job. Our food needs to be handed over, did anyone calculate how much we would have left?”.
Jiang Xia’s words instantly silenced the muttering crowd.
It wasn’t that they didn’t calculate it, it was that they did not dare. They were just ordinary farmers who didn’t know anything other than farming. Even if they knew that there was no food left, what could they do?
Their only hope was the country’s policies. They were hoping that after the autumn harvest, the higher-ups would see their situation and issue new policies. However, now that this layer of self-deception had been exposed by Jiang Xia, many people became afraid.
“You! If we can’t get food, there’s still the country’s relief food. We can apply for relief food, but we won’t starve to death.” Madam Sun shouted fiercely.
Jiang Xia sneered. “Auntie, are you suffering from selective amnesia? How did the two families from our neighboring village die last year?”
Then, Jiang Xia’s eyes looked like they were mocking Madam Sun, “Why do you think you can still be so arrogant now? Isn’t it because of the village chief’s kindness?”
“Little brat, what are you talking about? The two families in the neighboring village deserve their death. They are the ones who did not store enough food. No one will believe what you said.” Madam Sun continued.
Jiang Xia was extremely annoyed with this woman. “Storing up grain? The village head of the neighboring village had handed over three-quarters of their village’s grain for the sake of his good reputation. If they didn’t store up grain, what could they do? How do you think your family got all that food? Grandpa Chief was under pressure from the higher-ups and was criticized every time there was a meeting held..”