Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 210 - 209: Preparing to Stockpile Grain

Qin Yao wiped off the red paint on her face haphazardly with her palm and stood up to check the freshly sun-dried wheat.

Liu Dafu’s family had already sent someone to take away their rent portion, leaving more than eleven hundred pounds of wheat that still needed to be husked, some stored in grain bins and some in bamboo baskets.

The empty wheat stalks were piled on the flat ground at the entrance of the courtyard. Da Lang, after washing his face, walked over to Qin Yao and said:

"The village head has instructed us to take this year’s straw to the fields and burn it clean. No family is allowed to keep it. This is the directive from the Lord County Magistrate, who also assured everyone not to worry about this year’s pest threat. We should complete the spring plowing, and everything will be handled by the government."

"The Lord County Magistrate?" Qin Yao was a bit surprised.

Da Lang nodded and said, "The village head went to town early yesterday. It’s said that the Lord County Magistrate learned about the pest issue, went to town to assess the situation, and then the village head returned with these instructions."

This activity alleviated much of the farmers’ concerns about pests in Kaiyang County, allowing them to proceed with spring plowing with peace of mind.

Liu Ji heated the water, shouting to them in the kitchen to come over for face-washing and foot-washing.

Da Lang responded, and again asked Qin Yao, who seemed deep in thought, "Aunt Yao, is what the Lord County Magistrate said true? Don’t we need to worry?"

Qin Yao nodded in agreement, patting the young man’s shoulder, "Go wash up, you need to go to school tomorrow morning."

With her response, Da Lang’s mind was put at ease, and he gathered his playful siblings and went inside to wash up.

Before bed, Qin Yao pulled Liu Ji aside to check the siblings’ homework together, each responsible for two.

Liu Ji experienced the frustration of tutoring kids for the first time — because he found that he couldn’t even match one child’s intellect.

After stumping his father, Second Lang exclaimed with delight, "Dad, you couldn’t answer the questions Four Niang and I asked you, which means we’re smarter than you. Does that mean we can also pass the preliminary exam?"

Liu Ji glared at him, "Wishful thinking, you think the preliminary exam is easy to pass!"

Second Lang pursued, "Then tell us why the preliminary exam is difficult?"

Saying this, he spread out some paper, wanting Liu Ji to copy the preliminary exam questions so he could create a mock test to see just how challenging it was.

"Aren’t you tired?" Liu Ji asked in shock.

Second Lang shook his head, looking somewhat excited, "Not at all!"

Saying this, he had already prepared the ink stick, handed the brush to Liu Ji, eagerly waiting for him to write the questions.

Liu Ji was dumbfounded, just about to find an excuse to escape, when Qin Yao curiously looked over.

Liu Ji weakly said, "It’s too late today, how about writing it tomorrow? Writing at night is bad for the eyes..."

Before he could finish speaking, Si Niang came over with a candle holder, placing it firmly on the desk in front of Liu Ji, giving him a sweet smile, "Dad, I’ll light the lamp for you."

Suppressing her amusement, Qin Yao nodded toward Liu Ji, "Go ahead and write, I was just about to ask you to copy down the preliminary exam questions for Da Lang and them to do a mock test."

Liu Ji glanced at the sky outside the window, with the moon high above. If he didn’t go to sleep soon, he’d be risking it!

But in the face of the expectant gazes of his wife and four children, he could only sigh and pick up the pen to write the preliminary exam questions.

Fortunately, the questions weren’t long: one poem, two essays, completed in two quarters of an hour.

As soon as he finished writing, Liu Ji tossed the pen away, yawning as he got up and escaped into his little room, burying his head and sleeping.

Da Lang and Qin Yao exchanged a glance, mother and son both revealing a mischievous smile of victory.

Second Lang still wanted to do the test questions but was stopped by Qin Yao’s glare. The siblings restrained their excitement, calmed down, and went to bed.

Qin Yao extinguished the candle at the candlestick, closed their bedroom door, and returned to her own room, looking at the canopy above, faintly glowing in the night, unable to sleep.

People who have experienced multiple natural disasters tend to have a habit of stockpiling food.

Qin Yao had the same habit, though she hadn’t noticed any unusual environmental changes before. She followed the principle of living in the moment, rarely worrying.

This time, the pest issue seems to have little impact for now, and the County Magistrate personally inspecting the farms gave farmers immense confidence. But based on her years of experience, it was still wise to stock up on some grain.

Not only should she stock up, but she should also advise the Liu Family Village to prevent selling grain this year.

If possible, the village should collectively purchase grain at a lower bulk price and stockpile more.

Families severely affected by pests in the village are already borrowing grain from those with surplus, planning to repay with interest in the autumn.

As everyone belongs to the same clan, there’s no worry about usury, so it’s mainly borrowing rather than buying.

After staying in Liu Family Village for so long, Qin Yao is aware of its economic status—better than some, but lacking compared to others, with even poorer villages elsewhere.

If each were to stockpile individually, it would be difficult. Some families simply can’t afford even one cent.

But if managed by the clan, those who can’t afford anything can be considered.

Qin Yao’s intention wasn’t from benevolence; she came from an apocalyptic world and understands how crucial group cohesion is to defending a base.

After spring plowing, poorer families in the village would consume all the borrowed grain.

If similar situations arise across regions and villages, the famine issue might be hard to resolve.

If the government could open its warehouses timely to distribute relief grain, there wouldn’t be much of a problem.

However, Qin Yao doesn’t trust the local government agencies, she only trusts herself.

To prevent a situation where the government can’t release grain from the warehouses in time, she needs to prepare in advance to reduce risks.

Thinking this through, Qin Yao became more determined to stockpile grain.

The next day, after sending the kids to school, she immediately called Liu Ji from burning wheat straw in the field.

"Where are we going?" Liu Ji was a bit confused.

Qin Yao: "To see the village head and Clan Leader."

Liu Ji’s heart skipped a beat, "Why see them?" It sounded like there was something big.

Qin Yao briefly explained her idea to stockpile food and her distrust of the government to him. Liu Ji’s heart tightened suddenly, "Didn’t you say earlier there was nothing to worry about?"

Qin Yao nodded but then said, "Better safe than sorry."

"Right now the grain prices are affordable, later you might not be able to buy even if you want to."

This statement made Liu Ji a bit scared, "Really?"

Qin Yao urged him to hurry and not dawdle, "Consider it as spending money for peace of mind, alright?"

Liu Ji nodded, of course, it was fine, "But you can just discuss this yourself, isn’t calling me a bit unnecessary? The straw in the field hasn’t been fully burned yet."

Qin Yao thought for a moment and agreed, "Then you go back, I’ll do it myself."

Liu Ji: "Forget it, let’s go together, I can also help out, those two old fellows might not be willing to bother with this."

Qin Yao was surprised and glanced back at him, Liu Ji defensively asked, "What’s wrong?!"

"When did you become so considerate, Liu Laosan?" Qin Yao looked him up and down, marveling.

Liu Ji grinned and asked, "Are you praising me or insulting me?"

Qin Yao chuckled, but didn’t answer.

The couple headed to the village head’s house first, only to find it empty.