In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 215 Choice

"This brother."

Zhang He glanced at Liu Qiaoshou and said, "If you are a craftsman, I suggest you follow Chen Dao. Working for the government will at most only allow you to have enough to eat, but working for Chen Dao will be much more than just having enough to eat!"

Zhang He knew very well that working on the farm with the government officials would at most only ensure his family had enough to eat, but following Chen Daogan might give him the chance to become a villager of Chenjia Village...

Zhang He, who had visited Chenjia Village once, knew all too well how amazing the status of the villagers was. Not only could they eat white flour steamed buns every meal, but they also received money every month. This was an opportunity that people from other villages, and even people in the county town, could only dream of.

"I understand! Thank you, Brother Zhang."

Liu Qiaoshou thanked her, a determined glint in her eyes, clearly indicating that she had made up her mind.

After taking the bowl full of porridge home to feed his wife and children, Liu Qiaoshou quickly returned to the city gate to queue up for registration.

"Name, place of origin, number of family members, and job you'd like to do?"

He Jian, who was in charge of registration, asked without looking up.

“My name is Liu Qiaoshou. I come from Liangshan County in Liangzhou. I have a wife and two children at home.”

Liu Qiaoshou replied, "I want to follow Chen Dao and do the work of a craftsman."

"Oh?"

He Jian looked up and glanced at Liu Qiaoshou in surprise. He had registered no fewer than several hundred refugees, and Liu Qiaoshou was the only one among these hundreds who was thinking of working with Chen Dao.

He Jian actually knew in his heart that following Chen Daogan was the best choice for these refugees. However, he couldn't tell them this, lest the unskilled craftsmen feel resentful.

Besides, it would be useless to say anything; compared to Chen Dao, the refugees were more willing to believe the government.

Are you sure you want to do this craftsman's work?

He Jian couldn't help but ask.

"determine."

Liu Qiaoshou nodded without hesitation. He was a decisive person. Just as he had made the decisive choice to take his family to escape when they were in trouble, he had now made up his mind and also made the decisive choice to work with Chen Dao.

"to make!"

He Jian nodded, wrote something in the register, and said, "That's fine! Just come over tomorrow morning and follow Chen Dao."

After saying that, He Jian added, "Remember to bring your family."

"I understand."

Liu Qiaoshou nodded to indicate that she understood, and then turned and walked home.

When he returned home, he found that Wang Ling had already returned and was sitting in the house.

Upon seeing Liu Qiaoshou return, Wang Ling hurriedly asked, "Qiaoshou, what did you choose?"

"I chose that little Chen boy."

Liu Qiaoshou replied, "I thought that the carpentry skills should not be lost, so I thought of doing the work of that little Chen boy."

"Confused!"

Wang Ling immediately said with great distress, "Qiaoshou, you're so foolish! That young man surnamed Chen is so young, who knows if he's capable? If you marry him, what if you can't even get enough to eat? Are you going to let your wife and child go hungry?"

After saying that, Wang Ling stepped forward, grabbed Liu Qiaoshou, and dragged her outside, saying, "Qiaoshou, come back with me quickly and find the officer in charge of registration to change it back!"

"no need!"

Liu Qiaoshou didn't budge an inch. "Old Wang, I've made up my mind! I won't change it!"

"You're so foolish, so incredibly foolish!"

Seeing that Liu Qiaoshou was unwilling to change her choice, Wang Ling stamped his feet anxiously, but he couldn't do anything about it. He could only look at Qi Hua and say, "Sister-in-law, you should quickly persuade Qiaoshou. We can't let him continue to be so confused."

"I believe in skillful hands!"

Qi Hua smiled and said, "Since Qiaoshou made this choice, he must have his reasons."

"..."

Wang Ling sighed helplessly and said, "Forget it! I won't try to persuade you anymore. If you ever have trouble making ends meet, Qiaoshou, you can come to me. I can at least help you out."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qiaoshou was moved: "Thank you, Lao Wang! But I've already inquired, and that kid surnamed Chen is indeed a trustworthy person. He shouldn't let us suffer any losses."

"Let's do it!"

Wang Ling waved his hand and said, "Then let's leave it at that! Anyway, I can't persuade you."

Soon, Wang Ling stopped dwelling on the matter. In any case, they finally saw hope of having enough to eat, which was much better than being starving before.

…………

…………

Fuhu Boxing Gym.

Xu Zhiwen, who had returned to the backyard of the boxing gym, took out a letter from the inner layer of his official robe and handed it to Chen Dao: "Young friend Chen, this is a reply from Li Qingyun, the magistrate of Ding'an County. Take a look."

Chen Dao took the letter, pulled out the paper inside, and quickly scanned it, his brows gradually furrowing.

He had assumed that with Xu Zhiwen's help as a friend of Li Qingyun in Ding'an County, obtaining the Fire Pattern Fruit shouldn't be too difficult. However, the contents of the letter clearly told Chen Dao that even though Li Qingyun was the magistrate of Ding'an County, he couldn't control where the Fire Pattern Fruit went.

Because... the Fire Pattern Fruit Trees in Ding'an County are controlled by the Sun family, the largest clan in Ding'an County, and the Fire Pattern Fruits produced there are entirely under the control of the Sun family. It's not up to Li Qingyun to make any decisions!

The Xia Kingdom's court's control over its subordinates is truly... a complete mess!

Chen Dao sighed inwardly. The situation Xu Zhiwen and Li Qingyun faced showed just how poor the Xia Kingdom's control over the lower classes was. Whether it was Taiping County or Ding'an County, the powerful families within the county were in charge. If the county magistrate didn't make peace with them, he would be sidelined and become a figurehead...

Xu Zhiwen, the county magistrate who had martial prowess, was somewhat better off, as he could still find a way to seize power. But Li Qingyun, a scholar without martial prowess, could only lie low.

In this letter, Li Qingyun also complained to Xu Zhiwen about his situation, saying that he was just a county magistrate in name only and had no ability to command anyone in the county government.

"Young friend, you've seen it too!"

Xu Zhiwen shrugged and said, "The situation in Ding'an County is even worse than in Taiping County. Although my good friend Li Qingyun is the county magistrate, he has no real power. The Fire Pattern Fruit Tree is also controlled by the Sun family. Therefore, I'm afraid I am powerless to help with the Fire Pattern Fruit!"

Xu Zhiwen never expected that the situation in Ding'an County would be so bad. Even the Fire Pattern Fruit, which was listed as a tribute, was controlled by the local powerful families, while Li Qingyun, the county magistrate appointed by the imperial court, could only stay in his mansion all day, becoming an idle person...

Xu Zhiwen couldn't help but think of his past self, who, like Li Qingyun, had been sidelined by the three major families of Taiping County. But fortunately...

With his martial arts skills and the help of Li Hu and Chen Dao, he joined forces to eliminate the Zhu and Yuan families and regain control of Taiping County.

And Li Qingyun...

Xu Zhiwen knew his friend Li Qingyun quite well. Li Qingyun possessed the pride of a scholar and harbored ambitions to govern a region.

Unfortunately……

Given the current situation where the Xia Dynasty's authority is gradually being lost, there is really only so much that a mere scholar can do!

The current situation in Ding'an County is the best proof of this.