Chapter 487: The majority decided to sign the agreement (1)

A Blessed Daughter

Translator : Virichime

This translation made by Moonlight Teatime.

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As for the yield of the late rice seeds, Wei Ruo did not mention it for now. If she told the villagers at this point, they might not believe her and would only assume it was a sales pitch to promote her late rice seeds.

Hearing Wei Ruo’s proposal, the few men immediately fell silent.

Because this plan was far more feasible for them. They wouldn’t need to pay money right away, and it would solve their immediate problem.

Exchanging five jin of rice in the future for one jin of rice seeds now was a worthwhile deal.

While they were still hesitating, more villagers who had heard the news hurried over from behind.

Xiumei explained the sales terms for the late rice seeds to the newly arrived villagers, and soon someone called out that they wanted to sign.

Once one person spoke up, those who were still wavering immediately followed, “I’ll sign too! I’ll sign!”

Everyone began scrambling to sign their names, afraid that if they were too late, the rice seeds would all be taken and none would be left for them.

They all knew that many farming households had been affected this time, and no one was sure whether Young Master Xu had enough rice seeds to distribute. It was better to come early and secure the seeds in hand.

Wei Ruo told everyone not to rush and to line up properly. Once the County Yamen arrived, they could begin signing.

*County Yamen is the county authorities

The disaster-stricken villages were all located near Taizhou Prefecture and, administratively, belonged to Xianlin County. Therefore, Wei Ruo had invited the County Yamen of Xianlin County to serve as a witness.

When the County Yamen of Xianlin heard that Wei Ruo was providing late rice seeds to the common people, they responded very enthusiastically and agreed to her request without hesitation.

The disease affecting the seedlings had been troubling the county office. From the Magistrate to the County Yamen, all were deeply worried—afraid it would affect their political performance and that they would be held accountable by the Prefect.

Although Wei Ruo’s action was a business venture, it was also a practical solution to the problems facing Xianlin County.

After the County Yamen arrived, not only did Wei Ruo gain an additional layer of assurance, but the villagers also felt more at ease. With an official witness present, they no longer feared that Xu Heyou would deceive them.

The sale continued until dusk before finally ending.

Most of the villagers chose to sign a written agreement, promising to repay five times the amount of rice at the autumn harvest. Only a small portion paid in cash on the spot.

All the rice seeds Wei Ruo had prepared in an entire warehouse were sold out, exchanged for a whole chest of signed contracts.

Chief Yamen Wu of Xianlin County said to Wei Ruo with great delight, “Young Master Xu truly has a benevolent heart for the people.”

“You flatter me, Lord Wu. I’m merely a businessman,” Wei Ruo replied.

“Not at all, not at all. If you were truly just a businessman, Young Master Xu could have simply sold for cash and left it at that. There would have been no need for a second option—especially when the second method is far more troublesome than the first,” Chief Yamen Wu commented.

Wei Ruo smiled. She did not deny this. But she also knew that without providing the second option, many villagers would be forced to give up purchasing the seeds due to concerns or financial limitations.

This arrangement was beneficial—not only for herself, but also for the farmers afflicted by the seedling disease, and even for agriculture in Taizhou Prefecture as a whole.

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Two days later, A Gui drove an ox cart loaded with sweet potato vines to the gates of Wei Ruo’s estate.

This year’s cuttings had been mainly grown on Xiaoyang Mountain. Once the vines had matured, A Gui was responsible for transporting them over.

While the workers at the estate unloaded the cart, A Gui reported to Wei Ruo about the situation at Xiaoyang Mountain.

“Miss, the vines are growing very well this year—more than enough! Almost all of Xiaoyang Mountain has been planted, and there are still several mu of vines left unharvested,” A Gui reported.

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