The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

After Xia Mianwan returned to Yanzhou City, he went to the government office first. The deed needed to be registered, and so did the people. This time, Xia Mianwan met Zhao Erhu again.

"Master Zhao, you haven't returned to the capital yet?"

Zhao Erhu led the way somewhat helplessly, "I think we have to stay here for a while. Yanzhou City is in ruins and we really don't have enough manpower..."

Speaking of this, Zhao Erhu couldn't help but shed tears. He thought that after helping to quell the rebellion, he would be promoted. However, he knew that there were not enough people in the prefectures, and many of them who were working in the capital were assigned to the prefectures.

Originally, it would have been enough to pick and choose, but the rebellion had just been quelled, and the useless people in the various states were not brought back to the central government, which would only lead to more troubles in the future.

Therefore, the emperor could only frown and select a group of his own people from here and there and release them to various provinces.

Xia Mianwan followed Zhao Erhu to register, and she could always smell a faint sour smell.

There weren't many people registering yet, so Xia Mianwan registered quickly. I just heard from Zhao Erhu that Xia Mianwan was the first group of people to move into the city, and there weren't many people, probably only a few hundred. The second group of residents would move in five days later. I didn't expect my luck to be so good, and I was the first group to arrive.

"Okay, Madam Xia, you can go back now."

Xia Mianwan bowed and said, "Thank you, Lord Zhao."

Yu Jie'er and Chen Ge'er were already waiting at home with Xiao Wu. Xia Mianwan came out of the government office and walked along the street. Once upon a time, the prosperous and bustling Yanzhou City had become a desolate place.

Changshui Street was empty, with only a few people walking by occasionally.

None of the shops on either side were open.

At this time, a man in a black gown walked by with his entourage. Xia Mianwan took the entourage's words to heart.

"It's hard for a good cook to cook without rice. No matter how great your skills are, you can't use them without people!"

Given the current situation in Yanzhou City, if we want to do business again, we should start with people's livelihood, and we can no longer buy jewelry.

Gold is valuable in troubled times, antiques are valuable in prosperous times; this is an eternal truth.

Xia Mianwan walked and thought, and soon arrived home. Xiuxiu was cleaning the house with Chen Ge'er and Yu Jie'er.

"Xiu Xiu, why are you here? Have you settled your home?" Xia Mianwan rolled up his sleeves and started to pack up.

Xiaowu, Xiaoqi and Xiuxiu registered as one household with their three children, and the house was next to Zhou's. Zhou's house was also very close to Xia Mianwan's house, just a few steps away.

"I've settled down. My brother Xiaowu is helping to repair the house." Xiuxiu said with a smile.

Xia Mianwan thought that she had just returned to the city and didn't see any vegetable stalls except the grain shop, so she quickly went into the kitchen and steamed a tray of buns in the steamer.

When Xiuxiu left, Xia Mianwan asked Xiuxiu to take it back with her so that they could share it.

Xiuxiu didn't hesitate and thanked him with a smile.

After a busy whole day, Xia Mianwan was exhausted. Fortunately, the two children were a little older now and could help her a little, otherwise she would have been very busy.

……

The next day.

Maybe it was because of the daily routine in the valley that I woke up early from my summer hibernation.

There is no firewood in the kitchen. There is no one selling firewood in Yanzhou City now. Xia Mianwan can take out a little bit of everything in the supermarket space, but this firewood... there is really no one.

"Sister Xia, Sister Xia."

When Xia Mianwan opened the gate, she saw Xiaowu and Xiaoqi standing at the door, each carrying a load of firewood. She hurriedly let them in.

"You've gone out of town to chop firewood so soon?" Xia Mianwan was surprised. This was too thoughtful.

Xiao Wu put down the firewood and said, "No one has returned from Yanzhou City yet. I just met officials beating drums and gongs on the road to talk about the new policies of Yanzhou City. However, there were not many people on the streets and official roads, so I don't know if anyone can hear it."

Xiaowu was also a little worried. There was no one left in Yanzhou City, and he had no way to find a job or do business.

Xia Mianwan's eyes lit up and he thought of something.

"Xiao Wu, don't worry. Yanzhou City has been a land of fish and rice since ancient times. Even if not many original residents can return, many people will choose to move in. I see that people have moved into Changshui Lane one after another." But... many of those who moved in are no longer the original residents.

After Xiaowu bent over and stacked the firewood, he went to the well to fetch a bucket of water. The well had not been used for some time, so he needed to fetch a few more buckets in the next two days.

"Sister Xia, I have already filled the water for your water tank. If you need anything else, just let me know." Xiao Wu said and was about to leave.

Xia Mianwan quickly stopped them and asked, "Have Huzi and the others settled down in the village?"

"almost."

Xiaowu thought about it and told Xia Mianwan about the situation in the village.

Hu Zi and his group had many people and settled down early, so the government was very happy about it and arranged for them to live in Shanghuo Village, which was closest to Yanzhou City. None of the original villagers returned. At that time, Shanghuo Village was close to the city and the resistance was fierce. The village was burned down by Huang Lin's army.

Now Hu Zi and his group were arranged to live in an unused house on the outskirts of the city.

The government is now recruiting people to build houses in the village. Xiaohu and his group all went to work. The government provides three meals a day, and they will be given some silver if they complete the task ahead of schedule.

"Sister Xia, I also plan to go to work. The city residents have the same working conditions." Xiaowu asked Xia Mianwan for his opinion.

"Yanzhou City is so short of people right now, it would be great if you could go and contribute, but I have another idea, and I wonder if you would like to hear what I have to say." Xia Mianwan asked.

Xiao Wu looked at Xia Mianwan happily, "Sister Xia, I will listen to whatever you say."

"The government is recruiting workers to build houses. On the one hand, there is a real shortage of people to build houses. Only when the housing is solved can spring ploughing be carried out quickly. On the other hand, the villagers who choose to live in the village are mostly farmers with no foundation. The government provides them with a job. At least these people will not starve to death, and they can also devote themselves to spring ploughing as quickly as possible. In fact, rice in Yanzhou can be planted twice a year. Only by ensuring spring ploughing can Yanzhou City really come alive. And the population flowing into Yanzhou City can be stabilized to the greatest extent. This job is doable, but I don't recommend that you all do it."

"Then what should we do?" Xiaowu asked.

"Just wait for three days. It won't be too long. The news about spring ploughing will surely come out. The government is short of manpower, so it will definitely need to recruit a group of people for spring ploughing. Most of the grain provided by the government now is paid by the wealthy families in Yanzhou City who escaped the disaster. After all, the grain is limited. Some people in the city will come back by then, and how they will make a living will be another problem. We will hand over some of the grain we pulled down from the mountain to the government after the news of spring ploughing is released, and then we can continue to do the donkey cart business!" Xia Mianwan said with a smile.

"Donkey cart buying and selling?!" Xiaowu and Xiaoqi looked at Xia Mianwan excitedly.

Xia Mianwan nodded firmly. "Yes, regarding the donkey cart sale, I will tell you the specific rules after the spring ploughing announcement. There are still many details I need to consider."

Xiaowu and Xiaoqi went home happily. It turned out to be the right thing to follow Sister Xia, they thought secretly.