Chapter 1156: Officials can be trusted, sows can climb trees
When the people heard that they could buy bird droppings from the government office, their eyes widened.
When did the government sell bird droppings? How come they didn't know about it?
Even though they are just ordinary people, they have many relatives in the government. If there is bird droppings for sale in the government, they would have received the information long ago, not to mention making the headlines in Yuanlu.
One of the ladies asked doubtfully, "Sir, when will the yamen sell bird droppings? Why haven't we seen any?"
Her son-in-law works as a runner in the county government. If there was one, he would have used it long ago.
There is no need to watch Lord Sun’s bumper harvest like we are doing now.
Sun Shan smiled gently and said charmingly, "It didn't happen before, but it will happen next year."
This statement aroused suspicion among the onlookers. Why will it be available only next year? Shouldn’t they say it is available now?
Lord Sun acts so mysterious, which makes people suspicious.
Sun Shan pointed to the sacks of guano and said, "There will definitely be guano for the spring plough next year. You can come to the government office and buy it directly. If not, where did I get my guano from? Fellow villagers, don't worry, you will definitely be able to use the guano next year."
After a pause, he continued, "Look at the rice here. Isn't it growing well? If you use bird droppings next year, I guarantee you can harvest a few more buckets of rice."
Everyone looked at Sun Shan, he looked quite sincere, so he must be telling the truth, right?
As an official, he wouldn't lie to them, right?
However, since officials have two mouths, it is possible for them to lie.
Officials’ words can be trusted, and even sows can climb trees.
Everyone was still skeptical. Unless they actually used the bird droppings and had a real bumper harvest, they couldn't believe what Sun Shan said.
Sun Shan was not in a hurry and said with a smile: "The rice will be ripe in a few days. Then everyone can come and see whether the rice grown with guano can really yield a few more buckets of rice."
Then he still maintained a gentle attitude and said: "Fellow villagers, when the millet turns yellow, I will notify everyone to come and witness it."
Everyone looked at the paddy field and then at Sun Shan. In fact, they didn't need to come over to witness it. They probably knew that this rice field grown with bird droppings would have a good harvest.
It’s not that they don’t believe that the rice yield is high, but they don’t believe that the government office has bird droppings for sale.
One of the elderly people stood up and asked, "Mr. Magistrate, are these bird droppings expensive? If they are too expensive, we can't afford them."
Whether or not you believe that there is bird droppings in the government office is one thing, but whether you can afford to use the bird droppings is another.
Even if there is bird droppings, the price is too high and they can't afford it.
Sun Shan looked at the old man approvingly and thought it was a good question.
He smiled and said, "Don't worry, old man. As long as you are from Yuanlu, you can definitely afford it. Even if you are penniless, you can buy on credit. Use it first, and after the grain is harvested, you can use the grain to pay off the debt or sell the grain and pay it back.
"After a pause, he continued, "Old man, I am the parent official of Yuanlu. If the people of Yuanlu can't afford the bird droppings sold by the government office, what kind of parent official am I?"
Then he turned around, looked at the crowd seriously, and said in a resounding voice: "We have a saying in Guangnan. If an official does not care about the people, he might as well go home and grow sweet potatoes. I am fortunate to be the magistrate of Yuanlu, and I will definitely serve the people of Yuanlu well. I solemnly promise here that as long as you are from Yuanlu, you can definitely afford guano."
Such powerful words were spoken so sonorously that the onlookers could not help but be stunned.
How could this ugly, short, thin and weak county magistrate in front of me look so majestic?
Why does it feel like there's a flash of golden light behind him, as if it's going to blind his eyes?
County Magistrate Wang, who was standing behind Sun Shan, was also stunned.
This Mr. Sun is so ambitious. Is he too young or just a fool?
County Magistrate Wang has been the second-in-command for so long, but this is the first time he has encountered such a top leader.
Why do I vaguely feel that Yuanlu will be different?
County Magistrate Wang didn’t know whether things would get better or worse, but in any case, Yuanlu was about to change.
The crowd was stunned for a moment.
Suddenly, an old lady plucked up the courage to ask, "Mr. Magistrate, what do you mean by buying on credit?"
Seeing the essence through the phenomenon, the aunt quickly grasped the key to the problem.
She didn't believe those glamorous words that officials said.
When everyone heard this question, they instantly came to their senses, and the light behind Sun Shan also disappeared.
Yes, Lord Sun only said that they could afford it, but he didn't say it would be free for them.
He also said that he was poor and couldn't afford it, so he could buy it on credit.
The so-called credit means that it must be repaid, which also means that the bird droppings need to be paid for.
Also, would buying things on credit be a loan sharking affair where nine out of ten people pay back the money?
Emma, I was almost knocked unconscious by Mr. Sun’s sweet words, luckily there were still sober people in the group.
The onlookers kept asking, "Mr. Magistrate, what's the matter with buying on credit? It turns out that it's not free for us to use. Emma, I almost got cheated by you."
Everyone looked at Sun Shan with condemnation.
Sun Shan: ...
The people of Yuanlu are not only gossipy, but also fantasize.
I can even think of doing it for free, probably because I’m too easy to talk to.
The Sun family guards were so angry that they really wanted to yell at him.
They don’t have to dig out the guano? They don’t have to process the guano? They don’t have to move it around? How can they say it’s free?
It’s a pity that the Sun family guards don’t understand the local dialect very well, otherwise they would have started cursing.
County Magistrate Wang looked at Sun Shan as if he were watching a play, and then looked at the onlookers.
Hehe, this Lord Sun is still a little naive. If it were him, he would have ordered his servants to curse and maybe even beat with a stick.
As an official, there is no need for you to say too much to the common people. It’s up to you if you want to use me or not.
If the people of Yuanlu don't buy it, the neighboring counties will definitely buy it. Humph, I don't believe that the guano that makes the rice harvest good can't be sold!
This was Sun Shan's first time as an official. He lacked experience in dealing with the masses and wanted to take a people-friendly approach and speak softly. However, it seems that sometimes one cannot be too people-friendly, otherwise it would be inappropriate.
Sun Shan couldn't get angry, so he had to explain patiently: "Fellow villagers, bird droppings must be made manually. If it's free, who will pay for it?"
After a pause, he continued, "These bird droppings are not free, but don't worry, they are definitely very cheap. Anyone from Yuanlu can definitely afford them.
"Then he continued, "Fellow villagers, I'm informing you today that the government office will sell bird droppings next year. The government office will issue a notice and let the head of the village inform you of the specific price and how to sell it. Don't worry, you can buy on credit even if you don't have money. And I guarantee you can pay back the money for the bird droppings on credit."
The onlookers wanted to continue asking questions.
Sun Shan looked at the time and felt that it was getting late, so he had to go back to the government office.
Then he said, "Everyone, the government will summon the head of the village to the council in a few days. If you have any questions, go to the head of the village."
After saying this, Sun Shan, without even looking back, hurriedly climbed onto the carriage and ran away surrounded by his guards.
The crowd was too noisy and he didn't want to face ten thousand whys.