The 45th year of Jiajing was not a peaceful year.

Although the heavy rainstorm in the capital stopped, the heavy rains in Huguang and Xiangyang areas continued day and night, and there was even heavy rain and hail that never happened in a century in Chuzhou, Nanzhili. This heavy rain and hail destroyed the people, and countless casualties were killed and injured, accompanied by thunder.

In Chuzhou area, this sudden disaster destroyed not only houses, people and animals, but also crops growing in the field. Seeing the harvest of spring sowing is imminent, the crops instantly turned into swamps and paddy fields, which makes people really cry

tear.

As the moral bottom line of decline in later generations was different, the people of this era usually talked about face and not eating food given by pity has always been the norm for many people.

If the disaster comes, the first thing they do is to eat their own stored grain. Only after the stored grain will they borrow from their neighbors and relatives. If they cannot borrow it, they will choose sellers to find a way out with the land.

Only when the family really has no choice but to sell, will they give up their last little dignity and beg for charity from those big families in order to survive the disaster.

This time point of heavy rain and hail that has never happened in a century is very hurtful. The food is usually when every household has no food until May, which undoubtedly makes things worse.

Many people have very little left in their stock, and most of the neighbors and relatives are in the same situation. Everyone has to take out the last bit of food to buy, or sell the last land at a low price to seek a way out.

Five thousand years of history have long proved that disasters are ruthless, and people's hearts are even more ruthless.

Originally, the price of rice was only three or four cents per stone, but it only increased ten times more, which made many people complain. Even if they sold all their land, they might not be able to survive the disaster safely.

However, this has long been a common phenomenon in the Ming Dynasty: every disaster is a feast for the rich, many people become proletarians or refugees, while the land of powerful people and landlords is increasing.

Chuzhou, the Hu family in An County is the most prominent now.

The Hu family is a famous local charity home. When the disaster comes, the sheds are set up in the small square in front of his home to prepare porridge. More and more refugees come to beg for alms.

As the Hu family became more and more prominent, the porridge sheds in An County Government were usually located here over the years.

This move to An County Magistrate to please the Hu family made many people mistakenly think that the porridge that the government gave was also from the Hu family, and they praised the Hu family's kindness and kindness. The Hu family became the first charity in the entire Chuzhou area in one fell swoop

.

The exterior wall of the Wu Mansion is very high, outside the wall is a large group of ragged refugees, and inside the wall is a luxurious house with gardens in Jiangnan.

A group of maids in colorful clothes walked in an orderly lineup through the corridor, the Nine Turns Wooden Bridge, etc., and the exquisite porcelain in their hands was filled with various delicacies.

I am eighty or eighteen years old,

You are beautiful and my hair is white.

It is the same as the Geng with you,

Only one sixty-sixth in the middle.

...

There is a lake hidden behind the rockery in the back garden. There is a water pavilion in the lake. An old man with white hair holding a scroll in his hand. He stroked his beard and was savoring the poems of his predecessors.

Several maids brought crystal clear grapes and other food. The housekeeper brought a pot of grapes to the old man and said flatteringly: "Second Master, your favorite grape is here!"

"Grapes can only make you happy in your stomach for a moment, but the joy of life is... it's amazing!" The old man reached out to take a grape and ate it, but he shook his head and sighed, but suddenly ordered to the butler: "You guys are these things."

Tianduo went outside to see if there was any pretty girl. I wanted to take another concubine! Well, I am sixty this year, so I will find a sixteen-year-old this time!"

"Okay, the young man has already written it down. I promise to find a wife Ru who will make the second master happy!" The housekeeper looked at his crotch with contempt, but responded with a smile.

When the old man heard these words, he laughed proudly.

It was at this moment that a servant hurried in to report: "Second Master, County Magistrate Chen asked for a meeting!"

"What are he here to do?" The old man frowned slightly and muttered in confusion.

The housekeeper is a smart man, and he immediately speculated: "The Taichang Warehouse in Lai'an County has long been out of food. Now that Lai'an encounters disaster, the magistrate is probably coming to borrow food from us!"

"What is he? He can't borrow a drop of the grain from our Hu family!" Master Hu Er said arrogantly, but waved his hand to the servant.

The servant didn't understand what Master Hu Er meant, but he looked up at the butler, who glared at him and said, "Go and bring people here!"

"Yes!" The servant responded, and then hurried outside to let the long-awaited magistrate come in.

The magistrate of Lai'an is Chen Wude, a principled official, who has been in office for nearly a year. Because he always wears a coffin face on weekdays, many people have not seen him have any other expressions, so they are behind their backs.

They all called him the Mutou County Magistrate.

Chen Wude followed the servant in, looking at the luxury of the Hu family, his brows frowned slightly. However, he had long been used to posing in the coffin face, but he did not reveal too much disgust.

"Haha... What a rare guest! You have been in office for a year, but you have never seen you visit my Hu family's door. I wonder why you came this time?" Master Hu Er looked at the magistrate, looking sarcastic.

He asked with a smile.

This statement undoubtedly has a bit of accountability. After all, it has been a hidden rule for local magistrates to visit various wealthy and wealthy families when they take office, but the new magistrate Lai'an doesn't like this.

Chen Wude had no fear or anger on his face, and his face was still unrestrained: "To be honest, I am here for the price of rice this time. I hope you can reduce the price of rice!"

this……

When the butler heard that the wooden magistrate made such an excessive request, he couldn't help but look at the magistrate up and down, and he was really a newborn calf who was not afraid of a tiger!

"Miss Chen, I don't understand what you mean? Since the disaster, I, Hu, have been cooking porridge outside. What does the price of grain have to do with us?" Mr. Hu Er was secretly angry, his eyes were like murderous intent.

Responded.

Chen Wude, however, did not have any fear and seemed to be on the verge of things, said: "I have investigated very clearly! Among the four rice shops in Ancheng, three of them were opened by your Hu family in secret, and the other one was also in the same mood as you.

The rice price soared this time because you hoarded things!"

This... seeks death!
Chapter completed!