My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 87 Part 2

The woman nudged her husband: "Don’t be foolish—You Juren works in the prefecture office. Of course he knows!"  

Other villagers carrying grain also gathered around: "Master You, will there be a war or not? Should we hide in the mountains?"  

You Lingxiao frowned at their anxious questions: "Who told you there’d be a war?"  

"Lianjia Village’s already blocked off—no one can enter or leave. Word is that rebels are rising in Quan Village!"  

"They’re looting and killing! If they break through, they’ll come here next!"  

The villagers grew more agitated, their fear palpable.  

"Nonsense!" You Lingxiao snapped.

You Lingxiao rebuked them: "It's merely a few tenant farmers making trouble who have now fled outside. The prefectural government has dispatched troops solely to apprehend them."

"At present is precisely the season for farming and mulberry cultivation. If everyone fails to properly manage the fields, how shall we deal with matters when autumn harvest comes?"

"What kind of bold person would dare spread such rumors to unsettle the people's minds? What could their motives possibly be!"

After being reprimanded by You Lingxiao, the farmers fell silent. Rather than becoming angry, they actually felt somewhat more at ease.

"Really, nothing’s wrong?"  

"What kind of place is Tongzhou? It’s been peaceful and stable for so many years—how could chaos just erupt out of nowhere?"  

You Lingxiao declared confidently: "How could a huge prefecture be overturned by a few tenant farmers without weapons in their hands?"  

The farmers hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "True, we exaggerated things too much."  

"Tongzhou won’t fall into chaos, how could Tongzhou fall into chaos..."  

Seeing this, You Lingxiao continued: "All you need to do is concentrate on your farming and not miss the season. This rumor was probably spread by those with ulterior motives, trying to make life difficult for everyone. Don’t let it mislead you."  

"Yes, yes, after all, You Juren is well-read and naturally understands these matters better than us ignorant farmers."  

"The village head too, he can’t distinguish what’s truly urgent. At this critical time, he told us something happened in Quan village, making me divert money meant for fertilizer to buy grain instead."  

The villagers muttered among themselves, now believing You Lingxiao’s words and dismissing Ji Yangzong’s warnings.  

Still, some kept a clear head and said: "The village head just heard the news and wanted to alert everyone. Buying some grain to store in the jars is fine—we’ll eat it anyway. He meant well."  

You’s mother saw her son’s carriage returning from afar. As she ran to greet him, she overheard the crowd talking to him.  

Only after they dispersed did she approach, sighing in relief: "You’re finally back. You were gone for days, and then we heard about the trouble in Quan village—my heart was pounding with worry."  

"The prefecture office was too busy. I haven’t slept for two days."  

You’s mother heart ached at his words: "My poor son, working so hard. Thankfully, nothing’s wrong. Good thing I panicked and bought a shi of grain—since there’s no trouble, I’ll go return it."  

As soon as she finished speaking, You Lingxiao unexpectedly said: "No need to return it. Mother, quietly buy more oil and flour for our own use."  

You’s mother widened her eyes: "But you just said—"  

You Lingxiao said coldly: "The unrest in Quan village hasn’t stopped. Not only have people died, but spring plowing there has been delayed. The prefect is furious."  

"If I hadn’t said that, everyone in our village would focus solely on hoarding grain and fleeing from war, neglecting spring plowing. If the autumn harvest fails, it won’t just be the farmers who suffer—the prefect’s performance review will also be affected."  

The trouble in Quan village continued, and the prefectural office dispatched soldiers. Yet, those useless men couldn’t even capture a group of tenant farmers after so many days.  

The prefect was furious. If this wasn’t resolved soon, the news would inevitably spread, causing panic and ruining spring plowing.  

The only solution now was for the Tongzhou garrison commander to send cavalry to suppress it quickly. But the garrison commander wasn’t on the prefect’s side—once troops were mobilized, the court would find out, and the prefect’s performance review would suffer.  

Tongzhou was a strategic stronghold the Fourth Prince had painstakingly secured. To plant Shao Gongde here as prefect had required considerable maneuvering - this appointment was meant to strengthen the Fourth Prince's political foothold. Yet rather than delivering results, the region now simmered with peasant unrest. The rival faction at court would undoubtedly seize upon this failure.  

When that happened, Shao Gongde would be in deep trouble.  

Considering all this, Shao Gongde deliberately suppressed the news of the unrest in Quan village. Even though the prefectural troops couldn’t handle it, he still delayed calling in the garrison.  

These past few days, the officials in the prefectural office had faced no shortage of reprimands.  

You’s mother was stunned by her son’s words.  

"Then… then we just hoard for ourselves and ignore the villagers? What if war really breaks out—"  

"Mother, let’s worry about ourselves first! If the prefect falls, what good will come to me? Do you think any officials respect a cripple like me?"  

You Lingxiao cut her off sharply: "These tenant farmers deserve to die. If not for them, would I be in this state?"  

You’s mother fingers stiffened: "I understand..."  

When Huo Shu and Ji Taoyu returned home, they saw Ji Yangzong with a face dark as iron.  

"What’s wrong, Father? Did something happen?"  

Ji Taoyu carefully dismounted with Huo Shu’s help.  

Ji Yangzong looked at the two of them and first asked about the situation in the town.  

Huo Shu gave him a rough summary.  

Only then did Ji Yangzong say: "You Lingxiao returned from the prefectural office saying there won’t be a war. The villagers trust him because he works in the yamen, and now those who stockpiled grain are blaming me instead."  

"They’re saying I made them spend money meant for spring plowing on food supplies—such ingratitude! As if I’d benefit from a bad harvest!"  

"Even your uncle and aunt came to complain, saying I overreacted. As the village head, how could I spread panic? After all these years as village head, do I not know how to do my job?"  

Ji Yangzong vented a long stream of grievances.  

Hearing this, Ji Taoyu also felt unsettled and attempted to reassure him.  

Huo Shu stated plainly: "We've said all we need to say. Let people believe whomever they wish. Father needn't waste further words explaining to outsiders."