Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
After half a month of continuous rain, nearly every household experienced a thirty percent reduction in their wheat yield, and with sprouting, the quality of the wheat was very poor.
Hu Ruoyun heard from Second Master Kuei, who returned from the Grain Tax office, that the Grain Management Office in the township had changed the quality inspection form for grain, adding a new criterion for "Germination Rate." He spent the entire morning inspecting wheat, and aside from a few households with relatively clean wheat rated at five, the vast majority received a six. This year, the Germination Rate determined the level of Grain Tax. For a family of five, the difference between six and five was nearly two cents per pound, resulting in a loss of twenty to thirty dollars on their Grain Tax! Compared to previous years when they at least received a three rating, farmers were indeed suffering significant losses.
But what could be done? Who could blame the weather for being unkind this year?
No matter how reluctant they were, no one dared to avoid paying the Grain Tax. Regardless of their feelings, they had to accept the harsh reality of this year's inspection ratings from the Grain Management Office.
Half a month later, the village head used a loudspeaker to announce: "The Grain Tax Collection is about to end. Anyone who hasn't paid needs to hurry up. If you miss the deadline, it won't be me reminding you; it will be the police coming to collect..."
In the final days of Grain Tax Collection, Hu Ruoyun and his father loaded their donkey cart and called upon Second Uncle and his ox cart for help, bringing sixteen hundred pounds of wheat to the Grain Management Office.
The long lines of grain trucks from days before had disappeared. Seven or eight quality inspectors were chatting idly when they saw Hu Qihua's cart approaching. One inspector with a cigarette clamped between his ear and sporting a little mustache impatiently shouted, "Over here! I'm talking to you!"
Hu Ruoyun frowned but held back his words.
Hu Qihua quickly pulled on the donkey's reins and smiled as he led the donkey cart over. "We're here! We're here!"
Without even looking at Hu Qihua's offering of "Heimang Mountain" (a popular strong brand of cigarettes among farmers), Little Mustache pulled out a hollow scraper from his waist and poked it into one of the bags of wheat. The grains flowed out through the hollow handle. Little Mustache caught some grains in his palm, chewed them for a moment, then spat them out with a "pfft," tossing the remaining grains back onto the cart. He scribbled on the nearby Quality Inspection Form with a ballpoint pen before tearing it off and tossing it to Hu Qihua. Since both Hu Ruoyun's father and Second Uncle were illiterate, they nervously handed it over to Hu Ruoyun. Upon looking at it, Hu Ruoyun saw that all indicators such as moisture and impurities were fine, but under "Germination Rate," it read 94%, with a flamboyant six rating next to it.
Hu Ruoyun turned to Little Mustache and said, "Master, your inspection can't be accurate; look at my wheat—its Germination Rate is 94%!"
Little Mustache scoffed dismissively. "This year, all over the county it's above 93%. There are plenty at 95%. What's so special about your 94%?"
Hu Qihua and Hu Ruoyun's Second Uncle, Hu Zhenhua, were at a loss.
Hu Ruoyun turned to Little Mustache and said, "You should take a few more samples and check the wheat grains. The germination rate definitely won't exceed 10%!"
At this, not only did Little Mustache laugh, but the group of Quality Inspectors nearby burst into laughter as well. Little Mustache glared at her and exclaimed, "Kid, are you talking nonsense? We've been testing for days, and the lowest germination rate we've found is still over 90%. What’s the matter? Is your family blessed by heaven? Did that strong wind or heavy rain miss your fields?"
From the direction of the office in the distance, a group of people emerged. Leading them was a young man carrying a camera, followed by a stylishly dressed woman holding a microphone. The others in the group were either portly or wearing glasses, some even donned newly fashionable suits, clearly accompanying a middle-aged man with a pompadour hairstyle.
Among the accompanying crowd, one person visibly tensed upon hearing the laughter. He quickly approached a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan Suit and whispered a few hurried words before striding over to reprimand the Quality Inspectors: "Are you all just standing around? The reporters from the Provincial Television Station are here, along with leaders from the province, city, and county. What do you think you're doing? Have you no sense of decorum? If you don't want to work, then get lost! Don’t stir up trouble here!"
The group of Quality Inspectors immediately wilted under his glare, with only Little Mustache shooting an angry look at Hu Ruoyun.
Seeing the approaching group, Hu Qihua and Hu Zhenhua were both extremely anxious: What trouble had their child gotten into?
However, Hu Ruoyun was unfazed. She rushed over and snatched the scraper from Little Mustache's hands. With a swift motion, she plunged it into one of their grain bags and poured some wheat grains into her palm, raising them towards the person who was scolding the Quality Inspectors. She deliberately spoke loudly, "Leader, this Quality Inspector is irresponsible! Bad weather caused a decrease in wheat production due to natural disasters. But for my family's wheat to be rated as six-class is considered a man-made disaster! If you don’t believe me, you can check for yourself!"
Her bold words stunned Shi Potian; how could this half-grown child dare to speak like that to the director of the Grain Management Office?
Not only did this small leader find it shocking, but so did the reporters and numerous leaders behind him.
The leading Pompadour stepped forward and glanced at the bewildered staff from the Grain Management Office. He reached for the scraper from Hu Ruoyun's hand. Without saying anything, she turned it towards herself and handed it over by its handle. Pompadour looked at her briefly before taking it and probing into one of the bags inside the grain cart. Wheat grains spilled out into his palm as he skillfully examined them with his fingers. Then he turned to someone in a Zhongshan Suit behind him: "Director Wu, right? You should be an expert; what do you estimate this germination rate to be?" After speaking, he moved to inspect Second Uncle's ox cart: "Brother, are you part of this too? Let me check the wheat on your cart."
Seeing that Second Uncle was speechless, Hu Ruoyun gestured slightly: "Feel free to check."
Pompadour quickly tied up four bags, examining the sampled wheat closely before distributing them to the others behind him. "County Chief Jiang, Mayor Meng... you should take a look as well."
He then called over the Quality Inspector. "You're the head of the Grain Management Office, right? Come, take a look."
Director Hu received the grains with both hands, astonished, as if he were holding a handful of precious gold beans, carefully inspecting them in front of him.
Hu Ruoyun handed over their Wheat Quality Inspection Form to Pompadour. "Leaders, please take a look at the Germination Rate and grade they provided me."
The man referred to as Director Wu quickly took the form. "I'm from our county's grain bureau; let me check this."
After just a glance, Director Wu's expression darkened. He almost shouted as he threw the form back at the head of the Grain Management Office. "Is this your level of work?"
Meanwhile, Pompadour turned to the mayor and county chief who had examined the wheat. "What do you think? You are both in charge of agriculture; what Germination Rate do you see here? What grade can you assign?"
County Chief Jiang hesitated. "I see... the Germination Rate is below 10%. It could be rated as third class."
Mayor Meng chimed in, "Given this year's unusual weather, such quality wheat is truly rare!"
Pompadour extended his hand toward the head of the Grain Management Office. "Come on, let me see the inspection results you provided..."
Comment 0 Comment Count