Spring passes and autumn comes, cold comes and summer comes.
The peas and oats in the field have turned yellow, and some pea vines are climbing on the oat stalks, their pods plump. Some of the pods have already burst open.
Although it's harvest season, the weather isn't what autumn should be like.
The sun scorched the earth, and as people stood on the ground, waves of heat washed over them.
Today is harvest day. Ed stood under a tree in the distance, watching the busy crowd ahead.
The villagers, their bodies hunched over, their rough fingers searching for bean pods among the vines.
Because oats and peas are planted together, after harvesting the peas, everyone immediately picked up sickles and started cutting the oats.
Even from a short distance away, Ed could hear the crisp "snap-snap" sound of the sickle cutting through the wheat stalks.
Soon, sweat rolled down their sun-darkened necks, soaking their coarse linen clothes.
The women followed behind the men, bundling the harvested oats into sheaves, tying them tightly with straw rope, and stacking them into neat haystacks.
Their skirts were covered with grass clippings, and their palms were scratched with tiny red marks from the wheat stalks, yet they still worked nimbly. Occasionally, when they raised their hands to wipe away sweat, a faint streak of wheat ash would remain on their cheeks from their sleeves.
The butler, Marcus, was also watching over the field, making notes from time to time. It has to be said that the butler was also very concerned about this harvest.
"Adelaide, is the water ready?" Ed turned to look at the side.
"Master, the boiled water has been prepared long ago; you can see it on the oxcart over there." Adelaide pointed into the distance.
"Drive the oxcart over there, let everyone have some water, and we can also bring back the harvested crops."
"Yes, Master," Adelaide quickly ran over to find someone.
In the fields, everyone temporarily put down their tools.
They picked up their bowls and drank the water. The water traveled down their throats to their stomachs, and a cool, comfortable feeling spread throughout their bodies from their mouths.
Villager A: "The lord is so kind; he even prepared drinking water for us."
Villager B: "That feels so good!"
Villager C: "I feel that the pea pods are very plump this time, there are so many pods!"
Villager Ding: "Well, based on my many years of experience growing peas, this year's peas are better and more plentiful than ever before."
Villager A: "That's great! This way we can get more peas."
Everyone was happy; more produce from the land meant they could get more food.
Given the lord's benevolence, they believed Ed would not impose additional taxes.
After a short rest, everyone loaded the harvested peas and oats onto oxcarts and transported them back to Taoyuan Village.
The rest of the people continued harvesting oats.
"Let's go, Adelaide. We'll finish harvesting here soon, and then we'll head back to Peach Blossom Village."
"Yes, Master, there seem to be a lot of peas this time!" Adelaide said, looking at the several oxcarts full of peas.
There are still some unfilled boxes in the field.
However, all of this was within Ed's expectations.
In the warehouse of Taoyuan Village.
Ed changed the way peas were grown here last time.
Upon returning here, the silent people were no longer silent.
The old butler's records are in:
This time, one-third of the land yielded the same amount of peas as half of the land previously.
The peas were also larger and plumper. We also got some extra oats.
The villagers don't care why this is happening; they only care about gaining more.
Their joy was palpable, a stark contrast to their previous silence.
I believe that Ed's policies will be implemented with one heart and one mind and with strong force in the future.
"Ah! That's great, there will be more food from now on."
"Yes! The children are always saying they're hungry."
The villagers chatted excitedly, but Ed's next words caused them to erupt again.
"Marcus, from now on, the taxes on land belonging to the territory will be reduced by another 10% from the original amount."