The Three Kingdoms began with island farming

Chapter 694 Prepare for a rainy day
Upon hearing this, Old Man Wang appeared somewhat desolate.

The son's frustration and misunderstanding had been building up for many years, and he understood that.

How can you expect children who live in peacetime and have rarely even experienced hunger to understand the suffering their generation has gone through?

He slowly got up and walked to the stone bench under the old locust tree to sit down.

The rough texture of the bark came from his palm, reminding him of when he first arrived in Liaodong twenty years ago, when he also touched the sparse thorns on the barren mudflats in the same way.

At that time, he was only the size of his son, and he was so hungry that he was skin and bones. If it weren't for His Majesty's benevolence, he wouldn't be in this state today.

From that moment on, he knew that he could never repay His Majesty's kindness in his lifetime.

His Majesty is a great man. Over the years, through official announcements, newspapers, and the education he received from some minor officials in the village, he has come to know the extent of His Majesty's achievements.

His Majesty saved tens of millions of poor people like himself, giving them food and clothing and enabling them to live a peaceful life.

In the process, Taohuagou has made a lot of sacrifices and sacrifices, which has led to some villagers having their own opinions.

Because of a group of complete strangers, they were forced to endure the predicament of material shortages, and most of their labor results even had to be given away.

But he never complained.

Because he knew that if he were one of those tens of millions of people, he too would hope to be saved by His Majesty.

His current life is not only due to his hard work, but also largely due to his good fortune.

I was fortunate to meet His Majesty early on, and fortunate to have a powerful nation as my backing.

Over the years, the government's education and propaganda efforts have never ceased.

However, the truths that once convinced them so completely lost their "invincible" influence when applied to their descendants.

Just like his son, he also knew the importance of putting the country first and sacrificing personal interests.

However, when it comes to issues that concern their own significant interests, they unconsciously tend to back down.

They know a lot.

They understand profound principles such as "not doing anything that would benefit the world even if it meant plucking a single hair."

They know how to fight for their own interests and protect themselves.

However, Old Wang always felt that something was missing from them.

However, he also knew that he should not impose his will on his children, so he could only touch the cracked bark of the old locust tree.

"Big Dog, do you know how long it would normally take for an old locust tree to grow this thick?"

After venting his pent-up grievances over the years, Wang Dagou realized he had gone too far and resumed his respectful tone, saying, "At least two or three hundred years, I suppose."

Old Wang gently chipped a piece of debris off the locust tree.

"This tree is only twenty years old."

Wang Dagou nodded and said, "I know, it's because Your Majesty, Father, you've been telling me this for many years."

Old Wang gently shook his head: "You didn't understand what I meant."

My gaze swept gently across the fertile black soil in the distance, where many villagers were harvesting wheat in the fields: "Our village's farmland used to be saline-alkali land, not black soil."

"If we lose His Majesty's support, our village's farmland will not only fail to recover from saline-alkali soil, but its grain production will also decrease by more than half."

"Do you think our village will still be able to live so comfortably then?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Dagou was struck dumb. "Father, what do you mean?"

"Your Majesty is right. No one can stop Your Majesty from doing what you want to do."

"Even if Your Majesty is reluctant, decades later, if it were Your Majesty... Peach Blossom Valley would eventually revert to being a poor and remote place."

Old Wang has lived in Peach Blossom Valley since its inception, and he knows the area very well.

Although water resources are plentiful and the area is surrounded by mountains, there is no need to worry about war or natural disasters.

But the prerequisite is that there is this black soil that can be cultivated.

Without this farmland, Peach Blossom Valley simply cannot support many people.

"His Majesty is benevolent. Although the relocation is mostly due to considerations of the overall situation at a higher level, it is actually a good thing for us in the long run."

"It's better to move sooner rather than later. If we move in one go, His Majesty will definitely not treat us unfairly."

Times come full circle, and this wasn't actually the first time Old Wang had experienced relocation.

On several occasions before, the village called on its residents to relocate to the Central Plains and the South, returning to their original hometown.

He also felt reluctant to leave his hometown and was worried about his young children, so he did not register.

In retrospect, the hesitation at the time only brought temporary peace, but has led to an even more difficult choice now.

Old Man Wang's words completely overturned Wang Dagou's understanding. He felt his mind was in a daze and unconsciously began to sort out the reasons behind them.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that his father, who had not received much formal education, understood principles that were more profound than those he had learned in school.

"Father, what do you mean?" Wang Dagou asked humbly.

"I went to talk to the village chief and explained my family's situation. I inquired about relevant subsidies, benefits, and compensation standards, and most importantly, the protection of your wife and Xiaowan."

“These government officials should have taken these factors into consideration. If they haven’t, then do your best to negotiate. Keep trying until you get a deal that you and most of the villagers can accept, and then move as soon as possible.”

"These things should be done sooner rather than later."

“We don’t have any other officials backing us up. Unless you’re prepared to be targeted by the government, never be the first to stick your neck out. Just cooperate.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Dagou suddenly realized and couldn't help but exclaim, "Father, you are truly amazing! No wonder the village chief always said that if you hadn't voluntarily resigned, his position as village chief would have been yours. It's such a pity you didn't become an official."

Old Wang shook his head with a smile and said, "You rascal. Being an official isn't easy. You either have to lose your conscience or bear the heavy responsibility for the whole village."

"Although Lao Zeng is sometimes not very bright, he is much more decisive than me."

Wang Dagou grinned: "That's true. If you, Father, were to do this, you probably wouldn't be able to bring yourself to do it."

His father was known in the village as an honest man who would never utter a sound even if he was taken advantage of.

Although he suffered some hardship because of this, he was well-liked and had a good reputation. He was highly respected by the villagers and even received numerous commendations and awards from the county.

But he donated all the prize money to the village.

He admired his father's spirit, but he couldn't do it.

"By the way, you should go to the county in the next couple of days and find Old Zhang at the blacksmith shop on West Street. Get a decent horse-drawn carriage. Remember to mention my name and call him Uncle Zhang, so he can help you out."

"We'll likely be away for a long time from now on. Your wife and Xiaowan can't handle the bumpy ride, so a better carriage would save them a lot of trouble."

(End of this chapter)