The county magistrate did not dare let these disaster victims enter the city. He could only set up shanties and porridge stalls outside the city walls, taking in and providing relief for the refugees fleeing from Spirit Prefecture.
But the grain from the autumn harvest had long since been sent upward, leaving the granaries nearly empty, while disaster victims arriving from afar came in an unbroken stream.
A cup of water against a cartload of firewood.
Inside the county yamen, Deng Qi, the Yunbi County Magistrate in official robes, was so anxious he could neither sit nor stand still. One moment he paced back and forth; the next, he sat down for tea. Halfway through a cup, he let out a long sigh and tossed it onto the table.
Just then, the aide and legal clerk he had sent out to procure grain suddenly rushed in. The county magistrate immediately rose to his feet and asked, "How did it go?"
The clerk shook his head.
County magistrate Deng's eyes widened. "What about the wealthy households in the county? The Grain Merchants and rice shops? None of them are willing to step forward?"
The clerk spread his hands. "Every last one of them made excuses, saying they have no surplus grain! A few households did bring out some silver and rice, but the amount is far too little. It won't help at all!"
"The main issue is the Lin Family and the Sun Family. Those two are the biggest Grain Merchants. If they refuse to step forward, how could anyone else dare speak up?"
Though county magistrate Deng was filled with rage, he knew such matters could not be forced.
Once he sat down, his mouth felt dry and parched again. He could not help taking a sip of the tea,