Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 485 - 433: Wang Dayong

The next morning, Yu Xiaolian was awakened by the noisy sounds of the inn. She glanced at the white new concept watch on her wrist, which showed that it was only 5:15. If she were at home, Yu Xiaolian would definitely still be unwilling to get out of bed at this time.

But she was eager to finish the tasks entrusted by the wives of the Sun Family as early as possible and return to Yangcheng, so she swiftly dressed, called Cao Gen and Zhao Ping to join her, had a simple bowl of hot soup noodles, and then left the inn again.

Yu Xiaolian decided to go to Canghe Village first. One reason was that she was concerned about seeing Mrs. Gao, not knowing whether she had found her maternal relatives. Another reason was that the booklet noted that Sun Manbo’s wife’s maternal family was also in Canghe Village.

After Yu Xiaolian and Zhao Ping got on the carriage, Cao Gen, following Yu Xiaolian’s instructions, drove to Canghe Village. Although Yu Xiaolian had never been to Canghe Village, she had seen it from afar as it wasn’t far from River Bay.

Upon arriving in Canghe Village, Yu Xiaolian discovered that the houses that looked like clusters from a distance were mostly empty. The entire village was extremely desolate and run-down.

There was not a single person on the village road of Canghe Village. Yu Xiaolian wanted to ask for directions but couldn’t find anyone, so she had to check each house along the way. Finally, in one household, she saw an old man, about in his fifties, sitting on the ground in the courtyard, weaving willow baskets. Just as she was about to ask the old man about Sun Wulin’s wife’s maternal family, she noticed a large hairy mole on his chin.

Could this... be Sun Manbo’s wife’s father?

It should be, after all, this appearance is too ’rare,’ and Canghe Village shouldn’t have two people with moles on their chins.

Yu Xiaolian felt for the little booklet on her and flipped it open, finding the page that noted Sun Manbo’s wife, to check the name.

"Excuse me, are you Wang Dayong?" Yu Xiaolian asked.

Wang Dayong had already stopped weaving the basket upon seeing Yu Xiaolian.

No outsiders had come to Canghe Village for a long time, but since Mrs. Gao’s daughter returned yesterday, another one came today, could it be...?

Wang Dayong was somewhat excited. Yesterday, he saw Mrs. Gao ask about his daughter, who replied simply, "Your daughter is alive and well, and she’s enjoying a good life now," before hastily reuniting with her own parents.

Wang Dayong was half-convinced by Mrs. Gao’s words. He believed his daughter was alive but couldn’t believe that she was enjoying a good life.

He knew very well what kind of person his son-in-law was. In the first few years after marriage, it was still okay, but after having two daughters, he often abused his daughter.

Therefore, when Mrs. Gao said his daughter was enjoying herself, Wang Dayong didn’t believe it. But knowing that she was alive made Wang Dayong feel very content; he didn’t dare to hope for anything else.

"I am Wang Dayong, young lady, who might you be?" Wang Dayong had never seen Yu Xiaolian before, so he didn’t recognize her.

"You have a daughter named Wang Yucui, right?" Yu Xiaolian wanted to confirm again.

Wang Dayong nodded excitedly, "Right, did my daughter send you?"

Yu Xiaolian nodded, smiling, "Yes, your daughter asked me to bring you some Silver Coin!"

Yu Xiaolian extended her hand, and Cao Gen handed her a purse. Yu Xiaolian opened the purse, took out two taels of Silver, thought for a moment, and then put them back, taking out a five-tael piece instead.

Sun Manbo’s wife sent the least amount of money among all the wives. Even these two taels of Silver were somehow sought from Sun Dalin’s wife. Yu Xiaolian pitied Sun Manbo’s wife, who, just because she had two daughters, was not favored by her in-laws, and her own husband didn’t like her. She was probably the most mistreated among the Sun family wives.

Yu Xiaolian decided to add three taels for Wang Yucui herself. After all, three taels of Silver wasn’t much to her, but for the Wang Family, it could be a great help.

Yu Xiaolian handed five taels of Silver to Wang Dayong and then asked Cao Gen to fetch a handful of Copper Coin from the storage basket in the carriage, handing it all to Wang Dayong. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Is this... truly sent by my daughter Yucui?" Wang Dayong was incredulous.

Seeing Wang Dayong both excited and happy, Yu Xiaolian shared in his joy, realizing that others’ happiness could indeed be contagious.

"Yes, you should accept it. I’m not sure about your family’s current situation? How did you fare in the disaster years? Your daughter is waiting for me to write back to her. Please tell me so I can inform her in the letter!"

Wang Dayong invited Yu Xiaolian inside. Only after entering the house did Yu Xiaolian realize that it was empty. Could it be that Wang Dayong was the only one left in the Wang Family?

After Wang Dayong entered the house, he first secured the Silver, then said to Yu Xiaolian, "Except for Yucui’s grandfather, who passed away, everyone else in our family is fine. During the disaster years, we followed others in the village towards Jinzhou. Along the way, we spent the night with others in a big cave. Later, someone discovered that the rock spike in the cave dripped water, so we started collecting it in clay pots. Then someone climbed up the rock wall, found a spring, and everyone in the village stayed there, relying on that bit of water for survival.

That day, there were four families with us, totaling over seventy people. Each family took turns collecting water in clay pots. It was fine initially, but as the food we brought from home dwindled, two families collected water and headed south again. The Gao Family and I stayed in the cave.

Later, when there was no food, we endured it, eating thin porridge only every two or three days. Yucui’s grandfather died during that time." Wang Dayong became overwhelmed with grief, recalling how his father jumped off a cliff to save food for his children and grandchildren, leaving no remains.

"And what about the other family members?" Yu Xiaolian remembered Sun Manbo’s wife saying how many family members they had. She was puzzled as she came so early yet hadn’t seen anyone else.

Wang Dayong wiped away tears, "My son and daughter-in-law went to work in the fields, the grandsons went to cut willow branches, and the granddaughters went to dig wild vegetables."

The responsibilities were clearly outlined, assigning work to the children and grandchildren very well. It seemed Wang Dayong was quite adept at managing life, but since his wife passed away early, he had to play the roles of both father and mother.

"Did most of the people who fled the village not return?" Yu Xiaolian asked again.

Wang Dayong nodded, "Only a few returned; most people settled in the south.

Not just our village, but other villages are similar; ten households are empty in nine, more or less."

Yu Xiaolian sighed. The people couldn’t even meet their basic needs for food and clothing; how could they afford to pay heavy taxes?

It seemed that to bring back the population, besides reducing heavy taxes, there would need to be some welfare for the benefit of the people.

Yu Xiaolian decided that when she returned to Yangcheng, she would discuss beneficial policies with Su Jingchen, so the rich wouldn’t get richer and the poor poorer.

Such a large gap between rich and poor was not conducive to development and unity.