The Holy Water Manor spans over ten thousand acres, supporting the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people. Besides dicinal fields, they also cultivate grains, achieving not only self-sufficiency each year but also managing to store and pay grain taxes. It’s not just the Holy Dynasty that thrives in this way; the other three countries are no less successful, so when they say they lack no money, it’s not just empty words.
Even in difficult tis, their food and vegetables were never lacking. After all, it was the houses that collapsed, not the fields. Although there was damage, the heavy rains during that period led to a significant reduction in yield. However, once the weather stabilized, hope was still visible.
Jiang Xue and Dong Yao were assigned to a room together, all of which were temporary shelters. The nearby residents were all family mbers, as there were few intact houses and aftershocks were still a concern. Even the upper managent like Shui Yixuan lived in these shelters in open areas like everyone else. These structures were made of wood, and while they sufficed in the current season, co winter, they would surely be cold. After all, the winters here in the Holy Dynasty can drop below zero.
People generally cooked together. Those with good relationships would gather, discuss, and cook collectively. Jiang Xue’s place initially attracted Wang Yongqiang and Zhang Yonggang, who shalessly ca over to share als. Later, it included Shui Yixuan, Mu Hui, and five other mbers of the Shier Mu who had dealings with her, all coming to share als too.
Since one sheep or a flock, the effort was the sa, so Jiang Xue had them prepare two large iron pots. Every day, they made large pot als, where everything was stewed together.
Due to the varied ingredients, the taste of the als constantly changed. Moreover, with Jiang Xue occasionally supplenting with vegetables from her space, while there was so scarcity of at, poultry, and eggs, their Young Master would never be truly in short supply. Thus, with no lack of ingredients, Jiang Xue made a variety of good dishes for them.
During al preparations, there were always onlookers trying to learn. Jiang Xue let them watch and would even explain when they didn’t understand sothing. But no one could replicate her unique flavor. That was beyond her control; she taught all she could, whether they learned it depended on their own fortune.
So she temporarily settled in at the Holy Water Manor, spending her days teaching classes and cooking als. Unlike the Shui Family’s Young Master, who had to periodically leave the manor to inspect shops across the regions and handle official social interactions, she beca well-inford about external affairs.
Firstly, describing the current state of the Holy Dynasty as "the people have no livelihood" is not an exaggeration. Everywhere was under construction. Unlike Tangyuan’s era, where aid flooded in from everywhere during a crisis - by sea, land, and air - who was there to aid you here? It would be fortunate if people didn’t take advantage of your misfortune. The great Four Country Festival was not only ruined, but also the entire Holy Dynasty was littered with collapsed houses, with countless people unable to secure als. Without strength, how could they work? Without work, where would the extra money to buy grain co from? It beca a vicious cycle of cause and effect.
Famine inevitably occurred. The fields weren’t devoid of crops; there were indeed crops. But with many refugees, they were all plundered before ripening. At the ti, they were fed, but what about afterward? They found themselves staring blankly.
Many civilians had died; even entire families exterminated. After the grain was eaten, farming beca troubleso. Whose land was it, and who should cultivate it? If the governnt did nothing, chaos would ensue!
The Holy Water Manor didn’t concern itself with governnt affairs. They simply hired people to help rebuild houses, paid wages, and fed free porridge to the workers. The so-called porridge mainly consisted of bran, with little rice. Because of this, so malicious individuals reported the Holy Water Manor to the court, accusing them of deceiving the public with bran.
Shui Yixuan was summoned before the Emperor and ridiculed by the officials.
"You dare criticize our Holy Water Manor? And what about you? Where is the disaster relief grain distributed by the court? If you had distributed your grain properly, would the civilians raid fields to seize unripe crops? You accuse of using bran? At least my bran has so rice flour mixed in. And you? You officials are more detestable than I am, adding even fodder fit for livestock! After all, I am but a commoner, not an official; I don’t bear such significant responsibilities and obligations."
"But our Holy Water Manor has long been accustod to helping the impoverished civilians, so this ti, on the surface, it seed we were rebuilding houses and hiring long-term workers. In reality, among those who ca daily, many were elderly and children. Should I force them to work for ? Of course, I turned a blind eye and let it pass. The disaster victims are pitiful, but even the pitiful can’t just wait for pies to fall from the sky, right? You work for how much you eat. Even if you are begging, can you be picky about the quality of food? Not starving is the minimum standard. In past famines, grass roots and tree bark were eaten. What’s wrong with bran?"
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