Although the empire was strong and the government effective, with good price controls and cheap grain—just over forty wen for a dou of rice, which came to less than five wen a jin—the key issue was that their family was dirt poor right now.
And they had five mouths to feed, too.
No matter how poor, they still had to rely on themselves.
People could help for a while, but could you count on others for everything?
Gongyu Mingxi very much agreed with Lingsu's approach.
"Su'er did the right thing. We already owe your great uncle and Granny Zuo's family a big favor."
