"At this stage, insurance against poor condition," Cai Renxiang. "Each farm household will pay a tithe into the central storage, and this will be used to distribute aid should any one household be struck by a poor harvest. In the future, it will be used to provide a certain baseline of nutrition for the population not working in food production. Something similar can be arranged with the fishermen, though more preservation efforts will be needed"
Ling Qi tilted her head. "...that does not match my experience at all."
"...It is one of Mother's innovations. It is easier in Xiangmen, but I do not find it credible that mortals will become decadent and unmotivated without such insecurity, as many insist they will," Cai Renxiang said. "I wish to see if it is possible under less optimal circumstances."