Chapter 8
“This year’s autumn harvest was neither good nor bad. If the production tax remains the same as last year’s, the villagers can still scrape by.”
By the afternoon, when the sun had just dipped below the mountain ridge, the Ji family had already prepared dinner early.
Once the sun cooled, the breeze became pleasant, and the whole family gathered under the tree in the courtyard to eat.
Ji Yangzong and Huang Yinsheng clinked cups of clear wine and chatted, shifting from today’s herb collection to the autumn harvest.
In recent years, taxes had been increasing, making life harder for the common folk.
Now that the northern war had ceased this year, they wondered if there might be some tax relief.
“Until the magistrate sends down the tax collectors, no one knows how this year’s production tax will be. It’s not just farmers facing higher taxes, merchants are also struggling. Shopkeepers in the city worry day and night.”
Huang Yinsheng sighed. These days, both farmers and merchants had it hard, which was why more people were scrambling to become officials.
Ji Yangzong poured Huang Yinsheng another cup of wine and said, “Fortunately, You Erlang passed the provincial exam, so he’ll now have tax exemption privileges. Once Xiao Taozi and the You family’s marriage is settled, our family will benefit too.”
At this, Ji Yangzong couldn’t hide his joy. Currently, they had to pay 40% of their harvest as tax,.nearly half a year’s grain. Being exempt from that would be a dream come true.
“Once he’s our son-in-law, your clinic will also be protected to some extent.”
Huang Yinsheng, however, didn’t share Ji Yangzong’s excitement. Instead, he set down his chopsticks and glanced at Ji Taoyu, who was sitting beside Huang Manjing, quietly eating with his head down.
He said to Ji Yangzong, “From what you’re saying, you want to rush Tao ger’s marriage before the tax collectors arrive?”
“Though the intention is obvious, this marriage was agreed upon long ago, it’ll happen sooner or later.”
“After autumn, when things are less tight, is the usual time for village weddings. No one will gossip much. Besides, 40% of the harvest is no small amount. If our family skips paying the tax this year, we’ll have over ten extra bushels of grain. Why not settle the marriage sooner?”
Huang Yinsheng exhaled and looked at Ji Taoyu, who was still eating with his head down. “I know you’re listening. What do you think?”
Ji Taoyu lifted his head, swallowed the meat in his mouth, and noticed all three pairs of eyes at the table fixed on him.
His face flushed slightly. “Parents’ orders, matchmaker’s words, I’ll listen to Father.”
“Since you don’t object, your grandfather won’t say more. Over the years, plenty of ill-intentioned families have had designs on Tao ger. Luckily, the marriage was arranged early, and You Erlang has now earned scholarly honors, scaring off those with ulterior motives. Once Tao ger is married into a good family, there’ll be one less worry.”
With that, Huang Yinsheng turned to Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing. “Just one thing, don’t rush to the You family to push for the wedding. We don’t want Tao ger to become the subject of gossip.”
Ji Yangzong chuckled. “Before the provincial exam, You Erlang mentioned that if he passed, he’d come to propose. He’s probably already preparing, no need for us to say more.”
Huang Yinsheng finally smiled. “Let’s eat.”
After dinner, Huang Yinsheng drove his donkey cart back to the city. Ji Taoyu and Ji Yangzong saw him off to the village’s main road before turning back.
Ji Yangzong looked at the young ger beside him, now reaching his ear in height, it felt like just yesterday he was only knee-high. Hands behind his back, he walked cheerfully in the sunset.
“Training troops for a thousand days to use them in one battle, we’ve invested heavily in the You family over the years. Ever since You Erlang passed the county exam, we’ve regularly sent books and writing materials, even pulling strings to get him into the best academy in the city. You could say we’ve treated him like half a son.”
[養兵千日用兵一時 (yǎng bīng qiān rì yòng bīng yī shí): lit. train troops for a thousand days to use them in one battle; fig. long preparation for a critical moment]
“The You family will host a celebration banquet in a couple of days. Then we’ll know when your wedding will be.”
Ji Taoyu stepped on sun-dried clods of earth as he listened to his father’s chatter. The thought of leaving for another family stirred an indescribable feeling in his heart.
Though You Erlang was well-mannered and educated, and they had met more than once or twice, propriety had kept them from growing truly familiar. The idea of living together didn’t fill him with calm assurance, just a vague unease.
Strangely, he felt little joy about the impending marriage, his mind instead wandering restlessly. He only gave his father a muted response.
Ji Yangzong noticed his lack of enthusiasm and was about to ask why when a sudden, pitiful cry interrupted them as they entered the yard.
“Village Head, Huang niangzi! I’ve brought our worthless Xia ger to apologize to Tao ger!”
[Niangzǐ (娘子): A common address for married women in ancient Chinese villages, akin to "Mrs." but used more informally among neighbors]
“What’s going on?”
Ji Yangzong stared at the red-eyed mother and son from the Yu family, confused, then glanced at Huang Manjing beside him.
“I don’t know either.”
Ji Taoyu, however, tensed slightly at the sight of the pair. He hadn’t expected Yu Sunshi to bring Yu Xia directly to apologize to his parents.
Before he could speak, Yu Sunshi sharply scolded, “Kneel!”
The Yu family’s ger wiped his eyes and knelt before Ji Taoyu. Yu Sunshi said, “Apologize properly to Tao ger.”
Taoyu's father is up for a lot of disappointment from the You family.
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