"Last year’s head tax was only 100 copper coins! Now it’s 120, and adult taxes are up by 50. The household tax increased by 100! That’s 170 copper coins more, not even counting how many mouths each family has to feed!"
"And now this ‘tribute fee’ per person, not per family! How are small families supposed to survive?"
"Taxes go up every year, a few dozen here, a few dozen there. How much does a bushel of grain even sell for?"
"Our men were conscripted to fight, and now we have to pay for their rewards? We give our people and our money but get nothing in return!"
The courtyard buzzed with complaints, quickly escalating into an uproar.
The You relatives shook their heads sympathetically, but inwardly, they were delighted.
The higher the taxes, the more privileges they enjoyed.
Ji Yangzong was used to such reactions and let them vent for a while.
Finally, he raised his hand. "Enough. The court’s decrees aren’t something we commoners can question. Everyone, prepare your grain and taxes. Borrow if you must, but don’t delay."
"Either way, it has to be paid. If we drag our feet, the prefectural officials will complain, and our village will be the first they target for corvee labor."
A villager muttered, "The village head has a fine son-in-law now. Even if taxes reach the sky, it won’t affect him. Easy for him to talk."
"Yeah, now he’s complaining about delays. He records the village’s harvests, doesn’t he know our situation?"
Ji Yangzong heard the whispers but didn’t reprimand them.
His gaze fell on You's mother, who stood proudly in the crowd. Their eyes met, and he could guess exactly what she was thinking.
"Alright, alright. I know everyone’s upset, but we’re all in this together. We’ll get through it, like we do every year. Our village has produced a provincial graduate now, surely he’ll bring us honor in the future."
After this perfunctory praise for You Lingxiao, Ji Yangzong moved on.
"Now, a few other announcements. Zhao Changde’s family, his son Zhao Changsui died on the front lines. Yuan Huiru has adopted his comrade-in-arms as her foster son. He’s now registered in our village. Everyone, treat him as one of us. The Zhao family has suffered enough, let’s look out for each other."
"Next, the engagement between the Ji and You families is hereby dissolved. Both parties are free to marry others. Matchmakers, do your work."
Ji Yangzong spoke frankly. Broken engagements weren’t uncommon, nor were widows remarrying. This wasn’t the first case.
Still absorbed in their tax woes, the villagers barely reacted to what would normally be major news.
But the dissolution of the Ji-You engagement was shocking. Everyone wanted to know the reason, though such matters were never explained publicly. No one dared to ask.
"That’s all for today. You’re dismissed."
The crowd stirred, villagers forming small groups as they left.
"How could such a good engagement just end? Is the village head a fool? He waited all these years for You Erlang to succeed, and now that he has, the marriage is off?"
"Do you think the village head is stupid? It’s probably the You family crossing the river and tearing down the bridge."
[过河拆桥 (guò hé chāi qiáo): lit. Cross the river and tear down the bridge; fig. Abandon those who helped you after achieving success.]
"That’s heartless. The village head helped them so much in the past."
"Times change, and so do people. Don’t expect the You family to do anything for us now."
"Who cares about their rich people’s problems? How are we supposed to pay this year’s taxes?"
The villagers whispered among themselves as they left, careful to avoid the You family.
Though no one said which side had initiated the breakup, the power imbalance was obvious. Everyone assumed the You family had discarded the Ji family after climbing a high branch.
"Mother! You said Uncle Ji wouldn’t announce this! Now there’s no way to fix it!"
You Lingxiao looked as if he’d been struck by a sudden blow. His eyes reddened as he gripped You's mother's arm in panic. Things had gotten completely out of their control.
You's mother was also taken aback. She hadn’t expected the Ji family to actually go through with canceling the engagement, giving up such a golden opportunity.
Even with taxes rising, they were willing to forfeit their protection. She had underestimated Ji Yangzong.
Seeing her usually composed son distraught, she patted his hand. "If they’re determined to break the engagement, let them. It saves us the trouble of negotiating."
"Mother!"
You Lingxiao grew even more agitated. Realizing she no longer cared about the marriage, he let go of her arm. "I’ll talk to Uncle Ji myself!"
"What are you going to say to him?"
You's mother tried to grab him, but he was too quick, darting away before she could stop him.
"Let’s go back."
Yuan Huiru had heard two major announcements today and felt uneasy.
Seeing the crowd thinning at the gate, she prepared to leave.
Huo Shu’s attention was fixed on the You mother and son. Now that You Lingxiao had truly lost his fiance, regret was setting in.
Ji Taoyu didn’t seem like someone with a hardened heart. If his childhood sweetheart came crying, he might forget the pain.
Huo Shu had waited too long for the Ji family to make their decision. He wouldn’t let this man cause trouble now.
He turned to Yuan Huiru. "Go ahead, Mother. I need to discuss something with the village head."
Yuan Huiru was surprised but didn’t pry. "Alright, come back soon."
"Mm."
With that, Huo Shu strode forward.
You Lingxiao spotted Ji Yangzong and called out urgently, "Uncle Ji!"
Ji Yangzong frowned at the sight of him, unwilling to deal with him.
As You Lingxiao moved to intercept him, Ji Yangzong grew irritated, he might lose his temper if this continued. He was about to signal Da Niu to block him when a tall figure stepped between them.
"Village Head, may I trouble you for a moment?"
Ji Yangzong’s expression softened at the sight of Huo Shu. "Of course, Warrior Huo. Let’s talk inside."
Without a glance at You Lingxiao, he led Huo Shu into the house.
Damn, Huo Shu works fast!!! Go, baby, go!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update!!!