My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 78 Part 1

Chapter 78  

"Taxes remain unchanged from last year."  

"The imperial tribute fee remains at fifty copper coins per person."  

A group of farmers, having skipped their midday meal, hurriedly followed Ji Yangzong back in anxious anticipation.  

They hoped to hear the tax announcement early so they could at least eat their lunch in peace.  

Upon hearing Ji Yangzong's declaration after the assembly, everyone let out a slight sigh of relief. Though last year's taxes were already heavy, the fact that they hadn't increased was the best outcome they could hope for.  

Seeing the villagers relax as if a burden had been lifted, Ji Yangzong's expression darkened. No matter how difficult, he still had to deliver the rest of the news.  

"Don't start celebrating yet—I'm not finished."  

Ji Yangzong continued, "Aside from the imperial taxes, the prefecture has introduced a new policy this year, requiring an additional prefectural tax."  

"Each person must pay two hundred copper coins as prefectural tax. Additionally, households with fewer than five members must pay one shi (≈ 60 kg) of grain, while those with five or more must pay two shi, increasing by increments of five."  

As expected, the announcement immediately sparked an uproar.  

"Adding it all up, isn’t this just fleecing us twice? What kind of 'prefectural tax' is this? We’ve never had it before, and now it suddenly appears!"  

"There must be some justification for this—what’s the reasoning?"  

Ji Yangzong replied, "The prefect said the prefectural tax will be used for disaster relief and the maintenance of water conservancy projects in Tongzhou."  

Even as he spoke, he found the explanation unconvincing. He couldn’t fathom how the prefect had announced this so confidently at the assembly, as if it were all for the prosperity of Tongzhou.  

In truth, it only increased the burden on the common people. Yet the entire prefectural administration had rallied around the prefect, flattering him.  

Ji Yangzong realized that, in the half-year since the new prefect took office, the entire prefecture had already fallen completely under his control.  

"Is this not deliberately driving us common folk to our deaths? The weather’s been bad, and the taxes are crushing. We might as well all jump into the river together—how can anyone survive in times like these?"  

The farmers’ grievances erupted in a chaotic clamor, filling the Ji family courtyard with noise.  

Among the already impoverished families, women and children couldn’t hold back their tears in public.  

"There’s no hope left, no hope at all."  

What angered them most was that, under the imperial tax system, wealthy households paid double the poll tax for their servants, which was supposed to balance the burden and offer some fairness to commoners.  

But this new prefectural tax, supposedly collected for disaster relief and claimed as "for the people," demanded equal payment from everyone.  

The wealthy paid the same as the poor—wasn’t this blatant favoritism?  

"Why should we pay this prefectural tax? Even if there were prefectural tributes before, they were never this extortionate!"  

"Let’s all refuse to pay! Let’s see what the prefectural yamen does—do they dare execute us all?"  

Ji Yangzong himself also had to pay taxes. Though he could manage it now, given the situation, no one could find any joy in it.  

They were all victims of exploitation, and his mood was no better.  

Moreover, with the prefecture acting this way, the work of a village head had become much harder than before.  

If farmers resisted paying taxes, the village head would face pressure from the prefecture—caught between both sides.  

He had known that announcing this year’s taxes would provoke outrage.  

On his way back, the other village heads had shared the same concerns.  

Ji Yangzong snapped coldly, "Why shout here? If you’re so brave, go yell at the prefectural yamen’s gates!"  

"I will go there to demand justice—what right do they have?"  

Though the villager continued to rant, his voice noticeably weakened after Ji Yangzong’s rebuke.  

Ji Yangzong shook his head. Farmers spent their lives buried in the fields—how many truly dared to protest injustice?  

Even in ordinary lawsuits, they trembled in fear before the magistrate, let alone staging an uprising.  

The prefectural soldiers were not to be trifled with—their batons were meant to break arms and legs.  

And the troops stationed outside the city were even more ruthless.  

In truth, the common people could only vent their anger within their own circles, too afraid to speak out openly.  

Before dismissing the assembly, Ji Yangzong offered a few words of consolation, though his own mind was heavy with worry.  

Just then, someone pushed through the crowd and spoke to him.  

Ji Yangzong looked at You's mother, her face glowing and her appearance meticulously groomed, standing out starkly among the downtrodden villagers.  

After hearing her words, his chest heaved with suppressed emotion.  

"The You family’s new residence is complete. At the end of the month, they’ll host a housewarming banquet and invite everyone to enjoy some food and wine."  

You's mother added eagerly, "By then, things will have settled down—everyone must come!"  

The villagers’ expressions twisted with mixed emotions. At a time like this, when everyone was suffering, the You family chose to flaunt their good fortune—what impeccable timing.  

After keeping a low profile for so long, You's mother finally had her moment to gloat during this autumn tax season.  

She hadn’t needed to attend the tax announcement, but she had come deliberately, eager to witness the spectacle and flaunt her status before the villagers.  

While the entire Mingxun Township—and indeed all the townships under the prefecture—was shrouded in gloom, the You family alone was celebrating.  

After the assembly dispersed, the farmers walked away, some cursing, others weeping.  

Though it was only early autumn, the air was thick with desolation.  

"Ah, no matter how hard life gets, we mustn’t let our children suffer. Do everything possible to send them to study for the imperial exams. If even one succeeds, the family’s burden will ease."  

"But if you cling to those few coins and keep the whole family trapped in the dirt, then there’s truly no hope left."  

You's mother flitted among the villagers, offering unsolicited advice here and there.  

"I suspect taxes might rise again next year. They say Tongzhou is prosperous, its land fertile—who wouldn’t covet such a prize?"  

"This year’s prefectural tax is indeed strange, but we should try to understand the prefect’s position. A new official needs to make his mark—he surely wants to do something for the people."  

"We don’t understand the intricacies of politics, so we can only grumble about paying more money."  

The villagers clenched their fists tightly.  

Her words sounded like nothing but mocking indifference, stoking the fire in their hearts.  

Finally, one hot-tempered woman couldn’t take it anymore and snapped, "Sun niangzi, buzzing around like a fly, all you’re doing is showing off that your family doesn’t have to pay taxes. It’s easy to talk big when it doesn’t hurt your own pockets!"  

"You gentry fatten yourselves on our blood and sweat, but don’t get too smug. Colluding with that prefect, you’ll get your retribution sooner or later!"  

"Hey, how dare you speak to me like that! I was only trying to comfort you all, and now you’re blaming me?"  

You's mother planted her hands on her hips and shot back, "Who’ll face retribution first remains to be seen. Illiterate bumpkins like you deserve to be crushed under mountains of taxes!"  

The woman, her eyes red with fury, lunged at You's mother, but the other villagers quickly pulled her back before things turned violent.  

You's mother was startled, realizing these people had nothing left to lose.  

Straightening her clothes with forced composure, she sniffed, "I won’t stoop to your level."