After the bag was emptied, the measuring tool was still a little short of being full. Mrs. Zhang hurriedly carried the bag forward to fill it up. The official raised his foot and kicked it. The grains of wheat suddenly collapsed a lot. She still felt dissatisfied, and then Kicked.
Zhang: "..."
On a hot day, there was cold sweat on my forehead.
But you still don't dare to say anything. Once you show dissatisfaction, people will find many ways to punish you and make it even more difficult for you to speak out.
We can only fill in the missing parts respectfully and quickly.
The official made a mark in the small book.
Li Zheng, who was next to him, said: "The Lu Duotian family is still short of four adults and one child."
This person is from the next village. Xinghua Village is too small and there is no Li Zheng, so Li Zheng from the next village is also responsible for the related affairs of Xinghua Village.
I go to Xinghua Village every year to assist with grain tax affairs, and I know the population situation of each household very well.
Su Ruyi responded, pulled Zhang next to her and left.
Mrs. Zhang was so distraught that she would suffer some losses when handing in food in the past, but it was the same for every household, so she thought it was normal.
But today, the official's attitude of deliberately making things difficult for the Lu family was clearly on his face. This is the most frightening thing.
"Mom, do you have any scraps of silver there?"
Su Ruyi called Zhang back to her senses.
Mrs. Zhang hurriedly said: "Yes! Yes!"
"Go back and get me two pieces."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
Mrs. Zhang quickly walked towards her home. She also knew in her heart that it would be difficult to solve the problem without spending money today.
But she was dumbfounded when she hurried back with the broken pieces of silver. Su Ruyi had actually handed over all the food she was supposed to hand over. There was such a thick layer of wheat on the linen cloth under the measuring tool that it made people's hearts beat.
"Miss Su, do you have any dissatisfaction?"
The official said with a smile.
Su Ruyi's eyebrows twitched slightly. It was true that no one in the village knew who she was, but it was a bit strange that the officials above also knew who she was.
She said calmly: "The civilian woman is not dissatisfied when I return to the official."
"That's right. Your Lu family is now so prosperous that you have to hire people to harvest even the grain. Naturally, you don't like this grain."
The two officials said sarcastically with a half-smile.
Most of the villagers nearby who were waiting to hand over food showed great joy.
Su Ruyi did not argue with the officials and politely stepped away.
"Su Ruyi! You——"
Mrs. Zhang grabbed her and walked to where her grain was piled, while lowering her voice and saying anxiously: "Didn't you tell me to go back and get the money? Why didn't you hold off?"
If this money is quietly given to the official, they will definitely not embarrass their family!
Su Ruyi wiped the sweat from her face, her whole face was flushed with sunburn.
"Mom, where's the broken silver? Give it to me."
“I’ve handed over all the food, but I won’t need it now!”
Even as he said that, he took out the broken silver from his sleeve and stuffed it into Su Ruyi.
Zhang's heart has never calmed down, and her face is now pale. It's not because she paid so much more food, but because she offended the official. She always feels that the road ahead will be very difficult, and the more she thinks about it, the more worried she becomes.
Su Ruyi held her arm and said with a smile: "Mom, it's nothing big, don't worry, I'll take care of everything!"
"As one wishes--"
Zhang's voice stopped and she blurted out, almost crying.
Since my husband died, I have to worry about all the big and small things in the family. Although my sons are in charge, I am the head of the family. I have never let go of my heart. Now I can't count on my three sons, and I am helpless. At that time, I suddenly heard someone say this——
Her heart felt so warm that it felt sour, and she suddenly relaxed. Yes, she was the daughter-in-law who was in charge now, and she was doing a pretty good job at it!
Judging from her current appearance, she was calm and smiling, as if everything was not that big of a deal.
"Ruyi, this family is thanks to you..."
Zhang's voice was a little tired and not as high-pitched as usual.
Su Ruyi also felt soft in her heart. When she came into this world, her mother-in-law kept calling her "Su Ruyi, Su Ruyi". Just now she suddenly called herself "Ruyi", as if the distance was getting closer invisibly.
She also heard the fragility of this always high-spirited mother-in-law.
He said softly: "Mom, it's okay. Just watch them take the food home and have a good rest at home. I'll go back later."
"You must not do anything stupid. Those officials are different from us idiots! Big trouble will happen if you offend them!"
Mrs. Zhang grabbed Su Ruyi's hand and warned her nervously.
"Mom, don't worry. I'm not stupid. Why did I provoke them? Go back and take the children back."
After handing over the food, the Lu family only had twenty bags of food left, one of which was not full.
Five paid men made two trips to carry the grain back.
When Su Ruyi looked at Zheng Zheng alone, she went over and stuffed him with a broken piece of silver.
Li Zheng was stunned for a moment when he saw it was her, and was about to put the money back in his hand.
"From the Lu family, it's useless for you to beg me at this time. I can't get that food back for you either, alas..."
After all, Li Zheng was also a farmer, and he knew that growing crops was not easy, and he also knew that it was disgusting for officials to plunder money privately, but he was the lowest official after all, and he could only turn a blind eye to the things officials did. Method.
Su Ruyi took a small step back and did not take back the money. She smiled slightly and whispered: "Master Li Zheng, I didn't mean that. I just want to ask you why our Lu family made those two unhappy? Who is talking about our Lu family behind our back?"
After hearing this, Li Zheng stuffed money into his sleeves and pushed the woman back and forth, causing others to see trouble.
"It's from the Luo family. Those two people felt uncomfortable when they heard that the Lu family made a lot of money. Alas, since you have other livelihoods, don't worry about that much food."
Su Ruyi nodded: "Master Li Zheng is right, let me ask again what the names of those two officials are?"
…
In the evening, everyone in the family knew that they had been embarrassed by the official today, and everyone was as frightened as Mrs. Zhang.
Mrs. Zhang asked: "Ruyi, have you given those two pieces of silver to me?"
Su Ruyi: "No, I have handed over all the food. It is useless to give it."
Su Ruyi counted the profits from today's stall, then pushed 200 copper coins in front of her mother-in-law, and added another 15 coins.
Give 10 cents to each of the two sisters-in-law.
"The daily money will go up in the future."
As she said this, she gave Liu Cuier another 10 coins: "This belongs to the eldest brother."
In the past few days, Lu Duotian worked hard to make a dummy for Su Ruyi to practice acupuncture. Su Ruyi asked that the dummy must be made like a human being, which made him so worried that his hair almost fell out.
"Don't do this yet!" Mrs. Zhang knocked on the table, not caring about collecting the money, "You didn't give it to the two officials, then who did you give it to?"
"It's straightened out."
