Changze County is located in the northeast of Qian Kingdom and is the closest county to Sanqianxueling.
After going down the mountain, Chen Tang followed his memory and returned home.
He stood at the door for a while to calm down before pushing the door open and entering.
This house is not big and is in a remote location. There is a thick layer of snow in the courtyard and there are no traces of life. It seems that it has been empty for a long time.
The interior of the house is very simple. When you enter the door, you can see the main room. The bedroom on the left was originally the place where Chen and his son slept.
When the fire in the stove went out for a long time, there was even a layer of floating ash on the table.
Where is Chen Daan?
Chen Tang was confused.
The two bows used by the father and son for hunting are still hanging on the wall.
In other words, Chen Daan did not go out hunting.
Chen Tang came to the wall and took off his own bow.
This is a half stone bow.
One stone here is equivalent to one hundred kilograms.
To fully draw a half-stone bow, you need at least fifty kilograms of arm strength.
At its best, the predecessor could barely draw this half-stone bow to full capacity.
Chen Tang followed his past habit and pulled the bow string with all his strength!
This half-stone bow was instantly drawn to the full moon.
Snapped!
The next moment, the bowstring couldn't bear the huge force and suddenly broke!
this……
Chen Tang was stunned.
In just over a month, his strength has increased so much?
He took off Chen Da'an's stone bow again.
This time I was more careful and slowly pulled away.
Even if it was a stone bow, he could draw it to full length effortlessly, even more easily than Chen Daan when bending the bow.
It seems that what the mountain guest said is true.
Being suckled by a tiger for more than a month was indeed extraordinary.
boom!
At this moment, the courtyard door was suddenly kicked open!
I saw a man in his thirties, with a fat head and big ears, with his hands folded and hidden in his sleeves, walking slowly in.
Cui Yong!
Chen Daan and his son had just moved into the city, and Cui Yong often came to make things difficult for them.
Cui Yong was followed by two young men full of hooliganism. They carried knives at their waists and wore the county government's official uniforms, but there were no markings on them.
The three of them are all white servants in Changze County. They are non-staff servants. However, they are backed by the government, and they run rampant in the county. Ordinary people do not dare to provoke them.
Cui Yong said with a smile: "Look, isn't this the famous Fuhu Shaoxia from Changze County?"
More than a month ago, my predecessor encountered an uneven road and had a fight with someone in the street, attracting crowds from Changze County to watch.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, the predecessor fired all 16 Fuhu Fists, and was hit by 32 knives, but the opponent was unharmed...
Because of this, not long after he came down from the mountain, he got a nickname - Fuhu Shaoxia.
It can be said that he became famous in one battle.
The name Fuhu Shaoxia has become the biggest joke in Changze County.
"Everyone knows the Fuhu Fist, but you are still the first to fight with Fuhu Fist. I think you might as well use the King Ba Fist, haha."
"This kid is very lucky. He was hit by thirty-two knives and he didn't die. It seems that Fuhu Fist is still useful. He can withstand two knives along the way!"
The two white servants laughed.
The previous incident was indeed a bit frustrating, but Chen Tang didn't find it ridiculous.
"It's a good time that he's not dead. Wu'an County has just issued a corvee document, and each household chooses a man over the age of sixteen to go to Wu'an County to build a city and open a river."
Cui Yong said: "Your father is in prison, so I can only send you to Wu'an County to do corvee service."
Another white servant said with a bad smile: "Having the opportunity to serve the imperial court is a blessing that you will not be able to cultivate in eight lifetimes. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Chen Tang frowned secretly.
The so-called corvee, simply put, means working for the court. You can do whatever you are asked to do without any reward.
There are many types of corvee, most of which are targeted at the lower class people, such as clan dignitaries, and aristocratic families can be exempted from corvee.
It was not uncommon for people to die of illness or exhaustion while doing corvee work. Supervisors deducted food and wages, and people starved to death. The people were miserable.
If caught up in a war, it would be a narrow escape.
In his previous life, he stayed up late and worked overtime until he died. Now in his new life, he would be forced to work as a coolie again?
What's going on with Chen Da'an in prison?
At this moment, a brisk sound of horse hooves sounded.
The ground trembled slightly, and from a distance I saw a group of young girls in brocade robes, riding tall horses, returning from outside in a high-spirited manner, and happened to be passing by here.
"Look, isn't that our Fuhu young hero from Changze County?"
"Haha, it's really him, and he's not dead?"
This group of boys and girls pointed in this direction, laughed and talked without hesitation.
The first girl, who had already passed by this place, heard everyone's discussion, glanced here, and couldn't help but frowning.
After thinking for a moment, the girl turned the horse's head and walked towards this direction.
Everyone behind wanted to see the fun and followed.
"What happened?"
Chen Tang looked up and saw a graceful girl wearing a fiery red fox fur cloak and a hanging bun riding on a horse. She looked towards him and asked softly.
The girl has a melon-shaped face, beautiful eyebrows and beautiful eyes, is dignified and bright, and has a radiant appearance.
As soon as their eyes touched for a moment, the memory of the girl came to mind.
Mei Yingxue!
The only martial arts gym in Changze County, the daughter of the owner of Meihua Martial Arts Gym.
There was a ripple in Chen Tang's heart.
The predecessor had some admiration for this Mei Yingxue.
It's just that the difference in status between the two is too big, so it's simply impossible.
Every time Chen Da'an hunted a prey, he would take Chen Tang down the mountain to buy some food and supplies in Changze County. At the same time, he would sell the prey to the Meihua Martial Arts School, with which he was quite familiar.
Chen Tang followed his father and had the opportunity to meet Mei Yingxue several times at the Meihua Martial Arts School. She was also dressed in red and had a subtle fragrance.
One of them, Mei Yingxue also saw him and nodded to him.
From then on, the red clothes reflect the snow, and the beautiful woman falls into a dream.
I didn't expect to see you again today. My predecessor is deceased.
"It turns out to be Miss Mei."
There is only one martial arts school in Changze County. The Mei family is nothing in Wu'an County, but in Changze County, it is definitely considered a famous family.
This eldest lady is also a well-known beauty, so Cui Yong naturally recognizes her.
Cui Yong said with a smile: "Chen Tang has just received the corvee documents from the county government. I will give him a chance to serve the court and atone for his father's sins."
Mei Yingxue glanced at Chen Tang, frowned and said, "He was seriously injured and his father is in prison. It would be too cruel to ask him to do corvee service now. Can't we be accommodating?"
"This is the law of the imperial court, and even a villain cannot be the master."
Cui Yong replied with a smile on his face, but he didn't give in at all in his words.
Mei Yingxue pondered for a moment and said: "There is also an article in the imperial law that if you pay thirty taels of silver, you can pay for one year of corvee."
One tael of silver can be exchanged for about one thousand copper coins, which is a common currency.
Thirty taels is thirty guan of money!
In the Qian country, ordinary farmers, excluding excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes, can only earn a few taels a year, or only a few hundred cash a month.
Thirty taels of silver is nothing to a wealthy family, but it is difficult for ordinary people to save it after working hard all their lives.
Cui Yong laughed when he heard this and said: "There is indeed this one, but do you think this person can give out thirty taels of silver?"
"Let him go."
Mei Yingxue took out thirty taels of silver ingots, threw them at Cui Yong, and said, "I went out for him."
Thirty taels is not a small amount.
"Senior Sister Mei, why are you paying attention to him?"
A young girl in brocade clothes frowned and glanced at Chen Tang with disgust on her face.
Another young man who seemed quite stable and mature smiled slightly and said, "Junior sister Yingxue is kind-hearted and cannot bear to see a useless person like Chen Tang suffer and die."
Chen Tang sneered.
This little kid is playing tricks on me, complimenting Mei Yingxue, and not forgetting to step on me.
As a man of two generations, he looked at these boys and girls as if they were children. He could guess how many times the other party would stick out their butts and poop.
"hey-hey!"
Cui Yong smiled brightly and said, "Okay, if Miss Mei family speaks, our brothers will definitely give her face."
Cui Yong got the advantage, waved his hand, and walked away swaggeringly.
Watching Mei Yingxue send Cui Yong away with a few words, Chen Tang was a little confused, wondering why Mei Yingxue would help.
After all, the two of them had only met each other a few times, never even spoken to each other, let alone had any friendship.
Mei Yingxue dismounted and walked towards this side.
Chen Tang's heart felt like still water.
In his previous life, he had long passed the age of youthful ignorance and daydreams. He was not prone to being sentimental and had no distracting thoughts.
Chen Tang looked at Mei Yingxue with clear eyes and said with cupped hands: "Thank you very much, Miss Mei, for your help."
"I heard about you."
Mei Yingxue said: "The one who hurt you was the young gang leader of the Blackwater Gang, but you don't have to worry. He was just escorting the goods from the far north that day. He was taking a rest in Changze County on the way. He is not here usually."
Hearing this, Chen Tang felt slightly relieved.
The Blackwater Gang are all aliens from the extreme northern cold regions. Most of them are tall and easy to identify with their hair in a ruffle.
As long as he stayed clear of the Blackwater gang, a lot of the risk would be reduced.
"The Blackwater Gang is very powerful and has business contacts with the officials of various counties in Pingzhou. They have close relations, and even the officials are unwilling to provoke them. That day, the county government arrested the headman and the officials were all present, including people from our martial arts school, but they No one dares to take action, only you..."
After a moment of pause, Mei Yingxue said seriously: "Chen Tang, you are a good person."
Forehead……
Chen Tang smiled bitterly.
It took him a long time to react to a turning point.
I like to mention a good guy card at the beginning.
This time not only did he owe a debt, he also owed a favor.
What's more, thirty taels is just to avoid the corvee this year.
Next year when the corvee is collected, Cui Yong will come to visit him again.
Even if there is no Cui Yong, there will still be Li Yong, Zhao Yong...
We have to find a solution once and for all.
"Besides spending money, is there any way to avoid corvee?"
"Join a big family, or become a disciple of a powerful clan member... Of course, you can also practice to a certain level and go to Wu'an County to be ordered. According to the laws of the Qian Kingdom, those who are qualified warriors are exempted from corvee."
Chen Tang was thoughtful.
It seems that in the end it comes down to martial arts training.
We only have one year, so we have to get it ready as soon as possible without slacking off.
Mei Yingxue said: "As far as I know, there are no more than ten ninth-grade warriors in the entire Changze County. There are many servants in the county government's yamen, and there are only three arresters who are ninth-grade warriors."
"so little?"
Chen Tang was a little surprised.
It was much harder to get it than he thought.
"There is no such thing as a poor family."
Mei Yingxue continued: "Martial arts training consumes a lot of money every year. In addition to enough meat, it also requires a variety of precious medicinal materials. The body is soaked in medicinal wine and beaten, which costs at least more than a hundred taels of silver every year."
Chen Tang was secretly speechless.
The same principle applies to poor literature and rich martial arts.
First, it is difficult for poor people to earn so much money.
Secondly, the poor are struggling to make a living. Life is already very difficult and they have no time or energy to practice martial arts.
Mei Yingxue added: "Actually, you are a bit old now, and most of your muscles and bones have been formed. Even if you have enough money and energy to practice martial arts, it may be difficult for you to become a high-ranking martial artist."
fine.
I was fed by a tiger for a month...
Chen Tang smacked his lips.
I feel like drinking milk.
Mei Yingxue didn't want to hit Chen Tang too hard.
In fact, she didn't say a word.
Chen Tang was stabbed thirty-two times, damaging the fascia all over his body. Even if he acts as normal now, there will definitely be hidden injuries and hidden diseases.
It is absolutely impossible to get into the product.
"Thanks for the advice."
Chen Tang clasped his fists and said, "I owe you thirty taels of silver, please give me a little more grace."
"Not urgent."
Mei Yingxue smiled.
She didn't expect Chen Tang to return the favor, and she felt more pity and sympathy for Chen Tang.
"One more thing."
Chen Tang asked: "I heard that my father is in prison. What is going on? Can the girl tell me something?"
Mei Yingxue said: "I heard a few words from people in the martial arts school. It seemed that your father had hurt someone from the official family. He alerted the county government to arrest the head of Cui, and personally took your father away."
Chen Tang frowned.
According to the memory of his predecessor, Chen Da'an has always behaved himself. How could he hurt an official member for no reason?
Cui Captou, Cui Yong...
What is the relationship between the two?
Mei Yingxue said: "No matter what, the conflict between your father and the officials is still a bit irrational. After all, if the people don't fight against the officials, you can't fight them."
Chen Tang curled his lips and disagreed.
Mei Yingxue added: "But don't worry too much. The new emperor has ascended the throne and has granted amnesty to the whole world. All the remaining prisoners have been released. Your father should be among them. You can go to the county government and ask."
"Junior Sister Yingxue, let's go. If we go back late, Master will blame us again." The young man listening impatiently urged.
"Coming!"
Mei Yingxue nodded and smiled at Chen Tang, then rode off.
Chen Tang went out and headed towards the county government office.
