Yin Shang originally thought that her mother-in-law said that the young men in the village hunted in the mountains, so there would not be many prey on the mountains. However, she found a hare as soon as she went up the mountain.
I thought that everyone in the village was just ordinary people, not hunters in the mountains, so my mother-in-law said that it would be difficult for them to hunt prey.
Thinking of this, Yin Shang pursed his lips with complicated eyes.
…
Hunting in winter is nothing more than wild boars, roe deer, hares, pheasants, etc. Yin Shang thought of the oilcloth bag in his arms, pulled out the deer spine bundled on it, and took out the dagger from his waist, making a simple slingshot.
Things like slingshots can only be used against hares.
Fortunately, she was lucky. She hunted two rabbits before it completely darkened. She also encountered a pheasant when she was going down the mountain, but she lost her hand and failed to catch it.
She was not upset and hurried down the mountain and returned to Lianhua Village.
Jiang Yixue heard her footsteps in the room and immediately stood up and walked out until he reached her and grabbed her hand.
There was no light, so the mother-in-law couldn't see her clearly, so she only asked: "Did you hunt anything?"
Yin Shang said: "We have hunted two hares. You go back to the house and sit down. I will kill them outside and bring them in."
When the mother-in-law heard this, she smiled and said, "Child, you are not old, but you are quite capable."
Yin Shang also smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment."
Seeing her mother-in-law go back into the house and close the door, she found a corner, took out her dagger and killed both hares, bleeding them and skinning them.
Jiang Yixue also squatted beside her, holding her arms with both hands, and gently resting his face on her slightly moving shoulders, telling her what he had just learned from her mother-in-law.
The mother-in-law's name is Xu Fu, and the child's name is Zheng Xiaonan.
As Yin Shang guessed, this place was gathered together to form a village to avoid harsh government and corvee labor. There were not many young and middle-aged people in the village, but there were also few people like Xu Fu who were alone at such an old age. After having a child, life becomes even more difficult. In the spring and autumn, I can still grow some vegetables to survive. In the winter, I can only rely on the occasional support from the villagers.
This is the second winter she is about to experience.
She didn't know if she could get through it.
When talking about her family, she also looked numb. Of her two children, the eldest son died of excessive labor. The eldest daughter-in-law's family members wanted to take her back, but she wanted to take her children to take care of Xu Fu at home. After Fu found out, he rushed back to his parents' home.
After the death of the eldest brother, the second daughter took her to this village. She was quite capable and could barely survive. But later, the Dongpei officials came to destroy them and ordered them to either pay money or demolish the village. There was a conflict between the crowd and the officials. Her daughter and several young men rushed to the front and were killed mercilessly on the spot.
When he was buried, he was only wrapped in a rag, a big hole was dug in the mountain, and he was buried directly on the spot.
Since then, Xu Fu has had a hard time living in the village, relying entirely on villagers for financial support. Zheng Xiaonan's father also died in that conflict. He was only six years old, alone, and no one was willing to adopt him. Xu Fu, feeling grateful for his life experience, reached out to A last helping hand.
After speaking, Jiang Yixue was in a low mood and said dullly: "I can't even imagine how they got here in the past few years."
Yin Shang gave a faint hum and did not answer, but the movements in her hands became more and more fierce. Every time, blood splashed out and fell on her face.
Jiang Yixue didn't say anything anymore. She just held her sleeve and wiped it for her.
After the two of them calmed down, they grabbed two bloody rabbits and walked into the house.
Yin Shang cut a few wooden strips and used the simple stove made of stones in the corner to roast the two rabbits on the fire.
Zheng Xiaonan had not eaten much meat since he was born. Looking at the oily and sizzling rabbit roasted by the fire, he swallowed uncontrollably.
Xu Fu poured them a bowl of water and said, "Wipe your hands."
Yin Shang looked down and saw that the blood on his hands had dried up and smelled fishy.
Jiang Yixue thanked her, reached out to take it, tore off a piece of cloth covering her face, soaked it, and wiped her hands bit by bit.
When he finally wiped the gaps between his fingers carefully, Yin Shang moved his hand, interlocked with his fingers, and squeezed hard without restraint.
Jiang Yixue felt a little pain, but said nothing. He just put his other hand on the back of her hand, rubbed it gently, and leaned against her, silently looking at the twisted flames in the pile of rocks.
…
Yin Shang used a dagger to cut off the rabbit meat bit by bit, then broke the skeleton into pieces, divided it into several bowls, and handed them to Xu Fu and Zheng Xiaonan.
Although there was no condiment, it seemed to be the most delicious thing Zheng Xiaonan had eaten since he was born. He held the broken bowl filled with rabbit meat and ate it heartily. After taking a few bites, he began to chew carefully and slowly. Cherish it very much.
Yin Shang lowered his eyebrows and did not look again.
Xu Fu was old and couldn't eat too greasy food. He only ate a few mouthfuls and gave them to Zheng Xiaonan. He took out the last bit of pickles and cooked a bowl of soup, and gave another bowl to each of them.
To be honest, this soup tastes terrible, salty and astringent. It is the most unpleasant thing Yin Shang has ever tasted since she was a child. If she hadn't been exiled to this place, this kind of thing would never have appeared in front of her in her life.
But she happened to come, see and taste it.
When drinking the soup, the unpleasant and disgusting smell inevitably entered her nose, but it reminded her of the imperial power, checks and balances in the court, and tactics and tactics that her mother taught her when she was young.
Those days passed quickly through her mind, and finally settled in this bowl of smelly pickle soup.
Her mother told her to have all the people in her heart.
At this moment, the word "people" truly appeared in front of her.
…
After several people finished eating, Yin Shang and Jiang Yixue helped clean up together, and finally sat on the floor and talked softly.
In addition to what Jiang Yixue told her before, Yin Shang also learned about Dongpei's tax situation.
Generally speaking, the tax forms of Dingzhou mainly include six categories, namely, calculation tax, oral tax, land rent, corvee, calculation, and city customs. Each subject country must also pay tribute silver every year[1].
For people like Xu Fu whose family has been farming for generations, the taxes they need to pay mainly include four categories: calculation tax, oral tax, land rent, and corvee.
Among them, Shuanfu and Oral Fu are poll taxes levied directly on the people. Suanfu is levied on people over the age of fifteen and under sixty. Each person pays 200 yuan per year, and those above the age of thirty are taxed. Married men and women were levied about five times more, and the oral tax was 50 yuan per person per year for children over three years old and under fifteen years old [2].
Land rent is the land tax that farmers have to pay. It is stipulated that every fifth tax is one tax per week. However, before Xu Fu left the city, the local government had already levied one tax per every three taxes on them.
As for corvee, it is labor that adult men and women must perform. Dingzhou stipulates that men and women aged 20 to 50 must go to the prefecture and county to serve for one month every year. If they do not serve, they must pay two thousand coins. Those who are more suitable are also required to guard the border for three days every year. However, this is mostly just a name, because the border guard is far away and difficult to return. If you don't go, you will be asked to pay 300 yuan.
Lin Lin finally calculated that Xu Fu's family only received about 30 taels of silver every year, and was taxed on nearly 20 taels.
Not to mention that the children in the family have to go to the prefecture and county for a month every year. If it is time to harvest the fields in autumn, they have to hire additional people, which costs a lot of money.
But even so, the tribute silver to each vassal country is increased every year on a certain week. When there is a disaster in some place and money and food are needed, it is ridiculous that the money is not available.
If the treasury has no money, officials have no money, and the people have no money, then where does the money go?
Is it in Yi'an, in the forbidden palace, in the treasury, or in the greedy mouths from top to bottom?
…
The fire was still burning, the room was not dark, and the cold wind kept pouring in from all directions.
After several people finished talking about taxes, they were all silent for a while.
After a long time, Yin Shang was able to get out of his deep thoughts, looked at Zheng Xiaonan who was already dozing off, and said, "Mother-in-law, it's getting late, you should rest."
Xu Fu hummed and pretended to take off his coat for them, saying, "We have quilts. This coat will protect you from the cold."
Yin Shang hurriedly stopped her and said: "My mother-in-law took us in for one night, which is already a nuisance. It's cold now, so please take care of yourself."
The two refused again, but when Xu Fu saw her insistence, he had to give up, extinguished the fire with her, and took Zheng Xiaonan to sleep in the shabby quilt.
Yin Shang finally chose a corner with little ventilation, sat down against the wall, and whispered to Jiang Yixue, "I'll hold you."
The room was dark, and Jiang Yixue also took off the cloth covering his face and said, "Don't, you'll be tired."
Yin Shang didn't listen to him. He grabbed his slender wrist and gently brought him into his arms. He hugged him tightly and said, "It's so warm. Besides, you are weak, so be good."
Jiang Yixue struggled but did not pull away, so she could only lie in her arms obediently and whispered in her ear: "Call me when you are tired."
Yin Shang agreed, but the next moment she felt him wrap his arms around her neck and gently kiss the side of her face.
With a slight movement in his heart, Yin raised the corners of his lips and said in a gentler voice: "Go to sleep."
He gently leaned his head on her shoulder and hummed softly.
The moon is high in the sky, and the cold wind is howling outside.
But neither of them could sleep much, and they could only hug each other tighter and tighter in silence in the cold dark night.
In the middle of the night, Yin Shang vaguely saw heavy snow falling outside through the large gap in the roof. Large flakes of snowflakes fell from the sky like goose feathers. She raised her head and watched quietly. one night.
…
Xu Fu woke up not long after it became light outside. Zheng Xiaonan was still curled up in the quilt and sleeping.
Seeing the two siblings in the corner, she smiled and asked, "Is it cold at night?"
Yin Shang said: "It's okay," after a pause, she added: "It seems to be snowing outside."
She just said something casually, but as soon as she said this, Xu Fu's expression suddenly changed and he asked: "Is it snowing? Really?"
She stepped on the ground and hurriedly walked to open the door. A cold wind rushed in, carrying wind and snow.
Xu Fu hurriedly closed the door, walked to the bedside and called Zheng Xiaonan, shook him and said, "It's snowing, Xiaonan, get up!"
Zheng Xiaonan was still asleep, but when he heard the word snow, he immediately opened his eyes and sat up, looking at Xu Fu with fear on his face.
She took Zheng Xiaonan's little hand and called to Yin and Jiang, saying, "I don't know when they will come. Come and hide with me!"
Yin Shang looked confused and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xu Fu said: "Every year when it snows, officials will come to raid the village. Go quickly and don't conflict with them."
Although Yin Shang didn't know why, seeing Xu Fu's panic, he still stood up with Jiang Yixue and followed Xu Fu out of the yard.
The cold wind outside is like a knife, and the cold wind goes straight into people's necks and cuffs.
It was still early, but many people in the village had already walked out in a hurry and walked up the mountain together.
Xu Fu had to walk with a crutch, so she naturally walked slowly, so Yin Shang helped her walk together.
But after walking a few steps, Xu Fu said: "You quickly take Xiaonan, follow them, and hide in the mountains. I am an old woman, and they will not do anything to me."
Yin Shang frowned, and just as he was about to let Jiang Yixue take Zheng Xiaonan away first, there was a commotion in the distance.
Several people looked around and saw that the villagers who were walking in front were running back in a panic, followed by a dozen officials with swords who looked worried.
Looking back, I saw that there were also officials surrounding me, thinking that they had already surrounded this small village.
The leading official was a man in his thirties, wearing a thick cotton coat. He was not tall, had a dark complexion, and had particularly impatient eyes. After surrounding the people who wanted to escape, he raised his voice: "Nian Can you run in the New Year's race?"
No one in the villagers spoke, and there was dead silence.
The official pulled out the knife from his side and made a chilling sound. Zheng Xiaonan shrank and hid behind Xu Fu.
He drew out his knife and faced the crowd, saying: "Either you pay, or you come back to the city with us to serve in prison, or I kill a few people to honor the laws of my court."
Yin Shang almost wanted to laugh when he heard this. He stepped forward facing the blade and asked, "May I ask, Mr. Guan, how much do you want?"
Hearing this, he squinted his eyes and looked at Yin Shang, smiled and said, "Hey, new guy?"
She smiled and said nothing.
The man said: "It's not much, just ten taels per person. This year is over."
Shiliang, you really dare to speak.
Yin Shang asked again: "Then these ten taels, are they for you? For the county magistrate? Or for the state pastor?" She smiled and said, "Or should we directly fill the treasury?"
The man frowned and cursed a few unpleasant words. He was still angry. He stared at Yin for a few times and said with a smile: "If you can't afford it, you can go back with us yourself. That's fine."
Hearing this, Jiang Yixue behind her immediately moved, trying to block Yin Shang's face, but she reached out to stop him.
However, this moment also made the officials pay attention to Jiang Yixue. The official who was cursing was suddenly stunned, and the crowd behind him suddenly fell silent, all staring at this place without speaking.
Yin Shang reacted immediately, took out the cloth that he had used to wrap his face yesterday, and covered his face.
The official also woke up from his daze, his eyes became dim and unclear, and he said with a smile: "Is this a new face too?" He met Yin Shang's cold eyes and said: "Hand him over, and forget about anything else. Yes, what do you think?"
Seeing that Yin Shang didn't speak, he raised his voice to the villagers crowding behind him: "As long as this person is handed over, this year will be over!"
After a brief silence, the villagers' moderate voices came from behind.
"Whose family does this belong to?"
"I don't know him, I've never seen him before."
"A foreigner? Have you just arrived?"
"It's better to hand him over..."
"Isn't this bad..."
"Then you pay!"
"My family can't even open the pot. How can I still have ten taels of silver?"
"..."
These sounds reached the ears of several people. Xu Fu immediately took a few steps forward with a cane and said to the official in an old and vague voice: "You are dreaming! All of you who have killed a thousand people should go to hell." go!"
Hearing this, the official frowned, turned the blade towards Xu Fu, and said, "You old man, do you want to die?!"
His face was full of arrogance, and the knife in his hand stabbed Xu Fu mercilessly, as if he was facing just a piece of tofu instead of a living person.
Yin Shang's eyes flashed, and he immediately rushed forward, kicked the opponent's knife away, turned over, grabbed the handle of the knife, and put it on the official's neck.
The official's expression changed immediately, and he stared at her in horror. Seeing that the leader was captured, those behind him also drew their swords immediately, but they did not dare to move.
Admiral Yin put the blade of the knife close to his neck and said, "Let me ask again, who are these ten taels of silver per household given to?"
The man didn't want to answer and kept his mouth tightly shut. Yin Shang immediately moved the blade of the knife, and a thin line of blood immediately appeared on his neck.
Seeing that Yin Shang really dared to take action, his legs suddenly became weak. He half-bent his knees and said tremblingly: "Give it to the county magistrate."
Yin Shang asked again: "Don't you want to take any of it?"
The man looked miserable, swallowed carefully, and then said: "We don't..." Realizing that the blade was getting closer, he quickly changed his words and said: "We only take one tenth!"
After saying that, his knees softened and he knelt directly on the ground.
It can be seen that Yin Shang's face is getting colder and colder, and he seems to really want to kill him. He hurriedly said: "I am a county official! If you kill me, you will be punished! Cut to pieces with a thousand cuts! The death penalty - "
Before he finished speaking, Yin Shang took action and took his life without changing his expression.
He tremblingly stretched out his hand to cover his neck, stared at her with wide eyes, and said: "You...you..." But the other party only held the cold knife full of blood and looked at him coldly. gave a smile.
He fell to the ground with a bang, and there was deathly silence between heaven and earth.
It took a long time for the officials in front and behind to react, and they immediately rushed toward her with knives in a ferocious manner, but she was not afraid. Facing the countless knives, she held up the weapon in her hand, as if speaking to them, but also to herself. He said, his lips slightly parted, and he threw out one word lightly and sharply: "Kill."
