After hearing this, everyone frowned.
In recent years, Emperor Renxuan has increased taxes a bit because of his Northern Expedition, but it has only reached normal levels.
For ordinary people, there should be plenty of surplus after paying the grain tax.
But this is obviously not the case with the old woman in front of her.
More importantly, grain taxes are generally collected in the autumn, when people have just had a good harvest and have surplus grain in their hands. Paying grain taxes will not bring much burden to them.
It's already spring, and tax time is long past.
Why is this old woman still clamoring to hand over food?
"Old man, don't panic. We are travelers from afar. We are only here to stay for one night, not to collect food."
Although he was full of doubts, now was obviously not the time to delve deeper, so Wei Qing stepped forward and explained his purpose.
When the rickety old woman heard this, her face was shocked at first, and then she showed a look of relief.
"I see, it's easy to talk about."
"It's just that my hut is in a dilapidated state, and I'm afraid I'll treat you all badly."
"It doesn't matter, I've been tired from traveling, and now I just want a place to rest and have a hot meal."
"I'll leave early tomorrow morning. I won't disturb you too much."
After saying that, Mr. Xiang handed the old woman a heavy silver ingot and said: "This money can be considered as the cost of our stay here."
The old woman touched the silver ingot, couldn't help opening her cloudy eyes, and exclaimed: "There are too many, too many, there is no need for these."
"It doesn't matter, just take it and try to make some good wine and food."
After hearing this, the old woman's expression did not improve, but became even more worried.
When everyone saw this, they didn't take it seriously and went into the hut to rest.
After entering, everyone's expressions suddenly turned ugly.
This hut is not small, but it is more than enough for them to rest.
However, due to the thatch roof and a spring rain a few days ago, there was a lot of water in the house, making it look very damp.
The guard's face turned livid and he said angrily: "How can I rest in a place like this?"
"Everyone says Huainan is rich, is this it?"
"You can't say that. This is a remote place in Huainan. The old woman is old and has difficulty making a living. It's normal for her to be a little depressed." Wei Qing said hurriedly.
"Forget it, let's eat early, rest for one night and then leave." Mr. Xiang also had some helplessness in his words.
It is said that Huainan is rich and prosperous. Even if it is a remote place, how could it be so desolate?
Everyone sighed, unable to hide their disappointment.
This is quite different from the prosperous Huainan they dreamed of.
"Old woman, has the food been prepared? I'll eat it so I can rest early."
"Okay, okay, I'll bring it right away."
The old woman came forward tremblingly, carrying a tray.
When Mr. Xiang saw it, his expression suddenly turned ugly.
The guard was even more furious. He pointed at the clear soup on the tray and said, "You are so brave!"
"My master gave you so much money, and you just use it to fool me?"
There were only a few bowls of rice porridge and a few dishes of vegetables on the tray.
The green vegetables looked disgusting, maybe there was no salt at all.
That rice porridge... It is said to be rice porridge, but in fact it is just a clear soup with only a few grains of rice floating, just like clear water.
Seeing this scene, even Wei Qing didn't say anything.
They were tired from traveling and traveling, and it happened to be a torrential spring rain. They were already tired and exhausted. They should eat something good to replenish their strength.
Moreover, the ingot of silver given by the Holy Spirit is enough for them to have a big meal no matter where they go, and there is still plenty left.
This old woman only used this little thing to send them away. She was so bold and perfunctory!
This guard was from the Imperial Guards. In his rage, he let out a roar that would make even a normal man tremble, let alone the old woman in front of him.
The old woman was so frightened that she almost fell to her knees, took out the ingot of silver from her arms, returned it, and sobbed: "Dear guest, it's not that this old woman wants to steal your money. In fact, I only have the money at home. That’s it.”
"You want to eat something with oil and water, but the old woman really can't bring it out."
Hearing this, Mr. Xiang couldn't bear it any longer and said, "I remember that the imperial court's taxes were not high. How could you be in such a miserable state?"
"The imperial court's taxes are not high, but in addition to paying taxes to the imperial court, we also have to pay rent to Mr. Huang."
"Our whole family is originally tenants of Mr. Huang's family."
"When my old man, eldest brother and second son were still alive, the three of them worked hard and could barely make ends meet."
"Later, when the boss was farming, Mr. Huang's cattle went crazy for some reason and trampled my boss to death."
"The second brother was so angry that he came to Mr. Huang to argue with him, but he was beaten to death."
"The old man couldn't stand the excitement, so he left soon after."
Hearing this, the entire hut fell into silence.
Mr. Xiang looked ugly and said, "How much rent do you want to pay to Mr. Huang's family?"
"Almost three times the imperial tax."
boom!
As soon as these words came out, they were like thunder, hitting Mr. Xiang's heart hard, making him shocked and angry.
"You are a scoundrel who cares about people's lives and absorbs people's fat and oil. Why don't you report him to the official?"
When the old woman heard this, she was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly.
"Some people have reported it to the police, but the body became cold in the middle of the night."
"Some knowledgeable people say that half of Mr. Huang's money was given to Mr. Huang. We can't sue him."
Hearing this, it felt like a hurricane was blowing inside the thatched house, and everyone was suffocated.
Mr. Xiang's face was originally livid, but now he was flushed with anger.
He said angrily: "A good official and businessman protect each other, and they bully my people like this. Do you really think that the laws of the imperial court are made of mud?"
"Tell me where Mr. Huang's home is, and I will seek justice for you!"
However, after the old woman heard this, she did not show gratitude. Instead, she looked panicked, with fear on her brows.
"No, absolutely not."
"Mr. Huang's family has dozens of thugs, and there are government officials backing them up. You can't defeat them."
"Don't let your life be lost just because of this matter."
"It's better to eat and take a rest early."
Hearing this, Mr. Xiang just snorted coldly and said: "I want to see who is more powerful, his dozens of thugs, or my guards."
"Don't worry, sir, we will definitely capture that young man tomorrow."
When Mr. Xiang heard this, he nodded and said to the old woman: "Put this money away. When we take care of Mr. Huang tomorrow, we can go to the town to buy some food and enjoy our old age in peace."
When the old woman heard what he said, she was so anxious that she burst into tears, but she was helpless.
She is an old woman, so what?
At most, after these individuals were beaten to death, their bodies would be collected.
Just like her boss, second child, and old man.
