Chapter 319 Extra: Common People Song Kaishan (1)

In a farmhouse on the outskirts of Beijing, a middle-aged man carrying a hoe had just entered the yard.

A woman in the courtyard, whose hair was wrapped in a gray cloth, immediately stood up.

"Honey, you're back! There's food warming up on the stove, let me bring it to you."

The man didn't say anything, just nodded, then put down his hoe and sat down on the bench in the yard.

"Song Kaishan, you need to get rid of the weeds in your field quickly, otherwise it will affect next year's harvest."

Although the land tax has been reduced a lot now, can your family feed themselves if you collect less?

Oh, I almost forgot, your family's twenty mu of land is exempt from land tax.

"Your son is a minor leader in the Weiyuan Army!" An old man from next door shouted at Song Kaishan from his perch on the wall.

The middle-aged man didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.

The middle-aged man in front of them was Song Kaishan, and the woman who came out with the rice bowl was Ding.

The two of them were nothing like the glamorous and wealthy people they had been in the Marquis's mansion.

...

Six years ago, after Emperor Xiao Xuan, who had not yet abdicated, went to the north, he thoroughly investigated the affairs of Song Kaiyuan's family. He not only executed all those who had harmed Song Kaiyuan's family, but also demoted Song Kaishan's family, who knew about the matter but did not report it, to commoners.

It was already a mercy from Emperor Xiao Xuan that Song Kaishan's family was spared.

The original Marquis's residence was definitely no longer habitable, but fortunately, the Song family had a courtyard next to the sacrificial fields outside the capital.

This used to be the residence of the servants who guarded the sacrificial fields, but now...

Since their home had been ransacked and they had nothing of value left, Song Kaishan and his wife had no choice but to move here.

The servants had all been dismissed, and there was nothing of value left. The couple stared at each other blankly in this courtyard, a place they had never wanted to set foot in before…

Originally, Ding had secretly hidden some jewelry and silver notes, but later, when Song Zhiqing was sold, Ding secretly bought Song Zhiqing and spent all the silver notes she had secretly hidden.

When Song Kaishan found out, he gave Ding a severe beating in front of Song Zhijing.

Song Kaishan was not willing to give up; he felt he still had a chance.

He also has children. His son, Song Yaoqing, is in the Weiyuan Army in the north. Although his eldest daughter has severed ties with her family and entered the palace, he still has a younger daughter.

Although the youngest daughter, Song Zhiqing, had been married before, she was quite beautiful. Wasn't there a wealthy man nearby who took a liking to Song Zhiqing and was willing to spend five hundred taels of silver to buy her as a concubine...?

Song Kaishan had his own plan: to sell Song Zhiqing to that wealthy man and then take the money to the north.

He is now a commoner and has no future in the capital, but he can go to the north.

He could join the army under a different identity. He had experience managing a patrol battalion, and his son was still in the Weiyuan Army. He was sure he could achieve something great.

Or, if the Weiyuan army couldn't contain him, he could continue running north, all the way to the territory of the King of Zhao.

Out of consideration for past friendships, the King of Zhao would surely take him in and help him secure a future.

His requirements weren't high; he just wanted someone who wasn't a commoner.

Song Kaishan couldn't bear the thought of going from a nobleman to a commoner. The thought of having to pick up a hoe and do farm work like those farmers made him want to slit his own throat right then and there.

Who knows...

After learning of Song Kaishan's intentions, Ding immediately told Song Zhiqing, and then helped Song Zhiqing obtain a new identity and secretly let her go.

Song Kaishan recalled that he had been drugged by Ding and slept until noon before waking up, only to find that Song Zhiqing was missing.

Along with it, the remaining jewelry belonging to the Ding family also disappeared...

Having no other option, Song Kaishan could only take his anger out on the Ding family.

Ding was beaten so badly by Song Kaishan that she almost lost her life.

"You're such a troublemaker! If it weren't for you, how could the Marquis's mansion have ended up in this state! Zhi Mian wouldn't have gone to the palace, and she wouldn't have severed ties with her family."

I was so blind to have made you my official wife; you're such a troublemaker.

"You and your daughter are both troublemakers!" Song Kaishan said, hitting and cursing at the same time.

No matter how hard he tries, Song Zhiqing will not come back.

Song Kaishan searched the vicinity but couldn't find Song Zhiqing, so he had to give up.

They are now truly destitute.

Song Kaishan had run out of money, and the village head was very strict. As a newly demoted commoner, he was watched by everyone in the village, and he couldn't even get a travel permit...

Song Kaishan had no choice but to accept his fate and, like the other farmers, carry a hoe to the fields.

He's never farmed before and knows nothing.

Fortunately, the villagers around him were kind and honest, and they practically taught him how to farm, step by step...

...

Ding carefully placed a large, rough porcelain bowl with a chip in it in front of Song Kaishan.

The bowl contained a bowl of mixed grain rice, two mixed flour steamed buns, and a small dish of pickled vegetables.

Song Kaishan didn't say anything and just kept eating.

The simple meals were nothing compared to the delicacies of the past, but Song Kaishan didn't care anymore; as long as he could fill his stomach, that was enough.

Ding was being very careful, mending one of Song Kaishan's clothes in her hands.

"Shall I bring you food from the fields tomorrow?" Ding asked softly.

"No need! I'll just come back to eat! I can take a nap after I eat," Song Kaishan said in a muffled voice.

Ding's family...

She said she brought the food to the fields because she wanted Song Kaishan to not rest for too long, and to take advantage of the good weather and cleanliness these days to pull out all the weeds in the fields...

After he finishes eating, he'll take a nap. Who knows how long he'll sleep!

Thinking back to how her harvest was so much less than everyone else's last year, and how she had become the laughing stock of the village, Ding couldn't help but feel a little resentful.

"It's okay, I'll still deliver it to you..."

"Shut up! If you really care about me, then go work in the fields. Why waste so much breath!" Song Kaishan glared fiercely at Ding Shi.

Ding trembled immediately after being looked at by Song Kaishan.

"I...I was just saying! If you don't want to, you can come back and eat here!"

Song Kaishan snorted and continued to shovel his rice into his mouth.

"Um... I was chatting with the village head's wife today and heard something!" Ding said softly.

"What is it? Is it about taxes?" Song Kaishan asked, looking up.

"No! I heard the Regent is getting married!" Ding looked cautiously at Song Kaishan.

"So what if it's a wedding? It's not like it's His Majesty's wedding. There's no chance of a general amnesty or any handouts. What are you trying to do? Go rob someone of their wedding money?" Song Kaishan sneered.

“No! I heard that the Regent’s Consort was a palace lady who served the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty. She is… Song Zhimin!” Ding said in a low voice.

Song Kaishan...

The food in his hand suddenly lost its appeal.