Chapter 604: People's Livelihood in Misery
Orange Free State, February 1881.
On the streets of Bloemfontein, the Restoration Army soldiers began to visit businesses and residents in groups of three or five.
“Bang, bang, bang…”
The door of Green's shoe repair shop was knocked loudly, and the small wooden door was shaking as if it would explode at any moment, but no one paid any attention to it. Those who didn't know the situation thought the shop was not open today.
"Master, shall we open the door?" asked the apprentice of Green, the owner of the shoe repair shop, cautiously.
"Bullshit! These money-grubbers come to collect fees every now and then. What good can come from their visits? Business is getting harder and harder!" Green cursed angrily in a low voice.
"Master, you want to pretend that no one is here, but I don't think it's that easy. Judging from the behavior of those mad dogs outside the door, I dare say they won't give up easily. As the saying goes, if you can't escape the first day, you can't escape the fifteenth day. If they can't get the money this morning, they will definitely come again in the afternoon. If not today, they will try again tomorrow until they get the money."
"Alas, what can we do? These are a bunch of cannibalistic dogs. We in Orange are so unlucky that we took in these ungrateful bastards. These beggars really think they are the masters of Orange. If we hadn't taken them in, they would have starved to death. The same is true in East Africa. Why didn't we kill these heartless guys in the first place? Pah!" Green let out a loud voice and poured out everything that was on his mind.
The apprentice said in a panic: "Master, be careful what you say, there are all their people outside now!"
"What are you afraid of? Are you going to tell on me?"
"Master, you are embarrassing me. I am also a victim! They are not just asking you for money. No one in Bloemfontein can escape this disaster. I hate them so much!" The apprentice quickly expressed his loyalty.
The Transvaal Restoration Army treated everyone equally when it came to being inhumane, so Green's apprentice had no good feelings towards them.
"Humph, these bastards, why don't we see them asking the British for money? Everyone knows that the British make a lot of money selling diamonds. They are bullies who only bully the weak and fear the strong!" said Green.
At this time, the Restoration Army outside the door also lost their patience and shouted threateningly to the house: "Grian, we know you are at home. If you don't open the door, we will force our way in. Then we won't compensate you for this little wooden door!"
In order to keep his shop open and prevent additional losses, Green had no choice but to open the door.
"Boss Green, I thought you were dead in there!" The Restoration Army soldier said arrogantly when he saw Green open the door. After several months of dealing with each other, they were all old acquaintances, so they spoke without courtesy.
"What can I do for you, sirs?"
"Humph, why did you pretend not to be there when we knocked on the door just now? Are you afraid that we would eat you?"
Isn’t it? Green thought so in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it out loud, especially when facing such bandits.
"My dear sirs, this is unfair to me. My shoe repair shop is a small business and usually not many customers come. Business is especially bad this year, so I wanted to close it. That's why I am open less frequently now!" Green excused himself.
"Hmph, who cares about your business? We're here to collect the debt today, just like yesterday. Seven pence and we're gone!"
"Didn't you just collect the fee yesterday? Why are you doing it again today?"
"Stop talking nonsense. This is the government's intention. We are just carrying out the government's request. What's more, yesterday's payment was for maintaining public order, and today's payment is for war protection. There is a fundamental difference between the two.
This security maintenance fee is used to ensure that your business in Bloemfontein is not disturbed. Our Restoration Army can also help you clear the hooligans and thugs on the streets. As for the war protection fee, it is a war fund used to prevent the Germans from invading the Orange Free State from the south. The two have completely different uses. ”
What protection? I don’t know what East Africa is like, but life is really hard under the rule of these British lackeys.
As a hostile force, the British naturally carried out demonization propaganda against East Africa, and the early effects were very significant. With the cooperation of the Transvaal people, a group of conquered slaves, they naturally added fuel to the British slander against East Africa. This also gave them credibility, so the Orange people had a very bad impression of East Africa at the beginning.
But lies will always be exposed, especially after spending a long time with the British and Transvaal people, the Orange people discovered that much of the propaganda about East Africa was false.
This is also easy. The Orange people also went to the East African coast to do business. These overseas businessmen would naturally share what they saw and heard with everyone when they came back. At least the East African coastal area left a deep impression on them, that is, it was safe and orderly, the prices were low, and it was suitable for living.
"Sir, please be kind. My business is really not making any money. Last month was the busiest month for business, but I made 70% less than in previous years. If nothing unexpected happens this month, I might lose everything!"
"Humph, that only shows that you are not doing a good job in business. What does it have to do with us? If you want to complain, just blame your parents for not giving you a good brain. If you do business without a good brain, you will definitely lose money."
Listening to the Restoration Army soldiers' rude words, Green had no choice but to continue to compromise and said, "Hey, officers, can you give me a few days? I will make up for it when I make money!"
"That won't do. This is a mission assigned by our superiors. If they give you a few days' grace, who will give us a few days' grace?"
Green: "But you just collected the money yesterday, so you shouldn't be short of money recently!"
"Yesterday is yesterday, and today is today. Everyone knows that the military is a big spender. We took risks to join the army for your safety. We fight on the front lines, and it is only natural that you pay. This is a different division of labor."
But forget it! Green complained in his heart, everyone knows that you are just a bunch of thugs in military uniforms. You used to be street thugs, or you are refugees from Transvaal.
"But even if they are burning money, they can't just take advantage of us poor sheep! British businessmen are the ones with real money, and they do big business. If you are short of money, it would be better to talk to the British. They do business in Orange, and your army happens to be their 'guardian angel'." Green said sarcastically.
"Hey, how can you talk like that? Say it to me again in that tone, and I'll shoot you dead."
"Sir, don't be angry, I was just joking!" Green quickly apologized with a smile.
"Hmph, even if Jesus comes, you can't escape today's disaster. Just based on what you said just now, you can't do it without three pence. Besides, can the British masters be the same as you? Do you think they don't have supporting troops? Have you seen my gun? Lee Enfield, a genuine rifle equipped by the British active troops. Do you really think that pie in the sky fell from the sky? It's not supported by the British masters. We are nothing more than collecting some money from you, but they provide equipment!"
Green was so angry that he laughed. Everyone knows that you and Britain are in cahoots. However, as a small businessman, Green can only continue to swallow his anger.
There are countless people like Green who have been blackmailed, but since they are all small businesses, they dare not express their dissatisfaction. However, as time goes by, the resentment in their hearts is growing.
(End of this chapter)
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