Chapter 142: One Bag of Rice per Person
[I really can't stand this kind of plot where the male protagonist abuses me a thousand times, but I still treat him like my first love. It's disgusting!]
The system explained: [Host, you are not used to it yet! This is ancient times. Besides relying on men, what else can she do?
However, Chang Yingying was quite lucky. After she escaped from the male protagonist, she met the younger brother of the master of Yaoxian Valley and became his closed disciple. She later helped the male protagonist a lot!
Hearing this, Fang Lingchu became even angrier.
She is the heroine, and there are plenty of opportunities for her to leave the man.
[She has so many opportunities, but she still has a silent and kind male partner around her, and she even reconciles with the male lead. Is she crazy?]
Chang Yingying was completely confused after being called sick.
Would she marry Zhang Sanqian? Would her parents die because of Zhang Sanqian? Would she be physically and mentally abused, yet still be happily together with him in the end?
For the first time, Chang Yingying doubted her own brain. She did not doubt the truthfulness of Fang Lingchu's thoughts, but doubted her own brain.
Chang Yingying is now thinking about what her future path will be.
The system nodded and said, "I feel sick too, but there's nothing I can do! This is just such a ridiculous plot! Host, how are you going to help Chang Yingying?"
Fang Lingchu said with some frustration: "I don't know either! As long as she is the heroine when encountering opportunities, it will be fine, but if Chang Yingying continues to stay here, the plot will definitely make the two of them continue to entangle.
If we kill Zhang Sanqian, there's no reason to do that! Let's just take it one step at a time. Oh, this thing is going to be tough, so let's buy them some fixed pills, or we'll be exposed.]
The system didn't know what to do. Fang Lingchu bought what he needed and said to a few people, "It's a bit stuffy in the room. I'm going out for a walk."
Fang Lingchu walked slowly and came to a place where he saw a few children acting suspiciously.
"What are you guys doing?"
The children in front were startled by the sudden sound and quickly hugged each other, saying, "We didn't mean to do that, please don't hit us!"
Fang Lingchu realized that she seemed to have scared the child, and quickly said, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to. Are you okay?"
Seeing that the person coming was someone they didn't know, a few people became a little braver.
One of the older children asked, "Who are you and what are you doing in our village?"
Fang Lingchu squatted down and wanted to reach out to touch their heads, but unfortunately they dodged him.
After thinking for a while, he took out four candies from his pocket and said, "I am a guest staying here tonight. I will give you the candies. Can you tell me what you are doing?"
When the children saw the candy in Fang Lingchu's hand, they swallowed their saliva and looked at the older child with longing in their eyes.
Seeing the children like this, Fang Lingchu continued to tempt them, "Really, don't tell me. If you don't, I'm leaving. I'll keep this candy for myself."
After Fang Lingchu finished speaking, she pretended to leave. The little girl said, "Don't leave. I told you, you can't tell Sister Yingying, okay?"
Fang Lingchu turned around and repeatedly promised not to tell anyone.
The four children took the candies and Fang Lingchu waited for them to finish eating.
After the older girl finished her candy, she said, "We are helping the mice dig a hole."
Fang Lingchu was stunned by this answer, and then he was full of doubts.
"Aren't mice the natural enemies of rice? Why are you helping them dig holes?"
The little girl lowered her head and said, "Because when winter comes and we have no food to eat, we can look for food in the mouse holes! That way, grandma won't have to go up the mountain."
Hearing this, Fang Lingchu felt something was wrong.
He remembered that the emperor seemed to have exempted taxes. Looking at the rice harvest in this village, it should be very good. How could there be no food in winter?
"Your rice seems to be growing well. How could you possibly not have food in winter?"
The little girl squatted down and continued digging, saying, "What's the use of growing them well? They're not for us to eat. They're all going to be handed over to the officials in the city. We can only pick up what's fallen or collected. We can only keep a little bit. There are so many people in our family, and it's not enough to eat."
Another child said, "I heard my dad say that each person throws a bag of rice, and it's one of those super-large bags. There are seven people in my family, including my second uncle's family. Our fields combined are not enough to pay the tax. If it weren't for Dad going up the mountain to hunt and saving some money, we might not even be able to pay the tax."
Another little girl sobbed cautiously and said, "The candy is so delicious. It would be nice if my brother could have some too."
Fang Lingchu looked at the crying girl and asked, "What happened to your brother?"
Another little girl answered for her, "Erya's brother died because their family had a poor harvest last year. The nobles in the city took away all their grain. Her brother was still young, and her mother had nothing to eat or milk, so her brother starved to death."
Hearing this, Fang Lingchu continued to frown and said: "Your Majesty, isn't it tax-free? Why are you still paying so much?"
When the two children heard this, they stopped what they were doing, looked up at Fang Lingchu in surprise, and asked, "Sister, what did you say?"
Seeing them like this, Fang Lingchu said, "Your Majesty, starting from the beginning of the year, you will be exempt from taxes for three years because you know that the people have a poor harvest. You don't have to pay taxes."
The older girl retorted loudly, "How can it be exempted? I heard they're collecting it once a month because the war is about to start again. Sister, please don't lie to us."
Fang Lingchu knew everything now. It seemed that someone was deceiving his superiors and hiding the truth from his subordinates.
Fang Lingchu took the little girl's hand. Her small hands were covered with calluses and were dirty.
The little girl subconsciously wanted to withdraw her hand. After all, she could see that Fang Lingchu's hands were very delicate and didn't look like those used for rough work.
Fang Lingchu smiled and said, "How could I lie to you? My father is the Minister of Revenue. All the taxes collected are recorded in the register."
The little girl looked at Fang Lingchu and suddenly burst into tears, mumbling, "If this is really the case, then grandma doesn't have to go to the mountain. I'm going to go get grandma back. Woo woo woo woo, grandma."
The little girl cried very sadly, but she didn't cry loudly.
Looking at the person crying like rain, Fang Lingchu felt helpless. She had never comforted a child before!
"Why are you crying again? This is a good thing!"
Another little girl explained, "Xiaohua's family is in trouble. Her mother is sick, and she has several younger brothers and sisters. To save food, they sent her grandmother to the mountains the day before yesterday. Otherwise, the tax collectors will come again tomorrow, and their family will have to collect one more head."
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