"Don't tell me, ever since the bandits in Qingfeng Village changed their leaders, our place has been in turmoil."
"Yes, although Qingfeng Village doesn't harass us on a regular basis, paying grain every month is still a hassle."
"I don't think this situation will change anytime soon. I heard the north has been suffering from drought for a long time, and there are refugees everywhere."
"Our situation is considered good. However, if the government doesn't take action, we won't be able to change the current situation on our own."
"I heard that some people have already made up their minds to follow the refugee camps they pass by to escape the famine."
"It's easy to say, but it's not easy to leave. All my relatives and friends are here, and it won't be easy to give them all up."
"The key is, no one knows that life outside will be better than it is now after leaving here."
"That's hard to say. Well, let's just talk about it. I can't make up my mind to leave my hometown."
"Me too. Let's just take it one day at a time. It's not the end of the road after all."
Yun Yiyi approached Yun the Butcher and said, "Dad, it seems that the bandits from Qingfeng Village often come down the mountain to rob passersby."
Butcher Yun also whispered, "I heard that, but this is troublesome. We'll be there soon, so we must make plans quickly."
"Dad, I heard from the table next to us that the bandits from Qingfeng Village want both food and silver."
"And they divide it very clearly. They ask for food from the villagers around Qingfeng Village, and for silver from passers-by. They're very calculating."
"Yeah, what should we do?"
"Uncle Yun, don't worry. Let's ask around a little more. We'll eventually find a solution."
Butcher Yun sighed and said, "Let's find out more."
"Little girl, the three bowls of wontons you asked for are here." As he said that, the old man selling wontons brought over three bowls of wontons.
"Thank you, Grandpa."
"The little girl is really good at talking." The old man responded happily.
"Old man, here are thirty copper coins. Please count them." Yun the butcher said as he handed over the thirty copper coins.
The old man counted carefully and said, "Yes, exactly thirty copper coins. We can add more soup. If you need more soup, just call me."
"Okay, we got it, Grandpa."
"Come on, eat now, and try these wontons to see if they're delicious."
After Yun the Butcher finished speaking, he picked up a wonton and started eating.
Yun Yiyi and Xie Zirui also started eating wontons.
I have to say that the wontons made by the old man are really good. The skin is thin and the filling is rich. The meat filling is also well-seasoned and generous. When you take a bite, it is so delicious.
Butcher Yun finished his bowl of wontons and went to get another bowl of soup.
Yun Yiyi ate slowly. The wontons were still hot, so she could eat a little longer.
Suddenly, the people at the next tables started talking again.
"Have you heard? The town officials said that the grain payment next month will be five kilograms more per person than this month."
"What, five more pounds per person? That's too much!"
"Dude, do children count as human heads?"
"Yes, they say that all children over the age of three are counted."
"That's troublesome. If there are ten people in a family, they have to pay an extra fifty kilograms."
"That's right. But you must not pay an extra fifty kilograms of grain."
"Brother, is your news accurate? It can't be false, right?"
"It is said that a few days ago, Qingfeng Village sent people to tell the government officials. The government officials went home and told their families."
"If it comes from the government, it's probably true."
"Why are they suddenly increasing the amount? Will the amount of grain we have to hand in increase next month?"
"My dear fellow, what are you thinking about? It's going to be cold soon, and the crops in the fields have been harvested."
"Yeah, even if we can gather enough food for next month, what will we do next?"
"We can't all save the food and give it to Qingfeng Village."
"When the weather gets cold, many villagers will definitely go hungry. By then, we may not be able to harvest all the food in Qingfeng Village."
At this time, a young man walked from the outermost table to the table where people were talking loudly and sat down.
"Hey, buddy, your information is incomplete!"
"Why is my information incomplete? Didn't this happen just in the last two days?"
"You're right, but there's new news coming out from the government today."
"There's news again? What's the news? Tell me quickly."
"It is said that Qingfeng Village said that if they can't gather the food, they can pay with heads."
Everyone was a little overwhelmed after hearing what he said.
"Why use someone as collateral? Is there a reason for this?"
After hearing everyone's anxious questions, the young man no longer kept the secret.
"According to the government, Qingfeng Village is short of people for odd jobs. If they really can't get enough food, they can use people to replace food."
"And Qingfeng Village also said that we can use strong men or women to resist."
"I can understand men going to work, but what can women do in Qingfeng Village?"
"I actually know the problem you're talking about. The government said that some women can be used as substitutes to go to Qingfeng Village to do laundry and cook."
Everyone felt a chill in their hearts when they heard this. What good could this woman end up having gone to Qingfeng Village?
Yun Yiyi heard their conversation and stopped eating her wontons. She pricked up her ears to listen to their conversation.
Fortunately, the men at the next table were speaking loudly, so I could easily hear them.
"Then did they say how much food each person is worth?"
"Yeah, tell us quickly, we are curious too."
"A man is worth fifty kilograms of food, and a woman is worth thirty kilograms of food. However, the bandits in Qingfeng Village are very selective and don't accept those who are unqualified."
Everyone was stunned again. It seemed that Qingfeng Village was very strict in selecting its candidates.
"I originally thought that the people of Qingfeng Village liked food. I didn't expect that they were even short of people."
"Yeah, it's incredible."
"The people in Qingfeng Village are too calculating. If this continues, we will definitely not be able to bear it."
"You have to endure it even if you can't. Unless you run away and are no longer here."
"Leaving home is not an easy thing."
"Hey, the people in Qingfeng Village don't intend to leave us alive."
"That's all I know. You should go home early, tell your family, and make preparations."
After the young man finished speaking, he left the next table and returned to his own table.
The people at his table were also discussing nervously, and the atmosphere didn't look very good.
Yun Yiyi listened to their conversation. That strange feeling in her heart came back.
What went wrong? Yun Yiyi always felt like she had overlooked some news.
What was going on? Yun Yiyi racked her brains but couldn't figure it out.
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