Chapter 223 So I should thank you?
After saying that, the officer sighed, "We used to have a good job in the yamen, but now, who knows when we might really have to join the army. Life won't be easy then."
"Huh? Why is this happening? Is there no justice left?"
"Why? Isn't it?" The man blurted out instinctively, but then he held back, squinting at Jiang Nuanzhi: "Why are you asking so many questions? Just mind your own business and don't pry into other people's business, or I'll take your life!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuanzhi secretly regretted it. Damn it, why did I use the medicine that only lasts for three days? I should have used the one that lasts for seven days!
"Hey, what are you thinking about?"
After regaining his senses, he immediately gave a very kind smile: "Gentlemen, please remember to take your medicine every day."
It was said that the surroundings became eerily quiet, and after a while, the leading man looked at Jiang Nuanzhi with a strange expression.
He seemed to have made a big decision, and stepped forward to pat Jiang Nuanzhi on the shoulder: "You are a good person."
Jiang Nuanzhi stumbled and almost fell, but her lips twitched as she forced a smile: "You flatter me, sir."
"Let me give you some pointers: buy more grain and store it at home. You'll benefit from that later."
Jiang Nuan was taken aback, then immediately nodded and thanked him.
The group then headed to the next house, but as they passed Jiang Nuanzhi, a few of them clasped their hands in greeting.
One of them grinned at him and said very sincerely, "Wife, you're such a good person."
Jiang Nuanzhi's lips twitched again: "."
"Make sure to soak your hands in the medicine properly."
After a strange feeling of guilt for a second, Jiang Nuanzhi turned and left.
Regent.
Such a large-scale collection of taxes and conscription sounds suspicious.
Xuan Ting is currently at home. According to the plot of the original book, Xuan Ting will eventually ascend to the throne, and Xie Liangchen and the Empress Dowager will assist him.
The Regent and Li Junping seemed to have a complex and intertwined relationship. Jiang Nuanzhi skimmed through it, her mind filled with lewd thoughts, and she didn't really think about it carefully. However, she clearly remembered that Li Junping's family ultimately suffered defeat, and the Regent seemed to have become an enemy of Xie Liangchen because of it.
However, Xuan Ting had already ascended the throne by then, and the Regent was destined for a bad end. His attitude was also quite ambiguous; whether he was friend or foe was truly unclear. But this man was definitely not a good person; the taxes were so heavy, he simply didn't care about the lives of the common people.
On the way back to the village, it was much quieter than usual. None of the children who usually ran and played at the village entrance were to be seen today; every house was tightly shut. Faint cries could be heard from within.
They noticed that three or five more men had joined the ranks of the soldiers, most of them quite young, around fifteen or sixteen years old. Their parents followed behind, weeping and giving them endless advice.
After Liu Ma's donkey cart returned with a full load of people, it came out empty again. Seeing Jiang Nuanzhi, she didn't say anything, but frowned and called out, "Anyone else selling their children? Hurry up, this is the last cartload!"
Jiang Nuanzhi frowned. Last year was a bumper year, otherwise, there would probably be even more cases of people selling their children.
At the doorstep, they saw Aunt Niu wiping away tears, circling repeatedly without going inside. Seeing Jiang Nuanzhi, she hesitated before approaching: "Nuan'er."
Jiang Nuanzhi sighed: "Aunt Niu, are you short of money at home? How much are you short?"
Aunt Niu burst into tears in a daze: "It's all my fault. I was sick a while ago and spent a lot of money on medicine. Otherwise, your Uncle Niu would have enough money to drive the oxcart every day. But with the tax increase, we just don't have enough."
Jiang Nuanzhi took out a tael of silver from her bosom: "Auntie, take these and use them first."
"No, no, no, that's not enough." Aunt Niu quickly waved her hand: "Two hundred coins are enough."
"Take it and use it first. Come back and return it to me if you have any left over."
"Hey, hey."
Aunt Niu wiped away her tears and hurried home.
At least these officers and soldiers
The officials and soldiers eventually granted them a three-day grace period, saying that the final deadline would be three days later, and they would come back to collect the taxes then.
Amidst this gloomy atmosphere, Jiang Nuanzhi's good mood about building a new house was somewhat dampened.
Once inside, she thought about how to quickly deliver Old Master Lü's order. She had already made over two hundred bottles of wound medicine, and after brewing three more batches, the delivery should be almost complete.
There wasn't much lard left at home, so Jiang Nuanzhi decided to go out and buy some later after sunset.
Everyone got busy, and soon a large group of people came rushing into the collapsed courtyard.
"Aunties, hurry up! Jiang Pangya's house is just ahead. I saw her. She was carrying a basket for Aunt Wang and even lent her some money to pay her taxes. They've even bought a new house now, so they must still have some money left!"
Widow Wang swayed her hips, her eyes full of calculation, and smiled as she walked.
As she entered, she grabbed an old woman beside her and walked up to Jiang Nuanzhi, smiling as she handed her a small handful of dried, moldy radish.
"Girl, I brought this especially for you. We at home don't even eat it ourselves."
Jiang Nuanzhi frowned and didn't answer, only squinting at her.
Widow Wang didn't feel embarrassed at all. She wiped away some unfounded tears and put the dried radish on the ground.
"Sister, you have to help us. We're all in trouble. You can't just stand by and watch us die. You have to lend us some money to help us get through this difficult time."
As she spoke, she tugged at Jiang Nuanzhi's sleeve.
Jiang Nuanzhi immediately withdrew her hand to avoid it, frowning as she looked at her: "If I remember correctly, we shouldn't have any connection, right?"
"Jiang Meizi, what are you saying? We're all from the same village. Even if we had a little argument before, it's nothing serious. If you're still upset, I'll apologize to you, okay?"
Besides, you may not have any connection with me, but surely you have connections with these aunties? Aunt Sun even gave your child some cakes earlier. Doesn't that count as having some connection? You should at least help them out. Don't be so cold-blooded. Be careful you don't end up with no descendants.”
"That's right, that's right."
Upon hearing what Widow Wang said, everyone secretly echoed her sentiments.
Widow Wang raised her chin smugly and continued, "Don't pretend to be poor when you're not. I saw it all. So many distinguished guests came to your house earlier and brought you a lot of things. You must have made a lot of money, right? I don't need much. Just lend me three taels. I'll pay you back all of it when I've made some money."
Jiang Nuanzhi was so angry she laughed: "So I should thank you for returning everything to me?"
(End of this chapter)
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