In this dynasty with a huge gap between the rich and the poor, a large number of poor people starved to death every year, while the sons and young masters of the rich ate fine rice, wore silk and satin, and lived the lives of the elite.
The more powerful and wealthy a person is, the more they know how to oppress the common people.
The more powerful a person is, the less they see the suffering of others, and they are always grateful that they were born into a wealthy family.
The higher one's position, the more greedy one becomes for the hard-earned money of the lower classes, and the more willing one is to go to any lengths to gain more benefits.
Given this prevailing social climate, how could these people, who couldn't even afford to eat, believe the woman's words? How could they believe that there could be a master in this world who was so kind and generous?
"This is impossible!!"
"You're lying!"
In the crowd,
An incredulous denial rang out.
The sound was like a bomb, exploding in the ears of the crowd and jolting them awake: "Yes, how is this possible? You woman are talking nonsense, ten taels of silver?"
"Are you also bringing winter supplies to the soldiers' hometowns?"
"Bullshit! Do you think those high-ranking officials would be so kind? Could they really see the suffering of their subordinates? You're not some Zhou family shill, are you?"
“My son joined the army through the imperial court. Two years ago, he was recruited to serve in the south. Last year, he asked a comrade to tell me that his daily rations were only enough to feed himself, and he couldn't save any more for the family…”
"If the entire imperial court is so stingy, what could the Zhou family possibly have? Look at Granny Wang over there, her son is serving in the army on the border, and she's so old that she still has to do needlework to earn money for steamed buns."
"If the Zhou family were truly so generous, would Granny Wang still be wearing that thin autumn garment? Seventy years old and still having to work to exchange for grain? That's absolutely a lie! Don't believe her, everyone!"
One of the men, over fifty years old and dressed in rough clothes, spoke up in denial.
His son joined the army in the south of the capital.
He knew better than anyone how the court treated him: when the autumn harvest was good, he would eat two meals a day; when the autumn harvest was bad, he would only eat one meal a day, and he would only get one or two ounces of meat a month.
The Zhou family had neither land nor grain reserves.
What will we use to subsidize the soldiers?
Is it not ridiculous to give each soldier ten taels of silver as a resettlement allowance?
The woman glanced at the banyan tree not far away.
An old man sat there shakily, his unsteady hands sewing clothes.
If he could sew these three pieces of clothing well, he could exchange them for a coarse flour bun with the new bride next door, and live for three more days without starving to death. The old man tried very hard to change the thread and thread the needle, but he just couldn't get it through.
“This is different. Granny Wang is different from Old Zhang’s family.”
“I really didn’t lie! The Zhang family really is eating meat now. I saw it with my own eyes yesterday. The courier sent by the Zhou family was carrying a lot of things, including cotton clothes and quilts, all of them new.”
"If you don't believe me, go to Old Zhang's house and see for yourself. The Zhou family really did it!" The woman talked until she was hoarse, but no one believed her anymore.
He saw that the crowd of people were shaking their heads with disdain.
Their eyes were filled with disbelief and denial, and they even developed a bad impression of the Zhou family.
The woman was frantic with worry, desperate to prove she hadn't lied, but she couldn't just take the group of people to Old Zhang's house to see for herself.
However—
It was at this moment!
A voice suddenly rang out from behind the crowd: "Is that Granny Wang?"
Swish, swish, swish! !
The seven or eight people gathered together all turned their heads sharply, looking toward the source of the sound.
What came into view was this scene.
Yang Shisan was wearing a thick dark blue cotton coat, a fluffy hat, and waterproof and snowproof leather boots. He carried a large bundle on his back and held winter supplies in his hands.
His cheeks were red from the cold wind, but his eyes were bright and piercing, and he exuded a very imposing aura.
He stood under the banyan tree, opposite which sat an old woman nearing seventy. The old woman was wearing tattered autumn clothes and was holding a needle and thread she had borrowed from somewhere, threading a hole by the light.
"Who are you?" Granny Wang squinted her eyes, which were already blurry, and raised her head.
She could see a tall man standing in front of her, but she couldn't make out what he looked like; he was too old to see clearly anymore.
"I am Yang Shisan, a messenger for the Zhou family."
"Is Wang Qiangzhuang your grandson?"
"I came here on Wang Qiangzhuang's orders to take care of you and bring you some clothes and winter supplies."
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