Chapter 20 I Don't Eat Children
Jiang Ru thought she had made a lot of efforts, but who would have thought that all her efforts were in vain.
She looked at Pei Wu reproachfully. Pei Wu hadn't done anything, but he felt inexplicably guilty and quickly looked away.
After condemning Pei Wu, Jiang Ru replied to Zheng Qiuhong: "Involution means secretly studying and exhausting everyone else."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Qiuhong was so surprised that his mouth dropped open. He even defended Pei Wu, saying, "This should not be considered involution. Brother Pei is burning the midnight oil and studying like a man who hangs himself by his hair. He is truly a role model for us all."
No wonder the two of them get along so well; they don't think Pei Wu is engaging in cutthroat competition at all, and even believe that this spirit should be passed on.
The two had a friendly discussion about Pei Wu's internal competition, and in the end, Jiang Ru lost; she couldn't argue with Zheng Qiuhong.
After Zheng Qiuhong finished his debate, he cast an approving glance at Pei Wu.
Jiang Ru could only continue to look at Pei Wu with reproach, but Pei Wu pretended not to see it.
Even with this little incident, the other two didn't miss a chance to catch up, eager to tell each other everything that had happened in the past month.
As the sun began to set, its gentle, warm light bathed the courtyard. People who had gone to work in the fields returned one after another, and children played by the fields. The whole village was peaceful and serene.
Muxi Village is neither too big nor too small. If a child runs out to play, all they need to do is stand at the door and call out, and the children will hear them and know that their parents are urging them to come home.
At mealtimes, their names would be called out one after another throughout the village.
It was getting dark, and the mountain road was difficult and dangerous. Zheng Qiuhong could only hurry home before the sun went down. Seeing that time was running out, he could not delay any longer. Zheng Qiuhong cupped his hands to Pei Wu, indicating that he should leave.
It was getting late, so Pei Wu didn't linger. He gave Zheng Qiuhong some more food and escorted him all the way to the village entrance.
The large stone at the village entrance was covered with a thick layer of dust. Behind the towering peaks and the babbling stream lay vast fields. Pei Wu and Zheng Qiuhong bid farewell, watching the figure gradually disappear into the mountains.
Pei Wu then turned around and returned home.
When he returned, Jiang Ru was leaning against the table, her face full of accusation, staring at Pei Wu with displeasure.
Pei Wu walked to the courtyard gate, paused, and consciously walked around Jiang Ru, pretending not to see her.
I walked around the yard, watered the vegetable garden, fed the chicks despite the fact that there was still a lot of food left in the feeding trough, and even started a fire on the stove.
He busied himself with his tasks, while Jiang Ru remained seated the entire time, staring at him with a gloomy expression, as if a storm was brewing and she was waiting for the right moment to speak.
Finally, when Pei Wu continued to play dumb and even provocatively picked up a book to read, Jiang Ru could no longer bear it, put her hands on the table, and stood up.
Her movements were subtle, but Pei Wu noticed them immediately and quickly closed the book. In a flustered and hurried manner, he hid the book behind his back, as if he had read Jiang Ru's eye.
His gaze towards Jiang Ru was so innocent, his eyes were wet, as if he had been bullied by Jiang Ru.
This left Jiang Ru speechless for a moment. She glared at Pei Wu, who also straightened up. After a long silence, as if breaking the ice, Pei Wu said, "You seem to really dislike me reading."
Disliking it is one thing, but saying it out loud is another, as if Jiang Ru were some kind of wicked cousin. Jiang Ru retorted stubbornly, "How could I dislike you reading?"
Actually, it's become quite obvious these past few days. From the very beginning when Jiang Ru snatched his book away, to later constantly interrupting him while he was reading, and even today saying that he was involution, Jiang Ru's behavior is very clear.
No matter how much she explained, it was to no avail; Pei Wu had already figured it out.
Pei Wu didn't think it was a big deal; he just had less time to study, and he could just study a little more at night.
Jiang Ru's attempt to stop him was just a minor disturbance and meant nothing to Pei Wu.
But today, Jiang Ru said that he was involution, which was hard for Pei Wu to accept. Pei Wu didn't feel that he was involution at all; he had just read the books he was supposed to read.
He didn't want Jiang Ru to see him as someone who didn't keep his word, even though he and Jiang Ru had never made any promises to each other.
Pei Wu felt he should make things clear with Jiang Ru. He pondered for a moment and said, "I don't know why you don't like me reading, or why you don't want me to take the imperial examination. I just want to tell you that I must take it."
Just as Pei Wu was always easy to guess in Jiang Ru's eyes, Jiang Ru's thoughts were equally easy to guess in Pei Wu's eyes.
He could guess that Jiang Ru might have other motives for coming to him for help, and he could also see that in Jiang Ru's eyes, he might not be a good person.
Pei Wu didn't have much affection for this cousin, but he wouldn't abandon her either. Perhaps it was the stories in folk tales that portrayed poor scholars who suddenly became successful as ungrateful relatives that made Jiang Ru think he would disown her once he passed the imperial examination.
Otherwise, there is no other reason to explain Jiang Ru's behavior.
Pei Wu pondered for a moment: "Cousin, I promise you, if I pass the imperial examination in the future, I will never forget you."
The situation was getting increasingly bizarre, and Jiang Ru frowned as she listened, quickly interrupting, "Do you think I'm afraid you'll forget me once you become successful?"
Pei Wu remained silent, but his meaning was already quite clear.
For a moment, Jiang Ru almost believed she had such a worry. She couldn't defend herself, since her actions were indeed quite outrageous.
She simply thought that as long as Pei Wu didn't take the imperial examinations or enter the court, he wouldn't have any ambition to usurp the throne, and she wouldn't be implicated.
She felt that as long as Pei Wu had knowledge, they could find some work and support themselves. Not only would she not have to die, but Pei Wu wouldn't have to die either, right?
But her attempts to stop her were ineffective.
Jiang Ru was puzzled. She just wanted to ask Pei Wu: "Do you want to take the imperial examination and become an official for power? Is it because that way you can have the power to kill or take the lives of everyone and have everything in your own hands?"
Pei Wu shook his head. He seemed to have heard something outrageous and even laughed. After laughing, he looked at Jiang Ru seriously and asked, "Do you know what the land tax is like now?"
Jiang Ru naturally knew this, and she subconsciously answered, "Three dou per mu, but the actual amount collected is far more than that..."
She paused abruptly, knowing it was wrong, but there was nothing she could do, so she fell silent when the matter was brought up.
Pei Wu smiled slightly: "You knew that too, didn't you?"
Pei Wu said softly, "In reality, nearly half of the grain produced from one mu of land is ultimately paid as tax. If the harvest is poor, one has to tighten one's belt and cut back on food."
Pei Wu was a scholar who could be exempted from some land taxes, but he was also very clear about the details.
There seemed to be a deeper meaning behind his words, and Jiang Ru could vaguely guess it. She stared blankly at Pei Wu, not knowing what to say.
Pei Wu continued, "So I was thinking, what can we do to make the people want to eat their fill?"
Pei Wu looked at Jiang Ru quietly: "I don't know anything about farming, but I do know that land taxes are too heavy, and the imperial court is always collecting grain and money."
In those days, few families could truly live well. The grain they saved by tightening their belts was confiscated by the imperial court. In years of famine, many people would starve to death if they had no stored grain.
Emperor Wen implemented vigorous reforms during his reign, but after only a few years, he became bedridden, and the new policies, which had not been implemented for long, died in the womb.
The Great Xia Dynasty is relatively peaceful now, at least they can fill their stomachs and occasionally have a treat. Jiang Ru's previous life was like this.
She knew the land tax was heavy because she was also subject to it. In the first few years, she often went hungry, but things gradually got better. Her family stored up some grain, and her life improved. She raised poultry, and the grain she grew had a good harvest, which made her feel that everything was thriving.
But who knows what kind of disaster might be brewing beneath this calm surface?
Pei Wu suddenly said, "My mother passed away in the twentieth year of Yongcheng."
At that time, Jinzhou was suffering from famine, but the imperial court turned a blind eye. Countless people died. It was only because Wu Pi, the transport commissioner at the time, defied the imperial order and opened the granaries that some of the victims were barely saved.
Pei Wu was still young and did not remember how he survived. He only remembered that his mother went to find food for him and never came back.
Shuzhou was far away, and Jiang Ru hadn't traveled there at that time, so she didn't know about it. But she suddenly remembered something.
In the sixth year of the Yuantai era, Shuzhou was flooded. Jiang Ru thought she would die there, but soon the imperial court opened the granaries to distribute food and arranged accommodations for them, and the disaster passed just like that.
At that time, Pei Wu was already the regent.
Is it possible that this legendary regent, unlike the rumors that he treated human life as worthless, actually did something practical for the people?
Jiang Ru didn't know why Pei Wu was vying for power, nor did she know who was behind the famine that had passed peacefully. All she knew was that she survived in the end.
Even though many years have passed since that incident, Jiang Ru still feels lingering fear when she thinks about it. They were powerless in the face of natural disasters.
Recalling the past, Pei Wu's expression remained as calm as ever, but she seemed to be able to see through his facade; he was truly heartbroken.
If the imperial court had opened the granaries and distributed grain earlier, and provided support sooner, perhaps his mother wouldn't have died. Jiang Ru could only say, "Please accept my condolences."
Pei Wu twitched the corner of his lips: "Many years have passed. I was thinking back then that if I were fortunate enough to become an official, I would definitely be a good one, and I would meet my benefactor from back then and thank him."
Jiang Ru asked hesitantly, "Where is the transport commissioner from back then now?"
Pei Wu shook his head: "All I know is that he was transferred to the capital and retired to his hometown not long after."
This matter is truly heavy to recall. Pei Wu brought it up himself and comforted Jiang Ru, saying, "You don't need to worry about it. This matter is long over. You don't need to feel burdened."
"I'm telling you all this today just to say that I'm determined to go to the imperial examinations this autumn."
Jiang Ru was slightly taken aback. She thought Pei Wu was only after fame and fortune, but now that Pei Wu had said these words, it would be really unreasonable for her to stop him.
Now, all Jiang Ru could do was ask Pei Wu, "If you were an official, would you not treat human life as worthless or exploit the people?"
The question was simple, since no one could predict Pei Wu's future, not even Pei Wu himself.
However, Pei Wu still looked at Jiang Ru sincerely. His eyes were bright, as if they were sparkling with stars. He told Jiang Ru, "I won't."
Jiang Ru then asked, "You wouldn't eat children, right?"
In his past life, everyone knew that Pei Wu was a child-eating demon. It was rumored that he only ate children under the age of three, and he would even peel off their skin before eating them. It was extremely terrifying.
For a long time, Pei Wu could stop children from crying at night. As long as they heard his name, even young children would quickly shut up. After all, Pei Wu's image was deeply ingrained in people's minds. With his blood-red mouth, green face, and fangs, everyone was afraid of him.
This question was puzzling. Pei Wu frowned, gave Jiang Ru a strange look, and assured her, "I won't eat children."
A note from the author:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com