Han Junyan sneered: "If you really paid the grain tax in full, how could your village still have food to treat these refugees?"
"You are kidding me!"
"We are refugees, yes, but you can't insult us by calling us displaced people. We are honest farmers who have fled here for disaster."
"I'm so lucky to have been rescued and taken in by Taohua Village. How can you slander others like this?"
"You are rich but unkind. You don't do anything yourself, but you slander others. You will not have a good death!"
The refugees were also angry.
"The village head of Taohua Village is a good person. They used their own food to help us, but they were still wrongly accused. It's really unfair."
An old woman slapped her legs and glared at Han Junyan angrily. Han Junyan was so scared that he quickly asked his servant to stand in front of him.
"Who knows, since you are the beneficiary now, you will naturally speak up for the people of Taohua Village."
"Bullshit, where did you come from, you little bastard!"
The village chiefs of several nearby villages also came with their villagers, and the leader started cursing.
"I don't know where these bastards came from, but they just spit shit out of their mouths. Taohua Village set up a soup kitchen to treat the refugees and provide them with food, all using the village's own money."
"Most of the food comes from Miss Qiu's adoptive father's grain and oil shop and from purchases, and a small portion comes from donations from our various villages."
Han Junyan was frightened by the sight of so many people. He took several steps back before saying, "Whether there has been any tax evasion or not will be clear when the tax officials come and check."
"Who are you trying to threaten with all these people? You're just a poor village, and you're buying food for the refugees?"
"Do you believe what you said? If merchants don't take advantage of the situation to sell grain at high prices, how could they possibly give it to the refugees?"
The hot-tempered village chief cursed again: "You little bastard, your family is just such a rich and unkind merchant, right? Not everyone is as bad as you."
"Taohua Village now has a snack shop, a brick kiln, and a porcelain kiln. This year, the grain tax is paid directly in silver. What's wrong with leaving the grain at home?"
"Our Miss Qiu's adoptive father is the richest man in Qingquan Town, so Mr. Zhao should be the richest man."
After hearing what the village chief said, Han Junyan was stunned.
Originally, he had always felt superior. When he saw Qiu Hanyan living near the academy and dressed elegantly, he thought he was a nobleman from somewhere else.
Later I learned that he was just from a farming family, so I thought he might have married a good wife, but it turned out that he was unmarried.
He came to Taohua Village today just for Qiu Yinong.
I thought I was just a farmer, and even if I had some money, I would be a local rich man.
Only after arriving here did I realize that Taohua Village was incredibly united, and even the surrounding villages were so protective of them.
Han Junyan really didn't understand why things turned out like this.
If Taohua Village develops so well, shouldn’t the surrounding villages be jealous?
Why are everyone here to protect Taohua Village?
"Brother Han Yan, I'm sorry. I only said nonsense because I was repeatedly insulted. Look, we are classmates after all."
"It's getting late now, could you please let me stay at your house for one night? I'll leave early tomorrow morning."
"And I came here today because I really have something to talk to you about."
Qiu Hanyan was so angry that he laughed: "It's impossible to take you in. Don't you have a boat? Just live on it."
"If you have something to ask me, I have nothing to say to you."
After saying that, Qiu Hanyan pulled Qiu Yinong towards home.
Han Junyan wanted to stop him, but Qiu Hanqing and others stepped forward, and he was so scared that he quickly retreated.
He wanted to go back, but it was getting dark and the water started to recede, so he didn't dare to sail at night to avoid running aground.
"Hmph, let's stay on the boat tonight." Han Junyan snorted coldly and turned to walk towards the boat.
"Coward." A young man from Taohua Village sneered.
Han Junyan's face became even uglier, but he didn't stop.
Qiu Hanqing said, "Alright, don't be so unreasonable. We should increase patrols tonight."
"Don't worry." The young man responded quickly with a smile.
Qiu Hanqing and Qiu Hansheng also went home. Han Junyan stood at the bow of the boat, looking coldly in the direction of Taohua Village.
Now it seems that Taohua Village is indeed a little different.
It is already early autumn, and the faint fragrance of osmanthus can be smelled.
The peach trees in front of every household are laden with fruits, and each peach hangs on the tree in a juicy state.
The peach aroma was accompanied by a faint osmanthus scent, and Han Junyan couldn't help but drool.
"Zhu Zi, come here." Han Junyan called a servant.
The servant hurried forward and listened respectfully.
"Master, your orders."
"Later, I'll spend some money to find a villager or refugee to ask what's going on in Taohua Village."
"Also, it would be best if it were all about the Qiu family."
"Yes." Zhuzi took the order and quickly retreated.
As night fell, the braised meat was almost distributed, and every household happily went back to cook.
Aunt Tao and the others also packed up and prepared to return to the village.
Aunt Tao went to the river to wash the pots and pans and accidentally saw a boy getting off a boat. She was curious and followed him.
Zhuzi found a lone refugee and took out five taels of silver.
The refugee was puzzled and looked at the pillar and asked, "You are such a strange person. Why did you suddenly give me such a large sum of money?"
"Just ask a few questions, and the money is yours."
"What's the problem?" The refugee was an old woman who looked like she loved to take advantage of small opportunities.
Aunt Tao narrowed her eyes and watched quietly from the side.
Zhuzi smiled and asked, "You've been here for a while, right?"
"What's going on in Taohua Village? Why would they take you in and even feed you?"
"How much do you know about the Qiu family?"
"Oh, young man, you have so many questions. How do you want me to answer them?"
"Just tell me how much you know." Zhuzi didn't detect the refugee woman's sarcasm, but said with a smile.
The refugee woman took a look at the silver and put it into her arms. A hint of pride flashed in Zhuzi's eyes.
The old woman said nonchalantly, "He is a kind-hearted person from Taohua Village. He led the entire village to help us refugees."
"We don't eat and drink for free here. We also have to work in exchange for food. The men build houses for them."
"We women do what we can, like weaving ropes and folding oil paper."
"Qiu family, which Qiu family are you asking about? Most of the people in this village have the surname Qiu. There's a family at the head of the village with four people in total: Old Qiu, his wife Wang, and a son who just got married and has no children yet..."
"Wait!" Zhuzi hurriedly stopped her and glared at the old woman unhappily.
"You know which member of the Qiu family I want to ask about!" Zhuzi warned.
The corner of the old woman's mouth curled up: "Oh, if you don't explain clearly, how would I know? I'm old."
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