Li Yan followed Li Erlang to Zhao Qing Grain Shop and came to the front of the team to discuss with Clan Leader Li.
As they approached, they heard Chief Li begging for mercy.
Li Erlang took two quick steps forward and saw several of his fellow villagers lying in front of Zhao Qing's grain shop.
There were three yamen runners standing in front of the grain shop. One of them was a pot-bellied yamen runner who stood in front of the grain shop and gave a speech in a high and mighty manner: "If anyone makes a scene here again, I will let you all have a taste of what it's like to go to jail!" After saying that, he spat and swaggered into the shop.
Li Erlang hurried forward to support Chief Li and helped him to the open space nearby. Other members of the tribe also helped the members of the tribe who were on the ground up.
After recovering from the shock, Chief Li said to everyone: "Everyone, please work hard today and transport the food back first!"
Chief Li left behind three elders from the village and Li Erlang, preparing to go to other grain shops to inquire later.
The group first went to the rice shop in the south of the city, and then to the rice shop in the east. They got the same result: a bushel of millet cost only 25 wen, while the rice shop in the city sold millet for 100 wen. Even if only 60% of the millet was sold, the rice shop still made a lot of money.
Uncle Youqing couldn't help but curse, "These unscrupulous people actually made more than double the money! How can we survive?" The others also had a grim look on their faces.
The old patriarch sighed. He had thought that everyone would have a good year with the good harvest this year, but he never expected that these people had colluded early and took the opportunity to lower the price of grain. As a result, every household had to sell more grain than before to save enough money to pay taxes.
A wave of helplessness washed over Li Yan. Her family didn't have to sell the grain at a low price, but what about the other people in the village? When the harvest was lean and others were starving to death, who could escape poverty?
The group walked back in frustration, and along the way everyone was worried about how to raise taxes.
Some families have a lot of land, and with the good harvest this year, if they sell a little more grain and grit their teeth, they can still survive this winter.
But those who have less land, like my second grandmother's family, have no labor force, and this will force them to sell their children!
When they reached the village entrance, they found that those who had returned earlier were standing at the entrance waiting for Chief Li. They all had worried faces and wanted to know what was going on.
Village Chief Li waved his hand and said, "Let's all go back first. Erlang, come with me. We'll go to Yuanwailang's house this afternoon to ask around."
Everyone was helpless and could only keep their eyes on the two, hoping they would bring good news.
Li Erlang did not return home until the evening. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Old Man Li sitting under the eaves smoking a pipe.
When Old Man Li saw his son coming back, he quickly stood up and asked, "How's the situation?"
Li Erlang's expression was not good at this time. He said to Old Man Li, "The rich families in the city control the grain shops in the town and take the opportunity to lower the grain prices. Now the grain prices in the whole Rongcheng are like this."
Old man Li closed his eyes, as if he saw the tragic scene of selling children again.
At this time, the sound of gongs was heard outside, calling on every household to send one person to the patriarch's house for a meeting.
When Li Erlang heard the sound of the gong, he washed his face and went back to the village.
At this time, hundreds of people gathered in front of the village chief's house, and Clan Leader Li was surrounded among them. Everyone was talking at once, eager to know the price of grain.
Bang. Bang. Bang... As the sound of gongs rang out, everyone gradually quieted down. Patriarch Li stood on a large boulder and told everyone about the current situation in the city.
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