It is said that Li and his daughter-in-law and aunt were angry with Situ Yan, so they had to go home and complain to Li He, and the next day they heard that Liangzi's daughter-in-law and mother and son were safe, and Liangzi also sent red eggs to Aunt Fu and Situ Yan, but she didn't have them, and she was even more angry and stomped her feet at home. scolded Liangzi for having no conscience, she was busy for more than three hours in vain, and she didn't make any trouble.

Of course, Situ Yan didn't know about this, after August 15, two rains fell in a row, and the long-drought land was finally moistened by the rain, one autumn rain and one cold, and the two rains came down, dispelling the scorching of the autumn tiger. The industrious peasants picked up their hoes again and got busy in the fields, although it was impossible to harvest anything at this time, but the villagers did not want to be idle, turning over the soil and fertilizing the land to maintain the land, and preparing for next year's spring ploughing.

With the autumn rain, the seedlings in Situ Yan's field drank enough water, grew more than three inches in a row, and the five dry water cellars were also full of water.

Li Dalang weeds and fertilizes in the ground every day, and harvests sweet potato leaves by the way, and all the sweet potato leaves are pickled by Situ Yan into pickles.

On August 25, Situ Yan took the village ox cart into the city to go to the bookstore to copy books, and the family did not have anything to sell today. Xiao Yang'er drove the car and waited until he arrived at the gate of the county seat before he found an opportunity to talk to Situ Yan alone, "What, Xiao Wu, that moon cake is delicious." ”

Looking at the little sheep with a red face, Situ Yan was speechless, this person is a pouting gourd, just for a word of thanks, he can hold back his face and blush.

"Brother Little Sheep thinks it's delicious, I'll make it next time."

"Well, I'll help you get the firewood and change it, and you can come to the city gate and wait at noon."

"Okay, thank you, Brother Lamb. Then I'll go first. "Situ Yan went to the city today mainly to find out how serious the disaster was this time, so as to know what she should do next.

When I entered the city, I went straight to the bookstore, copying books and listening to the chats among the guests.

"Wu Gongzi, you haven't come to buy books for a few days, we have a few new picture books here, do you want to take a look." The guy at the bookstore was beckoning a rich man to enter the door, Situ Yan raised his eyes and glanced at it, and continued to copy her book.

"You kid is clever, these days there are people everywhere, the streets are very chaotic, and I don't bother to go out, this picture book is good?"

"Okay, take your time."

As soon as the young man known as Wu Gongzi picked up the painting book, he heard someone behind him speak, "Man, there is still that painting book, bring me a copy too." ”

"Yes, yes, this guest, wait a minute."

The guy turned around to look for the painting book, and the person who came in later walked up to Wu Gongzi and said hello, "Isn't this Wu Gongzi?" I don't see it on weekdays, but I am hiding here. ”

"Brother Zhang, don't make fun of me, the victims in this city are annoying to watch."

"Brother Xian didn't mention it, I almost forgot, you said that these people don't want to make money, and they ask for food all day long, and it makes people upset to look at it."

"No, a few days ago, my father sent a letter from the capital, and I also mentioned that several counties in the south were also flooded this year, and there was no harvest in the fields, and the victims rushed to the county hall to ask for food."

"These people dare to rush into the imperial court officials, they are impatient."

"It's just a few mobs."

"What happened?"

"The one who took the lead was sentenced to be decided, and the one who followed was sent into exile. In fact, it is only the loss of a few counties, and most of these places are still smooth. The disaster in the south is not as bad as ours. ”

"Oh, Brother Wu, do you have any news?" "The imperial court newspaper said that the entire Youzhou was completely affected, and only a few places received only one or two percent of the grain. Even Jizhou and Bingzhou have several counties that have been affected by the disaster, and the imperial court has issued an order to reduce the tax, but it is afraid that there will be too many people in this disaster to cause trouble and riots, so the 'change of pawn' service has been extended to three months. Put those who are strong and strong together, and all the people who stay at home are some old and weak women and children, even if they want to make trouble, they can't make trouble. ”

"The emperor's move is wonderful!"

"I heard that this was Prime Minister Yan's idea."

The more the two talked, the quieter their voices became, and Situ Yan couldn't hear clearly with his ears pricked up. I had to settle down and continue copying books. From the conversations of the guests who came and went, Situ Yan already knew that this time the imperial court would reduce the levy and increase the force. Although there are floods in the south, the disaster is not serious, so it seems that even if the border passes are in an emergency this year, the country will not be ruined. She can also stay in Lijia Village with peace of mind.

The matter was clear, and seeing that the hour was not early, Situ Yan drew a pattern as before, and went to the embroidery shop to change the money, but this time she didn't ask for some rags as usual. When I walked to the city gate, I saw that Xiao Yang'er and some villagers were already waiting there, and hurriedly stepped forward to say hello, although it was not that I was late, but the kind words that should be said were inevitable. A few people got into the car and rushed back to Lijia Village.

On the twenty-sixth day of August, the cold dew, Situ Yan entered the mountain early in the morning, and the mountain in autumn is a treasure house, with endless mountain ears, herbs, fruits, and wild vegetables. Situ Yan, who was busy, even had to go home for lunch. If it weren't for the fear of the four brothers of the Li family, she would rather stay in the mountains all day.

Most of the mountains turned down, Situ Yan dragged her tired body and walked home in the sunset, but found that there was no one at home, only the "Iron General" was guarding the door. "Where has this man gone?" After opening the door and putting down the basket, he went to the clean room to wash, and then went to the stove room to prepare dinner, when he heard a voice from outside the courtyard.

Li Dalang and the four of them entered the courtyard while talking, "Little Five, we're back." ”

"Brothers, where have you been? Go and wash the dirt of this body. Li Dalang led his younger brothers to the clean room first, and when he came out, Situ Yan had heated up dinner, and the family sat on the kang table, so he made things clear.

The official of the county government came, and the village was calling all the villagers. This year, the entire Liaodong County was hit by a drought, and the imperial court was "compassionate" to the people, and ordered that each household only need to pay a tax of 10 taels, and the "Ding tax" is 50 Wen; 25 Wen of the second ding; Orphaned and young households, according to the calculation of each ding, also have to pay 25 yuan. The "change of pawn" was carried out in March, and Lijia Village began in early September and ended in November. Those who cannot pay the tax will be given 1 month of forced labor for every 1 tael. If you want to "pass more", you will pay "more" silver by five taels a month.

"Xiao Wu, what do you say this is called, 10 taels of fu, three months of 'guard' service, isn't this to force people to death" Li Erlang's face flushed angrily, his hands clenched into fists, and he slammed it on the kang table.

"What's the matter, this time the eldest brother is also going to serve, this time it will be three months, I'm afraid that the eldest brother's body won't be able to hold on?" Li Saburo was also worried.

Li Dalang didn't speak, he didn't want to go with his head down, but the family had to pay 10 taels this time, and then 15 taels of silver, so it would cost 25 taels, and the whole family had been busy for a year, and I was afraid that it would all be handed over to the government. He was reluctant.

"Xiao Wu, I want to go to the service, these 15 taels of 'more endowment' silver, stay at home, enough for our family to chew for several years."

"The eldest brother only thinks about saving money, and he doesn't care about his body, this money is from our family, and the eldest brother doesn't have to hang it."

"Little Wu, can my family really make friends?" Shiro excitedly took Situ Yan's hand. In fact, these days are too busy, Situ Yan didn't have time to report to the brothers, so they didn't know how much money the family had earned.

"Yes, the family really pays it, but it can't just be paid, at the first day of September, I went to the county seat with my eldest brother to pay the money, this 'more endowment' will not be so high, I think I'm afraid that this official wants to fill his pocket." Although the government is afraid that the victims will make trouble, they came up with this idea, but the "more endowment" will not be so high, this can afford to pay taxes and can afford to pay more silver, at least the family will not be a disaster household, and will not go to make trouble, there is no need to charge such a high "over" silver.

"Xiao Wu, I still want to go, although I am tired, but we may not be able to earn 15 taels after earning for several months, and the will of the court cannot be faked. I want to leave more money for the family, this year we can still pay the income in the field, if there is a disaster next year, there is a difficulty, what to pay taxes, and then live in this family, where do you not need money, I go to do some hard work, I can hold on. ”

Li Dalang still wants to serve, he doesn't want to spend the money that his little sister earns, and it's such a big sum. He also wants to save a dowry for his little sister. If you want to marry your younger brothers, if you spend this money like this, it is not worth it.

"I still remember when I first came to this house, I said, 'Nothing is more important than your body'. Even if the eldest brother can survive this time, if he is exhausted, how can he take care of this family and take care of me. And this forced service is not served this year, there will be no more next year, year after year, again and again, and the border service, the main service, this is considered to be okay this time, and the eldest brother can guarantee that it will be okay next time. Instead of this, why don't we go this time, and think about how to make money at home? ”

"Yes, big brother, I think what Xiao Wu said is reasonable, we can make more money at home, at least the family can be together, this is better than anything else."

San Lang and Shiro helped Situ Yan persuade together, but Erlang quieted down, now it's just the eldest brother serving alone, there will be him in the future, and then there will be the junior and the fourth, the little sister has worked hard but it's all for their four brothers, when he thinks of this, he doesn't know whether to persuade the eldest brother.

Situ Yan saw the contradiction in Li Erlang's heart, "Our family can be together, this is more important than anything else, now we are the eldest brother, in the future, the second brother, the third brother, the fourth brother, we want to make more money, I would rather suffer as a family than watch my brothers suffer." And why do I want to teach my brothers to read, I have the opportunity to send my brothers to take the imperial examination in the future, and if I have a fame, I can be exempted from military service and exempt from taxation. At that time, the good days of my family came. So my brothers must study hard, and I'm still waiting to live a good life with my brothers. ”

Situ Yan's words touched the nerves of the four people, they never thought that they could also go to the imperial examination, they didn't think about it before, because no one told them, they can too, and now Situ Yan told them that they can do it as long as they work hard, and the four of them suddenly have motivation, in order for the little sister to live a good life, in order to never have to serve in the future, and pay the endowment, the four of them made up their minds to study.

"But my brothers can't just study, they have to do the work in this house, otherwise they will put the cart before the horse, and instead become a nerd like Li Zhaocai."

"Xiao Wu, don't worry, I will never be like that. Do the work at home, and read well. ”

"Yes. I won't delay my work. Looking at the four brothers who were full of confidence, Situ Yan was finally relieved. With this conversation, the four of them studied harder than usual, and they got up half an hour early every day to read, and this learning spirit made Situ Yan feel that they were about to catch up with the college entrance examination in their previous life.