Jinyun Xiuzhuang is opposite Wantong Qianzhuang, is a business of satin fabrics, tailor-made, and embroidery shops. The boss's surname is Chu, and she is a middle-aged woman who can't speak. She usually communicates with people by relying on her personal maid Xiangyun, and when Xiangyun is not there, she gestures with her hands. However, Boss Chu's embroidery work is really good, just like Chun Niang said, that craftsmanship is top-notch even in the capital. Boss Chu is kind and honest, and his business has been very good. In addition, Chunniang and Boss Chu are best friends, and the two of them became sisters with different surnames, so they are quite taken care of in Woniu Town.

Tianci also likes this Aunt Chu who can't speak. Every time I come to Embroidery Village or pick up Aunt Chu to my house, Tianci is always very happy for no reason. In front of Aunt Chu, Tianci always talks a lot. And Aunt Chu always looked at him so quietly, smiling and listening carefully to every word he said. Tianci felt that Aunt Chu's eyes were the same as his mother's eyes, full of love and tolerance. No matter what Tianci said, Aunt Chu would nod and smile. Speaking of happiness, the two of them hugged each other and laughed, which was indescribably indescribable.

"Oops, here's a godsend. Why did you send so many things, what are they? Hurry up and don't get tired. Xiangyun, who looked delicate, said while helping Tianci get things. In fact, this weight is the same as nothing for Tianci, how can he be tired, Xiangyun feels sorry for him.

Tianci put the things away and said: "Aunt Yun, this is what my mother sent me, it is all game, for you and my Aunt Chu to make up for your body, it is all my own shot." Where's my Aunt Chu? ”

"Upstairs, don't call her, Miss must have seen you a long time ago. Oh, pheasants, hares, so many, you shot them? God for you. ”

While Xiangyun and Tianci were talking, Aunt Chu walked down quickly from upstairs. This is a dignified middle-aged woman, which makes people feel very kind at a glance, and the feeling of people is like a spring breeze, but it is a pity that she can't speak. Tianci knew from Xiangyun that Aunt Chu used to be able to speak, but she couldn't speak because she was sick.

Aunt Chu's family originally lived in Suzhou, and her husband died early, leaving her a son and a half daughter. Therefore, Aunt Chu and Xiangyun's master and servant relied on each other, and only moved to live in Woniu Town three years ago.

Aunt Chu walked up to Tianci and gently hugged Tianci into her arms, her movements were so gentle and natural. He would be embarrassed if he were to be held by another woman like this. But Tianci felt different when he was held by Aunt Chu, this feeling was very natural, and it seemed to be a matter of course. Chun Niang once said that her son and Aunt Chu have a fate. Now it seems that the fate of Tianci and Aunt Chu is really not shallow.

"Aunt Chu, my mother said to come to see you in a while. You are waiting for me here, and when I come back from the county seat, let's go to my house together. Tianci said with a grin, and gently scratched Aunt Chu's palm with his fingers. There is Aunt Chu's weakness, as long as she scratches it, Aunt Chu will laugh non-stop. Tianci likes to see Aunt Chu laugh.

Are you going to take Yuan'er back to live this time? Aunt Chu gestured with her hand and asked Tianci.

"Yes, my mother said that she missed Yuan Yuan's sister." Niu Tianci blushed a little when he said this. In fact, he really missed Yuan Yuan, but he was embarrassed to say it. Aunt Chu looked at Tianci with the eyes of a person who had come over, and a smile that knew everything appeared on the corner of her mouth.

"Aunt Chu, ~~~~~it's really my mother who misses Yuan Yuan's sister, it's really not that I miss her, don't laugh like that."

"Hahahaha." Xiangyun bent over on the side. Aunt Chu also covered her mouth with her hand and smiled happily. Tianci was even more embarrassed, blushing and rubbing his head back and forth on Aunt Chu. If Zhou Xiaoxian saw this scene, he would definitely drop his eyes to the ground in surprise. This was Zhou Xiaoxian's coquettish trick, but I didn't expect Niu Tianci to use it perfectly, it's really unseemly.

The three of them laughed for a while, and Aunt Chu handed over a wooden box with a handle to Tianci. You don't need to look at it, Tianci only needs to smell it to know that it is a rose cake made by Aunt Chu herself, which is also Niu Tianci and Yuan Yuan's favorite dim sum. Aunt Chu gestured and urged Tianci to hurry up to the county, and repeatedly told Tianci to bring Yuan Yuan back. It can be seen that Aunt Chu loves Yuan Yuan very much like Chunniang. Tianci agreed and got into the carriage, and with a shout, the carriage kicked and trampled forward.

When Tianci walked far away and looked back, he saw Aunt Chu holding on to the doorpost and waving her hand at herself. Tianci waved his hand vigorously, and his heart was sweet. The car was familiar with the road, and the mood was very refreshing, and the carriage came to Cangshan County with a smoke out of Woniu Town.

Compared with Woniu Town, Cangshan County looks a little dilapidated. It's as if the gap between an old man with a face full of vicissitudes and a young man full of vigor is so obvious. The streets of the county are full of people and are also very lively. But Niu Tianci always felt that the people here were missing something compared to the people in Woniu Town. Tianci understands in his heart that the people here lack spirit, lack of that sense of belonging and pride, and lack of that kind of stable, leisurely and orderly appearance. Tianci sighed secretly, it seems that people's hearts are really unstable.

When they arrived at the gate of the county government, the officials ran over from afar to help Tianci bolt the carriage.

"Niu Gongzi, you are here, the county is in the back hall study, you can go in directly, the carriage has a small care." Tianci smiled and nodded. After coming to ancient times for so many years, he has long been accustomed to the orderly life of ancient dignity and humility. The identity of the heavenly gift is a child, and when he reaches the age of age, he will participate in the imperial examination. The status of a scholar is respected, even if he is not an official, ordinary people must be respectful when they see it. What's more, he is also a personal disciple of the county and the actual founder of the Woniu Academy.

He was not polite to the courtesy of the servants, and he casually rewarded a piece of broken silver, which was more effective than many kind words. The officials in Cangshan County are relatively easy to talk and more well-behaved. In other places, if you don't spend enough money and accompany all the smiling faces, it will be more difficult to enter the yamen to do things than to ascend to the sky.

Niu Tianci strode into the county office, and met Yu Xiancheng who came out of the court. Yu Xiancheng's eyes lit up when he saw Tianci, trotted over, grabbed Tianci and said, "Tianci, you are here, the county and I have been worried about paying taxes for the past few days." ”

"Uncle Yu, is the imperial court raising taxes again?"

"That's not true, but it's true that all localities will pay their autumn taxes in advance."

"What? Isn't it nonsense that you have just started spring ploughing, but you have to pay autumn taxes? ”

"Who's to say it isn't. The barbarians in Far Eastern Prefecture rebelled, and the emperor did not call the Northern Army, so he sent local garrisons to clear it. Alas, fight a battle and lose a battle. I don't understand, in the past, if some barbarians made trouble, the local garrison could be quelled. What's wrong now, not only did it not calm down, but it made the barbarians make more and more trouble. You also know that fighting a war is about money. This defeat after defeat will not be mentioned, and the loss of grain, grass and materials will be too great. The imperial court can't let it go, so it has to increase its troops again. This comes and goes, and the cost is even greater. This is not on the side, and it is urging to pay this year's autumn tax in advance. You said that this is the spring plowing season, where is the surplus money and grain in the hands of the people? Alas, I am dead. Yu Xiancheng sighed as he spoke.

Niu Tianci knew that the Far Eastern Prefecture mentioned by Yu County was the farthest border state in Dayan. It is next to the Pingrong steppe. From there, further east is the sea. The Far Eastern Regions were originally dotted with dozens of small states founded by dozens of tribes, which were later annexed by Dongjung, a branch of Beijung. In the era of Emperor Long Xingyun of the Great Yan Shengzuren, Beirong and Dongrong were all wiped out by the Great Yan, and these areas were also included in the territory of the Great Yan. The barbarians mentioned by Yu Xiancheng do not refer to a specific tribe, but to the various ethnic groups living in the Far Eastern State. It is too far away from the central area of Dayan, and it is easy to say that Dayan was strong and prosperous. Now that the political situation in Dayan is chaotic and the people's hearts are unstable, it is inevitable that some barbarians will take this opportunity to make trouble. But the rebellion, which even the local garrison could not quell, must be of such a size.

Niu Tianci frowned and was about to speak, when he heard Yuan Chong calling them: "Zhengqing, Tianci, don't talk in the courtyard, come to the study." ”