Hearing this, everyone frowned.

In recent years, Emperor Renxuan has increased his taxes by a few points because of the Northern Expedition, but it has only reached a normal level.

For ordinary people, after paying the grain tax, there is still a full surplus.

But the old woman in front of her is obviously not like this.

More importantly, the collection of grain taxes is generally in the autumn, when the people have just harvested and have surplus grain in their hands, and paying the grain tax will not put much burden on them.

It's already spring, and it's long past the time to pay taxes.

Why is this old woman still clamoring to hand over food?

"Old man, don't panic, we are travelers from afar, and we are only here to spend the night, not to collect food."

Although he was full of doubts, it was obviously not the time to delve into it, so Wei Qing stepped forward and explained his intentions.

When the rickety old woman heard this, her face was stunned at first, and then she showed a look of relief.

"I see, it's easy to say."

"It's just that my thatched hut is dilapidated, and I'm afraid that I will treat you badly."

"It's okay, I've been waiting for a long time, and now I just want to have a place to rest and have a hot meal."

"I will leave early tomorrow morning, and I won't disturb you too much."

After speaking, Master Xiang handed the old woman a heavy silver ingot and said, "This money is the cost of our stay here." ”

The old woman touched the silver ingot, couldn't help but open her cloudy eyes, and exclaimed, "Too much, too much, no need for this." ”

"It's okay, you just take it, try to make some good wine and food."

When the old woman heard this, her expression did not improve, but became even more worried.

When everyone saw this, they didn't take it seriously and went into the hut to rest.

After entering, everyone's faces suddenly turned ugly.

This thatched hut is not small, and it is more than enough for them to rest.

It's just that because it is thatched and there was a spring rain a few days ago, there was a lot of water in the house, which looked damp.

The guard's face was even pale, and he said angrily: "How can the master rest in such a place? ”

"Everyone says that Huainan is rich, that's all?"

"You can't say that, this is a remote place in Huainan, and the old woman is old again, it is difficult to make a living, and it is normal to be down." Wei Qing hurriedly said.

"Forget it, eat early, rest for the night and leave." Master Xiang was also a little helpless in his words.

It is said that Huainan is rich and fruitful, even if it is a remote place, how can it be desolate like this?

Everyone sighed, and it was difficult to hide the disappointment in their expressions.

This is not quite the same as their ideal prosperous Huainan.

"Old woman, has food ever been prepared? I'll wait until I'm eating, so I'll rest early. ”

"Okay, okay, I'll bring it here."

The old woman stepped forward tremblingly with a tray.

When Master Xiang saw it, his face was instantly ugly.

The guard was even more furious, pointing to the clear soup on the tray and saying, "You are so bold! ”

"My lord gave you so much money, and you use this to fool me and others?"

There were only a few bowls of rice porridge and a few plates of vegetables on this tray.

The greens looked pale, and I was afraid that there was no salt at all.

That rice porridge... It is said to be rice porridge, but in fact it is just a clear soup with little water, only a few grains of rice floating, no different from clear water.

Seeing this scene, even Wei Qing didn't say anything more.

They are tired of traveling and traveling, and it coincides with the spring rain, and they are already sleepy and tired, so they should eat some good food to replenish their strength.

And the ingots of silver given by the Holy Lord, no matter where they go, are enough for them to eat, and there is still a surplus.

But this old woman only sent them away with this little thing, which was really bold and perfunctory!

This guard is from the palace forbidden army, and at this time, under the anger, he roared, I am afraid that even a normal man will tremble, not to mention the old woman in front of him.

The old woman was so frightened that she almost fell to her knees, took out the ingot of silver from her bosom, returned it, and whimpered: "Honorable guest, it's not that the old woman wants to ignore your money, it's true, that's the only thing left at home." ”

"You want to eat some oil and water, but the old woman can't get it."

Hearing this, Master Xiang couldn't hold back any longer, and said, "I remember, the taxes in the imperial court are not high, how could you be like this?" ”

"The taxes of the imperial court are not high, but in addition to the taxes paid to the imperial court, we also have to pay rent to Master Huang."

"We are a big family, and we were tenants of Mr. Huang's family."

"When the old man and the eldest and second in my family were still there, the three of them worked hard and could barely make ends meet."

"Later, when the boss was farming, the ploughing cattle of Mr. Huang's family somehow went crazy and trampled my boss to death."

"The second child was angry, and he came to find Master Huang's theory, and he was also beaten to death."

"The old man couldn't stand this kind of stimulation, and he didn't go long after."

Hearing this, the entire hut fell silent.

Master Xiang's face was ugly, and he said, "How much rent do you have to pay to Master Huang's family?" ”

"It's almost more than three times the tax of the imperial court."

Rumble!

As soon as these words came out, it was like thunder, and it slammed into Master Xiang's heart, making him shocked and angry.

"Ignoring people's lives, absorbing the people's fat and people's ointment, such a villain, why don't you report to the official?"

When the old woman heard this, she was stunned for a moment, and then smiled bitterly.

"Someone has also reported to the official, but the corpse is cold in the middle of the night."

"Some people who know the way say that half of Master Huang's money has been given to the official master, and we can't sue him."

Hearing this, it was like a hurricane blowing in the thatched house, and everyone was a little suffocated.

Master Xiang's face was originally blue, but now he was a little flushed with anger.

said angrily: "What an official and businessman protect each other, bullying my cadres and people like this, is it really impossible to think that the laws of the court are muddy?" ”

"Tell me, where is Old Man Huang's house, and I will administer justice for you in this matter!"

However, when the old woman heard this, she did not show gratitude, but looked panicked, and her eyebrows were full of fear.

"No, never."

"Master Huang's family has raised dozens of thugs, and there is also the support of the official master, you can't fight them."

"Don't be honest about being killed because of this."

"Let's eat and rest early."

When Master Xiang heard this, he only snorted coldly and said, "I want to see if he is powerful with dozens of thugs, or if I am a good guard." ”

"Don't worry, sir, tomorrow we will definitely win that little man."

When Master Xiang heard this, he nodded and said to the old woman: "You can collect this money, and tomorrow we will clean up Master Huang, and then go to the town to buy some food and enjoy our old age in peace." ”

When the old woman heard him say this, she was so anxious that she wanted to shed tears, but she was helpless.

What can she do if she is an old woman?

At most, after these individuals have been killed, their bodies will be collected.

It's the same as her eldest and second child, and the old man.