Sure enough, as Fang Rui expected.

In the afternoon, the news of the defeat of the first wave of thieves and soldiers spread throughout the city, stirring up a thousand waves with one stone, causing an uproar.

If it weren't for the news, the county lord would have already made arrangements, and the reserve army would have been dispatched to carry the banner of suppressing thieves...... I'm afraid it's not just about the uproar.

However, the chain reaction caused by this is still terrifying.

The price of grain rose sharply again, and the people rushed to buy it, even if the purchase order was limited and the price limit order was to no avail, and I heard that there were fights and stampedes in many grain stores.

On the streets, incidents such as petty theft and looting have also become more numerous.

The government strongly pressed it, but the effect was not satisfactory.

……

In the evening, the sun sets, and the afterglow of the setting sun renders the entire sky a blood-like color.

Outside the grass hall, passers-by are in a hurry, and from time to time, you can see the catchers and officials wearing leather armor passing by, inspecting the lawless.

"The world is going to be chaotic!" Fang Rui sat behind the counter, looked out the door, and let out a sigh.

Dangdang!

"It's all out!"

Dangdang!

The sound of gongs came from outside the window, causing Fang Rui to frown and stand up.

"Brother Rui!" Fang Xue pulled Fang Ling and poked his head out of the back room.

"Mother, you and Ling'er stay at home, I'll go out and have a look." Fang Rui explained and went out.

At this time, the neighbors at home in Willow Hutong also went out one after another.

Outside, at a glance, you can see:

The tiger master was dressed in pitch black, holding a simple knife in his hand, standing with a golden knife in Malaysia, and the two followers next to him were beating the gong and summoning the people in the alley.

"What's wrong? It's not the day to pay the regular money today, why are the Tiger Gang here? Someone muttered.

"Is there another offense?" It's bringing back some bad memories.

"There's no need to guess, just wait and see what Master Tiger says! But...... It's probably not good......" The second half of the sentence was very low.

……

'Bad coming! Every time I see this dead tiger, it must be no good......

Fang Rui glanced at the tiger master, quietly withdrew his gaze, and greeted the neighbors enthusiastically on the surface, blending in with it, not eye-catching at all.

"The big guys have arrived, right? If you're not at home, that's fine, just tell me when you come back. ”

Seeing that the people were almost here, the tiger master cleared his throat and said loudly: "The Tiger Gang has an order, and the original monthly payment has been changed to ten years...... That is, every 10 days......"

"In addition, in view of the fact that prices are soaring in this year, the price will be increased by another ......."

Sure enough, nothing good. ’

Fang Rui sighed secretly in his heart: "It will be handed over every ten days, this is to shorten the payment cycle, it seems that the Tiger Gang also has hidden worries about the situation in the city; For example, the money is increased by 10%, and this is the ...... I'm crazy! ’

If it is said: the Tiger Gang's previous case of money sharing is to cut leeks; Well, now that the continuous increase in money is about to cut off the roots of leeks.

'The former point is good to say, it is nothing more than a matter of three and four and four, or four and three times; The latter point, that's really worse! ’

Fang Rui looked around.

Sure enough, the neighbors were in an uproar and immediately quarreled.

"Didn't it only increase by 20% last month? This is another 10% increase, but how can my family live? ”

"It's just that life is already difficult, and this has to add money......"

"This is going to kill us!"

……

There are those who sigh; There are those who complain; The sobs are even more ......

even, cheering each other up and emboldening each other, creating a three-point group anger posture.

"It's hard!"

Fang Rui also sighed, pretending to be full of bitterness.

Immersive performances!

It is true that with the support of the black market finished medicine business, of course the Fang family can get this money, but the wealth is not exposed!

"Silence!"

The tiger master shouted violently, drew his knife out of its sheath, and the bright cold light shook in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The crowd fell silent in an instant, as if it were a chill.

'Good knives! Fang Rui's eyes flashed, and he also lowered his head with the general flow.

"Rules are rules, there is no room for bargaining, who is not convinced? Stand out! ”

The tiger master glared angrily, forcing everyone to look at him, and everywhere his eyes looked, everyone avoided his gaze and did not dare to look at him.

Not to mention, stand up.

Fang Rui is even more of an old god, his footsteps are like taking root, and he slanders in his heart: 'Which stupid person would hit the muzzle of the gun and try the sharpness of this knife with his own head?' ’

For a long time, no one was silent.

"Okay, since no one is dissatisfied, then they all agree."

The tiger master nodded with satisfaction, put the knife into the sheath, and his expression eased a little: "My Tiger Gang is not unreasonable, so let's notify everyone today, and give everyone some time to prepare, then I will collect this ten-year money tomorrow......"

"If you can't pay it, it doesn't matter, you can borrow from us, press a handprint, draw a pledge, everyone is a friend, and it won't be a ......."

Quite a few people pouted secretly.

Who believes in this and who is a fool, is the money of the Tiger Gang easy to borrow?!

It is difficult to afford the interest of nine out of thirteen; If you really can't afford to pay it back, the house will definitely be gone, and even the whole family will have to take it and sell yourself into slavery.

'Xiu'er! The person who came up with this idea is really a talent...... Obviously robbing money, robbing less, and asking the victim to write an IOU...... No, to be precise, it is to take less robbed money and lend usury to the victims......

That's a ...... Knock on the bone and suck the marrow! ’

Fang Rui's heart felt cold.

Every time, when he thought he knew enough about this world, he would be taught to be a human being by reality again.

After the tiger master left.

The crowd in Willow Hutong also scattered in twos and threes with sad faces.

"Brother Rui, do you have enough money at home? Want to borrow some? The third lady called out to Fang Rui.

"Thank you for the kindness of the third sister, but my family still has a little savings, so I won't need it for now......" Fang Rui declined.

"That's good."

The third lady pulled the girl and said with a smile: "If you need it, talk to your sister and ......."

……

Go home.

Fang Rui said that he would increase the money again: "...... Mother, that's it, our family has to spend another amount of money. ”

When Fang Xue heard this, he was also angry: "This is forcing people to despair!" ”

"Let's talk about it...... If you leave it in another house, I'm afraid it won't be long before someone else will be like the old Chu family at the beginning, and break their home......" she sighed.

But anger is anger, emotion is emotion, and after that, she is still ready to pay the money tomorrow.

Like most people in this world, Fang Xue's temperament is soft, and if he is not forced to a corner, he will not have the courage to resist.

Of course, the wife and children are a large part of the reason - they are all family people, and they can't be impulsive and dare not go out!

The smoke of the cooking stove rises and spreads, which is the fireworks in the world.

Fang Rui looked out the window and knew that this night, there would be a lot of unrest in every household.

However, this is not the business of the Fang family.

With him, it can be like a mountain dam, blocking all wind and waves, so that this small home can still maintain a rare tranquility.

Today's dinner: sorghum noodle porridge, sorghum dough cake, a bowl of fried wild vegetables.

The meals are simple, but the atmosphere is warm.

Meal.

There is no other family, come to Fang's house to borrow money.

First, in this willow alley, most families will take out part of the money for eating in the future, tear down the east wall to make up the west wall, and temporarily tear it down and make up for it;

Second, except for the Sanniangzi family, other families are relatively distant from the Fang family, even if they borrow money, they will also choose those who have a good relationship and are relatively sure.

Otherwise, if you can't borrow money, not to mention, it will be embarrassing, and in the future, won't it be difficult for both sides to get along?

……

Tonight, Fang Rui didn't go to the black market, after dinner, he washed up early and went to bed.

Fang Ling, this girl, come to his house to sleep.

Squeak!

Fang Rui came to the window and opened the window, wanting to ventilate the room, but heard the low sobbing sound of an unknown family coming from the wind.

He paused, and secretly thought, 'Which family should be the one who can't get the money......

"Brother?" Seeing that he was stunned, Fang Ling got up from the bed with a grunt and shouted.

"Hey, here we are."

"Brother, I want to hear the story."

"Okay, then today, I'll tell you a story about Sun Dasheng......"

Fang Rui's eyes flashed: "Hail Sun Dasheng today, only because the demon mist is coming back!" In this world, I don't know when there will be a man like the rising sun in the east to save all the people from fire and water......

He?

He was a hopeless man who just wanted to live a quiet life, and maybe one day that idea would change, but at least not for the time being.

Fang Rui shook his head, didn't think about it anymore, and told a "Havoc in the Heavenly Palace", each character came alive, and a picture seemed to appear in front of him.

In the midst of such sounds, the moon rose, and the moonlight poured in through the window and poured down on the bed, flowing like water.

Outside the window, the sound of unknown insects chirping in the summer night was mixed with the low sobbing sound coming from an unknown direction, and in such an environment, Fang Ling fell asleep.

……

Next.

Tiger Master came again, Willow Hutong, most of the people paid the money.

handed, you can still survive; If you don't pay it, you will break your house immediately...... This multiple-choice question is still very easy to do.

Among them, of course, the Fang family was also included, but when Fang Rui gave the example money with a smile on his face, he secretly made another note in his heart for this dead tiger.

In addition, there are three or five companies that have not scraped together enough money...... Hu Ye took two followers and rummaged through their homes to confirm that they had knocked out the bones and could not squeeze out two taels of oil, so they gave an IOU and asked them to press their handprints and draw a ......

Escaped this fate.

The crowd in Willow Hutong was not only happy, but even more sad.

This day was already difficult, they couldn't go on, they wanted to stay up until autumn and wait for the drought to ease, but they didn't expect it...... The Tiger Gang is here to play.

For a period of time in the future, it can be expected that it will be more difficult and more bitter!

……

Time flies like a white horse, hurrying by, and in the blink of an eye, a small half a month has passed.

The days of the Fang family?

It's fine.

With the profit supply of the finished drug business, the Fang family's grain stock was not only not consumed, but also increased.

In the black market, things such as soybeans, meat, and lard are becoming more and more rare, and Fang Rui was lucky to come across them twice, but he didn't bid to rob others.

In general, the Fang family can eat enough, but they don't have oil and water.

Barely supplying his body's needs with a large amount of coarse grains, Fang Rui was not very comfortable at first, but now, he is slowly getting used to it.

Other people in Willow Hutong, that's difficult.

I can't guarantee one meal a day, and the only meal that may be one is a gruel paste that I don't even dare to add more wheat bran.

Fang Rui keenly observed: the neighbors around him, even the adults, are weak, day by day, they can not move if they can, and they do not stand when they can lie down; The child is even more yellow and thin, and even the liveliness of playing is gone.

The situation of Liushu Hutong is not a special case, but a microcosm of the majority of people in Changshan County today.

Even worse, there are not a few.

Fang Xue's clan didn't let Fang Ling out now, and it was getting more and more chaotic outside. She knows that hungry people can do anything.

There was chaos outside, but the Fang family was still calm.

this night.

“…… Thank you, Sister Fang! ”

Sister-in-law Caigen carried a sack containing two catties of wheat bran, and said the words of gratitude in her mouth without money, and left with a thousand thanks.

Wait until she's gone.

Fang Rui closed the door, sat down opposite Fang Xue, and said with a solemn expression: "Mother, our family can't borrow any more grain, otherwise it will ......."

Sister-in-law Caigen was not the first to come to Fang's house to borrow grain.

In the past half a month, in the willow alley, many people have had this idea.

Although the Fang family is relatively estranged from the neighbors, and the relationship is not very good, but everyone is almost hungry and crazy, what do they have to do?

came to Fang's house to borrow grain, that is, there were dates and no dates to hit two poles.

After so many years of neighbors, people came to the door, and it was not easy for Fang Xue's family to rush out, especially: people didn't directly say that they borrowed grain, and they were pulling and beating around the bush for a while......

Fang Xue's family also has a way: for those who have a weak relationship and basically have no contact, they pretend to be stupid and complain about their grievances, anyway, they have no food; The relationship is a little closer, and there are one or two points of incense, but they are soft-hearted and lent some.

Of course, she is not stupid, she is not willing to borrow sorghum noodles, she only lends wheat bran, and the amount is not much, it is only one or two catties.

However, so far, I have borrowed three or five of them.

“…… This amount is already on the verge of a cordon, and may even attract the attention of those who are interested. ”

Fang Rui's eyes flashed, and he said, "Mother, have you noticed that in the past two days, there have been more people who have come to our house to borrow food than in the past?" ”

"Indeed."

Fang Xue's family listened to Fang Rui's serious words, and he also attached importance to it, and agreed very seriously: "Okay, my mother won't borrow it, and I won't borrow anything in the future." ”

is still the same sentence: except for the three ladies' house, the other neighbors in Liushu Hutong are relatively estranged from the Fang family, and the relationship is like that.

It's one thing to be kind, and one or twenty catties of wheat bran is nothing, but when it comes to the safety of one's own family, it must not be allowed.

"That's good."

Fang Rui breathed a sigh of relief.

What he said was serious, in fact, there might not be anything, and the risk was not much at present, but he just wanted to attract Fang Xue's attention and nip the danger in the bud.

Having said that, Fang Rui didn't dare to be careless, he wasn't afraid of 10,000, he was afraid that in case, he wouldn't dare to gamble on some permissions.

Actually, when I was at home, I wasn't afraid of accidents; It's just that when I go to the black market every once in a while......

In Fang Rui's view, locking the door is not safe.

on this.

He also has a way: recently, when he went to the black market at night, he asked Fang Xue and Fang Ling to hide in the cellar, and move a big stone outside to block it, and those who are not gifted, or those who have entered the martial arts, can't move at all.

It's a lot safer.

It was agreed.

Fang Xue said with emotion: "Two days ago, I paid the money again, and the people who borrowed the Tiger Gang before were all like the old Chu family, and they broke their families......

"When is it a head?" She seemed to be asking Fang Rui, and she seemed to be muttering to herself.

"Who knows?" Fang Rui also sighed.

The peasant households in the countryside have long been bankrupt on a large scale; Now, it's the city's turn.

"It's all difficult, it's all hard, let's get through it slowly! Relatively speaking, our family is already good. ”

"yes!"

"Alas!"

"Alas!"

Two long sighs came out of the window, drowned silently in the deep night, like the whimper of the times.

……