greatly. Looking around the house, seeing only Jia Yin left, he understood.The mischievous boys have all gone to the academy to study. This old mother of mine isn't used to it yet, and she finds the...The front part of the road was jammed with carriages and people, leaving almost no space to walk.
When everyone heard this, they were confused and asked those around them, who only said that there was an argument ahead.
But no one said why they were arguing.
Several people could only grit their teeth and push forward. In less than ten zhang (a Chinese unit of distance), they walked for two hours.
Jia Ren Jia Yi followed Si Shu behind, subtly protecting his younger sister.
Seeing her sister excitedly looking around, both of them found it amusing.
This little girl is really brave.
As the crowd finally neared the city gate, a voice boomed out from within.
"Why are you stopping us We're all Tianwu people, when did we have to pay silver to walk"
A hundred or so soldiers, flanking a tall and imposing lieutenant, blocked the city gate.
Before the wide doorway stood a half-person-high wooden frame, leaving only a path for one person to pass through.
"Perhaps it's because he couldn't stand the noise," he snorted coldly, grumbling.
"What's what Just because I have a knife in my hand What time is it now, and you're still worried about money even when running for your life Why don't you just stay at home honestly and wait to die, that way you'll save money!"
Those words were truly harsh. Those around him were furious and began to shout angrily.
"We are the people of Tianwu. We pay our taxes every year to support you all, is that to stop us from seeking a way to survive"
"You guys are so tyrannical! You're buying off the road taxes, we're going to sue you!"
That fellow was arrogant and defiant, laughing even more arrogantly.
"The Imperial court is moving south, who has the time to care about you lowly people!"
Li Laosì and the others furrowed their brows, all feeling a sense of foreboding.
Li Laosi pulled an old man with tears in his eyes and asked, "Uncle, what's the matter They want to collect silver to enter the city"
“That's right, five taels per person! It's simply going to bankrupt everyone. Who has that much silver! If you don't give the money, they won't let us go. How can we escape if we can't get through”
The old man's burden, on one side was his grandson and on the other his luggage, he cried with despair etched across his face.
Li Laosì and the others were so startled they gasped. With five liang per person, and thousands of people at the city gate, just passing through could bring in tens of thousands of liang.
These people are insane for money!
He still wanted to ask a few more questions, but at the city gate two carriages paid their fare and were about to pass through.
Some people want to fish in troubled waters and jump in.
But those soldiers' long swords weren't for show; the man was nearly chopped to death in an instant.
Blood splattered everywhere, and those around were caught in the blast.
Some people screamed, some fainted, and some cried. The city gate immediately became a chaotic mess.
Li Lao Si protected the crowd and quickly retreated.
Jia Yin never expected it to be so bloody. She was terrified and shrank her neck, hiding behind her father.
Jiarren was afraid his younger sister would be frightened, so he quickly took off his outer shirt and covered her head with it.
Jia Yi remained by his uncle and sister's side throughout.
It was hard for a few people to squeeze in, but it was very easy for everyone to get out as they left.
Just as he was walking halfway back, the village head came to greet him with people.
They were in the camp and could only see the chaos at the city gate, but had no idea what was going on.
After finally getting back and settling down, young and old alike inquired about it. Hearing that it cost five taels of silver for a single person to pass through the city, everyone was astonished. Then they became angry and cursed.
“These damn things, my mother at home is sick and waiting for money to buy medicine It's really too unkind, isn't this like choking everyone's necks for money”
"These are bandits from the mountain pass, not government soldiers!"
"Why is no one looking after us, why aren't they letting us, the common people, live!"
Although many people scolded him harshly, it was ultimately ineffective.
Think about the few hundred yuan you have saved at home, no one even dares to go into the city!
Exhausted after all that effort to get here, only to be stopped like this. No one is willing to accept it!
A woman had just given birth and began to cry, "What shall I do Am I destined to die here"
"Mother, I don't want to die, I want to eat chicken!" The child was being childish and blurted it out.
The woman was both angry and heartbroken, raising her hand to strike!
"What kind of chicken are you eating, you're going to die!"
The child didn't understand what was going on, burst into tears, and for a moment chaos ensued, everyone was at a loss.
Li Lao Er sighed, "Ninety-seven people, five taels per person, that's almost 500 taels. We can't possibly come up with that amount. Let's find another way."
The rest also nodded, to tell the truth, even with silver, they couldn't just hand it all over just to pass through the city gate.
From now on, I won't eat or live anymore
Wherever you land, you have to start furnishing your home all over again!
"Should we wait a bit Maybe there will be more people at the city gate, and they'll really break it open" someone suggested, but he chuckled wryly after finishing his sentence.
So many soldiers, they're not just grass-woven, who dares to risk their life
Everyone fell silent, each with worry etched on their faces. Suddenly, a young daughter-in-law spoke in a soft voice, "We're not completely without silver, are we"
Everyone listened in confusion, all eyes turning to look.
They are all poor people. Five taels of silver is alright, but five hundred taels is impossible.
The young daughter-in-law hesitated, quietly glancing at the baby in Old Madam Li's arms.
"Funiu, the daughter of Auntie Li's family, just turned one year old last week. Didn't she receive a lot of gold jewelry They say there were dozens of taels! If we exchange it for silver and everyone chips in together, we should have enough."
The Li family members all changed color, their faces turning as cold as ice.
They didn't know, apparently, that there were still people who remembered the Li family's wealth.
Jiayi, known for her quick temper, was the first to protest. “That’s my sister’s dowry! No one can touch it!”
Jia Ren also chimed in, "That's my sister."
The young daughter-in-law pouted, muttering in dissatisfaction.
“When did it even come to this, relying on silver to save us The little girl is only a year old, how would she know about dowries or not Besides, she's still years away from marriage. Let's take it out for emergency use now. Later when everyone makes more money, we can buy everything she needs.”
This is so reasonable, Jia Yin was speechless for a moment, even suspecting that she had been possessed by Wu Cuifang.
The Li family's faces were also ashen, and Old Madam Li immediately started scolding.
“Get the hell out of here, you stinking piece of crap! Who the hell do you think you are to scheme over my granddaughter’s dowry Are you even Li! Our Li family owes you anything Just because you move your lips, we have to listen to you! With a donkey's face like that, do you really think you're an animal!”
The old lady was usually very reasonable, but don't ever bring up her granddaughter, or she'll immediately transform.
The young daughter-in-law's face flushed red from being scolded, she still wanted to speak, and Tao Hongying also spoke up.
"Shut your stinking mouth! You have the nerve to act so smart As if you were the only intelligent person under the sun. Let me tell you, I'd strip you naked and throw you at the city gate. The general guarding it would be delighted to take you as a concubine. Then he'd happily let us pass! Why don't you just go offer yourself up!"
The young daughter-in-law let out a cry and began to sob, clutching herself tightly.
"Your Li family is too much! You're just asking to lend money to everyone passing through the city gate, and if you don't agree, that's fine, but why are you scolding people If my family had money, I would definitely take it out, unlike your stingy family!"
"Hmph, you've schemed all the way to our doorstep and you don't even let us say a few harsh words. Heaven's grandpa is your biological father, everyone has to indulge you." Zhao Yuru was also unusually rude.
You said you didn't lock the door, so why haven't the children had any millet these days You clearly still have some in your basket, why don't you take it out We took some millet, and now you want the children to eat as much as they can Don't even try to act innocent, thinking we are all fools!
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went at each other's throats, with the younger wife unable to defend herself.are you crying so miserably”The portly woman became even more distressed, turning her face to Lady Zhou and showing her swollen cheeks. She cried with utmost sorrow."Niece, you have to help me out her...