Chapter 89: Labor Service

Zhou Village Head, beaming with joy, held a scroll of proclamation as if it was an imperial decree.

Sang Luo couldn't help but notice a trace of 'Eunuch Zhou's' demeanor in him.

Those arriving at the threshing floor looked curiously at Zhou Lizheng's demeanor.

Zhou Lizheng smiled, “Fellow villagers, you all know about the Emperor’s tours around the kingdom in recent years, right?”

The villagers of Shili Village appeared indifferent; they were well aware. If the Emperor hadn't been fond of touring, they wouldn’t have had to serve so much labor over the years. Was this something to celebrate?

Yet Zhou Lizheng treated this as a joyous event, as pleasing the higher-ups could lead to promotions and honors. Although the chances for a small village head like him were slim, one never knew with such opportunities.

Holding up a proclamation, he announced cheerfully, “The Emperor has been traveling south in recent years. Our County Magistrate predicts he might visit our area within the next year or two. Whether he comes or not, we need to start preparing. So, everyone, as you can see, to welcome the imperial visit, we’ll need to repair the roads this winter. Each family must contribute one able-bodied person for a month of labor.”

The construction of a temporary palace would come later, but road repairs could start immediately.

Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang’s faces fell. Another conscription, not sparing them a moment's rest. They were treated like beasts of burden, worked to the bone.

No, even worse than beasts; these days, anyone with livestock took great care of them, cherishing them too much to overwork them.

As Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang thought this, Zhou Lizheng began to read the proclamation aloud, while the villagers of Shili Village looked on numbly.

Whenever the officials needed labor, they simply issued a conscription notice, leaving no room for resistance. Year after year, they had grown accustomed to it.

In fact, they were even relieved it was just road repair for one month.

It was far better than seven years ago, when they were conscripted to dig rivers and carry sand, a task that lasted three years. One family in the village, who lost their only male member during sand transportation, was extinguished.

It wasn't like four years ago, when somewhat skilled carpenters were conscripted to repair warships requisitioned by the court in the south. Pressured by urgent demands, those drafted worked day and night. Some died of exhaustion by the shipyard, while others, submerged in water for extended periods, suffered from severe infections, with wounds infested with maggots①.

Chen Youtian was conscripted during that time. He was luckier, returning home with half a life left. His family exhausted all their resources to treat him, and it took a year before he could be considered out of danger.

Upon hearing it was only a month of road repair, the villagers simultaneously sighed in relief.

One man in the crowd, extremely excited, asked, "Village Head Zhou, how many meals a day will we get?"

Sang Luo was surprised by the eagerness in the man's voice. As she looked in his direction, a woman nearby whispered, "That's Zhou Lai Zi. His family paid taxes this year, but next year they're likely to struggle to make ends meet. Though labor service provides poor meals, at least it's something to eat and helps save some grain."

So, this was Zhou Lai Zi.

Village Head Zhou, when announcing the labor service, usually saw either sullen faces, sarcasm, or numb expressions. It was rare to see someone so enthusiastic.

He replied with a smile, "Of course, two meals will be provided."

Zhou Lai Zi's excitement froze upon hearing it was only two meals. Labor service required intense physical work, and two meals a day meant hard times ahead.

But then he thought, when had labor service ever provided three meals?

Having food was already a blessing, at least saving a month’s worth of grain.

He rubbed his hands, a glimmer of hope lighting up his weathered, dark face.

Village Head Zhou, observing everyone's reactions, paused before adding, "This time is somewhat different from previous occasions. Usually, each household is required to send one male over eighteen years old, and households without a suitable male were exempt. This time, although the deadline isn't tight, the task is substantial. Our County Magistrate, understanding the hardship, decided to ensure fairness by requiring each household to contribute one person, regardless of gender or age.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted into noisy chatter.

"How can women handle such heavy tasks as road construction?"

"Our family only has the elderly and children left. Am I, an old man, supposed to go, or should it be the young child?"

Both Shen An and Shen Ning grew anxious, with Shen Ning unconsciously gripping Sang Luo's hand.

Sang Luo closed her eyes, never having imagined that one day, the burden of labor service would fall upon her, a mere fifteen-year-old girl.

What kind of world is this?

According to what Village Head Zhou said, if it weren’t for her presence, would one of her young siblings, Shen An and Shen Ning, be required to perform labor service?

How utterly absurd!

Village Head Zhou let the crowd buzz for a while before raising his hand for silence and said, "Quiet down, listen. The County Magistrate has stated that if women, the elderly, or children are to serve, they will be assigned relatively lighter tasks like carrying water and cooking. Even if it involves road construction or hauling sand, their workload will be reduced. There's no need to worry about these aspects."

He said not to worry, but how could those suddenly burdened with labor service stop their complaints?

The grumbling never ceased.

However, having experienced the early taxation, Sang Luo knew well that despite people’s grievances, cries, and anger, as long as they could cling to life, they would just complain a bit, cry a bit, and eventually comply with the authorities.

Everyone’s desires and demands are extremely low, so low they're buried in the dust - simply to survive.

Living in times of peace, even if it meant living like a dog.

Looking at herself, wasn’t Sang Luo the same?

As commoners, unless pushed to the brink of survival, as long as one could breathe, who could truly take action?

Thus, all the noise and clamor wouldn’t impact anyone, not the relatively short Village Head Zhou standing amidst the crowd, nor the higher-ups like the county officials, let alone those even further up the hierarchy.

Following the old rules, Village Head Zhou concluded by saying that those who wished to avoid labor service could find a substitute or pay to be exempted. He then prepared to move on to the next village.

At this moment, Village Head Zhou called out to him, halting his departure.

Approaching Zhou, he informed him about the Shen San couple's situation. Usually a matter requiring thorough investigation, today Zhou simply decided it with a single sentence.

"This is easily resolved. Since we are short on labor, a one-month penalty of labor service will suffice for each person. Including their own required service, that'll total three months of service. Let them decide which spouse will serve."

Zhou, the local official, was well aware of the situation among his hundred households. With the Shen couple having four children, it was unrealistic for both parents to serve simultaneously. Who would care for the kids?

Thus, he added that statement about the total duration of service. The road construction wouldn’t be completed in six months or a year; the labor service was simply being staggered and rotated among the villages.

As for reporting this matter higher up, Zhou had no interest in doing so without any benefit to himself. Such matters, if frequently reported, would only harm the evaluations of the local officials like himself. If it could be resolved privately, that was always preferable.

He gestured dismissively and departed. There was no need for the Shen couple to be formally tried; the punishment was directly sanctioned by the village head Zhou.

Could Shen San refuse to accept this?

He could, but formally reporting it and going through legal proceedings would only result in a harsher punishment. The choice was his.

Sang Luo, who had been listening, nodded with a smile when Zhou glanced back at her, indicating her agreement with the punishment.

Three months of labor service would surely take its toll on the Shen couple, leaving them with no energy to bother her again. With their example, as long as others in the village weren't starving, they wouldn't make any rash decisions.

The follow-up matters, whether negotiating with the Shen couple or warning the villagers, would naturally be handled by the village head Zhou. Sang Luo need not involve herself further.

"What I need to deal with now is the labor service that's been imposed on me."

"I never considered serving the labor duty myself. The income I make daily from tofu and sour date cakes is substantial. Why would I abandon my business to go and work on road construction?"

"Seeing Zhou, the village official, surrounded by people inquiring about the situation, I think of consulting the Chen, Shi, and Lu families about the labor service. If I remember correctly, Gan, with her two sons, forms a separate household and also needs to contribute labor."

"The three families, already in alliance, were discussing this issue. As I approached, before I could even inquire, Gan took me aside for a private conversation."

"Are you going to hire someone to substitute for your labor service this time?"

"That's exactly the question on my mind."

"Do you have anyone in mind for substitution?" I ask.

"Yes," Gan nods, pointing to Zhou Bai Zi and his two sons, standing with Chen Lao Han and Lu Lao Han. "They're short of grain this year and knew I ran a stall. They approached me, asking if I needed a substitute. They said for a month's service, a stone of grain would suffice."

"A stone of grain, by the current market price, is fifteen hundred coins."

"I'm not too familiar with these matters," I admit, and Gan explains, "Paying the government to be exempted from labor service costs two strings of coins for a month. Hiring Zhou Bai Zi’s family saves five hundred coins."

"They prefer grain over money because they're currently short of grain. With the price of grain rising daily, they can't afford to buy it in the city, nor are they willing to spend their money on it."

Wary that Sang Luo might be concerned about Zhou Lizheng's character, Gan Shi explained, “Their family is decent and hardworking. They fell into hardship years ago due to medical expenses for Zhou Lizheng's wife, selling their land to cover the debts. They’ve been tenant farmers since, never quite recovering from that financial blow.”

It was a story worthy of sympathy.

Gan Shi was vouching for the Zhou family's integrity. Sang Luo was curious about one thing: “Why do they call him 'Lizheng'?”

Such a nickname typically denoted disdain for someone of questionable character.

Upon hearing this, Gan Shi chuckled, “Oh, that was a name given by his stepmother, long since deceased. But the name stuck and has been used ever since.”

This cleared up Sang Luo’s confusion.

Smiling, Sang Luo said, “Well, I don’t have the time for conscription anyway. Since auntie has vouched for them, I trust them. I'll ask the Zhou family to serve in my place. Do I just need to register this with Zhou Lizheng?”

Gan Shi smiled and replied, “Yes, just inform Zhou Lizheng. I’ve also requested their eldest to serve on my behalf. Let's go together.”

……

As the crowd at the drying field gradually dispersed, Sang Luo and Gan Shi, having settled matters with Zhou Lizheng and his son, headed together to the house of the village chief, Zhou.

Shen San and Li Shi, unknowingly released, appeared disheveled and grass-stained, having been tied up for most of the night.

Aware of their conscription punishment, Li Shi, upon seeing Sang Luo, charged at her with hatred, reaching to scratch Sang Luo’s face.

Zhou Bai Zi and his sons instinctively stepped in to protect Sang, forming a tight shield around her.

Sang sneered, "Go ahead and try to scratch me, remember, the county is in dire need of labor."

This statement immediately stopped Li Shi’s outburst, causing her to collapse weakly onto the ground in the middle of the drying field, wailing, "Sang, you heartless wretch! You should be struck by lightning! You disrespect your elders, you'll have a miserable end!"

Zhou, the village official, bellowed, "Enough! If Sang isn't pleased, don’t expect just two months of penal labor. If this goes to the county magistrate, forget about a mere jail sentence; you'll be toiling hard labor for a year!"

Li Shi's prolonged wailing abruptly stopped, her true tears flowing as she looked at Sang and Zhou, the village official.

The villagers, initially disinterested due to their own labor service woes, were drawn back by her cries.

Shen San, unable to bear the embarrassment and his swollen buttocks from the geese bites, carefully covered the tear in his trousers to avoid exposure. Holding his pants with one hand and pulling Li Shi with the other, he shamefully retreated under the crowd's peculiar stares.

Sang turned to Zhou Bai Zi and his sons, thanking them for instinctively helping her earlier. "I’ve reported to Zhou, the village official. I have some grain at home, let's move it over, Uncle Zhou."

Knowing her arrangement for proxy service wouldn’t remain a secret in the village, Sang chose to handle it openly.

Zhou Bai Zi, overwhelmed with gratitude, repeatedly thanked her.

Now, he and his sons subconsciously walked behind Sang and Gan, maintaining a respectful distance.

Having arranged two households for proxy service, Zhou Bai Zi and his sons could dine on the government’s provision for a month.

Despite expecting poor meals, grueling work, and returning looking haggard, this arrangement meant saving a month's worth of food for three people.

With the additional two bushels of grain earned and the wild vegetables the children have been saving for winter, Zhou Lai Zi hoped his family could now survive until the autumn harvest.

Zhou Lai Zi thought, from today, his wife need not weep daily, and the children wouldn't have to fear being sold off next year.

Thus, Zhou Lai Zi was truly grateful to Gan and Sang. In the village, few sought proxy labor, especially for tolerable labor services like these that weren't life-threatening, even Zhou, the village official, served personally.

The father and sons' protection of Sang earlier was genuinely heartfelt, as they were safeguarding their own family’s survival.

Author’s note:

①Based on real historical records, not original.