Chapter 074

Chapter 074

By the tenth day of the fifth month, as expected, the county sent constables and strongmen to collect summer taxes in various towns and villages.

In Lingshui Village, Village Headman Sun Xinghai led the constables from house to house to collect the taxes.

The villagers had no choice but to pay with grain, silver, or labor. Only the newly settled refugees were temporarily exempt from taxes, though each family only had two mu of land, and there were still over two months until the autumn harvest, making their lives equally difficult.

To get through this tough period, many families had come to the Xiao and Sun households in the past few days to borrow money and grain.

For those who truly could not make ends meet, Xiao Mu lent them some silver and grain. However, for those who could still manage but tried to pressure the Xiao household by using the deaths of the "two hundred able-bodied men," Xiao Mu simply showed them the door.

Sun Xinghai handled things similarly.

Those who were refused naturally felt dissatisfied and complained to other villagers, saying that if the Xiao and Sun households had not suggested attacking Imprisoned Dragon Ridge, those young men would not have died.

For this reason, Sun Xinghai rang the village bell again and gathered all the villagers by the pond.

"When Pine Village was attacked, I and Thousand Commander Xiao immediately planned to make wooden spears for everyone's self-defense. Don't look at just one spear per household; the whole village has more than seven hundred! It takes four spears to make one tree, so seven hundred spears require cutting down about two hundred trees. From chopping wood to drying it and then shaping it into spears, do you know how much silver it cost?"

"In total, it cost ten taels of silver and six hundred forty-two copper coins, all paid by me and Thousand Commander Xiao, without asking for a single coin from anyone!"

"I ask you, when the bandits attacked our village, whose sons rushed to the front? I also ask, among all those who went, did I not lose a son, and did Thousand Commander Xiao not lose a grandson? Do we not feel pain? In the past few days, we've given out all the grain and silver we could to help with the summer taxes. How is it that, in the end, we are still wrong?"

"If you really think I'm not doing a good job as Village Headman, then choose another. I'll save money, effort, and even my son from being cursed. I'd be laughing in my dreams!"

Though he spoke with a smile, tears streamed down his face. Even if the death of his eldest son was fake and the Sun and Xiao households did it for self-preservation, the villagers benefited. How could they blame them in the end? Should the two families have acted like other village headmen and wealthy families, leaving the villagers to suffer at the hands of refugees and bandits, doing nothing and only cursing the heavens?

Sun Xinghai's tears moved the villagers, who quickly began to console him.

The villagers were not fools; they understood clearly that without the Xiao and Sun households stepping up, countless people might have died during that night's attack. Trading two hundred able-bodied men for the village's peace and security, without worrying about the remaining bandits' revenge, was indeed a fair deal.

Most families who lost sons or nephews were reasonable. When they counterattacked Imprisoned Dragon Ridge, both of the Village Headman's sons went, and one died. The four Xiao sons and one daughter-in-law also went, and only one died because the Xiao sons were exceptionally brave. Lingshui Village's stability this year relied on the reputation of the Xiao family's ancestors, didn't it?

With the Xiao sons around, the remaining bandits would be deterred. If the Xiao sons were truly dead, would the bandits fear ordinary villagers?

Even for their own interests, most villagers stood with the Xiao and Sun households. Those who tried to stir up trouble were either scolded for being heartless or ignored altogether.

Sun Xinghai came to Xiao Mu to vent his frustrations.

Xiao Mu glanced at the blisters on his lips and shook his head with a wry smile: "There's gain and loss. A few idle words, why take them to heart?"

Sun Xinghai's anger was not just due to the complaints; he was more worried about the potential exposure of the incident and its consequences!

Xiao Mu patted his shoulder with a smile: "We've done what we did. Just relax. We'll handle whatever comes."

Sun Xinghai: "..."

As the villagers grumbled and paid their summer taxes, the matter of Imprisoned Dragon Ridge gradually faded from discussion.

Losing two hundred able-bodied men was indeed tragic, but spread across every household, it amounted to only one or two. Many of these men had no living relatives.

Why were the young ones without elders? It was due to the wars of recent years. One could hardly find a family in the countryside that hadn't lost someone. Even the Xiao sons, so capable, had lost their eldest son and grandson in battle.

The common folk had long become numb to death. After crying, they had to find ways to survive.

---

Regardless of what the villagers said, the three Xiao brothers stayed home to recover from their knife wounds.

After receiving her parents' support, Tong Sui felt relieved and calmer. With Xiao Zhen lying on the bed recuperating, she sat at the desk to read.

She did not want to go out these past few days, avoiding the sadness of the He family and others mourning Xiao Ye. Fortunately, the He family assumed she was grieving and did not insist on visiting.

Taking advantage of the afternoon when everyone was resting indoors, Tong Sui quietly went to the study in the middle courtyard and picked out several books to bring back.

It was hot, and his wounds could not be covered. When he was not going out, Xiao Zhen wore only a short pair of underpants.

Seeing him like this, Tong Sui could not avoid catching glimpses, but after repeated exposure, she no longer blushed easily. Still, she preferred not to face him directly.

Closing the door, she placed the books on the desk. Xiao Zhen moved to the edge of the bed, leaning against the cool wall, and looked at his young wife's sunburnt cheeks. Glancing at the book covers, he said in surprise: "Didn't you say you wanted to start slowly? Why are you reading *Records of the Grand Historian* now?"

This set of books was quite substantial. Tong Sui had to worry about He catching her, so she carried them discreetly, breaking a sweat along the way.

Afraid of dirtying the pages with her sweaty hands, Tong Sui first wet a towel to wipe her face, turning her back to him: "Other books are not useful right now."

She used to think there was plenty of time to learn slowly, but now things were different. She needed to read something practical in case the authorities came calling.

Xiao Zhen chuckled, then, seeing her seriousness, explained softly: "We keep troops only to respond promptly in emergencies. We're not aiming for an empire or a title."

Tong Sui: "I know, but these books talk about the rise and fall of dynasties. You don't trust the current government because it's doing things similar to previous failed regimes. That's why you read these books, right?"

Xiao Zhen nodded, seeing her earnestness and dropping his playful tone.

Tong Sui: "Then, given the situation, reading these books is more useful than poetry or Confucian classics."

Xiao Zhen nodded again.

Tong Sui turned to the book and started reading.

Xiao Zhen's gaze remained fixed on her face.

The girl, having just washed her face, had damp wisps of hair sticking to her pale forehead and ears, while her cheeks were pink.

Her eyes were dark and clear, and when she looked shyly, they seemed to have hooks. At night, when tearful, they seemed to plead for help. Now, they resembled those of a diligent scholar thirsting for knowledge.

Suddenly, she lifted her eyes, her white teeth biting her lip slightly.

Xiao Zhen: "What?"

Tong Sui lifted the book and turned to him, pointing at a line of text and asking, "How do you pronounce this word? How should I interpret this sentence?"

Xiao Zhen couldn't help but laugh again.

Tong Sui's face flushed. When she asked Lin Ningfang such questions in the past, Lin Ningfang had never laughed at her.

Xiao Zhen held her wrist. "I'm not laughing at your lack of knowledge."

Tong Sui didn't believe him. "Then why are you laughing?"

Xiao Zhen didn't explain, instead rubbing his thumb gently against her delicate wrist as he began explaining the book to her. Seeing a series of complex characters ahead, he simply asked Tong Sui to sit on the bed so he could read and explain it to her as he went along.

After finishing one passage, he touched his throat. "I'm thirsty."

Tong Sui immediately got up to fetch him some water.

After drinking, Xiao Zhen pointed at his lips.

Tong Sui: "Hungry?"

It couldn't be; they had just had lunch not long ago.

Xiao Zhen pulled her into his arms and leaned down to kiss her.

---

Young men have abundant energy, and after resting for five or six days, Xiao Zhen was back to his lively self.

With his injuries healed, it was time to go to the city to pick up Tong Sui's grandfather's family.

The journey from Lingshui Village to the county town was over forty miles, taking half a day by carriage.

To avoid the hottest part of the day, before the village roosters crowed and the sky was still dark, Tong Sui and Xiao Zhen got up. One went to hitch up the donkey cart, while the other heated up the leftover pancakes from the previous day.

Xiao Mu came out of the house and said to Tong Sui, "Traveling is tiring. You should make an egg soup to go with the pancakes."

The hens in the backyard were laying eggs now, and the Xiao family's egg supply was growing quickly. Since the old man had spoken, Tong Sui went to the west room to fetch two eggs.

Once the pancakes were heated and the soup served, the couple sat down to eat, with the old man watching from across the table.

Tong Sui had previously asked the old man if he wanted to eat something, but he had declined.

As the couple finished eating, the old man took out a money pouch from his sleeve and placed it near Xiao Zhen. "On the eighth day of the fourth month, Xiaoman's birthday, we celebrated it that way. This time when you go to the city, make sure to compensate her properly. Don't go empty-handed to your grandfather's place."

Tong Sui hurriedly said, "Grandfather, you..."

Xiao Mu waved his hand. "Grandfather isn't being partial to you. Wherever you are, those who have done good deeds deserve rewards. You went to Imprisoned Dragon Ridge risking your life, so for your birthday, Grandfather must give you more. If things were better, Grandfather would give you even more."

Xiao Zhen directly put away the money pouch, stopping Tong Sui from refusing further.

After eating, Tong Sui wanted to clear the dishes, but the old man stopped her, urging them to leave soon.

Tong Sui could only hold a book to read on the road as she sat next to Xiao Zhen in the donkey cart.

By the time the villagers of Lingshui Village were having breakfast, Tong Sui and Xiao Zhen had already covered half the distance.

Tong Sui leaned against Xiao Zhen's back, using him to shield her from the sun, and whenever she encountered something she didn't understand, she could turn around and ask him.

As they traveled, Xiao Zhen suddenly said, "Is that Mr. Song behind us?"

Surprised, Tong Sui looked back and indeed saw someone riding a donkey approaching. The man on the donkey wore simple clothes and a square cap, with a fair complexion and elegant features.

It was really Song Lan.

Song Lan clearly recognized Tong Sui and slowed down to come alongside them.

Tong Sui casually tucked the book under her skirt and greeted him with a smile. "Mr. Song, are you also going to the city?"

Song Lan replied, "Yes, it's been a while since I visited my old friends. What about you?"

Tong Sui explained, "We're going to the city to buy some things and visit my grandfather."

For their trip, they had a specific explanation for the neighbors at her grandfather's home, and naturally, another explanation for the villagers back in Taohuagou.