SLH | Chapter 36

Corvée Labor and Taxes

The next day, Song Tingzhu and Xiaomei went to town to sell herbs. After some hesitation, Song decided to have a doctor check his pulse. He was too embarrassed to ask directly about matters of the bedroom, so he asked indirectly if his body could sustain a pregnancy.

The old doctor blew his beard and glared, saying that Song was courting death. His body was weak, and even if he engaged in bedroom activities, he must do so in moderation. Otherwise, even if he healed, he might find it difficult to have children in the future.

With his ears turning red, Song Tingzhu thanked the old doctor. When he left the clinic, he saw Xiaomei looking at him curiously. He cleared his throat and pretended nothing was amiss, saying, “I asked the doctor about some prescriptions. My spirits have been good these past few days, probably because the new prescription is working.”

Liu Xiaomei didn’t suspect anything and excitedly talked about the money they earned that day.

“We made three hundred and twenty-five wen this time. After buying medicine and paper, we still have over a hundred wen left!”

Earning a hundred copper coins in less than ten days without delaying their usual work was something they never dared to imagine before.

Seeing the little girl so happy, Song Tingzhu swallowed his discouraging words. The days of earning money by picking herbs would only last for these two months. Once autumn passed and the vegetation withered, this livelihood would no longer be possible.

“Brother Zhu, Xiaomei, there’s still room today. Want to take the ox cart back?” At the town entrance, Old Man Peng hadn’t left yet. Seeing the two, he waved his whip and called out.

Song Tingzhu smiled and agreed, “We’re in luck. I thought we’d have to walk back today.”

Old Man Peng said, “There’s not much business these days. Everyone’s waiting for the yamen to come collect the summer taxes, so they have no time to come to town.”

So it was tax collection time.

He asked, “Do you know how much the taxes are this year, Uncle Peng?”

“The head tax and household tax are the same as before, but the corvée is tough this year. We have to go into the mountains to quarry stones.”

“Those high officials in Kyoto always bully the common people. They live such comfortable lives and are still not satisfied, building star-gazing towers and literary pavilions. They claim it’s for the people’s blessing, but in the end, it’s us common folks who suffer.”

“Shh, shh, shh, you shouldn’t say such things!”

“Daring to say things that could cost you your head, aren’t you afraid someone might hear and report you to the county yamen for disrespecting the court?”

Several women on the ox cart knew each other. Seeing their companion about to speak, they quickly pulled her back and changed the subject, “It’s dangerous for a husband to go quarrying stones. If you can gather enough money, it’s best to redeem him.”

Another aunt chimed in, “Every time there’s stone quarrying, someone gets injured by falling rocks. Although the government compensates, how do you live with a broken arm or leg? You can’t just sit and eat away your savings.”

“Yeah, it’s been years since we last had to quarry stones. Let’s hope nothing happens this year.”

The women sighed, and Song Tingzhu and Liu Xiaomei couldn’t help but frown as they listened.

At dinner during the You hour, the Liu family heard about the corvée requiring stone quarrying this year and were all worried.

Ruan Xiulian was so troubled she couldn’t eat. She put down her chopsticks and said, “The last time we quarried stones was five years ago. Mengzi told me two men were injured by falling rocks, and one died on the spot before the doctor even arrived.”

Tang Chunxing also lost her appetite, holding Xia Ge’er and sighing, “We were just about to live a good life, and now we have to quarry stones again.”

No one in the family ate well. Even the youngest, Xia Ge’er, was affected by the gloomy atmosphere, eating only a little before curling up in Tang Chunxing’s arms, looking unhappy.

After washing up at night, the couple lay in bed, unable to sleep.

Song Tingzhu closed his eyes, trying to sleep, when he suddenly heard a rustling sound beside him. The next moment, the hand resting on his abdomen was grabbed and held tightly by the man.

Liu Hu squeezed his wife’s fingers and said in a deep voice, “Last time the court recruited people to quarry stones, it was Big Brother who went. This time, it’s my turn.”

Song Tingzhu leaned into the man’s embrace, pulling out a warm jade pendant from under the pillow.

“Take this jade pendant to town tomorrow and pawn it.”

Liu Hu didn’t take it, “No, this jade pendant is the only keepsake your mother left you.”

“Then pawn it temporarily. We’ll get less money that way.” Song Tingzhu stuffed the pendant into his husband’s hand, resting half his face on the man’s chest. “This jade pendant was originally a pair, left by my mother for my husband and me. I pawned one early on to treat Hongmei’s mother.”

He said gently, “My husband doesn’t know who Hongmei is, right? She’s a friend from the Song family, along with Qing He. They’re like the wet nurse, my most important family.”

Liu Hu asked, “Where are they now?”

Song Tingzhu said, “Hongmei and Qing He have redeemed themselves and returned home. Only Granny is still at the Song family.”

He frowned slightly, “I don’t know how Granny is doing. The letter I sent to the prefectural city hasn’t been answered yet.”

Liu Hu hugged his wife tighter, promising, “When we save enough money, we’ll go to the prefectural city and bring Granny home to live with us.”

Song Tingzhu smiled, “Granny is straightforward. She’ll definitely get along well with Mother-in-law.”

－

The next day, Liu Hu went to work in town, taking the jade pendant with him.

Lianxi Town had three pawnshops. One only accepted dead pawns, while the other two accepted both live and dead pawns. During the lunch break, Liu Hu hurried to North Street with the jade pendant.

The two pawnshops on North Street faced each other. One shopkeeper was a smiling tiger who would eat you alive, while the other had a fierce-looking beard but never cheated the common folk.

Liu Hu passed by the smiling tiger’s shop, intending to enter, but suddenly stopped and turned towards the other shop at the end of the street.

“Boss, that man went into Pan Youquan’s shop.” An employee ran inside to report quietly.

Dou Zhengxiang snorted, “Let him go. He looks poor, probably doesn’t have anything valuable.”

“Wow, this jade pendant is of good quality. It’s a pity it’s missing a piece. Otherwise, it would fetch a high price.”

In Pan’s pawnshop, Manager Pan examined the jade pendant repeatedly, finally offering eight taels of silver. Seeing the tall man unmoved, he thought the man was dissatisfied with the price.

Smiling, he said, “Our Pan family business is always honest. If you’re not satisfied, feel free to check other pawnshops. I’m afraid they won’t even offer six taels.”

Liu Hu suppressed his shock, still keeping a straight face.

“Manager, there’s no misunderstanding. The price is fair. Just write the pawn contract.”

Manager Pan nodded, noting the man’s calm demeanor and fluent official speech, but shook his head at the handwriting on the contract.

He looked good, but his handwriting was terrible.

“Brother, here’s eight taels of silver. Keep it safe.”

Liu Hu took the silver, checked it, and then bid farewell to the manager, leaving the pawnshop.

Once out of North Street, Liu Hu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

His wife said he looked a bit silly when he smiled, so he should keep a straight face when doing business outside. Don’t respond to offers immediately, and only speak when asked. This way, he could save a lot of words.

Liu Hu put the silver in his pocket, showing a simple smile.

His wife was right. It took less than a quarter of an hour to get the job done.

At the You hour, when the sun set, Song Tingzhu was shocked to see his husband bring back eight whole taels of silver.

The prices in Lianxi Town couldn’t compare to the prefectural city. It didn’t make sense that a jade pendant worth only three and a half taels there could fetch eight taels here.

He sighed, realizing he’d been cheated before.

Liu Hu saw his wife frowning and silent, worriedly asking, “What’s wrong, wife? Was the pawn price too low?”

Song Tingzhu shook his head, “Just remembered some things.”

He picked out five taels from the money pouch, leaving the rest in a small wooden box full of copper coins.

“Later, take these five taels to Big Brother and have him repay the debt to Landlord Zhang. I still have a few taels of loose silver, enough to cover the corvée.”

Liu Hu nodded, “I’ll listen to you, wife.”

Song Tingzhu put the box in the cabinet, instinctively reaching for his waist, only to find it empty.

He paused, feeling as if something had been hollowed out inside him, leaving a deep sense of loss.

Liu Hu noticed something was wrong, hugged him, and comforted him, “Don’t worry, wife. It’s a live pawn. We can redeem it later.”

Song Tingzhu nodded, but couldn’t help feeling down, his heart empty.

Dinner was tasteless, and the next day, Liu Xiaomei dragged him to the back mountain to pick herbs. With Xu Xiaoman and Qian Shuang’er, they made faces and told jokes, finally coaxing a smile out of him after a long time.

“Uncle, hold out your hand. Xia Ge’er and Lin Ge’er have a gift for you.” Xia Ge’er ran over, hands behind his back, looking mysterious.

Curious, Song Tingzhu held out his hand, and the little guy pulled out a bouquet of wildflowers, handing it over with a smile.

Song Tingzhu was momentarily stunned, then his heart softened.

“Thank you, Xia Ge’er and Lin Ge’er. Uncle loves it.”

“There’s more. We’ll pick more~”

Liu Xiaomei teased the two, “Playing favorites, what about Auntie?”

“Auntie wants one too!”

“We’ve been so good to you, where’s mine?”

Qian Shuang’er and Xu Xiaoman pretended to be jealous.

Xia Ge’er quickly frowned, promising, “Everyone will get one. We’ll go pick more now!”

The group burst into laughter, Xu Xiaoman spinning Xia Ge’er around until he was dizzy, and Liu Xiaomei playfully pinching Lin Ge’er’s cheeks, making him cry for help.

Watching from the side, Song Tingzhu felt his low spirits lift, feeling relaxed and cheerful.

Two days later, the government sent people to the village to collect summer taxes. Upon hearing that this year’s corvée required stone quarrying, the villagers complained bitterly. Those with some means gathered money to redeem themselves from the labor, but Yunxi Village wasn’t wealthy. Most were registered for the labor, set to start work in late autumn.

The Ruan elders worried about their two grandsons, sending Ruan Daniu with two taels of silver. Ruan Xiulian refused, but Ruan Daniu left the silver and walked away, leaving her no choice but to accept.

“Forget it. Tomorrow we’ll pick some vegetables and visit the old folks in Xiahe Village, returning the silver along the way. Zhu Ge’er, accompany Mother.”

Song Tingzhu nodded, “Alright.”

———————–

Author’s Note: Here’s a foreshadowing, remember the two jade pendants~

There were foreshadowings earlier too, bet you all forgot, haha

Eight hundred foreshadowings in one chapter (just kidding)