Collecting Taxes

Chen Sanshi excitedly ran over, picked up the rabbit from the ground, and weighed it a few times, estimating it to be about seven or eight jin.

"At the current market price, it'll sell for at least sixty copper coins!"

He didn't rush down the mountain. Instead, he tied the rabbit with a rope and hung it on himself, continuing to search for new prey.

"Coo coo—"

There were still continuous bird calls nearby.

With the help of Tracking, Chen Sanshi quickly located two pigeons on a treetop in the distance.

He drew his bow, nocked his arrow, pulled the string, and released. The entire action was fluid.

An afterimage flashed, and the two pigeons were shot into a string, falling from the tree to the ground with a "splat."

Chen Sanshi successfully collected them.

Pigeon was very nutritious and sold for slightly more than rabbit, with the two pigeons combined worth thirty copper coins.

He wanted to continue, but it was getting late, so he had to pack up and head down the mountain.

To sell wild game, one needed to go to the restaurants in the county town.

Along the way, he passed many villages poorer than Yanbian Village. The people here were all gaunt and sallow, and some lay on the ground motionless, it was impossible to tell if they were dead or alive.

When they saw the prey in Chen Sanshi's hands, they all cast envious and greedy glances. However, upon seeing the bow and arrows behind him, they could only forcibly suppress their wicked thoughts.

"Eight Treasures Restaurant."

Half an hour later.

Chen Sanshi stopped, gazing at the grand, gilded plaque above.

This was a restaurant his father used to frequent for business, and it was one of the top establishments in the city. It was said that a casual meal here cost at least three to five taels of silver.

Just moments ago, the roadside was filled with people on the verge of starvation, yet now, he personally witnessed a rich man throwing a full plate of fresh meat and vegetables on the ground to feed his dog.

"Truly, 'While the rich man's wine goes sour, the starving man's bones lie in the road'..."

Crop failure?

If all the grain from the granaries were brought out, it might be enough for everyone in the city to get through this winter.

Chen Sanshi sighed inwardly.

The shopkeeper who came to greet him was an acquaintance of his father.

"Eight jin and two liang of rabbit meat, one pigeon weighing half a jin, for a total of eighty-five wen."

The slightly plump middle-aged man skillfully manipulated the abacus beads: "Does that sound acceptable?"

"It's acceptable, thank you, Uncle Liu."

Chen Sanshi knew the value.

Liu Hongda smiled: "If you have good goods in the future, bring them straight to me. I guarantee you won't be shorted half a cent."

Chen Sanshi took the copper coins.

'Earning nearly one mace of silver in a day would definitely be enough to live on normally.'

'But now, with taxes due soon and money to repay, this amount isn't enough.'

'I still need to hunt larger prey!'

As he counted the copper coins, a dark and thin young man approached to sell fish.

"Shi Ge'er?!"

The young man recognized him at a glance.

The corresponding name quickly surfaced in Chen Sanshi's mind.

Zhang Shun.

A child of Aunt Li's family. They had played in the mud together as children.

For the past half-year, if Aunt Li hadn't taken Lan Jie'er to work and occasionally helped them out, they would have likely starved to death long ago.

"Shunzi, you've come at the right time."

Chen Sanshi took out the still-warm copper coins: "The money I owe your family..."

Before he could finish, Shunzi interrupted him.

"Shi Ge'er, there's no need to rush. I don't need money right now."

Zhang Shun said as he lifted the fish basket at his feet, displaying its full contents, including a large fish weighing seven or eight jin: "On the other hand, you just recovered from your illness, Brother. You have many expenses. You can repay me whenever you have spare cash!"

"Okay, thank you, Shunzi."

Chen Sanshi didn't refuse further.

He owed them two mace of silver. One mace wasn't enough, so he decided to wait until he saved enough to repay the principal and interest all at once.

"Brother, why are you being so polite? You taught me to read when we were kids!"

Both of them lived in Poyang County, so they decided to head home together.

While chatting on the way, Chen Sanshi learned that Shunzi's whole family had saved over ten taels of silver and planned to go to the Martial Arts School to learn skills in a while.

"Learning martial arts."

Chen Sanshi knew that martial arts were practiced in this world, and practitioners held an extraordinary status.

For ordinary folk, if their children could be accepted into a Martial Arts School, it would be considered a great achievement. If they achieved even a little success, it would bring honor to their ancestors.

He had a system panel that tracked progress, and he naturally wanted to learn martial arts too. However, it required a considerable tuition fee. He decided to first overcome his current difficulties and save enough money.

Upon entering the town, Chen Sanshi bid farewell to Shunzi.

He hadn't reached home yet, but from a distance, he spotted a graceful figure standing at the entrance, looking out anxiously.

It was Gu Xinlan, of course.

She had deliberately finished work early today to cook at home, but she waited and waited for her man to return. By the time it was dark, she was almost desperate enough to go up the mountain to search for him.

"Shi Ge'er!"

Gu Xinlan hurried over and said, half concerned, half scolding, "It's already dark and you're just getting back. Are you trying to scare me to death! Didn't I tell you it doesn't matter if you catch anything or not?"

Chen Sanshi didn't rush to reply. He chuckled and pulled out a gray pigeon from behind him.

"Oh, Shi Ge'er caught something?"

Before Gu Xinlan could react, another bag of copper coins was pressed into her hand, and a gentle voice sounded in her ear: "Tonight, we're having meat."

Half an hour later.

Besides salted duck egg and rice, there was a pot of fragrant pigeon soup on the dining table.

Ever since the original owner's father passed away, their family hadn't eaten meat for half a year.

"Shi Ge'er, you're truly amazing."

Gu Xinlan still found it hard to believe. "I heard even Uncle Zhao from the village came back empty-handed today."

"I just got lucky. Uncle Zhao and the others are veterans of the Second Mountain; when they find prey, it's always big game."

Chen Sanshi gnawed on a pigeon leg, eating the salted duck egg mixed with rice, his stomach feeling immensely satisfied.

He had deliberately not sold everything for silver, wanting to give himself and Lan Jie'er a good meal.

Gu Xinlan, however, was still reluctant to eat the meat.

After Chen Sanshi's repeated persuasion, she finally ate a pigeon wing.

After a satisfying meal, he pulled Lan Jie'er to sit on the edge of the bed. She lowered her head, her face flushed, her fingers nervously twisting together.

It was, after all, the first day after their wedding.

Under the flickering candlelight, Chen Sanshi observed Lan Jie'er's pretty face carefully for the first time.

Her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows were as charming as a spring breeze, her almond-shaped eyes reflected the candlelight like autumn water mirroring the moon, her slightly flushed cheeks were like peach blossoms, and her entire being exuded an irresistible charm.

Moreover, she was literate and skilled at embroidery. If not for her coarse linen clothes, she would have been the perfect image of a noble young lady.

"Lan Jie'er."

Chen Sanshi unconsciously leaned closer.

"What is it, Shi Ge'er?"

"You smell so good."

"Shi Ge'er, I... it still hurts."

Later that night.

Chen Sanshi leaned against the headboard, one arm still tightly held.

"Shi Ge'er~"

Gu Xinlan's face showed worry. "Did our family offend Qin Xiong?"

"Qin Xiong?"

"Yes."

Gu Xinlan nodded. "I heard from the neighbors that the man named Qin was lingering around our doorstep for a long time during the day."

"..."

Chen Sanshi took note.

It seemed that fellow really wouldn't give up. I need to be careful later.

He comforted her, "Sleep, Lan Jie'er. I'm here."

"Mmm."

Gu Xinlan was already groggy from exhaustion and soon fell asleep.

These past two days, she had felt inexplicably at ease.

Chen Sanshi leaned against the headboard and noticed an old book left on the bedside table that he hadn't sold. He casually picked it up and flipped through it.

Skill: Reading (Beginner)

Progress: (15/300)

Effects: Spirit Revitalized, Eidetic Memory. "It really works."

When he was hunting during the day and comprehending Tracking, he had wondered if reading would also work.

The facts proved he wasn't wrong.

Not only that, but he had gotten it right from the start.

It seemed the original owner hadn't accumulated much before, otherwise why couldn't he even pass the Xiucai exam?

With the System Panel in hand, Chen Sanshi figured he would definitely pass the imperial examination if he took it again.

It was a shame the next imperial examination was still two years away; he couldn't wait that long.

He had to survive first.

After flipping through the book for a while, Chen Sanshi fell into a deep sleep.

"Knock, knock, knock--"

"Open the door!"

"Hurry and open the door!"

The next morning.

Chen Sanshi was woken by the urgent banging on his door.

He told Lan Jie'er to get dressed and hide in the inner room, then got up himself to open the door.