(The two coins became five; two coins felt a little ridiculous.)
The next morning.
The streets on both sides of the main entrance to Blackwater County were already lined with two long queues, people packed shoulder to shoulder, stretching almost as far as the eye could see.
Men and women, old and young, crowded from one end of the street to the other. Some chatted in whispers, while others stood on tiptoe, craning their necks toward the city gates.
All they had to do was holler a few times to earn five copper coins. What was there not to like?
Five copper coins could buy two rough-flour steamed buns, a jug of cheap wine, or enough food to keep an ordinary family in Blackwater County going for half a day.
For some poor households, it was even enough to cover a whole day's expenses.
They could earn money without much effort. It was a good deal.
In the crowd, a broad-shouldered, thick-waisted man with a pockmarked face and an exceptionally ugly appearance was mercilessly berating the woman beside him. Spit flew from his mouth as he shouted, "Wang Xiaolan, you'd better shout louder in a minute! If the officials think you're not loud enough and don't pay our household, just see if I don't beat you!"
Wang Xiaolan nodded numbly.
She wore an old padded jacket, and bruises still marked her face. Her left eye was ringed with purple, a split at the corner of her mouth had scabbed over, her eyelid was swollen and red, and her gaze was vacant.
More than half a month ago, she had gone to visit Jiang Tian with Zhang Qingfeng, Xiao Ce, and the others.
But after Zhang Qingfeng had been punched by Jiang Tian, he took out his anger on her, and