Forcing Grain!

Autumn grew colder, and another year was about to pass.

Ordinarily, this was the slack season. Country folk could rest for a few days and let their bodies, weary from a year of labor, recover.

But this year was different from all the years before.

Aside from the household of Master Liu, the landlord, whose days remained much as they always had in Daliushu Village, every other family was struggling.

As long as they still had breath in them, they were either rushing to plant cold-resistant crops or gathering wild vegetables and fruits from the surrounding area.

Some even risked entering the mountains in search of mountain goods, medicinal herbs, and the like.

The Imperial Court's increased taxes had nearly driven the villagers of Daliushu Village into bankruptcy.

They had scraped together enough to pay the taxes, yet had no surplus grain left for the winter.

Others who could not pay had been seized, their homes ransacked by the yamen runners. The widows and orphans left behind might not even survive this winter.

And even if they made it through this winter, what about next year?

Without able-bodied men in the household, they would be even less able to pay next year's taxes!

Yet even so, this year's taxes had not actually all been collected. What they had paid this time was only the land tax; the head tax had yet to be levied!

When spring came next year and it was time to collect the head tax, what then?

For a time, the already heavy atmosphere in Daliushu Village grew ever colder and more grim.

Smoke rose from the kitchen chimneys.

"His father, do you think Zhi'er will come back today?"

As Mother Chen ate breakfast, she watched the autumn wind whirl dry yellow grass leaves beyond the courtyard gate and spoke to Father Fang, who was eating with his head down.

"Also, I heard that in several nearby villages, some people who couldn't go on any longer fled from the famine and went into the mountains to become bandits. Do you think Zhi'er might run into danger on his way back?"

Father Fang raised his head from his bowl at that.

He looked at his wife, used a flatbread to wipe up the last bit of vegetable porridge from the bottom of the bowl, and ate it so clean that the bowl hardly seemed to need washing.

Wiping his mouth, he said carelessly, "He'll definitely be fine. Zhi'er learned real skills from Fang Hu. He isn't even afraid of tigers. Could those people be fiercer than tigers?"

"How can you not worry at all? That old schoolmaster in the village used to say that the human heart is more vicious than a fierce tiger!" Mother Chen snapped.

A while later, Chen Shi took the bowls and chopsticks from Father Fang. She glanced outside several more times, and only after failing to see that familiar figure did she turn back in disappointment, preparing to wash up.

"Father, I went to deliver grain to Uncle Fuquan just now, and someone saw me."

At that moment, Fang Cheng came hurrying back from outside, looking somewhat panicked. The moment he saw Fang Mu, he quickly spoke up.

The instant Chen Shi heard this, she grabbed Fang Cheng by the ear, furious that he had failed to live up to expectations.

"What? How could you be so careless? Didn't I tell you not to let anyone see? If someone comes to borrow grain later, let's see what you'll do then!"

Every household was having a hard time this year. Even though their family had saved up some grain before thanks to Zhi'er—

In truth, it was only a dozen-odd shi.

Over the past few days, Fang Cheng had already delivered more than a hundred jin of grain to his future father-in-law.

That was only one household, so it was not too much.

But if several more families came—

Even if their home were piled high with mountains of rice and flour, it would not be enough for everyone to borrow.

That was why Chen Shi had told Fang Cheng to avoid being seen whenever he delivered grain.

And even if someone did see him, he absolutely could not admit that he had been delivering grain.

It was not that their family was stingy.

Rather, this sort of kindness could not be given, and this precedent could not be set.

Once it began, there was no way they could look after every struggling person in the village.

Favoring some over others would inevitably invite disaster.

"Mother, I... I..."

Fang Cheng knew he had been careless today. With Chen Shi twisting his ear, he wanted to beg for mercy, but being tongue-tied, he could not manage a complete sentence even after a long while.

"His mother, it should be fine. It was only this one time someone saw him. No one should come, right?" Father Fang scratched his head and spoke up for his eldest son.

Chen Shi had only been somewhat worried to begin with; she had not truly believed it would happen.

She immediately released Fang Cheng's ear and headed toward the kitchen.

Yet sometimes, the more one feared something, the more likely it was to happen.

Chen Shi had only just stepped into the kitchen when seven or eight gaunt figures arrived outside Fang Yue's home.

The moment they saw Fang Mu and Fang Cheng, they immediately crowded around.

"Uncle Fang Mu, please, lend me two sacks of grain. Otherwise, we won't make it through this winter."

"Brother Fang Cheng, please help us. We really can't go on anymore."

Daliushu Village had two great surnames, Fang and Liu. Among those of the same surname, most had some roundabout familial connection.

All those who had come were Fang Clan Members, and several were even relatives of Fang Yue's family.

"Th-this year has been so hard. My family doesn't have any surplus grain either!"

Father Fang was already a dull and inarticulate man. Seeing this situation, he immediately began to stammer.

"Third Brother Fang, I saw it myself. Your eldest nephew delivered grain to the Fuquan Family, outsiders with a different surname. We're relatives who aren't even beyond the third degree of mourning—you have to help us too!"

"That's right, that's right! If you don't lend us grain, we won't leave today!"

How could these people possibly accept that? Their homes did not even have enough to cook a meal.

They had finally discovered that Fang Mu's family seemed to have surplus grain. Besides, everyone in the village knew that Fang Yue had followed Fang Hu to learn martial arts and hunt.

And earlier this year, Fang Yue's family had traded meat with them for some grain.

So Fang Yue's family definitely had surplus grain!

"Exactly. You've lent grain to outsiders with another surname, so how can you refuse us, your own clansmen?"

"Fang Mu, if you won't lend it, then you don't recognize us as Fang Clan Members. You aren't even prosperous yet, and you're already so cold-blooded. It truly makes one's teeth go cold!"

Seeing Father Fang refuse, several of them immediately would not let the matter rest.

Their tones grew stern, carrying threats.

It was as if, should Fang Mu refuse to lend them grain today, they would ruin his family's reputation.

Ancient society was, in truth, a clan-based system.

In ordinary times, the law of the king did not reach into the countryside. Many conflicts between villagers had to be settled within the clan.

For example, which household could draw water to irrigate its fields, or which household could use the clan's sacrificial vessels—such matters all had to be arranged by the clan.

Therefore, if a family's reputation within the clan was ruined, they would basically be ostracized at every turn and ultimately forced to leave their homeland.

"That's right, that's right! Fang Mu, you have to lend us grain today!"

The more these people spoke, the more agitated they became. They even gave the impression that they were about to seize it by force.

"What are you doing? Are you planning to rob us? Get out, all of you! Let's see who dares step inside today!"

At that moment, Chen Shi, having heard the commotion, rushed out of the kitchen with a kitchen knife in hand.

She stood in front of Fang Mu and Fang Cheng, blocking the seven or eight Fang Clan Members outside the gate.

Then, looking at several of them, she said:

"Fang Ming, if I remember correctly, two years ago, your eldest son fell into the Xiahe River. It was my Fang Mu who disregarded the danger and pulled him out."

"Fang Zhi, the year before last, when your family faced a grain shortage, you borrowed one hundred jin of grain from us. It has been nearly two years, and you still haven't paid it back."