In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 22 County Honor

"Chen Da and Chen Dao's family are really wealthy! So much grain and rice!"

"I haven't eaten rice in ages!"

"Me too."

"..."

Amidst the envious gazes of the young and strong, the grain store clerk loaded a total of 1050 jin of grain onto the cart, and then everyone boarded the donkey cart, which Chen Si drove back to Chenjia Village.

…………

…………

County government.

Just as Chen Dao and the others rushed back to Chenjia Village, County Magistrate Xu Zhiwen was sitting in a side hall of the county government office, drinking fragrant tea.

Standing next to Xu Zhiwen was his hired advisor.

In front of Xu Zhiwen were the wealthy families from various parts of the county who had come at the invitation of the county magistrate.

The seats closest to Xu Zhiwen were occupied by the heads of the three wealthiest families in Taiping County: the Yuan family, the Fang family, and the Zhu family.

These three families practically monopolized all businesses in Taiping County, making them the most powerful and influential families in the county.

Slightly behind these three family heads were the heads of the three major martial arts schools in the county: Li Hu of Fuhu Boxing School, Cui Mang of Hanshan Martial Arts School, and Zhang He of Batui Martial Arts School.

Although the three martial arts schools were not as wealthy as the three major families, they were still the leading forces in Taiping County due to the large number of martial artists in their schools.

At this moment, six people were sitting in their seats, each with a cup of fragrant tea on the table beside them. However, none of them seemed to be enjoying the tea. Instead, they were staring intently at Magistrate Xu Zhiwen, who was seated at the head of the table, trying to figure out his intention in summoning everyone.

Unfortunately, Xu Zhiwen did not demonstrate any exemplary behavior; he simply held his fragrant tea and elegantly used the lid to skim off the foam on top of the tea.

"The county magistrate."

Cui Mang, the owner of the Hanshan Boxing Gym who had been keeping a close eye on Xu Zhiwen for a long time, finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "I wonder what brings you all here?"

Xu Zhiwen seemed not to have heard Cui Mang's words at all; instead, it was his advisor who spoke up.

"You don't know something."

The clerk clasped his hands in a fist salute to the crowd and said, "The county magistrate has just received an order from the imperial court to increase taxes in our county. As you all know, the county magistrate has always been concerned about the people and is truly reluctant to increase taxes on the hardworking masses. Therefore, he has no choice but to ask for your help!"

Upon hearing this, the hearts of the six people present sank.

The advisor's words sound nice, that he can't bear to increase taxes on ordinary people. In other words, isn't that just increasing taxes on wealthy households like us?

Naturally, everyone was unhappy about this act of cutting off their own flesh, and they hurriedly racked their brains to think of an excuse to refuse.

Cui Mang's eyes darted around. Although he looked rough and seemingly stupid, he was actually very shrewd. He quickly said, "Although my Hanshan Boxing Gym is having some difficulties, the county magistrate has spoken up. How can I stand idly by?"

After making a series of perfunctory statements, Cui Mang said, "The Hanshan Boxing School is willing to contribute 100 shi of grain to help the county magistrate!"

100 shi of grain?

Xu Zhiwen paused in his action of skimming off the foam, his face remaining expressionless, but he was somewhat annoyed inside.

100 shi of grain, equivalent to 10000 jin, seems like a lot, but in reality, it's completely useless!

This amount of grain is not even enough to meet the imperial court's increased tax demands, let alone to provide porridge for the refugees outside the county town.

“My Yuan family is also in a difficult situation right now, but we are willing to contribute 100 shi of grain to help the county magistrate.”

"The Fang family is also willing to contribute 100 shi of grain."

“The Zhu family will contribute 100 shi (a unit of dry measure).”

"..."

As if they had planned it together, the six of them all shouted out a price of 100 shi of grain.

This amount is just a drop in the ocean for each family, and it won't hurt them to spend it to appease the county magistrate.

"It seems you gentlemen are unwilling to give me, the county magistrate, any face!"

Xu Zhiwen finally put the teacup aside, his face grim.

As the head of a county, he had already humbled himself to make the request, but these six people didn't give him any face at all.

100 shi of grain is barely enough to feed a beggar.

"To be honest, Your Excellency, we're not having an easy time either!"

Yuan Ju, the head of the Yuan family, feigned a bitter smile and said, "Nowadays, bandits are everywhere outside the city, and my Yuan family's business has also been affected. 100 shi of grain is the maximum amount my Yuan family can afford."

Ah!

The advisor beside Xu Zhiwen couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

The Yuan family can only provide 100 shi of grain? You'd be lying to a ghost!

Which of the three major families in Taiping County didn't participate in the grain business? Their homes might not be overflowing with grain, but they certainly never lacked it.

As for the idea that bandits outside the city would affect the Yuan family's business, that's even more ridiculous!

The Yuan family's goods transportation is always protected by martial artists supported by the Yuan family. How could those insignificant bandits outside the city possibly affect the Yuan family's business?

"My family has been facing extremely difficult times lately, and I implore Your Excellency to investigate."

Fang Tang, the head of the Fang family, said.

The others also complained and played the victim to Xu Zhiwen, their purpose was obvious: they didn't want to contribute more money or food.

Xu Zhiwen was quite helpless about this. Although he was the magistrate of the county, he could not force these families and martial arts schools to go too far. After all, these families and martial arts schools had a complicated relationship in the county. Not to mention anything else, many of the clerks and constables in this county government office were people from these families. Once he, the magistrate, had a conflict with these families, it was really hard to say which side those clerks and constables would stand on.

"That's enough! You can leave now!"

Xu Zhiwen waved his hand, signaling that everyone could leave.

No one wanted to stay any longer, so they all got up to say goodbye.

Before they left, Xu Zhiwen reminded them, "Each household should receive 100 shi of grain, which must be delivered to the warehouse within three days."

After everyone left, Xu Zhiwen slumped back in his chair and said helplessly, "Master He, is there any other way to get these wealthy families to contribute more money and grain?"

"No."

The advisor named He Jian shook his head. It was not an easy task to extract money and grain from these powerful families.

What just happened is the best proof.

Even Xu Zhiwen, the head of a county, could at most get these powerful families to give him face; as for getting them to bleed money, that was impossible.

"What about the taxes levied by the imperial court?"

Xu Zhiwen asked, "The amount of tax that the imperial court has imposed on Taiping County this time is quite large, and the attitude is extremely strict. If I cannot pay the full amount, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my official position."

He Jian thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps we can only make the people suffer a little more."

"People?"

Xu Zhiwen couldn't help but ask, "The people are already struggling so much, how can they afford to pay taxes?"

Xu Zhiwen was naturally aware of the refugees gathering outside the city, and he even sent some clerks to distribute porridge outside the city.

He knew very well that as the cold disaster continued for a long time, the people were already overburdened. If taxes were to be levied on them again, the number of refugees outside the city would likely increase, and there was even a possibility that some people would rise up in rebellion...