In the following period, the entire Qingshan Village was busy collecting food.

The process of paying the grain is very troublesome. After the government calculates the tax grain that each household should pay, the village chief leads the villagers to transport the tax grain to the designated grain depot. If the grain is not dried or there are too many stones and debris, the grain will be

The warehouse will reject it, and then it will have to be shipped all the way back to be processed and then sent out.

Not only wasting time and effort like this, you might miss the deadline for paying food, and you would be fined food and money by the government, so very few people do this.

However, the local officials responsible for collecting grains would take advantage of this little power in their hands and deliberately seize the opportunity to ask for "hard work fees" from the farmers. Before each payment of grains, the farmers had to prepare more than ten kilograms of new grains in advance.

Or a few dozen pennies, just to get the taxes and grain into the treasury smoothly.

Privately, everyone calls these extra grains and money "offerings."

The "offerings" may not seem much, but the "offerings" accumulated in each household amount to a huge amount. What's more, this kind of thing happens every year. It can be said that the rats in these officials' homes are fattened in this way.

.

Every time grain is transported to the grain depot, only when the village chief of each village leads his people to hand over the "offerings" will the grain depot send people over to inspect the grain collection. Otherwise, even if the grain is piled under their noses, they will not

Will take another look.

This kind of corruption, which is almost out in the open, has been going on for more than ten years. Not that no one resisted or even reported it to the government. However, those who resisted were beaten up and thrown into jail.

Several years have passed and no one has come out. No one knows whether he is dead or alive.

After knowing the consequences of resistance, farmers at the bottom would rather spend more food and money than go against the officials.

The group of people who are lining their own pockets probably know that it is not good for them to oppress the farmers too much, so the "offerings" they have received over the years are not much different. Based on ten kilograms of new grain per household or the price of new grain, they receive thirty to

The price ranges from forty cents. After more than ten years, the two sides have been in peace.

The time for each village to collect grain must also follow the arrangements of the government. It is usually calculated from the first day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and all taxes and grain in the territory will be collected before September. In early August, the head of Qingshan Village received

A document that led the villagers to the county granary to collect grain on August 28.

Seeing that it was August 27th, every household's "offerings" and tax payables had been prepared, waiting to be transported to the county grain depot under the leadership of the village chief early tomorrow morning. Zhao Xiuxiu suddenly found

Mr. Qin said with a serious expression: "Uncle, if you pay for the food tomorrow, something big will happen!"

Mr. Qin had a stern look on his face and took her straight to the village chief's house without asking what the big deal was.

Not long after, the village chief's eldest son took a broken gong and started beating it all over the village. The villagers who were having breakfast at home heard this, hurriedly put down their bowls and chopsticks, wiped their mouths and rushed to the village chief's house.

Within a moment, the heads of each family gathered at the village chief's house.

Seeing Mr. Qin and Zhao Xiuxiu, everyone vaguely guessed that something big was going to happen. Looking at their faces and the village chief's faces, they knew it was not a good thing, and they couldn't help but feel worried.

The village chief stood up and looked into the crowd to make sure that everyone who should be there was there before he said: "Last night, Xiu Yatou had a dream. I couldn't make up my mind, so I called you over. I want to hear your opinions.

Opinion."

After that, he nodded to Zhao Xiuxiu and motioned her to tell her dream last night in public.

This is the first time Zhao Xiuxiu has shown her ability in front of so many people since word of her "predictive ability" spread. She feels a little nervous, but more excited!

She knows very well that as long as she can "predict" successfully this time, her status in the village will be more stable. The villagers will treat her as a benefactor, and other villages will also know her name and deeds, and there will be more and more people in the village.

Many people value her and admire her.

Suppressing the excitement in her heart, Zhao Xiuxiu showed a hint of worry on her face: "What I had last night was a precognitive dream, related to tomorrow's food delivery..."

As Zhao Xiuxiu narrated, the faces of the villagers gradually became ugly.

Seeing their reactions, Zhao Xiuxiu was very satisfied.

In a previous life, the official in charge of the grain depot suddenly increased the amount of "submission". The head of a village argued with him but was beaten to the point where he couldn't afford it. Dozens of villagers in this village were so angry that they started fighting with the officials.

Got up.

The important area of ​​the grain depot was guarded by many officials, all armed with swords and guns. The twenty or thirty villagers were no match at all, and they were soon beaten to a bloody head.

People from several other villages present, including Qingshan Village, had long been dissatisfied with the "offer", and the accumulated resentment in their hearts completely exploded under the unscrupulous oppression of the officials, and they immediately joined the fight.

Both sides were furious, and more than a dozen people were seriously injured and died at that time.

Seeing that things were getting out of hand, additional officials sent by the government were about to arrive. I don't know who took advantage of the chaos and set a fire in the grain depot. Not only did the new grain collected burn, but the old grain stored there was also not spared.

.

The fire was so big that there was no way to put it out. In the end, millions of kilograms of new grain were reduced to ashes, and less than 30% of the more than one million kilograms of old grain was saved.

Le'an County is not far from the capital. The consequences of this riot were too serious. They were brought to the capital that day. In the end, the imperial court sent an imperial envoy to calm down the matter completely.

To those in power, this is a civil riot, and the culprits must be severely punished. For many families in Qingshan Village, it is a huge disaster.

Although the Imperial Envoy handled the case impartially and soon released the hundreds of villagers involved in Qingshan Village after finding out that it was the official envoys who preyed on the common people and aroused public outrage, a physical and physical suffering was unavoidable.

More than 20 people were severely beaten and thrown into a damp prison. They were released after a month. Their legs were so seriously diseased that they could no longer do heavy work.

The reason why Zhao Xiuxiu remembers it so clearly is because among these people, even the village chief was arrested. Qin Shan and Qin Chuan, who went to deliver food together, somehow escaped this disaster. Later, the more than twenty unlucky people

When the villagers came out of prison, they often came to the brothers to cry and envy them for being lucky enough to escape this disaster.

"...The whole dream is like this. Once all uncles and uncles take action tomorrow, I'm afraid..." Zhao Xiuxiu didn't finish what he said, but the meaning was already clear.

The sound of a needle dropping could be heard in the room, and everyone was eerily silent.

After a while, someone asked in a hoarse voice: "Girl Xiu, are you sure this dream will come true?"

After farming honestly for half his life, he couldn't believe that one day he would confront the officials and dare to hit those officials with eyes on their heads! This dream would definitely not come true, right?

Zhao Xiuxiu was very dissatisfied with being questioned, and her tone became unpleasant: "If anyone doesn't believe it, just go to the grain depot tomorrow and see if what I said will happen."

Everyone looked at each other in shock, really not believing that they had the guts to go against the officials. But it was hard to say that such a thing would happen. It was possible that the blood had been stirred up and they could not control it.

At this time, the village chief said seriously: "This matter is of great importance. Even if you don't believe it, you should keep it in your heart. We can't delay the delivery of food. We still have to deliver the food to the grain depot tomorrow. If we really meet the embroidered girl,

You must endure what I said, and no one is allowed to do anything!"

When everyone heard this, they repeatedly promised: "Village chief, I will listen to you and no one will do anything!"

The village chief nodded and was about to say a few more words when someone whispered: "If we don't take action, someone will definitely call us in Qingshan Village weak. After that, will we be able to hold our heads up when we go outside?"

The village chief was so angry that he picked up the cup and threw it at the man: "You want to be a hero and no one can stop you. Please don't cry in front of me!"

The man was so frightened that he quickly retracted his head and did not dare to speak.

Other people with similar thoughts saw that the village chief was angry and immediately did not dare to say anything. What a serious thing to do against the officials. If not, the family will be destroyed. If you are a softie, be a softie. It is better than being arrested and put in a jail cell.

, and ended up with a lifelong disability.

Thinking that the tragic incident might happen tomorrow, everyone left the village chief's house with heavy hearts. Mr. Qin also took Zhao Xiuxiu home.

On the way, Zhao Xiuxiu repeatedly mentioned "predictive dreams" and hinted to Mr. Qin that her precognitive dreams not only saved the villagers from a disaster, but also saved Qinshan and Qinchuan.

Mr. Qin never responded and let her talk to herself.

Zhao Xiuxiu was extremely upset, but she didn't dare to complain, so she could only sulk on her own.

When the two of them just walked out of the house, Qin Xiaoxiao held Sanbao's hand and was about to take Dahuang and Bieme out.

"Grandpa, grandma left some food for you. Come in and eat quickly, don't get hungry!" Qin Xiaoxiao showed a sweet smile to Mr. Qin, as if she could never see sadness on her face.

"Well, grandpa is going to eat right away. Stop playing with Sanbao and go home early." The gloom in Mr. Qin's heart was instantly dispelled by his little granddaughter's smile, and a smile appeared on his serious face.

"I took Bie Bah to the fields to eat the tender shoots from the rice stubble. There is no water in the fields~" Qin Xiaoxiao responded obediently. Seeing Bah Mah's hooves kicking impatiently, he knew it was urging him, so he hurriedly told Mr. Qin

Waving his hands: "Grandpa, I can't wait any longer. I'm leaving."

Seeing cousin Xiuxiu looking at him, he also waved to her.

Zhao Xiuxiu turned her head away with a guilty conscience, not daring to look at Qin Xiaoxiao.

Qin Xiaoxiao didn't pay attention, and waved to Mr. Qin again. After getting a pat on the head from Mr. Qin, he and Sanbao went to herd the sheep happily.

Mr. Qin watched his grandson and granddaughter go away before entering the house. After a quick breakfast, he called Qin Shan and Qin Chuan into the room, and told them with a heavy expression that no matter what they saw when they were collecting food tomorrow, they should be careful.

You have to pretend not to see it and never get involved.

Qin Shan and Qin Chuan were confused and quickly asked for the reason. After learning about Zhao Xiuxiu's precognitive dream, the brothers' expressions became heavy.

"Dad, that's more than a dozen lives. Are we really going to do nothing?" Qin Shan is not a hard-hearted person, and he really doesn't want things to develop to such a tragic point.

"What can you do?" Mr. Qin asked back: "As long as the 'consecration' is still there, this kind of thing will happen sooner or later. If we can escape by chance, it is already a blessing from the Bodhisattva. There is no reason to forcefully interfere without knowing the consequences!"

Qin Shan knew what his father said was right, but he still found it hard to accept it: "Can't, can't we stop that village chief from making trouble? As long as the village chief doesn't make trouble and no one hurts him, those dozens of villagers won't follow.

The officials started fighting."

Mr. Qin smiled coldly: "You stopped the village chief, can you stop the official family from increasing the 'consecration'?"

Qin Shan opened his mouth, but could not say a complete sentence for a long time.

"Brother, this matter is really beyond our control! To be honest, it doesn't matter if it makes a big fuss, it's just a good time for the higher-ups to see how those bastards oppress us ordinary people." Qin Chuan is much more sensible than Qin Shan, and he doesn't want to

Tomorrow my eldest brother couldn't control himself and fell into it.

Qin Shan felt more and more uncomfortable, and the circles under his eyes were red.

Mr. Qin sighed secretly, but his expression became more serious: "You should stay well with me tomorrow and don't fight anyone. If you dare to disobey me, don't blame me for denying your son!"

Qin Shan was silent for a long time, and then nodded slightly after a while.

…
To be continued...