CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 38: LABOR CANDIDATES

"What? How come I haven’t heard about this? Where did you find out?" Mr. Gu paused with his hand mid-air and absentmindedly chewed on his cornbread, looking hopefully at Gu Chengyi, hoping what he said wasn’t true.

"A few days ago, when I went to town to carry some bags, Manager Zhou mentioned it. I guess the official document has already reached the town. It’s just a matter of days."

Mr. Gu put down his bowl and chopsticks, losing his appetite. Those eating at the table also put down their chopsticks and listened attentively.

"Is the information reliable? What kind of labor is required this time?" Mr. Gu sighed and continued asking.

"Manager Zhou has wide connections, he wouldn’t be wrong. I heard they need to go to the Prefecture to build a dam for Jingyuan River."

Mr. Gu sharply inhaled. Building the dam was extremely dangerous. The last time it was done was ten years ago; each family in the village had to send one strong man. By the time the dam was completed, five fewer people came back than went. How dangerous was that? It’s said that with the rapid flow above the dam, a slight mistake could lead to a collapse; plus, the massive stones being hauled up, if the ropes break, they could crash down. If lucky, a man might escape with a broken leg or arm, if not, slower ones would be crushed to death. Back then, only he and the eldest were of draft age in the family, and they had to send someone. He was the pillar of the family and couldn’t go; the eldest was too young and had just married, so he couldn’t go either. He gritted his teeth and paid eight taels of silver to buy exemption, for which he had an argument with his wife. The eight taels were part of his wife’s dowry, so he always felt guilty towards her. Back then, the previous one was always sick and drained the family’s savings. He truly had no money.

Returning his thoughts to the present, there had been some small labor duties in recent years, which the eldest and second sons took turns dealing with. Although they came back emaciated, they managed to recover eventually. But this time was different, this time lives would be lost.

"How much silver is needed this time to buy exemption? Did you ask Manager Zhou?" Mr. Gu didn’t hesitate and asked directly.

"They say it’s eighteen taels this time." Gu Chengyi frowned, knowing their family didn’t have that much. Before, they could barely scrape it together, but after losing money, how could they have that amount now?

"Why do they need so much? Last time, I only needed eight taels of silver, and now it’s eighteen taels. Where can we find so much silver?" Mr. Gu was shocked by the high cost of this labor draft, even more worried because the family’s silver was far from sufficient.

Gu Chengyu wanted to say, "Don’t worry, we’ll have it by tomorrow." He had already decided to take a trip to Changling Mountain tomorrow, "finding" some Lingzhi or ginseng to solve the family’s urgent problem first. After all, even small business ventures required some capital, right?

"Where would you find silver? Is silver so easy to obtain? Just let someone serve." Mrs. Lv feared even the remaining silver would be spent. That was the silver for the third son’s marriage. Moreover, she had other plans for Xiao Bao.

Gu Chengyi glanced over the third son and found him lowering his head in thought. By rights, after spending ten taels of silver for the third son today, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to make a request.

Gu Chengyi learned from Manager Zhou a few days ago about the labor duty and had been troubled ever since, unable to sleep at night. In the family, only he and his elder brother were adult men. Their father was too old and couldn’t be sent; besides, with no son enjoying comfort at home, how could he send their father to serve labor?

So, the selection had to be between his elder brother and him. They were the pillars of the first and second households, and going to build the dam was extremely dangerous, with their return hinging on luck. Mother would definitely not spend money to buy exemption, especially not eighteen taels of silver, nor did they share a close bond, as they were not her biological sons. But if they went and something bad happened, what would happen to the widows and orphans left behind? Staying at home, they’d also face hardship and humiliation, with two small children to consider. He didn’t want to go, nor did he want his elder brother to, and he wasn’t sure their father would agree either.

Today, the incident with the third son gave him an idea. If the third son stepped forward, father surely wouldn’t agree. Then father might figure out a way to gather silver, maybe the family had some after all? He wasn’t being heartless; the third son was mother’s own child, and surely she wouldn’t watch her son go to death. Even though the third son was not of age, wouldn’t silver solve anything with the government officials? To protect the third son, father and mother would surely find a way.

Gu Chengyu, sitting opposite Gu Chengyi, noticed his second brother glanced at the third brother with a certain hope in his eyes and remembered his brother’s demeanor outside earlier. It chilled his heart. He had thought the second brother, despite being unwilling to part with silver, still valued the bond with his siblings. Who would’ve thought this was his calculation? He had returned home so many days and hadn’t mentioned the labor duty once, even if they were busy with farm work. Couldn’t it be brought up during meals? Especially when it was such an important matter? Apparently, his second brother had no plan either and was procrastinating on purpose. In his heart, did the third brother not count as a brother? Would he abandon even a true brother born of the same mother if it came to it? He didn’t know, nor did he want to speculate wildly.

In any case, at this moment, he recognized the reality: that even real brothers could be close or distant. It’s just as well; later, he wouldn’t feel so guilty or feel the need to make up for his mother’s mistakes. Of course, they were still family, and he would help when he could, but it would be limited to that.

"Father, today we lost ten taels of silver, this..." Even though Gu Chengyi didn’t finish his sentence, everyone knew what he meant.

As Gu Chenglian listened to their discussion about the labor duty, he was already making plans. He knew their family definitely didn’t have enough silver. Even if they borrowed some, no family was well off, and each had their people conscripted for labor. Who would lend them any? Yet whether he went willingly or was forced to, the feeling was very different. He was surprised the third brother would say such a thing—weren’t they siblings?

"Father, let me go!" Gu Chenglian struggled for a moment, then slumped his shoulders helplessly. He finally spoke up. He knew the dangers of building a dam but could see his second brother didn’t want to go. As for his elder brother, should the family bully someone so honest? The elder brother had four kids, one still an infant. He couldn’t let his conscience rest.

"Youngest, go back to your room. Do children have a say when adults are talking?" Although Mrs. Lv’s tone was exceptionally calm, Gu Chengyu could feel this was the calm before the storm. Mrs. Lv was very angry.

"Mother, if it weren’t for paying my ten taels, surely the family could have scraped it together. The eldest and second brothers are already settled with families, the fourth brothers are still young, and father is not getting any younger. If I don’t go, who will?" Gu Chenglian laughed at himself mockingly.