CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 195: SHOULD I GIVE IT A TRY?

After being despondent for so many years, Shopkeeper Li’s fighting spirit has been rekindled, which can be considered a good thing.

Yu Xiaolian was immersed in the plot of the new tale book when a noisy commotion erupted in the street, followed by a government officer banging a gong and loudly proclaiming, "Northern Land has suffered years of drought, to the point where no grain can grow, forcing the people to flee..."

Yu Xiaolian closed the book and listened intently for a moment, then sighed, "They’re forcing donations again, saying it’s for relief aid to the disaster victims in Northern Land. Merchants must contribute one tael of Silver per household, and farmers two bushels of rice, all by the hour of the Mid-Year Festival, otherwise the price will double."

Zhao Erya was startled, "It doubles if we’re late? Then we’d better hurry up and pay, right? The Mid-Year Festival is the day after tomorrow."

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "You go and tell my father from the courtyard."

Shopkeeper Li also stood at the bookstore door, sighing, "Times are tough!"

Yu Xiaolian deeply agreed; if you don’t pay on time, it doubles, and those who can’t afford it certainly have nothing; where could they get twice as much?

Isn’t this forcing people to a dead end?

Yu Changhe was in the back courtyard pavilion chatting with Madam Sun when he heard the gong and was about to go out to investigate when he ran into Zhao Erya rushing in.

Learning that it was another donation call, Yu Changhe was truly taken aback.

Adding taxes and recruiting soldiers, it’s only been a few days; there’s no peace at all. Such a court, such an emperor, doesn’t treat the people as human!

"Alas, if the money and food really went to the people of Northern Land, I would willingly donate as much as possible..."

Madam Sun heard from afar and told Yu Changhe not to ruminate uselessly; with this state of affairs, what can ordinary folks do? Quickly fetch the receipt from the house and pay the money.

"Let’s hope this emperor leaves, and the next one can actually get things done..."

Yu Changhe murmured, "The emperor’s son, he’s the same stock as the emperor; how could he be any better?"

Madam Sun holding her belly, "It’s not certain; like the saying, the dragon has nine sons, each different..."

Her daughter had said that Prince Jin would become an emperor a hundred times better than his father.

Shopkeeper Li turned to Ms. Wu and said, "Things are already so difficult here, I wonder how the people in Northern Land are enduring their endless complaints of suffering."

Ms. Wu knew her husband was from a farming family, and he could most empathize with the suffering of these people.

Though she had lived a life of luxury since childhood and never endured hardships, when she first married, she lived in the village with her husband, living with her in-laws for a few years, so she had witnessed the hardships of those at the very bottom.

Living with her in-laws in Taohua Village for those years, she did endure some hardships.

Not mentioning how much work she had never done before, she suffered quite a bit from her in-laws, openly and secretly because she hadn’t been able to conceive.

Later, her father felt sorry for her and gave her some money, allowing her to open a modest bookstore in Luocheng, indirectly freeing her from the control of her in-laws.

Although her in-laws weren’t very kind to her, as a daughter-in-law, she couldn’t be unfilial. After thinking it over, she asked, "I don’t know about the situation back home. Sir, should we send some more Silver back home?"

Shopkeeper Li glanced at his wife, "We just sent back thirty taels of Silver to exempt the third brother from conscription a few days ago, and there’s not much left at home, right?"

Ms. Wu tugged at her handkerchief, ultimately didn’t dare to say that her father had sent her more money.

She just whispered, "We can still manage one or two taels; we can’t let father and mother suffer."

Shopkeeper Li sighed, "Forget it, let’s wait until they come asking."

Ms. Wu knew clearly that her in-laws would come asking for money; instead of waiting for them to come demanding fiercely, it was better to proactively offer it, and they might even think well of her.

Over the years, they’ve helped the in-laws and several uncles too much. Her father asked them for money when he was sick, and several young ones asked them for money to study. The bookstore’s stationery supplies had to be provided free of charge to them, and the holiday expenses were all covered by her. It can be said that most of the money her father gave her went to the Li Family.

Alas, if only she could have children!

Ms. Wu saw Yu Xiaolian standing at the shop door and smiled as she approached, "Where’s your mother? Why hasn’t she come to chat with me these days? What’s she busy with?"

Yu Xiaolian responded with a smile, "My mother has been busy making autumn clothes these days. If Aunt Li wants to chat, come to our house; my mother loves chatting with you. She often says chatting with you is a perfect match, that you’re kindred spirits."

Ms. Wu laughed, "Indeed, I enjoy chatting with your mother. It’s just perfect as I’m about to embroider a new handkerchief; I’ll bring my embroidery basket and come to your house to work and chat with your mother."

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "Aunt, please do; my mother is in the backyard of the braised meat shop."

Ms. Wu turned with a smile, "Okay, I’ll go get my things."

Ms. Wu went over to work and chat with Madam Sun, while Yu Changhe and Shopkeeper Li went to the Government, queuing up to pay the sounding money.

Yu Xiaolian sat behind the counter, continued reading her tale book, when suddenly a bird landed on the counter, immediately followed by a hoarse old female voice saying, "You think you can finally live peacefully after making so many sachets? Looks like you’ve never heard the story of ’No Silver Buried Here’!"

Yu Xiaolian closed the book, looked up, and met the gaze of an elderly woman with fully gray eyes, whom she knew as Granny Ji.

Yu Xiaolian, seeing Granny Ji alone, felt much more composed.

"Of course I know the story of ’No Silver Buried Here,’ but I wonder if you’ve heard the story of ’Invite the Believer into the Urn,’ Granny Ji?"

Before Yu Xiaolian finished speaking, she thrust an electric baton towards Granny Ji. Granny Ji thought Yu Xiaolian was using some kind of concealed weapon and raised her hand to block, but the baton struck her arm.

Within three seconds, Granny Ji collapsed on the ground. Due to the donation call, there were hardly any people on the street at that moment, so Yu Xiaolian immediately stored Granny Ji in her space.

But the crested bird flew away in terror, and Yu Xiaolian couldn’t catch up, so she could only let it go.

"Erya, mind the store!"

Yu Xiaolian returned to the backyard and entered her space, first finding a rope to securely bind Granny Ji, then searched her removing bottles and jars.

Xi Sijin groggily woke up, feeling as if she was dreaming; she came to catch someone but was so easily captured by this girl instead. What weapon did this girl use just now?

It could instantaneously render someone powerless!

"Ever since my cousin told me you had the crested bird, I’ve been waiting for you.

Isn’t it said your Poison Gu is unparalleled? It scared me to death, and I prepared several plans. It turns out the first plan caught you, tsk tsk..."

Granny Ji, though bound, was calm and composed, speaking coldly, "Little girl, you’ve already been poisoned by the Poison Gu without knowing it.

If you’re wise, release me quickly, or I’ll activate the Gu Worm to make you suffer the heart-wrenching pain."

Yu Xiaolian patted her chest with her small hands, "Oh dear, I’m so frightened!

Heart-wrenching pain? That must hurt terribly, right?

Well, I’ve experienced all kinds of hardships in this life, but I don’t know what heart-wrenching pain feels like. Why don’t you activate it and let me experience it?"