They looked at Village Chief Tong noisily, "Village Chief, do we really have to pay? Can we not pay? Haven't we paid taxes for so many years?"
"Yes, yes, village chief, we don't have to pay. So many things are given to others for free. Thank you."
"That's right. Besides, the fact that we can live here and enjoy good weather is not the result of the imperial court. It's the mountain gods who bless us. We have a daughter now and need to pay taxes. Why don't we go pray to the mountain gods and kill those yamen runners?"
…
When Village Chief Tong heard everyone's discussion, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. As expected, people only care about benefits. When he, the village chief, brings them benefits, everyone is very obedient.
It is not easy to get things out of their hands now, even if he is the village chief: "Do you want our village to be destroyed? These people represent the court and the government. If they die here, the whole village will not be able to escape."
These people didn't think about it. They sent so many people here because they were worried that they wouldn't cooperate. If something happened to these people, the next time they would be coming, it wouldn't be people from the government, but the army.
The village chief scolded these people severely, and everyone had no choice but to go back and prepare. When Tongjia Village held a meeting tonight, Liu Yifang knew about it. Seeing that the village chief was not bad, Liu Yifang did not intend to argue with these people, anyway, these people were sensible.
The next day, Master Fang woke up early in the morning. Tong Dazhu was more attentive today than yesterday: "My dear officers, I have boiled water for you. Please enjoy it. After dinner, let me take you to the dam. The village chief is waiting for you there."
Tongjia Village also has a large dam, which is not used for collecting taxes like other villages. It is used to dry grain, and it came in handy this time.
There have been no outsiders in this village for a long time, and when Master Fang and others came last night, it was quite late and no one else saw them, so today almost everyone in the village came.
The village chief's granddaughter, Tong Ruxin, was also among them. When she saw Master Fang, she felt her heart beating faster instantly, and then she walked to the village chief like a lady.
"Grandpa, who is that man in the green robe?"
Village Chief Tong took a look and saw that it was none other than Mr. Fang. “That’s Mr. Fang from the government office. Why are you asking him?”
He was the legal advisor of the government office. Tong Ruxin asked curiously, "Grandpa, in the government office, besides the county magistrate, is the legal advisor the most powerful one?"
Village Chief Tong really didn't know about this. But that didn't stop him from pretending to be very knowledgeable in front of his granddaughter: "Of course, to be able to be a legal advisor and to be able to lead so many yamen runners out, he must be very powerful. No, what's wrong with you today? Why do you keep asking him what he's doing?"
When Tong Ruxin heard Village Chief Tong say that Master Fang was very powerful, her eyes were filled with admiration, "Grandpa, can I marry him?"
Village Chief Tong has never liked women, but his own granddaughter is naturally different from outsiders.
Other people's granddaughters were sent to be the brides of mountain gods. Of course, one's own granddaughters should be pampered as much as possible. The moment he heard Tong Ruxin's words, Village Chief Tong came to his senses.
Yes, now the whole village can no longer hide. If I can establish a relationship with the people in the government, it may not be a bad thing.
Moreover, Master Fang looked so young, handsome, and of high status, and could be said to be a promising young man. It was quite a good match for such a talent to be paired with his granddaughter.
"Xin'er, do you really have that idea? Grandpa doesn't disagree, but I still have to ask him. Maybe he already has a wife at home!"
Tong Ruxin's face drooped when she heard this: "Then grandpa, please invite him back tonight and ask him if he really likes him."
Village Chief Tong gave her a gentle lecture: "Alright, you are a grown-up girl, don't be so anxious. If outsiders know about this, what will happen to you?"
That's true. Tong Ruxin smiled and said, "Oh, this is right in front of grandpa. Then the granddaughter will wait for grandpa to fulfill her wish."
When Master Fang was busy, he sneezed. Liu Yifang beside him couldn't help but tease: "There was no quilt last night, but are you sick?"
The weather now is not very cold, but not very warm either. It is normal for people with poor health to catch a cold.
Master Fang shook his head: "It shouldn't be like that. I'm in good health. Okay, let's record it quickly. I didn't expect that there are so many rich people in this village."
Yes, most people in this village use silver to replace taxes. As for the remaining taxes, these few people can actually transport them back.
The villagers cooperated unprecedentedly and even helped pack the grain for tax payment. It seemed as if they couldn't wait to drive them away today.
What was supposed to take two or three days was actually done in one day. This was all thanks to the fact that there were so many people paying the bills. As the work was finished, it was already dark.
Master Fang gave the collected silver to Liu Yifang for safekeeping. After all, Liu Yifang was the best at giving money among them, and no one else could do this except him.
Village Chief Tong came forward and took the initiative to invite him: "Master Fang, it's getting dark now. There are so many forests on the way back. It may be difficult to walk. Why don't you go there tomorrow morning? Besides, we haven't played host to you yet! Let's have dinner at my house tonight. It's settled."
Master Fang wanted to refuse, but the village chief had already turned and left, apparently to prepare dinner. Master Fang could only begin to order helplessly: "Yi Fang, these grains are left to you tonight."
The food was stored in the dam. Tonight, just in case, Liu Yifang and a few others stayed here to guard it.
Liu Yifang naturally understood and couldn't help laughing: "Okay, but I see that the village chief has suddenly become so attentive. If he is attentive without any reason, he must be a traitor or a thief."
Master Fang's mouth twitched, but what he said made sense: "I understand. I will pay attention to it."
After all, they have invited him and didn't give him a chance to refuse, so it is obvious that they have something to say, so he has to go this time.
In the evening, Tong Ruxin stood in front of Master Fang and said, "You must be Master Fang. My grandfather asked me to come over. Please come over for dinner."
While speaking, Tong Ruxin's eyes were still fixed on Master Fang. Master Fang felt a little embarrassed by being stared at, and coughed twice: "Okay, please lead the way, young lady."
Tong Ruxin smiled and nodded: "Then Master Fang, please follow me."
She turned around and walked ahead, and couldn't help but look back at Master Fang. Master Fang didn't like such a direct woman. He frowned and wanted to remind Tong Ruxin but was too embarrassed.
In this way, they came to the home of Village Chief Tong in an awkward manner. Village Chief Tong looked at Master Fang with enthusiasm and said, "Master Fang, please come in and take a seat. Our home is simple, so men and women can sit at the same table. Please don't mind, Master Fang."
Master Fang smiled and said, "You are too polite, Village Chief."
When he came to someone's house for dinner, even if there was something wrong with the family, it was not something he could say. After sitting down, he still felt a little reserved.
The village head's wife looked at Master Fang with great satisfaction, nodding her head, "Master Fang is really a handsome man. I wonder how old he is this year, and whether he has a wife or concubine at home?"
Master Fang was a little puzzled. This man was questioning like this. Could it be that he was attracted to him? Although he didn't have a favorite girl in his heart, he would definitely not choose from the family in front of him.
Thinking of this, Master Fang had no choice but to speak: "Well, I am not young anymore. Although I am not married yet, I already have a fiancée."
Hearing this, Tong Ruxin's face turned ugly in an instant and she clenched her hands. She really liked Master Fang, but he already had a fiancée.
Village Chief Tong's face also changed. He had a fiancée. What should he do? After Master Fang finished speaking, he saw that these people looked unhappy. He knew in his heart that this was indeed their plan, so he took the initiative to change the subject.
"I don't know why you asked me to come over for dinner, Village Chief Tong, but if there is anything you don't understand, you can ask me. I will tell you everything I know."
Who wants to know about the affairs of the court? He is looking for a son-in-law. It's a pity that this guy already has a fiancée. What a pity.
However, since the guests were already here and they were from the government, they naturally could not be neglected. Even though the atmosphere was rather awkward, they still continued to chat happily on the surface.
Half an hour later, this awkward dinner came to an end. Master Fang stood up and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Village Chief Tong. We had a good chat. If there's nothing else, I'll go back and rest."
Village Chief Tong nodded: "Of course, of course. After all, we have to go back tomorrow, so of course we should go back and have a good rest. Let my son take you back."
The person who came to pick him up before was Tong Ruxin, and now his son is sending him back. It seems that he has some ideas. But it's also good that he was sent back to Tong Dazhu's house by the son of Tong Village Chief. When Master Fang saw the people from the government office, he was relieved.
A yamen runner saw him like that and was curious. He approached him and said, "Master Fang, what are you doing that makes you so nervous? Isn't it just a meal?"
Master Fang rolled his eyes and said, "You know nothing. You were almost kept as a son-in-law." However, he would not tell anyone about such things.
He glared at the yamen runners and said, "Go to bed early. Cheer up on your way back tomorrow."
The guards groaned and began to rest. In fact, such a room is not a good place to rest, but it is relatively good tonight, after all, there are half as many people as before, and they can sleep in beds.