Chapter 13

The commotion surrounding the He family had become the talk of the village, a subject of idle chatter among the local women and men. However, June was the time for the imperial grain tax collection, and the county officials were busier than ever. The constables, armed with large blades, roamed from house to house collecting taxes, while every household hurried to store their grain.

Gu Chengwu had settled in the village long ago but owned no farmland. Therefore, he registered with the county office as a hunter and paid mountain taxes. The portion of game he caught was either handed over directly or exchanged for silver to pay his dues.

Among the constables assigned to Qingmiao Village was Li Si. Having heard that Gu Chengwu lived there, he had requested his superiors to transfer him to Qingmiao to serve at the local office.

Li Si arrived at Gu Chengwu’s home with six constables in tow, a boisterous group laughing and chatting like brothers, none holding back.

Zhang Cuilan poured tea from a pot, welcoming them warmly. “You’re all good brothers with Wu, so consider this your home. Just today, I cooked a few mountain chickens, stewed and stir-fried for you all. Later, we’ll head to Old Yang’s place for some wine…”

Li Si quickly raised a hand to decline with a smile. “Thank you, Aunt Cheng, but we’re here on official business today, no drinking allowed. Next time, though, we’ll drink our fill.”

Gu Chengwu and Li Si sat outside the bamboo house chatting with the other constables. A few villagers who had come to spy from a distance couldn’t believe it.

“How come Gu Chengwu even knows someone from the county office? They’re talking so warmly; they must have known each other for a long time. He’s really something.”

“Exactly. That day, Gu’s kid didn’t even fear the Li family. Just a few words silenced their steward. The Li family is one of the richest in town and enjoys the county magistrate’s favor.”

Most villagers had never left the county, and in their eyes, the magistrate was godlike, and all county officials were powerful. No one dared to oppose them. They lowered their heads and fawned before the constables.

“I always said he had promise.”

“Pfft, you were the one who looked down on him the most before.”

Women and men gathered, standing on tiptoe, eagerly peering toward the Gu family’s bamboo house. If not for their fear of Gu Chengwu and the officials, they would have rushed over to see for themselves.

Some merely wanted to watch the excitement, while the sharp-minded began plotting which matchmaker to hire and how much bride price to prepare. Such a fine son-in-law must not be let slip away cheaply.

Gu Chengwu was unaware of these thoughts. He and Li Si had known each other a long time, bound by life-and-death friendship. There was no pretense between them.

Patting Li Si on the shoulder with satisfaction, Gu said, “Not bad. You’ve risen to head constable so quickly. Your past struggles haven’t been in vain.”

Li Si scratched his head sheepishly, sincerely replying, “Actually, I owe it to the rabbits you sent last time. The magistrate’s wife just happens to love spicy stir-fried rabbit, so I offered one as a gift. That’s how I won the magistrate’s favor and got promoted.”

Gu Chengwu said, “Many bring gifts to the county office, but if you don’t have real skill and just flash around, it won’t work.”

In the end, he was praising Li Si’s genuine ability.

In the kitchen, Zhang Cuilan chopped mountain chickens deftly. Outside, the men worked hard and ate well. She was suddenly overwhelmed, cutting vegetables while thinking to herself that it would be better if Wu married a capable woman to manage the household and bring more warmth to the family.

After a simple meal, Li Si and the constable squad went around the village collecting grain taxes.

Every household’s population and farmland were recorded. With the village head leading the way, even those reluctant to part with their grain dared not cause trouble or delay.

The tax collection went smoothly, especially at He Lao’er’s house. Zhao Xiang, upon seeing the officials, abandoned her formerly submissive attitude and looked down on the constables with haughty airs.

Her daughter had become a concubine in the Li household, making Zhao the mother of the concubine and thereby in-law to the Li family. The patriarch of the Li family was influential before the magistrate, so who dared offend her?

Now, Zhao spoke with pride, “My son-in-law…”

Behind her back, some scorned and others envied, spitting disdainfully, “Son-in-law? Her son-in-law is twenty years older than her.”

Though most disdained her for selling her daughter, few dared say so openly. He Qiaoqiao still cared for her mother and sent cloth, oil, and grain every month—a whole cartload.

Li Si’s first task after his promotion went smoothly, and meeting his good brother lifted his spirits. Naturally, he paid no mind to Zhao Xiang’s attitude.

Yet some of the younger brothers grumbled angrily, “She really thinks she’s great just because her daughter married into the Li family. Little does she know, the Li patriarch took her daughter to a brothel... No one knows what happened there.”

Another constable sighed, “In these wealthy households, concubines are at best servants. Life’s hard for them.”

Li Si recorded the tax amounts quietly, ignoring their complaints. “Good work today, everyone. After we finish the paperwork, I’ll treat you all to a drink.”

Hearing there would be wine, everyone cheered, forgetting their earlier grievances.

With the taxes paid, burdens lightened, and the remaining wheat was for household use. Those with good harvests could eat freely or sell the surplus for silver. Families with many mouths but little land had to tighten their belts.

Meanwhile, the Jiang family was less cheerful.

They had little farmland, and all four members relied on Jiang Yun’s labor, so their yield was meager.

After paying taxes, they barely had enough to eat two meals a day.

Liu Guihua, noticing Jiang Yun’s pale, worn face, harshly grabbed him and snatched his bowl. “The harvest was poor, and you still have to pay head tax. You can’t eat.”

She pinched the flesh at his waist; Jiang Yun winced, holding back tears, shrinking to the side, watching his family eat.

Jiang Shunde ignored everything and went to bed after eating and picking his teeth.

Jiang Yun held his stomach, and once they left, he found some leftover scraps on a plate and ate them, tears silently falling on the table.

After the tax season, everyone knew who was well-off and who was struggling. The tax records made it impossible to hide.

Watching the lively Gu household, the villagers grew eager to find matchmakers and prepare gifts.

Wang Yunfeng was delighted. She was a matchmaker by trade and had successfully arranged several suitable matches before, earning some reputation.

Early that morning, women and men crowded outside her door, all carrying gifts, eager for her to arrange matches.

“Aunt Wang, if you succeed, my family will give you a tael of silver!”

“My family will give two taels. You know my daughter is of marrying age.”

“Look in the mirror, your ugly second daughter wouldn’t be taken even by a widower.”

“Say that again, and see if I don’t tear your mouth apart!”

The matchmaking discussions quickly grew heated and unpleasant.

Wang Yunfeng cheerfully served tea and said, “To be honest, Aunt Cuilan came to me a few days ago. She said Wu is of marrying age and asked me to help find a match.”

“Every family here has good daughters and sons; surely we’ll find a match!”

Her words lifted spirits. Even before matches were made, some already offered silver.

That afternoon, Wang Yunfeng brought the gifts and arrived at the Gu household.

“Is his aunt home?”

Zhang Cuilan was chopping chicken feed in the kitchen. After the New Year, Gu Chengwu had bought several native yellow chickens for eggs, so their feed was never neglected. Hearing someone outside, she quickly put down the knife, wiped her hands, and went to open the door.

“Aunt Wang! Come in, come in! I haven’t been to town these days, so I’m home.”

The two chatted and drank tea in the courtyard. Zhang Cuilan smiled warmly as she served mountain walnuts and peanuts. “So, is there any progress on the matchmaking?”

Wang Yunfeng smiled and clapped her hands. “Yes! I told you your boy is good. This morning alone, four or five families came to me asking for matches. And they’re all good families.”

“But I wonder... what kind of girl does your boy want?”

Zhang Cuilan took Wang’s hand. “Honestly, I haven’t told Wu about this yet. You know his temper; if I do, he won’t agree. Better to act first and report later.”

“But if you ask me, it’s best to find a girl who is frugal and kind, with no bad intentions. It doesn’t matter if her family isn’t wealthy; money can be earned. Just don’t marry someone who’s all show and no substance—that would only bring trouble.”

“That makes sense. I’ll tell you about the families.”

Wang Yunfeng was a native of Qingmiao Village and loved gossiping with Zhang Xiulan from the He family. She knew every household’s situation very well.

“I say the Wu family across the river is good. They have only one son, Wu Shui, who’s capable and strong. They fled here fifty years ago, so no complicated family ties. Also, I heard it was Wu’s idea to propose—he must like her already.”

Zhang Cuilan hesitated. “I know Wu Shui. He has a fiery temper. Wu is quiet, so I fear they won’t get along after marriage.”

“Oh, that’s nothing,” Wang Yunfeng waved her hand. “Everyone adjusts over time. The main thing is their compatibility.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cuilan agreed and decided, “Then let’s quietly arrange a meeting between the two children tomorrow. If it works, I’ll give you a generous reward.”

Gu Chengwu was unaware that his marriage had already been arranged in detail. These months were the breeding season for wild animals, so he had not hunted in the mountains to protect their offspring.

With time on his hands, he worked at the county’s hunting grounds. His archery skills were honed in battle, and even the archery masters there sometimes sought his advice.

He made a deal with the hunting ground owner to teach archery one day every seventh day of the month, earning one tael of silver monthly, though he didn’t come often.

Over time, wealthy young masters who came to learn requested Gu Chengwu by name. The owner had no choice but to renegotiate, asking him to come seven days a month with a salary increase to three taels.

After some thought, Gu Chengwu agreed. Hunting was lucrative but depended on the weather and luck, and it was always dangerous. Having steady work wasn’t a bad thing.

To keep him, the owner lent Gu a horse. Gu was sharp-eyed and immediately recognized it as a fine steed with strong legs and bright, spirited eyes, though untrained from being confined.

He bought the horse outright and rode the chestnut-colored mount back to the village. The horse’s hooves clattered swiftly, covering the hour-long trip in just 45 minutes.

One day, returning from the hunting grounds as usual, he found several strangers at the village entrance.