Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 557 - 0518 Another Reason (1)

The villagers who led the way looked into the house a few times, waved to the homeowner, and then left.

The homeowner walked into the house, smiled, and greeted everyone, "It’s cold, drink more." Then he called his wife to bring some wine.

Second Young Master Lou rubbed his forehead, "This wine really goes to my head, that’s enough, we want to eat something and rest early, we have to travel early tomorrow."

Lou Chengye, also feeling dizzy, shook his head, "Second Brother, I think... I can still drink a bit."

"You want to drink? Buy it yourself, I have no money left."

"Second Brother, can you lend me some?" Lou Chengye tugged at the sleeve of Second Young Master Lou.

Second Young Master Lou refused to give any, pulling back his sleeve, "No money, no money, we have to buy goods in Qingyang County, where would I have money to buy you wine?"

The homeowner and his wife exchanged looks.

"Stingy." Lou Chengye yawned, "So tired, so sleepy."

"Feeling sleepy, little brother? I’ll make a fire pot for you, warm yourself by the fire." The homeowner said with a smile.

Second Young Master Lou said, "Well, hurry up. We’re all tired and want to rest early."

"Alright, wait a moment." The homeowner went to find a fire pot.

His wife followed him to the backyard.

The couple whispered in the kitchen.

"Seventh Uncle said that the drug is quite strong; just a pot of wine is enough. If we give them another pot, it may arouse their suspicion," the homeowner’s wife whispered.

The homeowner touched his chin, "You’re right. Two young ones are already groggy; no need for more wine, it costs money to brew it."

"Then quickly get the fire pot ready and let them sleep," said the homeowner’s wife.

"Understood."

The two prepared a large fire pot and carried it into the side room.

After dinner, Second Young Master Lou instructed people to carry the luggage into the resting room and told four guards to take turns in pairs to keep watch over the mule cart and horses during the night.

The rest of them rested in a room arranged by the homeowner.

Two guards took night watch, and eight others squeezed into a small room.

The beds were far from enough.

They laid dry grass on the floor and sat down, leaning against each other, warming themselves by the fire and dozing off.

Because they had been forewarned that the homeowner might harm them for their money, no one dared to really sleep; they just leaned against the wall with their eyes closed for rest.

Lou Chengye was especially alert, paying close attention to any sounds outside.

At some unknown point in the night, a few people stealthily approached the house.

One among them tiptoed to the mule cart and pushed the two dozing guards, who didn’t react and continued their deep snoring.

"Seventh Uncle, they’re fast asleep."

"Let’s go inside."

Just then, the main door of the house suddenly opened, and the homeowner came out, "Seventh Uncle, everyone inside is sound asleep; we can move now."

"Alright, everyone head into the house, grab the things, and let’s go," this person instructed in a low voice.

"Got it, Seventh Uncle."

Four people, along with the homeowner and his wife, bent over, stepped lightly, and entered the house.

The homeowner’s wife openly lit candles for light.

They pushed open the door to the side room, and several people immediately got busy.

But at that moment, Lou Chengye suddenly opened his eyes.

He rushed forward, grabbed one person, and punched hard, "Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, wake up!"

Everyone else in the room also opened their eyes, with someone shouting loudly, "You have some nerve, breaking in to steal?"

The two guards sleeping inside the room immediately got into a fight with the invaders.

Outside, the two "unconscious" guards drew their swords from the mule cart, with one guarding the cart and the other charging into the house.

"Seventh Uncle, they weren’t drugged!"

"Charge in, snatch what we can!"

Instantly, the house turned into chaos.

Though young, Lou Chengye was not lacking in strength.

He moved swiftly and soon subdued "Seventh Uncle."

"Stop everything! Move even a bit, and I’ll snap his neck!" Lou Chengye shouted loudly.

The guard with the sword placed it against "Seventh Uncle’s" neck.

The homeowner’s wife screamed in fright, and Second Young Master Lou shouted, "Shut up, make another noise, and you won’t live!"

The woman, terrified, immediately fell silent.

A guard rushed over and tied her up.

The leader, "Seventh Uncle," was caught, and the others, facing the guards’ swords, were all frightened.

They all knelt down and begged for mercy.

Second Young Master Lou walked up to them with his hands behind his back, "You’re quite bold, deceiving people to come, drugging to steal and kill! Don’t you want to live?"

"Young Master, spare us, we were forced into this with no other way. We used to be honest farmers." One of them pleaded with tears.

"Don’t insult the term ’honest people.’ Honest people don’t commit such acts of drugging, harming, and stealing." Second Young Master Lou sneered.

"Second brother, report to the authorities." Third Young Master Lou suggested.

"No! Please don’t report us, we will do anything you ask." "Seventh Uncle" also begged for mercy.

Lou Chengye looked at these people and said, "Second brother, I think something is fishy here, let’s interrogate them first."

He saved everyone, and Second Young Master Lou felt a bit of admiration for his younger brother, so he said, "Let’s do as Fifth Brother suggests. Third and Fourth Brothers, interrogate them!"

Third Young Master Lou and Fourth Young Master Lou each found a stick and began to interrogate the villagers.

Before torture was applied, these people started speaking out the truth.

It turned out that last autumn, the government had levied high taxes on the villagers, requiring each person to pay ten taels of silver to repair village roads and the stone bridge.

For people from an even poorer village than Taohua River Village, ten taels of silver per person, fifty taels for a family of five, seventy taels for seven, was an astronomical tax!

If the tax wasn’t paid, the strong laborers would be conscripted into the military to guard the borders.

Although dozens of taels were a lot, with some hardship and thriftiness over two or three years, they could save it up.

However, once a person was taken away, they might never return. As long as a person was at home, money could eventually be earned back, but if they’re not there, the loss is a permanent one.

Many families had no choice but to take out high-interest loans and pay the head tax silver.

But borrowed silver had to be repaid.

At the end of last year, some families, unable to repay the high-interest loans, had to sell their children, while others turned to stealing.

Lou Chengye thought of the horse and provisions lost near the bridge last year and coldly asked, "I ask you, on the twenty-fifth of winter last year, someone had tied a chestnut horse with a white streak on its forehead to a tree by the bridge. Who stole that horse?"

The few people glanced at Lou Chengye and then looked at "Seventh Uncle."

Lou Chengye sneered, "Oh, it was you who stole it."

He had just entered the bushes to relieve himself, and in that short time, the horse was gone.

Along with around two hundred taels of silver and several fine cloaks.

Without money and belongings, he lived a wandering life and nearly froze to death during the snow.

Remembering last year’s predicament, Lou Chengye’s anger boiled, and he kicked "Seventh Uncle" hard.

"Seventh Uncle" was tied up and unable to move.

He sighed, "Little Young Master, I was forced to the brink and had no choice but to take this path. But rest assured, the horse is still tied up at my home, as for the silver..., it’s been divided among several families to pay the taxes."

Second Young Master Lou looked at these people, "Every year the government collects tax silver, and a notice is posted about it. Was there an official document issued for this ten taels of head tax?"

Ten taels of silver, was this issued by the county government? Or was someone perpetrating a scam?

To ask for ten taels per person, how is that different from robbery?

Driven to robbery, who would dare pass through here?

Second Young Master Lou felt his anger rising.

The villagers looked at each other and then all at Second Young Master Lou, "We’ve never seen such an official document."

"Who notified you about the tax silver?" Second Young Master Lou asked again.

"It was people from the county government who came to collect." A villager said. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Second Young Master Lou narrowed his eyes, "County government?"

A mere county government has no right to collect taxes personally; only the State Government can decide on taxation.

Third Young Master Lou said, "Second brother, this matter seems complicated."

Second Young Master Lou glanced at the villagers, "You say the county government levied heavy taxes on your village, forcing you to desperation, leading to such thefts. We can’t just take your word for it; I have to check the evidence."

The villagers anxiously said, "If Young Master does not believe us, you may inquire in the village, but if you question the county government people, it’s unlikely you’ll find anything."

"Seventh Uncle" sneered, "You’re just merchants, what will you find out?"

Second Young Master Lou looked at him, "I must know if your villagers are colluding together to fabricate this."

"Young Master doesn’t believe us, we have nothing to say." "Seventh Uncle" snorted heavily and turned his head.

Second Young Master Lou glanced at these people and said to the guards, "Tie them all up, I want to investigate this matter overnight."

"Yes, Second Young Master." Several guards found ropes, tying the others up together with the couple who owned the house, and locked them in another bedroom.

Second Young Master Lou assigned two guards to watch these people and began discussing the matter with everyone.

"Villagers live together from generation to generation, when one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. Neighborly relations are far better than those in towns. Unless there’s enmity between individuals, villagers generally won’t offer information. We’ll have to come up with a good method to verify." Second Young Master Lou said, "We must think of a suitable method to check."

Lou Chengye pondered for a moment, "Big brother, let me go inquire."