I didn’t say any unnecessary words, and took it with both hands. It was quite heavy. I knew that money was nothing to him, but no matter how light this red envelope was, it would be heavier in my hands than any other gift.

But this kind of weight will not make people breathless.

I smiled at him and he smiled back.

At this moment, there was a sudden noise outside, as if someone had suddenly arrived. There was a sound of horse hooves mixed with many people's surprised low shouts. Suddenly the atmosphere became a little chaotic. Huang Tianba and I looked at each other.

After one glance, he quickly turned around and walked out.

As soon as I went out, I saw all the guests in the yard standing up and looking outside.

I held the door and looked out, and saw several people wearing official uniforms riding horses and stopping at the entrance of the courtyard. They looked menacing, and the dust they raised was blown in. There were so many people.

The man frowned and covered his mouth.

A few people at the nearest table said to themselves: "I don't know what's going on."

Aunt Liu's health has improved a lot recently, and today is a happy event for Liu San'er and I. She also got dressed and combed her hair, and sat on the main seat. Next to her, Queen Yin sat quietly with her.

, but when they saw this scene, the two elderly people were a little uneasy, especially Queen Yin, whose face turned pale. I hurriedly walked over and held their shoulders, and Aunt Liu looked up at me: "Qingqing, this is--"

”

"It's okay, San'er will handle it. Don't be afraid."

I said, and patted Queen Yin on the shoulder again. Ever since she went crazy, she was a little afraid of everyone except our family. At this time, she was holding on to Aunt Liu's sleeve tightly. I

After comforting her for a few words, he turned around and walked out.

Liu San'er had already welcomed him out, shook his sleeves and bowed his hands in a salute: "Several eldest brothers are here, I am polite to you."

"It's rare, Liu San'er," one of them, who had come to collect fish tax money before, took one look at us and said with a smile, "You, a poor boy, actually put on a show."

"Haha, just kidding."

"It just so happens that so many people from this village are here, which saves a few of my brothers from running around."

After saying that, they got off their horses and walked towards this side. I walked to Liu San'er and grabbed his arm. I frowned and looked at them. Liu San'er gently patted the back of my hand and held my hand.

Then I walked into the yard.

All the blind daters stood up nervously. Only Huang Tianba, who was sitting in the main seat, looked down and drank rice wine as if he hadn't seen anything.

The officials walked to the center of the yard, unfolded a piece of yellow paper, and said loudly: "You all listen clearly, the new official document issued by the state government, starting from today, each household will collect an additional head tax of one penny per head per month.

, collected on a quarterly basis without delay."

"What, poll tax?!"

"One denarius?!"

There was an explosion in the yard. Everyone was shocked and immediately started making a fuss:

"How can this be done? Can we still survive with a head tax of one denarius?"

"That's right, taxes were reduced just a few days ago, why are they added now? How can the emperor change his orders every day?"

"You don't treat us as human beings!"

The small courtyard suddenly became noisy and full of people, like a boiling soup pot. When I heard the order they issued, I felt a little nervous in my heart. I looked at Liu Saner and then at the person sitting there.

Aunt Liu, the hostess, turned pale all of a sudden, and Queen Yin, who had no idea what was going on.

The poll tax is a tax levied based on the number of people in each household. This tax is very heavy, especially for families with few laborers. It is almost a mountain that will crush people.

Liu Saner's thick black eyebrows also frowned tightly.

The noise around him became louder and louder. Among them, the white-haired village chief stood up tremblingly, walked up to the officials, and said, "Why do you officials suddenly have to collect such heavy taxes again? A few days ago,

Taxes have just been cut, supposedly to allow the people in the south to recuperate, but now——"

"What do you know?" The officer said displeasedly: "There is a war in the north, do you know that? Do not you need food and grass to fight, and you don't make weapons? You can't let your brothers go into battle and seize the sword empty-handed!"

"This - it's useless -"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

The official waved his hand impatiently and said: "This is an official document from the state capital and the emperor's decree. Do you think you can change it just by asking for it?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone around them became quiet, and no one dared to speak anymore.

"Remember, on the fifth day of every month, prepare tax money and money. This is the emperor's order. If it delays the war in the north, it will be a crime of beheading!"

After those officials finished speaking, they walked up to Liu San'er, looked at me, and said with a smile: "San'er, you've got a wife, congratulations!"

Liu Saner's face was gloomy, but he still smiled and cupped his hands: "You're welcome."

The few people were talking and laughing, grabbed a lot of peanuts and fruits from the table, walked out and got on their horses, and left in the dust.

The originally cheerful atmosphere in the yard became a little heavy at this time.

The head tax of one yuan per person per month may be nothing compared to the previous heavy taxes, but just now it was reduced by 30%, which made everyone happy, and now the head tax is immediately added, which inevitably makes people feel a little unhappy. Especially especially

In our family, the four of us rely on Liu Saner’s hands...

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but hold his arm tightly and looked at him sadly.

Liu Saner also had a trace of worry on his brows, but he turned to look at me, smiled, and said, "It's okay, it's not too serious."

"But -" Not only does he have me at home, but also Queen Yin, with four mouths and one pair of hands. This will really tire him out.

He patted my hand and made a strong smile: "We have been able to bear the heavy taxes in the past."

I couldn't help but sigh.

In fact, no matter what we say or do, the emperor's order has been given. No matter what we say or do, it is meaningless, because it is the emperor's order. It is the one word of that superior man who can make people live or die.<

/p>

Compared with what I experienced in his hands before, what I have experienced now is really not worth mentioning.

I couldn't help but smile bitterly in my heart - this "congratulatory gift" came at the right time.

At this time, I suddenly remembered something and looked back at Huang Tianba.

I thought he would say something at this time, but he has been sitting calmly at the table, holding a bowl of rice wine and drinking it carefully. His identity was once the uncrowned king of Jiangnan, and he did not know how much wine he drank.

, Shanye rice wine was not considered a fine wine to him, but he drank it very slowly, sipping it carefully, and all his thoughts fell on the bowl of amber light in front of him.

My heart moved secretly - why is he so calm?

Before he had time to think about it, Liu San'er had already walked back to the center of the courtyard and said to everyone: "The banquet has begun, let's serve the food!"

Although everyone was disturbed by the sudden news, today is still a good day for our wedding. The cooks brought out wine and meat one after another, and the strong smell made everyone a little happier. Some young people also said loudly

: "If you have wine, drink it. What are you afraid of? We have both hands, so what do we have to worry about!"

"That's right, drink!"

The common people seem to have such resilience, despite the wind, frost, snow, rain, exorbitant taxes, and all the heavy burdens on their shoulders, they can still survive no matter how hard or difficult the life is. Some people can even survive with a smile. Such a scene

, the atmosphere became lively again.

Liu Saner turned to me and smiled, saying: "Let's go and toast."

Looking at his smile and the fearless looks of the villagers around me, I seemed to be infected. I nodded with a smile, picked up the wine bowl and followed him, and started toasting table after table.

At the wedding banquet, only the bride and groom were served. However, everyone was well aware of my physical condition and rarely made things difficult for me. Therefore, all the toasts were served in front of Liu Saner, with a few good-hearted young people holding the wine.

The bowl walked up to him.

"San'er, come on, come on, today is your big day, let's have a drink together."

When he saw the bowl of rice wine that was being filled slowly, he was also troubled: "This, this is too much."

"What's so much?"

"That's right. Today is your special day!"

"Why, San'er, you don't even give us this face?"

As soon as I heard this, I knew that I was here to get him drunk on purpose. I screamed in my heart, so I hurried over to persuade him to drink, but I saw those young people smiling and saying: "Sister-in-law, don't worry."

"You can't make a mistake."

……

I wanted to say something else, but I saw that Liu Saner had already taken the wine bowl from one of them and said with a smile: "Okay, we won't go home until we get drunk today!"

I knew he was happy, but after just a few drinks, his dark face turned red and his eyes became blurry. Those young men refused to let him go, so I hurriedly stood in front of him: "Okay, okay.

Come on, stop drinking."

"Oh, does the bride feel distressed?"

"Hey, don't worry, nothing will happen."

Liu Saner was so drunk that he couldn't stand still. He leaned on me and said with a smile: "It's okay, I can drink again."

Seeing him going to get the wine bowl again, I hurriedly grabbed his sleeve: "San'er——"

Before he finished speaking, he burped and suddenly swayed and was about to fall. I hurriedly reached out to support him, and the people around him also hurriedly supported him. Everyone laughed and said, "Haha, why did the groom fall so quickly?"

Drunk."

"Quick, quick, help me in."

Everyone hurriedly helped him into the house, but Liu Saner still held up the wine glass and shouted: "I--I'm not drunk! Keep drinking! Come on, drink!"

The young men helped him stumble into the house, and finally put him on the bed to lie down. He was still shouting that he wanted to drink. Several people came out and smiled at me: "Sister-in-law, we are leaving first."

"Congratulations."

I complained secretly in my heart, but there was nothing I could do. I forced myself to say hello with a smile. It was getting late, and everyone left one after another.

Aunt Liu was not in good health, so she and Queen Yin had gone back to the back room to rest. The people in the yard slowly dispersed, and in the end only Huang Tianba and Mu Hua were left.

At this time, the two of them also stood up and walked over.

I looked at Huang Tianba. His handsome face looked very calm under the slightly gloomy sky, as calm as if nothing had happened. Although I had always had doubts in my heart, I couldn't ask at this time. Plus Mu Hua

Her face was not very pretty, but she still forced a smile and said to me: "It's getting late, so we'll go back first."

"Okay, walk slowly."

Huang Tianba said: "You have worked hard all day, so go to bed early."

I nodded, but I saw him glance into the room, and the corners of his eyes curved with a coquettish look, as if showing a smile, but it was fleeting, "Happy wedding."

"Thank you."

I sent them out of the courtyard with a smile. Mu Hua took two steps, but turned back and said, "If you need any help, just come to us directly."

I also understood what she meant, and felt warm in my heart. I smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you."

She nodded, but her beautiful face did not show much happiness after attending the banquet. Perhaps it was because too many eyes were on the man next to her today, which exhausted her patience. At this time, she was already eager to get there early.

After returning, I watched them get on the carriage and the coachman whipped away at high speed, leaving only a trail of smoke and dust. I couldn't help but sigh.
Chapter completed!