manynovel Chapter 192: Serve as corvée, cut off her arm
Chapter 192: Serve as corvée, cut off her arm
Jiang Youzhen turned her head and looked at him. Jiang Haiqing thought she was moved and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"My word is my bond. Write the document and I won't bother you again in the future. Just this time, you have to pay three taels and six cents of silver a year anyway, so just consider it as paying for thirty or forty years in advance." Jiang Haiqing persuaded patiently.
"What's the harm in dividing the household or not? Besides, how can honoring grandparents be considered a responsibility? We are willing to give them money every year. Uncle, you should figure out a way yourself! There's no need to pin your hopes on me!"
Unexpectedly, Jiang Youzhen was not moved at all. He just sneered and turned to leave.
Everyone started talking about it. Today's Jiang family drama was really exciting. Those who originally wanted to leave also plucked up the courage to watch.
"I didn't expect Jiang Haiqing to be such a person? He actually owed so much money and asked Jiang Erlang to pay it back. How dare he ask for it? I am embarrassed to say it."
"Why are you embarrassed? Before the Jiang family split up, didn't they exploit the second brother's family? I'm used to it. Look, now when they need to pay back the money, they look for Jiang Erlang."
"I really owe them. They really went too far. Two hundred taels, and such a high interest rate. Even if Jiang Erlang has money, it's not that much!"
At this time, Aunt Ya squeezed over. She had been cooking since she came back with the Jiang family's carriage. She had never expected that such a big thing would happen.
"This Jiang Haiqing can't be quiet for a day, what's wrong with him?"
"You haven't heard about it yet? It is said that he borrowed two hundred taels of money at usury, and the debt collector came to his house." Seeing that some people still didn't know, the villagers immediately spread the news with relish.
"The village head is here too! Everyone, make way and let the village head in!" someone shouted at this time, and everyone looked and saw that it was indeed the village head.
The village head rushed over when he heard the news. He knew that the Jiang family was in trouble again. Before his grandson left home, he repeatedly warned him to keep an eye on the Jiang family and help them if anything happened.
Besides, he likes Jiang Youzhen more and more, so it is impossible for him to just stand by and watch.
"Erlang, are you really so heartless? Don't you know how much benefit the separation of households will bring to you? Don't you just want to get rid of us? Now that I've given you the chance, don't you know how to seize it?" Jiang Youzhen is Jiang Haiqing's lifeline now, and of course he can't give up.
"Because I don't believe your promise. Besides, it doesn't matter to me whether we split up or not." Jiang Youzhen remained unmoved. He thought he could impress her with just this little bit of leverage? You wish.
"Jiang Youzhen! Don't forget the corvée labor of this dynasty. There is a minor selection every three years and a major selection every five years. If a male in your family is over 14 years old, you can report it. If you haven't gone to the government to divide your household, this year is the minor selection period of three years, and one person must go to perform corvée labor."
Jiang Haiqing has a trump card, and he is very excited now. If he hadn’t seen that Jiang Youzhen has grown a lot taller just now, he would have forgotten it.
Yes! Jiang Youzhen is fourteen this year, and he can go after three years of small selection. And the decision is in the hands of the head of the family. If he asks his father to report Jiang Youzhen's name, what should Jiang Youzhen do?
Jiang Youzhen's face darkened. She had actually forgotten that her birthday was in May, and the corvée labor seemed to be in that month.
Shen, who had been listening to the noise outside in the house, could no longer sit still when she heard it. She immediately left the house with a worried look on her face.
Erlang couldn't go to do forced labor. She went crazy at the thought of Erlang being caught and forced to do hard labor.
What kind of place is that? There must be a lot of people dying there every year. Besides, Erlang is a girl, she can't stand the hard labor.
The village head and clan leader who came over also had livid faces. They didn't expect Jiang Haiqing to coerce Jiang Youzhen like this. If it was something else, they could certainly help, but once Jiang He and his men were determined to let Erlang do corvée labor, it would be a bit tricky.
The village head thought about it and decided that since the election was held every three years, it was not impossible for him to remove Jiang Youzhen's name. As long as Huai'an took action, it would not be difficult.
Jiang Haiqing looked at Jiang Youzhen with satisfaction, his expression slightly stiffened, and then he showed a smug smile.
"Going to perform corvée labor is a major matter for the people of the court. For the sake of the country and the people, even common people like us should stand up and not be afraid. Uncle! Your ideological awareness is really not high. You have read a lot of books by sages, but none of them has touched your ears, let alone your heart."
Jiang Youzhen smiled, shook her head and sighed. Although this matter was indeed tricky, she felt that there was still a way. How could she let Jiang Haiqing control her?
"You?" Jiang Haiqing didn't expect that Jiang Youzhen would become so ruthless that he wouldn't even care about herself.
"Erlang?" Shen was anxious. She thought that as long as the money was paid and the documents were written, the Jiang family would not regret it. Even if the households were not divided, Erlang would not have to do corvée labor.
Jiang Youzhen gave Shen a calming look, "Second Brother Qin! You should discuss this with my uncle! I don't have any money."
"Jiang Youzhen, you are determined to ruin my future!" Jiang Haiqing was filled with hatred. At this moment, he looked at Jiang Youzhen with vicious eyes, as if he wanted to eat her.
"Uncle, you are so unreasonable. You borrowed the money from me, and you put the blame on me just because I can't lend you the money? Besides, there are so many men in the family. You asked me to do corvée, and I accepted it. What else do you want?"
Jiang Youzhen sighed deeply and said, "No matter what, I can't sell my sister's dowry."
"Jiang Jia Erlang is really affectionate and loyal, he is really kind to his sister." Everyone praised him, saying that Jiang Jia Erlang had excellent character.
"Isn't it? He can keep his face calm when talking about corvée labor. Didn't he go to school? Look at his small body. He is just a weak scholar, but he has such a responsibility. If I had a son, I would have liked him to be like Jiang Erlang. Being rich and noble is a blessing!"
Jiang Youzhen's words received a lot of praise. Before, everyone only thought that Jiang Youzhen was smooth and polite, but now they think she is responsible and a good man.
"Jiang Haiqing, I'll ask you again. Do you want to return the money or chop off my arm?" Brother Qin also lost his patience. He just bowed to Jiang Youzhen, his eyes full of admiration.
Compared with a coward like Jiang Haiqing, Jiang Youzhen is full of pride. This is the spirit that a scholar should have. He saw the quality of perseverance in a young man. Scholars still have backbone.
"Me! Jiang Youzhen, please help me..." Jiang Haiqing looked at the dagger raised by A Biao in horror, and trembled with fear.
"Master!" Little Chen was also very anxious, "Erlang, even if my aunt begs you, please save him!"
As Xiao Chen said this, she ran to Jiang Youzhen and knelt down. But Qin Erge gave an order, "Do it!"
"Wait a minute!"
This voice came from three people. The head of the village and the clan leader spoke at the same time, and the other one was Jiang Haiqing.
"Brother Qin, didn't you say that as long as we have an arm, it doesn't matter whose arm it is in the family? Then chop hers off!"
Everyone was stunned, and when they looked over following Jiang Haiqing's gaze, they were immediately shocked.