"Er Gou? Er Gou, where have you run off to? Hurry back home, or Second Sister will roast you." Brother Cheng searched around the village end but didn’t see Er Gou, so he ran out to continue looking.

As he passed by the big millstone in the middle of the village, Brother Cheng was called over by a group of village women: "Brother Cheng, oh Brother Cheng, you’re out here, come over quickly, the aunts have something to ask you?"

Brother Cheng, hearing this, glanced at them with his phoenix eyes and recited as if reading from a book: "My big brother swore a vicious oath that he wouldn’t discuss marriage before becoming a scholar."

So you should give up on this idea, and stop saying that my big brother is a match for your nieces or grandnieces. I’ve heard enough of it.

Who would have thought the village women had changed their tune, running over to grab his arm and say: "What nonsense are you talking about, boy? The village chief already scolded us, how could we still be interested in your big brother? Aunts just want to ask when your Cousin Ming plans to discuss marriage? Better set it quickly, or he’ll be too old."

Brother Cheng continued reciting: "Cousin Ming swore an even more vicious oath that he won’t discuss marriage before becoming a scholar."

Saying this, he discreetly pulled back his arm that was being held.

The women, hearing this, were very annoyed: "What’s with your family? Besides liking to report to the government, why do you also like swearing vicious oaths?"

Aren’t you afraid that if it comes true, a lightning bolt will strike you to death?

"Mrs. Fuzi, don’t ask him anymore, this kid is just a bookworm, what would he know? If you want to know, you might as well spend five copper coins to ask Gu Dewang, that kid knows a lot and likes to sell information." He Yanshou’s mother said, her eyes lighting up, "Hey, Gu Dewang is almost thirteen, right? Oh my, he’s grown into a young man, ready to marry! His family is getting richer, and his cousin is a scholar; if someone could marry Gu Dewang, that would be great."

Brother Cheng: "..."

Alright, your intentions change too fast, now you’re targeting Brother Wang, but can you get him? Brother Wang is so shrewd, aren’t you afraid he’ll outwit you?

Brother Cheng ignored them, continuing to search for Er Gouzi, finally finding it in the big kitchen of the workshop house.

"Er Gouzi, you have no ambition, Da Gouzi is off hunting rabbits, while you sneak here to steal meat, aren’t you ashamed? You’re supposed to be a wolf, not a dog." Brother Cheng picked up Er Gouzi and went to find Gu Dashan, waiting for him to finish his work before going home with him.

...

The next day was the day of the feast, with villagers bringing gifts before dawn. Fortunately, the Gu Family had prepared well, rising at midnight to cook several big pots of meat porridge, which the villagers drank as soon as they arrived.

"Have some meat porridge to fill your stomachs first, then eat the banquet at noon." Gu Dafu said with a big smile to everyone, very happy to be up helping since midnight, working until dawn without feeling tired.

"Oh, there’s even meat porridge, and quite a bit of meat." The villagers, looking at the big bowls of meat porridge, were extremely excited; the Gu Family indeed had prospered, giving them meat porridge even before the banquet, making them wonder how grand the feast would be.

The villagers were very pleased, having a satisfying meat porridge meal, eagerly awaiting the midday banquet.

Some villagers brought their daughters along, hoping to try their luck; perhaps their daughter might catch the eye of the scholar or the scholar’s mother and become a secondary wife.

Unfortunately, Luo Wu was outside the workshop house early in the morning with government officials, instructing Mai Dong and San Qi, who were in charge of registering and receiving gifts, to tell every villager coming to the feast: "Lord County Magistrate orders that no one is to bother the scholars, violators will be immediately thrown into prison and fined no less than five taels."

With that warning, no matter their thoughts, everyone behaved, enjoying the feast joyfully and peacefully.

Master Ouyang and Ah Song also came, dressed in straw sandals, coarse hemp clothes, and a straw hat, genuinely disguised as old farmers.

They didn’t enter the workshop house but ate the feast outside with everyone, praising: "This farmhouse food is truly delicious, not losing to the delicacies of a restaurant, even more flavorful."

A scrawny old man at their table glanced at him disdainfully, saying: "Talking about restaurant delicacies, as if you’ve eaten at a restaurant, stop boasting and eat. At these feasts, if you’re slow, you won’t get the good stuff."

Saying that, he stabbed a piece of pig’s trotter quickly and precisely with his chopsticks, bringing it to his mouth, tearing off a piece while not forgetting to sneakily place a piece of stewed meat into a box he secretly brought along.

Many at the same table did the same.

Master Ouyang, seeing this, laughed: "No need to be so stingy, brothers, the Gu Family prepared plenty of meat dishes, and I heard that after eating, they’ll give each of us a bamboo box of meat dishes to bring home."

The old man said: "Heard that, but who knows if it’s true? Better hide some first, otherwise, those at home who didn’t come will make a fuss if they don’t get any." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He complained: "The Gu Family is so stingy, being so rich, why only throw a feast for one day? If my grandson became a scholar, I’d hold a feast for three days and nights."

Someone at the table who knew him sneered: "Old Man Yang, take a break, your grandson can’t even read a word, even if he became a scholar, you wouldn’t hold a feast for three days, just eating a bowl of your grain porridge with a bit of meat oil would be good enough."

Old Man Yang was speechless but continued grabbing food quickly, not delaying his meal at all.

Master Ouyang couldn’t help but laugh, finding the rural folk crude yet extremely amusing.

"What are you laughing at, hurry and eat, just smiling, the food won’t walk into your mouth itself." Old Man Yang glared at Master Ouyang, then continued eating.

Master Ouyang, hearing this, followed their lead, eating happily.

The other villagers at the feast were also delighted, not only having a hearty meal of meat-filled dishes but also receiving a box of untasted meat dishes to bring home, leaving joyfully.

But their joy was short-lived, for the next day brought an event that made them weep bitterly.

County Magistrate Zheng returned, sending officials to the village with documents announcing the tax increase.

The villagers were shocked: "What? Not only have the grain and poll taxes doubled, but we also have to pay a Kangrong tax of one tael of silver each? This is killing us, where can we get that much silver for you?"

Because of the Emperor Chu’s tax increase, chaos ensued across Jianghuai, Jiangnan, Zhili, and other areas. The farmers wailed, claiming poverty, yet there was nothing the government could do, as it was a decree of the Emperor himself.

Gu Jinli, upon hearing this news, was so shocked she nearly lost her wits, thinking, has the Emperor Chu gone mad? He’s gone mad, right? A normal person wouldn’t do such things?

A Kangrong tax requiring one tael of silver per person, does the Emperor think every Great Chu citizen is worth a hundred taels of silver?

She immediately sought out Gu Jin’an: "Big brother, go talk to Master Ouyang, see if he can unite the nobles in the Capital to make the Emperor retract this order? Otherwise, it will lead to rivers of blood."

Gu Jin’an was dark-faced, too angry for words, and after a moment said: "Take care of the house, I’ll go find Master Ouyang immediately."

He didn’t take the mule cart but borrowed a horse from Luo Wu and rode off towards the town.

Ouyang Ming had also heard about the matter and was discussing with Master Ouyang what to do.