Jincheng flower hour

Bamboo shoots hung on the camellia tree and gnawed down a lot of camellias. Ah Yi drove it with a bamboo pole. The more he drove it, the more he fled upwards. Finally, the thin branches couldn't support its heavy weight, and the bamboo shoots fell from the treetops and fell into Zhuang Yang's arms. inside.

"Baa baa."

Bamboo shoot spread its two front paws in Zhuang Yang's arms, kissing Zhuang Yang's face passionately.Zhuang Yang stripped it off his body, handed it to Ah Yi, and ordered: "Shut it up."

Ah Yi carried the tapir cub to the bamboo house, smiling wickedly.

Tapirs can climb trees, and they are good at climbing trees. The trees in the courtyard have more or less been destroyed by bamboo shoots.

His slender fingers stroked the trunk of the camellia tree that had been scratched, and seeing the scattered camellias on the ground, Zhuang Yang naturally felt distressed.

Holding a broom to clean the petals and fallen leaves, Zhuang Yang looked up and saw three strangers, two armored soldiers, one dressed as an official, walking in the middle.

On an ordinary afternoon, these three visitors broke the tranquility in Zhuli.

"Brother."

A Ping secretly pulled Zhuang Yang's sleeve, and he timidly hid behind Zhuang Yang.

"It's okay, you go into the house."

Zhuang Yang put down his broom and dustpan, straightened his clothes, and went forward.

The eldest brother is not at home, and there is no one else to rely on. There are several people in the yard of the dealer, all of whom are old and weak. Zhuang Yang, 15, needs to take care of everything.

In the spring of previous years, it was rare to see officials coming to collect taxes. Only one year when the Southwestern Yi rebelled, the magistrate of Linqiong County collected taxes in spring.This year is so abnormal, is there another war?

As far as the dealer is concerned, their family can afford to pay the tax, and they always deliver the full amount every year, even if the tax is getting more and more every year.

Zhuang Yang received the officials who received the Fu in the courtyard. He treated people politely and asked why the officials came to collect in spring.Seeing Zhuang Yang's elegance and modesty, the officials told him that this year, not only will the money be collected in spring, but also that boys over the age of 13 need to be charged 150 qian regardless of adulthood.

"That is, if you are a minor and still need to be raised by your parents, how can you still collect their citizenship tax?"

Zhuang Yang was astonished when he heard that, so his family would have to pay a lot of money.

"Everyone's family is the same. I don't think your family can't afford it."

The official said it indifferently. He was not used to seeing how many people cried and begged during the collection of taxes, and he was indifferent.

"In the past, when Huang Sheng governed Yizhou, he collected gifts from young sons and old people. Many families were unable to pay and were displaced. Even today, many farmlands in Zhuli are still abandoned."

Zhuang Yang's family can afford it, but going on like this is not an option. Sooner or later there will be turmoil again. People's livelihood is already difficult, and such a heavy tax will be increased.

"You are a scholar, so be careful when you say something."

The official said coldly, and he glanced at Zhuang Yang.He had a peaceful conversation with Zhuang Yang only because he saw Zhuang Yang's extraordinary character.It is well known that the county guard Huang Sheng was greedy and tyrannical, and was punished by his subordinates.

"I know that the county magistrate is benevolent, and I will not blame him. I am deeply worried that if the people abandon their farming, flee into the mountains, and gather together as robbers, there will be no peace."

Zhuang Yang bowed and saluted, his words were sincere and from the bottom of his heart.As for his praise of the county magistrate's benevolence, it is purely polite.

"The county magistrate loves talents, I wonder if this young man intends to become an official?"

The officials looked at Zhuang Yang and appreciated him more and more.There are few scholars in Linqiong, and talents are rare.

"Thank you, my father died, my mother was ill, and my younger siblings are too young to be able to serve as officials."

Zhuang Yang bowed deeply and declined, he was careful not to offend or embarrass the other party.

"That's it."

The officials knew that the family was rich, so they probably didn't care about the official salary. Besides, Zhuang Yang was young and underage, so he was not suitable to be an official.

"Zhuang Bing's family, five people, and four other servants..."

The officials reported the amount of money, painted a line of numbers on the wooden board, and circled the word banker.

"it is good."

Zhuang Yang stopped talking and went back to the house to ask his mother to withdraw money.Zhuang's mother was afraid of officials and soldiers, so she hid in the house and did not dare to make a sound, and hugged Zhuang Lan and Aping by her side.Zhuang Yang comforted his mother and said, "Mother, don't be afraid, I'm here to collect gifts."

Only then did Zhuang's mother let go of the two children, gave Zhuang Yang the key, and told: "Yang'er, don't argue with them, send them away earlier." Zhuang Yang nodded in agreement.

Take the money and deliver it, and send the officials and soldiers away.Zhuang Yang was not in a hurry to enter the house. He saw the officers and soldiers pointing to the dog's house on the other side, and he walked towards the wooden bridge.

Can the dog's family afford three hundred dollars?His family seems to have rich relatives.For poor people, it is a very heavy tax to collect the tax in the spring before the crops are harvested, and even the children have to collect it.

Zhuang Yang stood watching in the courtyard. When the officers and soldiers arrived, the dog, son, mother and son had already come out of the house. Mother Liu was talking to the officials, as if pleading. The officials seemed impatient, and the soldiers pushed and pushed Mother Liu.Seeing this, Zhuang Yang quickly walked out of the yard and rushed towards the opposite bank.Before Zhuang Yang got close to the wooden bridge, he saw the dog jumping up suddenly, waving something and making a movement to drive it away.How could those soldiers be afraid of a child like him, so they knocked the dog to the ground mercilessly, and Mother Liu begged on top of the dog.

This sound had already attracted the attention of people on the other side of the river. The servants of the farmer's yard came out to look around. Zhuang Lan caught up with Zhuang Yang and called him brother, but Zhuang Yang didn't stop.Stepping forward, he heard Zhuang's mother anxiously calling him Yang'er.Zhuang Yang stopped, turned his head and said to Zhuang Lan who was following him, "Go back and accompany Aunt, take Aunt back to the house, I will come as soon as I go."

Perhaps because my family is a widow with young children, I can't see them suffering.However, Zhuang Yang has a temperament, even if he is a stranger, he will help when he sees someone suffering.

Zhuang Yang ran towards the wooden bridge, and could hear soldiers cursing and Liu's mother crying from a distance. The dog was lying on the ground, coughing in pain, half of his face was covered with mud and blood.

Zhuang Yang rushed to the front of the house and helped the dog who was lying on the ground up. The dog looked miserable with blood dripping from half of his face.

"It's only fifty dollars short of you, and forgive me for two days."

Mother Liu knelt down and hugged the dog, crying.

"Even if my child is offending, he shouldn't be beaten like this. Which of you has no children? Feel your conscience."

Mother Liu was crying heartbroken, holding Quanzi's face with both hands, Quanzi's nosebleed kept flowing, and when he opened his mouth, there was a mouthful of blood.

The two soldiers didn't feel guilty at all, and they were cursing nearby, and one soldier obviously had a bite on his chin.

"The neighbor's son lacks discipline. You don't have to be upset about him. I have fifty money here. What he owes, I will make up for it."

Zhuang Yang took out fifty coins and handed them to the officials.

"There's no reason in this world not to pay the tax. If it wasn't because of his young age, he would have been tied up with a rope and taken to the county prison."

The official took fifty coins and said angrily.After completing the task of collecting taxes for this household, the officials called up the soldiers and left together.

Gouzi coughed desperately, coughing up the blood from his mouth onto the skirt of his clothes. He was beaten miserably, but he was stubborn, unyielding, and wanted to fight.Mother Liu held Quanzi in her arms, and the blood on Quanzi's face stained her clothes.

"Son of the country, don't take offense at being rude and rude."

Zhuang Yang sent the officials to the wooden bridge, and the two soldiers wanted to look back, but Zhuang Yang solemnly stopped them in the middle of the wooden bridge, saluted and sent them off respectfully.Watching them leave, Zhuang Yang turned his head and looked at Quanzi.Gouzi raised his head, a stream of tears flowed down his blood-stained face, his face was still slightly childish, and his crying was full of grievance and indignation.Zhuang Yang took out his handkerchief and handed it to Quan Zi's face, trying to wipe away his blood and tears.Before the handkerchief touched Quanzi's cheek, he didn't want Quanzi to fall down instantly.

"Dog!"

Zhuang Yang hugged him in a panic, and the dog lay in Zhuang Yang's arms, his consciousness was a little unclear, and he murmured: "It hurts..."

"Baby, don't fall asleep, don't sleep."

Mother Liu spoke in panic and shook Quanzi's shoulder vigorously.

"Don't panic, take him into the house first."

In fact, Zhuang Yang was extremely flustered. Without thinking, he picked up the dog on his back, not caring that the blood on the dog's face was smeared on his back. It is not easy for 15-year-old Zhuang Yang to carry a 13-year-old dog on his back.The dog obediently lay on Zhuang Yang's not-so-generous back. He was unconscious, but he knew that Zhuang Yang was carrying him. He could smell the aroma of wormwood on Zhuang Yang's body.Such a fragrance is reassuring.

"Brother..."

Gouzi murmured on his back, he said these two words like Zhuang Lan, Aping or A Li, as if he was also being protected by someone.

"Yeah." Zhuang Yang replied softly.

At this time, both Zhuang Lan and A Ping had run out of the yard and rushed towards them.

"A Ping, go and call Yisou, and ask him to drive the carriage."

Hearing the instructions, Ah Ping hurried back to look for Yisou in the courtyard.

"Brother Dog."

When Zhuang Lan saw Quanzi lying on her brother's back with blood all over her face, she was so bold that her eyes turned red with fright.

Mother Liu was protecting Quanzi, she stopped crying, and looked extremely calm, but her face was as pale as snow.

"Brother Dog, are you okay?"

Zhuang Lan touched Quanzi's fingers, Quanzi was so weak that he didn't even want to move his fingers.

"Brother, what's wrong, brother dog?"

Zhuang Lan's voice choked up.

"Don't cry, brother help him to find a doctor, he will get better."

Zhuang Yang spoke comforting words.

With the help of Liu's mother, Zhuang Yang put the dog on the couch. The dog curled up, his head was covered with cold sweat, and he closed his eyes in pain.Mother Liu asked him why he was uncomfortable, and he just waved his hands in pain.Soon, Quanzi fell into a coma, and Zhuang Yang held Quanzi's hand tightly.Mother Liu called the dog and cried bitterly.

"His pulse is still there, don't panic, Mother Liu, stay calm, but the dog bumped his head?"

Zhuang Yang asked loudly.Mother Liu raised her head, recalling the chaotic scene just now, she nodded vigorously.

No, Yi Sou drove out the carriage, Ah Yi came to inform, and Zhuang Yang ordered:

"Yi Sou, rush to Doctor Yuan's house in the county seat and tell him that someone has injured his head in a fight and has passed out, so tell him to come quickly."

There is no doctor in Zhuli. In the past, the residents had a headache, but they just grabbed some herbs and ate them.There is a local witch doctor, but Zhuang Yang doesn't trust the witch doctor.

"Erlang, I'm going right now."

Yi Sou heard that it was a matter of life and death, so without saying a word, he raised his whip to drive the carriage, and the carriage galloped away.

After watching Yi Sou leave, Zhuang Yang returned to the house and saw Mother Liu standing beside the dog, weeping sadly.Mother Liu wiped the blood on the dog's face with a handkerchief, and the dog lay silently on the couch.Mother Liu looked very calm, she gently wiped the blood from the corner of the dog's mouth, and patted the dirt off the dog's body.Ordinary women, in such a situation, would probably faint from crying.

"The back of my head is swollen."

Seeing Zhuang Yang checking the dog's head, Mother Liu spoke softly.

"Here, hit the ground, the ground is dirt, swollen and not bleeding."

Zhuang's mother held the back of Quanzi's head with her palm, and showed Quanzi's head to Zhuang Yang.Zhuang Yang stretched out his hand to touch, and felt a lump, the size of a child's palm.

"How did you fight them?"

Zhuang Yang sighed. It was obvious that he had hit his head, which caused him to faint. I hope it will be all right.After all, Gouzi is young and energetic, and a newborn calf is not afraid of tigers.

"My aunt donated [-] yuan, and I spent [-] yuan to buy thread and weaving. If it is not just enough to pay. I asked them to waive the [-] yuan. The dog is not yet an adult."

Liu's mother knew that life was difficult, but she didn't think it was so difficult. How could even the child put away his hometown gift.

"The soldiers insulted me, and the dog got so angry that he picked up a bamboo pole and kicked him out."

What I took was a bamboo pole for drying clothes, not a knife or a sword.

"He was beaten up by those two soldiers, how could he have such a heavy hand?"

Mother Liu closed her eyes in pain and took a deep breath. The soldiers beat the dog so hard and fast that she couldn't react at all. Otherwise, how could she let these people hurt the dog, and she desperately refused to let them hurt her son.

"It's my fault that I didn't teach and take care of him well."

Mother Liu hugged the dog, her eyes were staring straight, and she refused to speak any more.

Zhuang Yang is silent, if his younger siblings, they would never do the act of throwing out officers and soldiers, he taught the younger siblings; what's more, the whole family was ransacked by defeated soldiers back then.