After all the food was brought into the tent, Qin Junyao sat at the entrance and asked her father, who was in the tent picking wheat ears, "Dad, why are you so excited when there isn't much food?"
Her father smiled, revealing a mouthful of big white teeth, "You don't understand. Look at how large the wheat ears are and how big the grains are. Even on the best land, you need luck to grow this."
"And rice, that's a rare delicacy. I heard it grows in water and is eaten by wealthy families. I've only seen it in our largest grain store."
When Qin Junyao heard that rice was a rare delicacy, she accessed the original host's memories and indeed had no recollection of eating rice.
Strange, corn from overseas is a common food here, so why is rice so uncommon?
She voiced the question that was on her mind.
"Farmers have to pay land tax, head tax, and military service tax. The officials also demand birthday tax for the lord's birthday."
Qin's mother chimed in, "There's also livestock and poultry tax. Even if you keep a dog at home, there's a tax. There are also some temporary taxes that Mother can't even remember the names of."
Qin's father nodded, "After paying all these, not much of the harvest is left. In the south, land is scarce and people are abundant, so to fill their stomachs, most people grow sweet potatoes. North of us, we grow more corn."
Qin Junyao was greatly shocked by this. Officials extorting taxes from common people for their birthdays? She had never heard of such a thing, but then again, it was a feudal ancient era, so nothing was impossible.
"Dad, by your logic, taxes should be paid with grain, right? Can't we sell the rice for money and then pay the tax with that?"
Qin's father shook his head, "The price the grain store buys grain at is less than half of what the store sells it for. Someone in our village tried that once and ended up living on borrowed money."
Qin Junyao understood the situation more or less. It was collusion between officials and merchants, aimed at exploiting ordinary people. It seemed she not only needed to utilize her spatial ability but also to expand and upgrade it.
Having food in hand meant peace of mind in times of trouble.
"Mom, is there any fresh corn?" Qin Xiaoyu poked her head in from beside Qin Junyao and asked Qin's mother.
"No, what do you want fresh corn for?"
"I want to eat roasted corn," Qin Xiaoyu stated her request.
"Forget it. Boiled corn is also delicious. Roasted corn smells too strong. Be good," Qin's mother coaxed Qin Xiaoyu while her hands continued picking wheat ears.
"Sister doesn't want to eat raw, so you peel the corn and cook it in the pot for porridge, but I want to eat roasted corn and it's not allowed, hmph," Qin Xiaoyu said and stomped off in a huff.
Seeing Qin's mother about to speak, Qin Junyao raised her hand to stop her. Xiaoyu was still young, and there was no need to be harsh. Besides, she could manage to get Qin Xiaoyu roasted corn.
She saw that both the Qin and Hou families were processing grain in the tents. She got up to find Qin Erniu and whispered a few words in his ear. Qin Erniu jumped up with joy, dropped the firewood he was holding, and went to prepare.
Qin Junyao found two empty baskets, filled them with fresh corn, and covered them with dry grass, waiting for someone to carry them.
"Big sister, are you ready?"
Seeing Qin Junyao nod, Qin Erniu immediately called his elder brother, and they each carried a basket. They were even happier when they felt the weight of the baskets. They put their hands on their elder brother's and younger brother's shoulders and walked forward.
Qin Junyao grabbed Qin Xiaoyu's hand and followed behind. Qin Xiaoyu struggled for a moment after being held by her sister, then blushed and let her sister lead her.
.
At the place where the Qin siblings discovered the cart, there was a burning campfire and a makeshift stove made of stones. Water in an earthen pot on the stove was bubbling.
"Second brother, is it ready yet?" Qin Xiaoyu asked Qin Erniu, swallowing.
"Almost, it'll be cooked in a little while. The roasted ones will take longer," Qin Erniu stirred the corn in the pot with chopsticks.
Qin Daniu looked around with a worried expression, "Will the smell attract people?"
Qin Erniu waved his hand, "No."
"Who says no?" Qin Sansu's voice suddenly appeared, startling Qin Junyao and the others.
"Uncle, you scared me to death," Qin Xiaoyu wailed. She thought her longed-for roasted corn was gone.
"Are you so bold that you're afraid of being startled? You come out to eat snacks and don't even call your uncle? You even made me follow behind?" Qin Sen sat down cross-legged next to Qin Junyao.
"It's our fault. This one is cooked, you eat it first. But we're not eating alone, we're going to take it back to share after it's roasted and cooked," Qin Erniu said to Qin Sen with raised eyebrows.
Uncle and them were around the same age and usually played together. Qin Erniu wasn't afraid that Qin Sen would act superior or complain about them.
"Uncle, I didn't not call you, I only found out when I got here," Qin Xiaoyu raised her hand to explain to Qin Sen.
"Alright, little sister, no roasted corn for you."
"Don't, Second brother, Uncle..."
Qin Junyao was eating the fragrant corn when Suozi, on the other side of the bushes, suddenly stopped complaining. He sniffed and asked, "Hammer, do you smell that? What food is so fragrant?"
Zhao Liangcai rubbed his temples with one hand. He hadn't slept for two days, and the journey was giving him a terrible headache.
"Finished talking?" a deep voice came from Zhao Liangcai, making Suozi shrink his neck.
"Your headache again? Is the new medicine not working?"
Zhao Liangcai lowered his hand from his head and looked straight at Suozi.
Suozi's hair stood on end. He raised his hand to block Zhao Liangcai's gaze and begged for mercy, "Don't look at me. I'm talking business, right now."
"The city gate can only be opened with silver now. If you don't want to reveal your identity to enter the city and return to the northwest, it's ten taels of silver per person."
"Also, the people who rescued Axe are outside the city. Governor Song gave our salt guard considerable face and let me bring ten people into the city. There are about thirty people in that group, and Axe wants to bring them all in."
"Including yours, without four hundred taels, you won't get through the city."
Before Zhao Liangcai could speak, Suozi added, "Let me state this upfront, I don't have four hundred taels."
Zhao Liangcai frowned upon hearing "four hundred taels." He had four hundred taels, but he was unwilling to give it to a corrupt official.
"Hammer, can you send your stepmother and them back? They're too difficult to serve. I didn't finish telling you about Qian Duo."
"They can't be sent back. The people of Yongning Prefecture have rebelled."
Zhao Liangcai's words, though spoken softly, hit Suozi like a thunderclap, making him jump to his feet.
"Rebelled? How did they rebel? Did the people rebel on their own, or was someone in charge?"
"Is it only Yongning Prefecture that rebelled? What about other places?"
"Keep your voice down. As far as we know, it's only Yongning Prefecture, and the momentum is considerable. You take people back tomorrow morning, count the addresses of our brothers and families, and send people to pick them up."
Zhao Liangcai stood up and stretched his neck before continuing, "I want to meet the benefactor of Axe. I'll take them back."
"Let's go."
"Go meet them now? So urgent?" Suozi thought the situation was more serious than he imagined.
"No, let's go see what's so fragrant. We can use some food to exchange for it," Zhao Liangcai said, then took a bundle from his horse and followed the scent.
This aroma actually eased his headache.