Archives: FS

One family after another went over, and finally, only Su Chen and Gu Fei’s family were left.

Su Chen and his family didn’t have any documents to prove their identity, and they agreed to go with Gu Zhang.

Because Lian’er still had her family’s household registration, which listed her family of four.

Gu Zhang handed over his family’s household registration and Lian’er’s household registration together, and whispered: “Fifteen people from both families.”

At this time, the soldier next to him counted the heads and shouted: “Fifteen people.”

The officer and soldier did not look closely but only saw that the silver note was one hundred and fifty taels, and he was quite happy in his heart. This group of people went over, and the harvest was not small.

So he nodded, “Go–”

As soon as the voice fell, he saw a middle-aged man in civil servant clothes coming out of the city gate.

The officer and soldier’s face changed, and he quickly put away the silver note and whispered: “Go–”

This man is the county magistrate here. He was the most rigid and weird person. He comes here several times a day to check if anyone from the three counties has sneaked through.

Gu Zhang also saw the man at this time, put away the household registration, and secretly said in his heart that it was bad.

This man was from the government office. Judging from his clothes, he was an eighth-rank county magistrate. The government office and the army were two different systems, and most of the local people were in a state of no submission to each other.

The county magistrate took a look at Gu Zhang and his group. These people were wearing sheepskin coats and looked like authentic northerners.

He pointed at Gu Zhang: “Where is your household registration?”

Gu Zhang was anxious and couldn’t speak for a while.

At this time, Su Chen lifted the curtain of the carriage: “We are all registered in Donghai County.” He spoke the standard dialect of Donghai County.

The county magistrate looked at Su Chen. This young man was wearing a fox fur cloak with a green brocade surface. He was not an ordinary person at first glance.

He looked at Gu Zhang and his group again. Why did they all look like countrymen?

The county magistrate raised an eyebrow and spoke to Su Chen in a gentler tone: “Are you together?”

Su Chen nodded: “This is my uncle, he has been here for many years, but his household registration is still in Donghai County. I came here especially to take them back to my hometown this time.”

The mule cart was dragging so many things, that it was obvious that they were moving.

The county magistrate was still looking at Gu Zhang, Gu Fei turned to Su Chen and said: “Cousin, there should be a clinic in this city, the injury on your leg can’t be delayed.”

Su Chen smiled, this girl, actually knew the dialect of Donghai County, and the cousin sounded so nice, he nodded: “Let’s go to the clinic after entering the city.”

Gu Fei turned around and looked at her father innocently: “Dad, let’s go.”

Gu Zhang responded vaguely, and the county magistrate saw that Su Chen and Gu Fei were speaking dialects, his suspicion was gone, and he waved his hand: “You go.”

Everyone hurriedly drove the mule cart into the city gate.

It was not until they walked a little further that everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Zhang hurriedly bowed to Su Chen: “Thank you so much, young master.”

Su Chen laughed: “Why did Second Uncle Gu thank me? I’m with you. I’m doing this for myself.”

Gu Zhang smiled: “It’s all thanks to Young Master Su who speaks southern dialect, otherwise, I’m afraid it would be a big trouble.”

Su Chen looked behind him, and Gu Fei stood with her back to him: “My mother is from the south, I’ve heard it a lot since I was a child, so I naturally know it.”

“I didn’t expect that the daughter of Second Uncle Gu would know it.”

Gu Zhang laughed, he was not surprised by what Gu Fei knew.

Gu Fei smiled, she learned some dialects from her roommates when she was in college in her previous life, and her level was just enough to fool outsiders, but she didn’t expect it to be useful in this time and space.

At this time, the village chief and his families came over, and Uncle Ma asked: “Why don’t we stay in the city tonight?”

 

The village chief pulled Aunt Liu: “Do you want to borrow? Why not get a household registration? Maybe you can get away with it.”

Aunt Liu shook his hand away: “You stingy man, is this the time to be stingy with money?”

“If we are discovered, our whole family will be beaten with a stick, and we won’t be able to move after being beaten. Look at the people around you, do you think that at that time, our family’s food can still be kept?”

“Our silver and food will be robbed! My grandchildren may also be captured and sold, we will either starve to death or die of pain!”

The village chief recalled the miserable situation described by Auntie Liu and nodded helplessly: “Okay, then borrow it. Alas, I have spent all my family’s wealth fleeing famine. We shouldn’t have left.”

Auntie Liu glared at him: “We shouldn’t have left?”

“If we don’t come leave, someone will come to our house to steal food. Do you believe it?”

Their family was one of the richest in the village. If those people have no food, won’t they steal or rob them?

Haven’t they seen too much evil along the way?

The village chief sighed: “That’s right.”

He waved his hand painfully: “You go borrow it. Alas, I don’t know when I can pay it back after borrowing it.”

Gu Zhang picked a piece of wood to use as a table to write the letter, but there was no ink pad, so everyone rubbed some ink on the edge of the ink stone and pressed their fingerprints.

The village chief’s family borrowed 30 taels. Auntie Liu was such a smart person, she knew that the opportunity was rare, and it would be good if she could borrow more.

Gu Zhong borrowed 20 taels, Aunt Huang borrowed 10 taels, and Zhang Laoda’s family borrowed 30 taels.

The eldest aunt’s family borrowed 30 taels.

Gu Rong also borrowed 30 taels.

Su Chen lent almost 150 taels of silver. Zhang Ze took back a stack of IOUs.

While holding the silver bills, everyone looked at Gu Zhang and had a new question.

Who should they give the silver to? How should they pay it back?

Uncle Ma said in a deep voice: “Get the cart on the harness and rush to the city gate. Since everyone has decided to enter the city, don’t delay. This place may not be safe at night without soldiers.”

This was true. Some disaster victims around were staring at these mule carts, but they didn’t dare to do anything because there were so many soldiers at the moment.

Uncle Ma said again: “Each family will hand over the silver bills to Zhang’er according to the number of people, and everyone will enter the city together.”

The silver bills that had just been received were not even warmed up, and they were handed to Gu Zhang one by one.

Gu Fei also took out 120 taels and gave them to her father.

Gu Zhang was careful and took the household registration of each family, and put the silver bills and household registration papers of each family together.

After harnessing the cart, everyone walked through the pile of disaster victims and walked to the city gate.

Seeing so many people and carts coming at once, the officers and soldiers who were specially checking the household registration at the gate perked up.

Walking in front was the village head and his family. Gu Zhang smiled and handed the household registration paper to the officers and soldiers, and flipped his fingers up slightly to reveal the silver bills underneath.

The officers and soldiers were very sensitive to silver bills.

If there was no silver to be collected, they would not be willing to guard the city gate and do this hard work.

The high-ranking soldiers took the biggest share of the silvers, while the soldiers guarding the side could only take the small share.

The officer pretended to look at the household registration, but he was looking at the number on the banknote. A soldier beside him had already counted the heads and shouted: “9 people.”

The officer nodded and counted the banknotes. It was exactly ninety taels of silver. He quickly took out the banknotes and put them in his sleeves, returned the household registration to Gu Zhang, and shouted, “Pass–”

Gu Zhang stuffed the household registration to the village chief, and the village chief and his family hurried through the city gate.

 

Mrs. Qian was anxious when she heard that Gu Zhong wanted to borrow money. In the past few days, Gu Zhong had told her many times not to think about taking advantage of other families, especially Gu Zhang’s family.

He said that he didn’t want to be separated from his brother.

Since he said so, he was determined to pay back the money he borrowed.

This was not a small amount of money. She couldn’t help but yell: “Xing’er is a girl, is it worth spending 10 taels of silver for her to go to the city?”

“It’s better to sell her, and you can get some money!”

Xing’er was stunned for a moment, and then she pulled Gu Zhong and cried: “Dad, don’t sell me, I can help with the housework, Please don’t sell me.”

Gu Zhong’s forehead was throbbing with veins, and he pointed at Mrs. Qian: “Shut up, if you say it again, I will sell you!”

Mrs. Qian shrank back and dared not speak.

Gu Zhang seemed to be roasted on the fire for a while.

He smiled bitterly and was about to speak when Aunt Liu spoke up: “Zhang, I have a favor to ask of you. My family doesn’t have enough money. Can you lend me 20 taels?”

At this time, the eldest aunt looked at Gu Zhang and hesitated to speak. His family was also short of money. Ninety taels of silver for nine people. Even if their family was rich, they couldn’t afford so much!

There was still a shortage of 30 taels!

Gu Rong lowered his head and said nothing. There were three people in his family, and that was 30 taels of silver. What should he do? Should he ask his second brother to borrow again?

He was too embarrassed.

He suddenly raised his head: “My family doesn’t need it. I will go and make a fake household registration. If I can pass, I will pass. If I can’t, I will take ten boards for my wife.”

Mrs. Li stood by and almost cried when she heard this.

Gu Zhang said helplessly: “There are 12 people in my family now, and it costs 120 taels to go to the city–”

Old Lady Gu next to him interrupted hurriedly: “How can there be twelve? Those two girls were bought, so just sell them!”

Lanzhi nervously grabbed the corner of Gu Fei’s clothes, and Lian’er lowered her head.

Gu Fei glanced at the old lady coldly.

Gu Zhang said in a deep voice: “Since these two girls have been bought, they are family members, and there is no reason to throw them here.”

Old Lady Gu snorted, “If you ask me, what are you buying these people for? They are useless except for eating white rice!”

“We are just farmers, and some people think they are ladies. Do they need to be served?”

Gu Fei sneered: “It’s my own money, I can spend it however I want!”

Is it your business?

Old Lady Gu poked the ground with her cane: “Look, everyone, is there anyone who talks to their elders like this? I am her grandmother, but she has never spent 8 or 10 taels of silver on me, but she is willing to spend money on outsiders!”

“This old woman–”

Su Chen looked at the old lady with disgust, and suddenly interrupted her, “How about this, how much silver do you still need? I will lend it to you. Please help me write a receipt, Uncle Gu.”

If he didn’t say anything, the old woman would talk about Gu Fei endlessly.

Everyone didn’t expect such a pleasant surprise.

Aunt Huang hurriedly said: “Young Master Su, my family doesn’t have enough silver. Can I borrow ten taels from you?”

She had enough silver to go into the city, but it would be good to borrow some.

When she settled down in Donghai County, wouldn’t she need silver?

Su Chen didn’t care about the ten taels at all, and nodded casually: “If you want to borrow money, just come and sign an IOU letter.”

Gu Zhang hurriedly searched in the mule cart for a long time. Gu Fei walked over and pretended to search together, handing him a small bundle, which contained a half-bald brush, an inkstone, a small piece of pine soot ink, and a few pieces of yellow rough-edged paper.

Mrs. Chen collected all of these and stuffed them into her space.

After taking out the things, Gu Qing poured a few drops of water into the ink stone and helped grind the ink.

 

Speaking of beating, everyone fell silent.

ZhangLaoda’s injury had not yet fully healed, and he leaned against the mule cart, struggling to ask Gu Zhang: “Second Brother Gu, how are you going to get into the city?”

Everyone looked at Gu Zhang.

His family was rich, that was for sure.

Let’s not talk about how much silver Gu Fei took home, just the 100 taels that Young Master Su gave not long ago, his family could get into the city no matter how much money they spent.

Gu Zhang said after a while: “I don’t know either. Let’s discuss it first. Let’s rest here today. Maybe we can find other ways.”

The village chief took out a pipe, lit it, took a deep puff, and said to his family: “I think we should find someone to register our household registration, maybe we can get by.”

“Even if we can’t get by, at most we’ll be beaten up, but 10 slaps won’t kill anyone.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the eldest daughter-in-law Jinfeng shouted: “Dad, how can this be done? We can’t compare to you, men. If we take off our pants and get slapped, how can we live with our dignity!”

The second daughter-in-law Hongxia also said: “Yes, Dad, this is not safe. If we are found out, everyone in the family will be slapped. There is no clinic outside the city. I’m afraid we can’t survive!”

The village chief frowned: “What should we do? Our family needs 80 taels of silver to enter the city, not 8 taels!”

Eighty taels of silver, he gritted his teeth and paid it.

“We don’t have that much silver!”

Auntie Liu said nothing. She took all her family’s assets with her, but there were less than 70 taels of silver left. This was the savings of several generations, and it was not enough to go to the city.

Every household gathered here at this time. After hearing the conversation of the village head, everyone was worried. What should they do?

At this time, Zhang Laoda, who was leaning on the mule cart, suddenly said, “Second Brother Gu, I want to borrow some silver from you.”

Gu Zhang smiled bitterly. He didn’t have any silver. The 100 taels given by Young Master Su was the family’s money. The rest was Gu Fei’s money. He couldn’t lend Gu Fei’s money to everyone.

Seeing that Gu Zhang didn’t say anything, Zhang Laoda struggled and said: “Second Brother Gu, I know you are in trouble, but I have figured it out. We must enter this city.”

“It’s so chaotic along the way. I can’t go back to my hometown. Even if I go back, there is no way to survive!”

“I still have a carriage at home. When we get to Donghai County, I will sell the carriage and return it to you. My carriage can be sold for at least 20 or 30 taels of silver.”

The village chief said in surprise, “Zhang Laoda, your family of five will cost 50 taels of silver to enter the city. Are you willing to spend it?”

Zhang Laoda smiled bitterly: “So what if I can’t bear it? Don’t you see that there is no way to survive in these countries? Only by entering this city and going to a place without disaster victims can we survive!”

“No matter how important money is, it’s not as important as life!”

Everyone was thinking about this.

Yes, there were not many people who died along the way. As long as people are alive, they can earn more money.

The Eldest Uncle nodded at this time: “That’s right, people have to live first!”

“Besides, I heard that Donghai County is very rich, and it is easier to make money than here. As long as you are diligent and willing to endure hardships, you can make a living.”

This was true. Donghai County was south of Yunjiang River, commonly known as Jiangnan. It has a pleasant climate, rich production, and many salt merchants. It was the most prosperous place in any dynasty.

Gu Zhong hurriedly said: “Second brother, my family doesn’t have enough silver to go to the city. If you lend me 20 taels of silver, I will write you a letter. When we get there, I will sell the mule cart and pay you back.”

He was worried that every household would ask Gu Laoer to borrow money, and it would be too late if he didn’t ask.

 

The village chief sighed repeatedly: “What can we do? What can we do? We can’t go back this time–”

Gu Zhang thought for a while and asked Uncle Ma in a low voice: “Do you have any ideas?”

Uncle Ma pondered for a long time: “It’s hard to say. I haven’t encountered such a thing before.”

“Let’s do this. Everyone should go around and ask for information. Maybe there will be other ways.”

Su Chen heard it clearly while sitting in the carriage. His face was not very good. He called Zhang Ze over and whispered a few words. Zhang Ze nodded and left.

Uncle Ma, the village chief, Gu Zhang, Gu Qing, and others went around to ask around.

The rest of the people had no choice but to unload the car and squeeze together to eat dry food.

There were many disaster victims here, and everyone didn’t dare to cook.

The people who went to ask around went for more than half an hour before they came back one after another.

Zhang Ze came back the fastest. He walked to the carriage and whispered to Su Chen: “I asked the gatekeeper secretly. We can pass through without checking the household registration if we are given 10 taels of silver per person.”

Su Chen pursed his lips and said after a while: “Wait for Uncle Ma and Uncle Gu to come back and see what they say.”

Gu Zhang and Uncle Ma came back together. Both of them looked a little heavy.

When everyone saw the two of them coming back, they all gathered around.

Chen Hu also walked over with Su Chen on his back and found a place for Su Chen to sit down.

Everyone quieted down and looked at Gu Zhang eagerly.

Gu Zhang looked at the eager faces around him and smiled bitterly: “I have been asking for a long time. There are two ways to enter the city——”

Everyone was happy and relaxed.

Gu Zhang continued: “None of them is a good idea.”

He pointed a finger: “One way is, no matter whether adults or children, each person has to give 10 taels of silver secretly to the soldiers, and they will let you go.”

Everyone was stunned, ten taels each?

This family would need dozens of taels of silver to get by, and the main point was that they didn’t have that much silver!

Mrs. Qian couldn’t help but yell: “Why is it so expensive? Are they robbing people?”

Before she finished speaking, Gu Zhang gritted his teeth and looked at her, lowering his voice, “Sister-in-law, can you yell about this? Even if you give money, you give it secretly, and if they let you go, they let you go secretly!”

Gu Zhong’s face flushed, and without saying a word, he raised his uninjured arm and slapped Mrs. Qian: “Shut up.”

“No woman in the family said anything, only you talk too much!”

Mrs. Qian covered her face with a grievance. Recently, the head of the family has become more and more dissatisfied with her. He either beats or scolds her. She can’t live like this.

The village chief asked anxiously: “What else can I do?”

He had just asked around but didn’t find out anything.

Gu Zhang lowered his voice: “This is more risky. Some people forge household registration for others. The price is not expensive, only 2 taels osilverrs. As for whether the fake household registration can be passed, they can’t guarantee it.”

“It’s said that some people have passed, and some have been discovered.”

The village chief asked again: “Then, what if you are caught for forgery?”

Gu Zhang glanced at him, “Normally, forgery of documents will be thrown into jail, but now, the jail is full of people, and the government has to provide food, everyone wants to go to jail, but now you can’t go to jail!”

“It is said that if you find forgery, you will take off your pants and beat them with a stick at the city gate, 10 boards per person.”

The village chief shuddered. Ten boards would probably take away half of his life.

But there were eight people in his family, and it would cost eighty taels of silver to go into the city. He really can’t afford so much!

It was said there were two ways, but means there was none.

 

After talking to Juhua for a while and getting a piece of dried meat from her aunt, Gu Fei came back to eat when she saw that the meal was almost ready.

Ever since Su Chen and the others started eating together, they had meat every meal.

They took turns eating wolf meat and pork.

Today they were eating dumplings.

Mrs. Chen was a kind person. The family ate dumplings stuffed with wild vegetables, and cooked pork and cabbage stuffed dumplings for Su Chen and the other two. After all, she felt a little guilty about receiving a hundred taels of silver. Of course, as a patient, Gu Fei also enjoyed dumplings stuffed with pork and cabbage.

But Chen Hu and Zhang Ze were superb eaters. They ate thirty dumplings each, but they were as if not full yet.

Mrs. Chen picked up a few more dumplings stuffed with wild vegetables for them.

After eating, they moved around for a while and then went to bed.

Su Chen took his ponytail toothbrush, dipped it in toothpaste, and brushed his teeth carefully, and then Chen Hu got him hot water to wash his face.

Even if there was a lack of water, this was something Su Chen had to do every day.

Zhang Ze spread the quilt to Su Chen. Just as Su Chen was about to get in, he suddenly looked toward Gu Fei.

Gu Fei had just taken off her sheepskin coat and was wearing a close-fitting small coat. The pink coat perfectly outlined the girl’s slightly undulating curves.

Su Chen’s mind “boomed”, his ears turned red, and he turned his head and got into the quilt.

*
In the morning, Zhang Laoda finally woke up. Gu Zhang brought some herbs to Mrs. Yu and asked her to boil them for Boss Zhang to drink.

Mrs. Yu was so grateful that she almost kowtowed to Gu Zhang.

The next few days were peaceful. There was no shortage of water here. Water could be drawn wherever there was a well.

At noon that day, Uncle Ma pointed to the front and said: “This is already the territory of Huainan County. Do you see the city in front? Only after passing that city can we truly enter Huainan County.”

Everyone cheered. Entering Huainan County meant that they only had to hurry on their way and no longer had to worry.

The convoy arrived at the foot of the city. The city wall was sandwiched between two mountains. If there was a war, this would be an important pass.

There were more victims under the city wall than ever before, almost densely packed. There were shacks everywhere in the open space in front of the city gate.

The convoy had to stop at the periphery. Gu Fei stood on the shaft and looked far away. The city gate was guarded by heavy soldiers.

Gu Zhang got out of the car and walked through the pile of victims with Gu Qing. When they walked to the city gate, they saw several rows of soldiers standing along the city wall. Several officers and soldiers were sitting at the city gate, checking the household registration of a young couple holding a child.

Gu Zhang went forward and was about to ask when he heard the officer say: “Go, go, people from Hedong County are not allowed to enter the city.”

A yamen runner next to him said: “Didn’t you see the big notice? All disaster victims from Xiqin County, Xishan County, Hedong County, and other counties are not allowed to enter the city.”

The couple was still begging when the officer next to them came over and drove them away with knives.

Gu Zhang and Gu Qing went to see the notice. It was written on the notice that household registration must be checked before entering the city. Anyone with household registration in these counties was not allowed to enter the city unless there was an official document issued by the government.

The two looked at each other, and their faces looked bad.

Turning around and squeezing through the pile of disaster victims, Gu Zhang told everyone the situation. Everyone was dumbfounded. They had come here with so much hardship, but they were not allowed to enter!

It was impossible to go back. These counties were in chaos, and there was no way to survive.

The village chief looked at Uncle Ma eagerly: “Uncle Ma, can we take a detour?”

Uncle Ma pointed at the mountain walls on both sides of the city wall: “Look for yourself, do you think that ordinary people can climb that mountain?”

Gu Fei looked over and saw that the mountain walls on both sides were high and steep. Unless one has the legendary Qinggong, no one can climb up.