The inn provided hot water. After a simple wash, everyone except the Qian family trio gathered in the main hall to wait for news.
“Sister, come with me,” Fuzi asked Qin Junyao, who was sitting beside him, resting his chin on the table.
Qin Junyao poured a cup of water for Fuzi and took a sip from her own cup. “You forgot again. Call me Auntie Qin.”
“Where do you want me to go with you?”
“To my place. It’s really fun there. There are lambs and little camels. The mountains are even more fun, with little foxes and little monkeys,” Fuzi said, noticing Qin Junyao was always fondling the rabbit, assuming she loved small animals.
Qin Junyao put down her water cup and tilted her head, mimicking Fuzi. “Didn’t you tell me that the most fun place was this Northwest City?”
Fuzi sat up straight. “I was little back then. I’ve grown up since then. I realized that my place is the most fun.”
Zhao Liangcai, sitting at a nearby table, almost choked on his water after hearing his brother’s words. This kid had claimed he had a way to make Qin Junyao go with him, but it seemed unlikely now.
“Really? Then Auntie Qin, you should consider it.”
Zhao Liangcai: ...
“Boss,” the soldier who had gone to inquire about the news with Zhao Liangcai’s waist token returned.
Grandma Qin quickly walked closer, wanting to hear clearly.
“What did the yamen say?”
Hearing Zhao Liangcai ask about the government, the soldier understood. “The yamen’s announcement will be posted tomorrow. It states that for every two adult males in a household, one must be conscripted.”
“One out of two people?” Grandma Qin thought she had misheard. In all her years, she had never heard of such conscription. One person per household was already a huge matter, and now it was one out of two?
The soldier nodded. Grandma Qin frowned and spun around with her hands on her hips.
Zhao Liangcai rubbed his water cup. “How can one be exempted from service?”
“Yes, yes, yes! What kind of situation allows exemption?” Grandma Qin tightened her headscarf and pressed for an answer.
“Only sons are exempt. Those with disabilities are exempt. After one person serves, the remaining can pay silver to be exempted, ten taels per person. Also,” the soldier paused, looking at Zhao Liangcai.
“What else? You brat, spit it out,” Grandma Qin impatiently slapped the table.
The Qin and Hou families had already gathered around her. They felt a sense of despair. Why did the court like ten taels of silver so much? Ten taels to enter the city, ten taels to exempt military service.
Now there was another possibility, and he was still hesitating.
“The yamen’s announcement says everything.”
With Zhao Liangcai’s confirmation, the soldier continued, “Also, those who don’t want to serve in the military can perform corvée labor, at unspecified locations.”
“Or they can go to the salt lake to mine salt. No wages, no food provided, and no set duration.”
After speaking, the soldier’s mood was somewhat complex. These conditions could be considered extremely harsh.
Military service offered a salary but also the risk of death. Corvée labor lasted for five years, but the location was uncertain, and whether one would return was questionable. Mining salt at the salt lake was closer, but required self-provided food and had no set service time.
None of these were good options.
The Qin and Hou families’ moods were equally complicated, especially the Hou family.
There were six adult males over twenty, all of whom were the pillars of their respective small families. Who would go and who would stay?
Although the Qin family only had Qin Mu and Qin Lin over twenty, one of them had to go, and they couldn’t pay for exemption. Grandma Qin’s earned twenty taels of silver were useless.
Zhao Liangcai, overhearing the conversation, realized something was amiss. “Dengzuitui, go back and find Deputy Commander Zhou. Tell him I’m back.”
Then he pointed to another soldier and ordered, “You go to the Northwest Grand Camp and find out where the doctor who was taken from the Qu Bing Hall three days ago is. If they didn’t leave with the troops, tell them I want the person.”
Setting down his teacup, Zhao Liangcai stood up and faced the Qin and Hou families. “Everyone, please stay at ease. If you are not registered with the local yamen, the government will not send anyone to take you away.”
“I will figure out what’s going on and help everyone find a solution.”
Old Man Hou was the first to bow to Zhao Liangcai. They were not related, yet he had taken care of them all the way. Regardless of his reasons, if he could truly help them resolve the military service issue, then the Hou family would owe him a great favor.
Grandma Qin did not lag behind. While accepting favors, she would not forget to show gratitude.
Having learned what they needed and could learn, everyone returned to their rooms, leaving the main hall to Zhao Liangcai.
“Is there anything else?” Zhao Liangcai asked the soldier who had gone to the yamen, hugging Fuzi onto his lap.
Fuzi sat obediently on his brother’s lap. He had grown up listening to various military matters. Sudan Novel Network.
“A yamen runner said that anyone who chooses to mine salt instead of military service will be assigned to our Eight Divisions, General. We are short-handed.”
“Do you know that yamen runner?”
The soldier was taken aback and replied, “No, I don’t. He only told me because he saw me holding your waist token.”
“Alright, I understand. You can all go. Also, ask the innkeeper to feed the horses with the best fodder.”
After the soldiers left, Zhao Liangcai, with one arm around Fuzi and the other supporting his elbow on the table, massaged his temples.
“Brother, are you getting a headache again? Let me rub it for you,” Fuzi turned in Zhao Liangcai’s arms and raised his little hands to help.
“No, why didn’t you go find your mother?”
Zhao Liangcai had told Fuzi long ago that they were half-brothers.
He had forcibly taken Fuzi with him in the past because Madam Qian demanded too much money from him for the family each year.
The saying “a stepmother means a stepfather” was true. When his own father also pressured him for money, on the day he left home, he inexplicably took Fuzi, who was clinging to his leg and asking to be held.
This lasted for three years. Initially, Zhao Liangcai had intended to mistreat his younger brother to get revenge on Madam Qian, but every time he returned from battle, Fuzi would run to him with open arms, wanting a hug. That happy little look melted his heart and softened his hands.
“Brother, are they really my mother and sister?” Fuzi didn’t answer his brother’s question but asked one himself.
“Why do you ask?”
“Hmm~~ I think Auntie Qin and Second Aunt Qin are more like mothers. They helped me wash my face, even though I can wash it myself. They also sew clothes for me and blow on my hot porridge. Mother can do it too, but it seems like she’s acting.”
“And also, I want Auntie Qin to be my real sister, Brother!” Fuzi suddenly got excited as he said this.
Zhao Liangcai chuckled and rubbed his head, making his head circle with his hand. “What?”
Fuzi clasped Zhao Liangcai’s wrists with both hands, stopping him. “Brother, if you recognize Auntie Qin as your god-sister, won’t she be my sister then?”
“Go play by yourself,” Zhao Liangcai removed his hand and placed Fuzi on the ground. What a ridiculous idea.
He stood up and walked towards his room. Fuzi followed him, suggesting one ridiculous idea after another.
“Brother, what if I recognize a god-sister myself?”
“No.”
“Then can you recognize Auntie Qin as your godmother?”
“Absolutely not.”
“I’ll recognize Uncle Qin as my godfather then.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Zhao Liangcai put his hands behind his back and strode forward.
Fuzi chuckled, waving his arms up and down and running to keep up. “Brother, do you want to recognize Da Niu as your younger brother?”
“Grandma Qin, ah~~”
“Higher, Brother, higher, flying~~ Hahahaha!”