Chapter 8, Anger

Lin Tong sneered and said: "Is there even a need to mention this? I have already discussed it with Sister Zitong. Given your current situation, you are utterly incapable of coping with this disaster. If you pay the tax, you can only wait to starve to death. If you don't pay, then you are left with the option of a desperate struggle, which is equally unlikely to ensure survival. The best scenario would be for the entire family to migrate deep into the mountains to a place where no one can find you and live there.

"Not bad, you are very clever," Lin Tong said approvingly as she looked at her. "As you mentioned, these people are nothing but parasites. In order to obtain money, they will not easily let you go. There will be many new schemes and new taxes in the future, and you will never be able to pay them all. To escape this situation requires a long-term struggle, but we must first overcome the immediate difficulties. In my opinion, I will raise some funds to help you through this crisis, but you must keep this matter confidential. You need to find a way to make those people believe that you have already reached your limit; if they push further, a riot will truly occur. Only in this way can you protect your vital supplies."

Zitong hurriedly ran over and grabbed Lin Tong's sleeve, her eyes filled with tears as she said: "Xiaobao, why is this happening? Didn't you say you would help us before?"

Lin Tong reached out and patted Zitong's shoulder, turning to look at the people in the room with a chuckle and said: "This is called criticism. You can't accept such a statement, who are you? I know you are just the lofty Red Sprout Elders, so what? Does that make you remarkable? Does a harsh word have anything to do with me? I want to help you out of gratitude for the assistance Zitong has given me. If it were for you, I wouldn't even have a single coin, let alone a thousand taels. Why should I take out my hard-earned silver to help you and prove my sincerity? I say, are you crazy, foolish, or do you think I have a problem with my mind? At this point, you still haven't seen the situation clearly, so do I still need to help you?"

Lin Tong looked at Zi Tong, who was nodding to himself, and said: "However, this money can only resolve a temporary crisis. To escape this situation, we need to take two steps. The first is to work hard to increase our income. In fact, besides the plants you are currently growing, you can also plant more varieties. For example, you can grow other crops among the bushes; even if the yield is small, it will still provide some income. Additionally, if we lack land, we can find ways to cultivate it. As long as there is soil, we can plant on the hillsides and riverbanks."

Zitong shyly smiled and said softly: "Yes, you also know that we are now at our wits' end. I heard from my mother and the others that if it really comes to it, we should rise up in resistance. But you also know that my people are very few in number. If it really comes to that, I am afraid..." At this point, she sighed and did not continue.

Lin Tong laughed heartily and said: "If I were to ask you to kill an official, I wouldn't need to say so much; I could just tell you to riot. How did your little brain grow that it can't even think around corners"

Zitong was astonished; how could the little treasure brother, who had promised her so earnestly before, suddenly want to leave? She turned to look at her father and then at the elders, only to find that they were as bewildered as she was.

Lin Tong looked at the girl with tears streaming down her face and sighed, saying: "Silly girl, it's not that your brother doesn't want to help you, but these people leave me with no hope at all. My silver can help you this time, but what will happen next? You can't keep coming to me for silver every time. Don't say that I don't have that kind of money; even if I did, it would still be mine. I don't have a hobby of casually throwing away silver."

After Lin Tong had drunk two cups of tea, the elderly individuals finally ceased their quarrelling. One of the oldest among them raised his head, looking at Lin Tong with dim eyes, and tremulously said: "Young man, I hear that these proposals were put forward by you according to Kui Yi?"

Teng Pu looked at him coldly and, trying to suppress her anger, said: "What form we did not see clearly, do tell us!"

Kuyi looked at Lin Tong and quickly said as he was about to leave the room: "Wait a moment, what do you mean by this?"

Lin Tong turned her head back and smiled slightly at her, saying: "I know he is also worried about the clan members." As she spoke, she took a bite of the pastry.

Lin Tong laughed and said: "It's just a metaphor; the main point is to grasp the spirit. If you successfully report these officials to the emperor, those who deserve execution will be executed, and those who deserve dismissal will be dismissed. Even those who remain in their positions, as well as the newcomers, will behave much more cautiously. This is the true way of governance. I can only briefly mention the specifics; you should think it over yourselves. If you need my assistance, I am more than willing to help."

What? Are you suggesting that we kill officials? That would be tantamount to rebellion. Zitong had just caught a glimpse of the path to happiness, only to be plunged back into the depths of despair.

Zitong looked at his nonchalant expression and recalled his playful words, letting out a chuckle. Noticing her father glare at her, she quickly closed her mouth and lowered her head, not daring to speak.

Lin Tong was playing outside in the small courtyard with Ke'er. It was unclear how much time had passed when the door opened, and Zitong came out holding a flatbread. She squatted down beside Lin Tong and handed him the flatbread, saying: "Little Baoge, I apologize. Father is not usually like this."

Zitong desperately pulled Lin Tong's arm, tears streaming down his face, shaking his head vigorously but unable to utter a word. Lin Tong looked at his tear-streaked face, feeling a deep sense of compassion. Finally, he sighed, reached out, and patted Zitong's back, saying: "Alright, stop crying. How about this, I will agree to help you this once. Remember, it is just this once and has nothing to do with your clan. Tomorrow, I will gather two thousand taels of silver for you. As for how you spend this silver and what to do in the future, that is your business, and I will not interfere. If you have any other matters, you can contact me anytime. I will leave you my contact information shortly, but this is limited to your personal affairs. I cannot and do not wish to get involved in matters concerning the Miao village."

Certainly, this is not enough. To achieve wealth, relying solely on agriculture is insufficient; it is also necessary to develop commerce. You should consider what unique products you have, things that are exclusive to your area and not found elsewhere. Find a way to transport these items out of the mountains and sell them at a high price in the city to those urban residents, and then you will have money. As for what specific items, you can think for yourselves. However, I once saw a garment belonging to the teacher's wife, which was said to be made from wax-dyed fabric, and it was very beautiful. Just imagine, if the ladies and young women in the city saw such a beautiful item, wouldn't they go crazy over it?

Kuyi could no longer contain himself and exclaimed loudly: "What are you laughing at? The Grand Elder's question represents the sentiments of our entire clan; what is there to laugh about?"

In the afternoon, within the Hongmiao ancestral hall, Lin Tong sat leisurely in a chair, sipping tea and occasionally glancing at the elders around her who were engaged in a heated argument. These elders were highly respected individuals within the clan, holding significant seniority. After Zitong had a lengthy discussion with her father, Ku Yi left the house, and after a short while, sent someone to summon Zitong and Lin Tong to the ancestral hall.

Upon hearing his words, everyone in the room erupted into a clamor. Teng Pu, even more enraged, pointed at him and shouted, "What did you say? How dare you accuse us? You must know, cough cough..." Before he could finish, a fit of urgent coughing interrupted him.

Now, facing someone like me who is willing to hand over money to you, you still have the audacity to ask for proof and sincerity. Do you think my hard-earned money is not a clear indication of my intentions? Do you really believe I could possibly deceive you into giving me something? Just take a look at what you have left; you have been so thoroughly exploited that there is nothing but scraps remaining. In five days, don’t even mention food; you probably won’t even have pants to wear. What could I possibly gain from deceiving you? Deceiving you would serve no purpose, as I would still have to spend money to support you.

Lin Tong looked at her and smiled slightly, saying: "Alright, before that, I would like to ask you a question. Regardless of the method you use, will the government really just let it go once you pay the tax silver?"

Is this really useful? Can you curse those corrupt officials to death? Can you resolve the crisis of your people? It is fundamentally impossible. No matter how much you argue, the outcome will not change. No matter how righteous your words may sound, they will not alter anything. What can truly alleviate your urgent needs is the silver in my hands. Yet, for the sake of your so-called pride and integrity, are you willing to watch your people sacrifice themselves in vain? On what basis should I prove my trustworthiness to you? Ask yourselves honestly if you are worthy of it.

Zitong looked at him, opening his mouth as if to speak but hesitating, truly unsure of how to begin. Lin Tang smiled slightly and said, "You want to ask me what I think, don't you?"

Zitong looked at him with a serious expression and said, "I’m afraid not. I think in the future they will find other pretexts to exploit us."

Lin Tong smiled slightly and said, "It is a great honor for all of you to finally see another me in this room, just as you mentioned, it was I who proposed this."

Lin Tong, after shouting loudly, felt much calmer. He turned to Zitong, patted her shoulder, and said: "If you encounter difficulties, I am always willing to help. However, I truly cannot do anything for your people. I can raise one thousand taels of silver, but that will only help them survive for five days. What happens after those five days? They will still have to rely on themselves. Even if I were to throw in ten thousand taels of silver, the outcome would still be the extinction of your clan. Therefore, I might as well save this silver to do something meaningful."

Zitong looked at him with a mischievous smile, her cheeks slightly flushed as she said: "What you just said about wanting to eliminate them, doesn't that mean you want to kill officials?"

Lin Tong chuckled and said: "So it turns out that Elder Teng Pu's junior is here to pay respects. Since you want me to be mindful of etiquette, may I ask if calling me here just to watch you argue is what you Miao family refers to as politeness?"

An elder in his fifties, with a wealth of experience, looked at Lin Tang and said loudly: "Young man, please pay attention to your manner of speaking. This is our oldest elder, Uncle Teng Pu of the Hongmiao community."

Zitong looked at Lin Tang and said, "Can you share your thoughts with me? If I find them acceptable, I will find a way to persuade my people."

Listening to Lin Tong's few enticing words, Zi Tong's eyes grew brighter, as if countless socialites and noblewomen were right before her, vying for the wax-dyed cloth in her hands, clutching the glistening silver.

Lin Tong's interface stated: "If you really rise up in resistance, the outcome is clear. You are outnumbered and have not received any professional training; how could you possibly win? The best result would be to abandon the Miao village and retreat deep into the mountains. If things go poorly, it could lead to the extinction of your entire clan." He looked at Zitong, who wore a face of anguish, and sighed: "I truly just want to help you, and I do have some ideas. I am just afraid that your clansmen will oppose you just like your father did."

After hearing his words, Lin Tang suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard that he doubled over, as if the elder's words were the funniest joke in the world

Zitong felt an immense joy in her heart upon hearing him say he would help her. She gazed at Lin Tang with a foolish smile and said, "Is what you said true? Can you really help us raise the money?"

Lin Tong felt that the anger in his chest had slightly subsided as he continued, "I said that I see not a glimmer of hope from you, and you do not believe it, do you? What time is it now? We have reached a critical moment of life and death. What have you great chieftains and elders done? All you do is passionately curse the Han people for their shamelessness, and debate whether I, the one who is willing to give you silver to help you through this crisis, can be trusted. Aside from this, you have done nothing at all.

Zitong spat at him and said, "You can't even put on your pants anymore"

Lin Tong looked at her and smiled slightly, waiting for her to calm down before continuing: "However, having just these is far from enough. You must consider that once your local specialties become valuable, those officials will come to plunder them. Therefore, for the sake of your own happy lives, you must find a way to eliminate these officials"

Lin Tong looked at the chattering elderly people, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She smiled at Zi Tong, found an empty chair, crossed her legs, and sipped her tea, faithfully playing the role of an observer. Meanwhile, Zi Tong, with a tense expression, was nervously holding Ke Er's small hand, watching the elders intently.

While officials may be corrupt, they cannot act independently; if discovered, they would be treated as rebels. Even if they are not caught, when a new official arrives, the situation remains unchanged. What I mean is that you should jointly write a petition and send someone secretly to the capital to report to the emperor. I am certain that these taxes and the large amounts of tax revenue are not mandated by the court. Even a foolish court would not force the common people to the point where they cannot afford to wear trousers

Lin Tongchong smiled slightly and said, "It’s true that if I don’t agree to help you, I might drown in your tears. However, you must remember one thing: I am helping you, not all of you. I have given you an opportunity, and the outcome depends on you. Remember, one can only rely on oneself. Bring people to the riverside at noon tomorrow, and I will give you the silver. Now, let’s go and see us out of the mountains." As he spoke, he stepped outside, and his words echoed into the ancestral hall, causing everyone present to lower their heads in embarrassment: "Such a heavy burden actually falls on a sixteen-year-old girl; I really wonder if all the men in the Miao village have perished."

Lin Tong, in a fit of rage, kicked the threshold of the ancestral hall, shattering the long wooden threshold into pieces. This action left everyone present in shock, as they could only stare at Lin Tong.

Teng Pu looked at him sideways and said, "Indeed, I would like to know what you use to make us believe you"

Zitong nodded after listening; this matter was indeed of great importance, and he did not dare to make a decision without consulting his father. She stood up, exchanged a few words with Lin Tang, and quickly returned to her room to discuss it with her father

Upon hearing Lin Tong's words, everyone present turned pale. Zi Tong was about to speak but was stopped by Lin Tong's gesture. He scanned the crowd with his eyes and finally looked at Teng Pu, saying: "I have basically heard the main points of your earlier debate, which revolve around whether I am trustworthy and whether to file a complaint, correct?"

Lin Tong finally stopped laughing. He slowly stood up, walked to Zitong's side, took Ke'er from her hands, and then looked at Zitong's bewildered face, speaking in a heavy tone: "Thank you very much for bringing me to the Miao village, but I am truly sorry that I cannot help with your problems." After saying this, he took Ke'er and walked out.

Once the two individuals entered, the current situation unfolded, with the eight elders present, along with Kuya's father, totaling nine people, engaged in a heated argument. The main topics of contention were whether to accept assistance from a Han individual and, if such help were accepted, whether it would indeed lead to filing a complaint to the authorities. After all, should they fail, there would be a significant risk of retaliation from the officials.