Chapter One, South of the City (1)

The steward of the Zhou residence, Cheng Bo, had seen many people over the years and had become quite astute. Noticing the other party's demeanor exuded a certain confidence, he did not dare to underestimate him. Nodding slightly, he smiled and continued to inquire: "May I ask your esteemed surname, brave sir? Have you had the opportunity to pursue your studies?"

The person referred to as "Brother Jiu" is not very old, appearing to be around sixteen or seventeen years of age based on his facial features. However, he is robust and strong, towering over all the other laborers by half a head. Seeing that Wang Ermao was on the verge of tears, he stepped forward, pulled him behind himself, and spoke on his behalf to Cheng Bo: "If you raise the wages to fifteen bamboo sticks and half a dou of rice, or twenty bamboo sticks and seven coins, we will work. Otherwise, we won't even have enough to eat, how can we have the strength to work! If we delay your matters, being from the same village, we would feel bad about it, wouldn't we?"

In response to your esteemed words, I am a descendant from the wasteland village of Ping'en County. I just arrived here last month to visit relatives. The young man politely cupped his hands in greeting to Uncle Cheng and replied in a manner that was neither servile nor arrogant

With eager eyes, the crowd watched as more than twenty large cargo ships slowly approached the dock. The originally spacious dock immediately appeared cramped, as two of the leading ships were pulled to shore by the hands of those in front using ropes. The other ships quickly found no place to dock, so they had to lower their sails, crowding together in the river like ducks competing for food

Upon hearing this, some individuals began to have doubts in their hearts and slowly inched a few steps closer to the earthen platform. The majority, however, crossed their arms and coldly observed who would be the first to sell themselves so cheaply. Although they were all fellow villagers, the laborers naturally divided themselves into several groups based on their respective locations. Those who moved forward glanced around and, seeing that the two largest groups of laborers were inactive, hesitated for a moment before quietly retracting their feet.

Yes, please continue. We understand and will absolutely not cause you any trouble

Indeed, Lord Cheng, we will not forget your kindness! The group of strong men followed the lead of the young man with the surname Cheng and collectively sought Lord Cheng's approval.

Note 2: Afternoon, colloquialism, evening

The abundance of boats signifies an abundance of work, and the laborers are so delighted that they jump with joy. They huddle together near the earthen platform set up for the river tax collection by the government, waiting for the steward Cheng Bo of the benevolent Zhou to quote a price. The household servants have already set up umbrellas and tables, attending to Cheng Bo as he takes his seat on a stool. Cheng Bo, sporting a tuft of goat's beard, slowly sips a few cups of tea, spitting out the tasteless tea leaves onto the ground. He then clears his throat and loudly emphasizes: "The straw bags and boxes on the boats are all five feet long, two feet wide, and no more than seven feet high, so do not crowd around, lest you tire yourselves and offend my master's hidden virtue." Cheng Bo, sporting a tuft of goat's beard, slowly sips a few cups of tea, spitting out the tasteless tea leaves onto the ground. He then clears his throat and loudly emphasizes: "The straw bags and boxes on the boats are all five feet long, two feet wide, and no more than seven feet high, so do not crowd around, lest you tire yourselves and offend my master's hidden virtue."

"Come on, Wang Ermao, do you still have money to buy shoes? Are you trying to swindle someone? Since the day you ran around bare-bottomed in the streets, we haven't seen you wear shoes!" The person behind took over the conversation, teasing with a hint of bitterness. The strength in his legs instinctively eased up, to avoid really pushing Wang Ermao, who had come early to claim a spot, into the river to feed the frogs. This canal had only been completed a few years ago, and it was deep enough that one could not reach the bottom with a dive. The strength in his legs instinctively eased up, to avoid really pushing Wang Ermao, who had come early to claim a spot, into the river to feed the frogs. This canal had only been completed a few years ago, and it was deep enough that one could not reach the bottom with a dive. If someone were to drown, it wouldn't sit well with anyone, as we are all neighbors, right?

Hundreds of bewildered eyes immediately sparkled with excitement, and without needing to call out, everyone began to leap up one after another, jostling towards the shore. Those closest to the platform were immediately squeezed to the point of losing their footing, desperately trying to hold on while shouting at the top of their lungs: "Don't push, don't push, everyone, if you push any harder, someone will get hurt. Oh no, my shoes, the new ones I just bought yesterday!"

With a loud bang, the crowd of stick-wielders burst into laughter, no longer believing the instigation of the scarred head, and turned to walk towards the cargo ship. Cheng Xiaojiu disdainfully shook his head at the scarred thug, grabbed Wang Ermao, and quickly jumped onto the first cargo ship.

Just as he was halfway through his tough talk, a sudden "gurgling" sound erupted from his stomach, truly embarrassing. Before he could find an excuse to explain, the grass rope tied around his waist suddenly loosened, and a pair of tattered shorts slipped down to his ankles, revealing a dark, soft mass beneath.

The young man with the surname Cheng, who was walking towards the cargo ship, was momentarily taken aback by the scolding. He turned around and cupped his fists towards a few ruffians who were nearly half his age, smiling as he explained: "Scarface, Bucktooth, I still have an elderly mother at home who is counting on me to bring back rice for the pot. If I have offended you in any way today, please do not hold it against me. Little Jiu here bows to you!" If I have offended you in any way today, please do not hold it against me. Little Jiu here bows to you!

At this point, he deliberately paused, allowing everyone some time to fully comprehend his words. The crowd, already agitated by the fragrant rice aroma wafting from the ship, immediately chimed in, "Cheng Bo, please continue. We all understand the rules! It's just a matter of settling accounts with bamboo sticks, hasn't it always been this way since the river came into existence?"

A hint of embarrassment finally surfaced on the young man's earnest face as he苦笑着 shook his head and said softly, "There’s no way around it; as a junior, I must find a way to make a living." After saying this, he raised his eyes and sincerely advised Cheng Bo, "The entire Guantao County sings your praises; please show some mercy and increase the wages. Everyone should work diligently to unload the goods in one day, which is far better than leaving the boat stranded on the canal. The situation is not as usual; there are many people and various hands around. If your goods are delayed in entering the warehouse by a day, that’s an extra day of risk!"

"No, no, who would dare to use fake substitutes? Everyone would be the first to not spare him!" The crowd, relying on others, inwardly cursed the old man for looking down on them, yet outwardly had to say some polite words to respond.

Before reaching the dock, the enthusiasm in some people's hearts had already diminished by half. From a distance, one could see nearly a hundred men, dressed similarly and of comparable build and age, squatting by the riverbank. They had surrounded the earthen platform where the government collected river taxes, leaving no room for escape. Similarly seeking work, they adhered to the principle of first come, first served. Those who arrived late and missed out on a good spot stomped their feet in frustration, cursing and complaining for a moment before dejectedly squatting at the back of the crowd

The housekeeper reported that the "troublemaker" had gone far away. The "living Buddha" Cheng Bo put down his teacup and smiled as he clasped his hands to everyone. "Thank you all, gentlemen of all ages, for your help. The Zhou family will not let you down. The distance is not far; as long as we unload the wooden boxes from the boat and move them to the side of the official road, the job will be considered complete. Our accounting office is waiting over there, and each person will receive a bamboo stick for every trip!"

The steward of the Zhou residence, Cheng Bo, was fundamentally indifferent to what these impoverished men thought would benefit him. However, the young man's final remark compelled him to consider the situation. The bandit Zhang Jin had claimed to have raided Ping'en County just last month, and there was no telling when he might set his sights on Hengtang City. With over twenty ships of grain and goods positioned on the canal, was it not akin to displaying meat before wolves? After much hesitation, he finally made some concessions, nodding slightly. He said in a low voice: "How about this, twenty bamboo sticks in exchange for half a dou of rice, or five coins? But for every ten bamboo sticks you take, I will have someone give you two extra. How does that sound? This is already equivalent to sixteen bamboo sticks for half a dou of rice; it cannot be any higher. If it goes any higher, I will no longer be able to make decisions!"

I! I! Wang Ermao was so furious at Cheng Bo's arrogant behavior that his eyes seemed to smoke, yet he lacked the courage to publicly embarrass the people from the Zhou family. After all, someone from their family held a high position close to the Emperor, a person even the county magistrate would not dare to provoke! Wang Ermao was merely a ruffian; how could he dare to pluck fur from a tiger's head? Hesitating and stammering for a while, realizing he could not escape, he quickly turned his gaze to a strong man closest to him and, lowering his voice, asked, "Brother Jiu, Brother Jiu, what should we do? Brother Jiu, please say something!"

Indeed, Cheng Bo, this price is being pushed down too harshly. Everyone is unable to continue working. Last year at this time, it was seven sticks for one dou of rice

In an instant, the chosen ones were filled with joy, while those not selected felt as if their hearts had turned to ashes. A few notorious rascals from the city, who had not been chosen, were seething with resentment. They dared not cause trouble for the Zhou family and instead set their sights on the "outsider." Among them, the oldest rascal picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it at the young man with the surname Cheng from a distance, cursing loudly: "Cheng Xiaojiu, you bastard! Stepping on everyone’s heads to get ahead. I will not rest until I settle this with you today!"

With just a few words, he diminished the authority of the strongmen, and Cheng Bo increasingly regarded this group of men before him as if they were in a ditch. Suppressing his anger, he replaced it with his usual benevolent expression that was fair to both young and old, and said with a smile: "One must learn to be content. The world is tough, and it is not easy for anyone to survive. It is rare to find a prominent family like the old Zhou family that is willing to reason. If it were someone else, they might not be inclined to take care of you. Everyone should be clear in their hearts and not overstep their bounds. As I said, twenty bamboo sticks can be exchanged for half a dou of rough rice. A prominent family like the old Zhou family that is willing to reason is indeed rare; if it were someone else, they might not be inclined to take care of you. Everyone should be clear in their hearts and not overstep their bounds. As I said, twenty bamboo sticks can be exchanged for half a dou of rough rice, or five coins, paid immediately without delay! Those who wish to work, please step forward to the platform. Those who do not wish to work, kindly step aside and do not delay the villagers from earning money! In a few days, there may be cargo ships coming; those who perform well today will be given priority for employment next time by the Zhou family!"

Where could it be? In this area of a hundred miles, who doesn't know that Zhou Dashanren has a heart of gold! Even you, Old Cheng Bo, are famously known for your kind-heartedness! The crowd of strongmen wore smiles on their faces, all in unison flattering the steward.

Indeed, indeed! As soon as the crowd saw someone take the lead, they immediately became lively. Let's do as Xiao Jiu suggested. Otherwise, we might as well go home and wait for death; at least dying at home is better than working on an empty stomach and exhausting ourselves by the dock.

The men all hurriedly stepped aside, feeling as dejected as a flock of sheep that had spotted a butcher. The authorities had indeed promised last month to exchange a shipment of goods for a copper coin, but what ultimately reached everyone’s hands was merely a wider bamboo stick, inscribed with the amount of copper coins each person was supposed to receive. However, there was no indication of when the settlement would actually take place. A few bold individuals went to confront the officials, Guo Hu and Tu Shu Cao, at the yamen, but as soon as they approached the entrance, they were shackled by the constables, who insisted they would not be released until the overdue tax from last year was paid in full. This forced the women at home to sell their houses and even their own people, and only after they had painstakingly gathered the amount demanded by the yamen were they able to redeem their men. From that point on, the family was reduced to begging, and within less than half a month, they had completely vanished from the city.

It is no wonder that the crowd protested. The dock is indeed not far from the official road, but it is a steep slope. Carrying bags of grass weighing over a hundred pounds up the slope, even for experienced laborers, they can manage at most twenty trips in a day. After toiling all day for just half a dou of rice, those who are exhausted can consume half of it themselves. The little that remains to take home is barely enough for their wives and children to have thin porridge for a few days. If such work were frequent, people might grit their teeth and accept it. However, this kind of heavy labor is only done once a year; once it is completed today, there will be no other means of livelihood tomorrow. This means that the entire family will face hunger, leading to separation and ruin, making it impossible for people not to fight for themselves.

"Do not cross your legs, do not cross your legs, it won't help. Look at your physique; if you drop the box on the ground, I will also suffer the consequences!" Cheng Bo raised his hand holding the teacup, using his little finger to point at a few undersized youths in the crowd, and shouted, "Go back and rest. Don't delay others from making money on such a hot day. Eat well usually, and come back when you've grown stronger! Ah!"

How could Cheng Bo be someone who is easily threatened? He chuckled coldly a few times and pointed at the people on the earthen platform with his little finger, saying: "Hehe, there are indeed some who do not know their place, trying to use the government to pressure an old man like me. Let me ask you, when the government sought your labor last month, where is the promised wage? Who among you has received it? Step forward and say something if you have. If more than ten people step forward, I will apologize to all the gentlemen here. You can name any amount, and I will not haggle!"

Seeing that there were no objections from the crowd, Cheng Bo happily nodded and, smiling, took a long bamboo stick, half a foot long and one inch wide, from the hand of a servant, holding it up in front of him: "I, too, am taking precautions to avoid misunderstandings that could tarnish the reputation of our old Zhou family. This bamboo stick, everyone take a good look, is the kind that is coated with lacquer and bears the official seal of the magistrate. Please do not mistake it for something else, lest you be caught by Captain Liu and receive a beating. We are all from the same village, and I cannot bring harm to you!" This bamboo stick, everyone take a good look, is the kind that is coated with lacquer and bears the official seal of the magistrate. Please do not mistake it for something else, lest you be caught by Captain Liu and receive a beating. We are all from the same village, and I cannot bring harm to you!

As the crowd listened to the scoundrel's accusations, they felt that the young man with the surname Cheng had taken advantage of everyone. They turned their heads, casting suspicious glances at each other. The young man with the surname Cheng was both angry and frustrated, yet he found himself unable to explain the situation at that moment. Wang Ermao, unable to contain his anger, stepped forward and shouted loudly at the scoundrels: "Brother Scar, you cannot slander a good person. Little Jiu just managed to negotiate the wages for everyone after much discussion. If anyone feels it is unfair, they might as well negotiate with Uncle Cheng themselves and see what price he can offer you!"

With this thought, the sounds from my stomach gradually became less embarrassing, as everyone around was also making noises. No one could laugh at anyone else. When the sun rose overhead, a bell suddenly rang out over the river. "Ding ding dang dang!" It sounded incredibly comforting. Those with sharp eyes jumped up, pointing at the wide water surface and shouting, "A boat, a boat! Look at that big boat, I have never seen one this large in my life!"

The crowd of workers momentarily could not figure out the accounts and turned their heads towards the young man with the surname Cheng. The young man quickly assessed the situation in his mind and realized that the other party had made a significant concession. Adhering to the principle of taking advantage of a favorable situation, he bowed to the steward and said, "Thank you for your kindness. I will take on this task!"

"Hey, this young man seems quite good at calculations!" Cheng Bo encountered a setback but instead of getting angry, he laughed. "Where are you from, young man? Your face looks quite familiar. You can't be from Guantao, can you? Our Guantao has never produced someone like you!"

In June, when the sun rises, it feels as if the ground is ablaze. The laborers of Guantao County drank half a ladle of cool water, tightened the grass ropes around their waists that were becoming increasingly elongated, and walked in groups of threes and twos towards the riverbank.

For these men who have never ventured more than forty miles from home, the county town of Wuyang is as distant as the northeastern territories where the Emperor leads his troops into battle. Without any evidence, no one dares to argue with the steward, and they all lower their heads, calculating in their hearts whether their hard work throughout the day can earn enough for their families to have a hearty meal. A few bolder individuals insist that Cheng Bo pay the wages according to the previous practices of the government; otherwise, everyone will simply refuse to accept it, leaving the cargo on the boat to dry in the river.

Having said that, he sat down again with a benevolent expression, lowered his head to savor the tea, and no longer cast a glance at the platform below.

In the midst of disappointment, the empty stomach appeared increasingly shriveled. The half ladle of cold water consumed just before leaving home had long been evaporated into sweat by the sun overhead, rolling out through the pores. The stomach grumbled loudly, the sound audible even from twenty steps away. Given such embarrassment, one would expect everyone to keep their distance, waiting for the commotion in their stomachs to settle before returning to queue. However, before the goods from the benevolent Zhou arrived, no one was willing to leave. After all, what if the workload was so heavy that those at the front couldn't finish? Waiting a little longer might just yield a few extra gains. The rice jar at home had already been emptied three times; if no food was brought back today, tomorrow the children would have to wear straw markers on their heads.

Note 1: "Li Bang," a colloquial term, refers to laborers such as porters, coolies, and dockworkers.

As the words fell, the previously jubilant crowd immediately erupted like a coal fire doused with cold water. "What? Twenty trips only yield half a dou of rice? Cheng Bo, this is a bit too exploitative, isn't it? Last month, working for the government, we could exchange a single skewer for a coin!"

The crowd dared not argue, and they all looked at the few boys, each less than seven feet tall, with pitying gazes. Feeling embarrassed under the collective scrutiny, the boys lowered their heads and quietly withdrew from the group. The sunlight continued to beat down uncomfortably, but the sight of the boys' thin, frail figures disappearing into the distance sent a chill through one's heart, penetrating from the core to every pore.

Yesterday afternoon, news spread from the home of Zhou Shanren in the west of the city, stating that there would be a significant job at the dock today for everyone to undertake. In these chaotic and tumultuous times, it is not easy to find work that pays! As a result, nearly all the strong men in the city did not even touch their wives last night, saving up their energy to prepare for a big day of work today

Note 4: Dou, here referring to the Sui dou, has a weight similar to that of the Tang dou. Each dou is approximately 12 shi jin in modern terms, with half a dou being 6 shi jin

That is good! Cheng Bo continued to nod, his smile appearing much more benevolent than that of the Maitreya Buddha in the temple. "Once the work is done, you can exchange bamboo sticks at https://www.hetushucom.com to receive your payment. Every twenty bamboo sticks can be exchanged for half a dou of rough rice, or for five good pieces of meat. Payment is immediate, and there will be no delays!"

The young man clasped his hands and replied with a smile: "In response to the elder's inquiry, I dare not remain silent. I am of humble status, my surname is Cheng. I attended a private school for three years and barely learned a few characters"

Last year!" Cheng Bo slammed his face and coldly said: "What kind of almanac was last year? Last year, a dou of new rice was only five coins. This year, in this Guantao City, if you are short of ten coins, can you buy old rice? I, as an old man, am only offering this price out of consideration for the villagers. If you don't believe it, you can go to Wuyang County and inquire. Even without wages, just for a meal, there are people fighting to do the work!"

"You wait!" The scarred thug was both ashamed and furious, hopping on one foot while holding up his pants. He wished he could split Cheng Xiaojiu and Wang Ermao into four pieces right on the spot, but his legs felt as weak as dough, unable to muster any strength at all. After cursing for a while without coming up with anything new, he could only spit on the ground a couple of times and grumble as he left.

"Cheng Bo, please speak; everyone is listening!"

The steward, seeing the young man respond with such politeness, felt increasingly surprised. He leaned down, looked into the other person's eyes, and asked, "Since you have received an education, why do you not engage in some respectable work? Being around the docks, do you not feel that it tarnishes your scholarly reputation?"

With the young man's words, the dock workers immediately felt reassured. They gathered around the platform as Steward Cheng Bo selected the personnel. Steward Cheng first chose a young man with the surname Cheng, followed by Wang Ermao and about twenty others who appeared nimble and clever. It was agreed that these individuals would only be responsible for unloading goods from the ship, with a daily wage of one and a half dou per meter. Then, under the grateful gaze of the young man, he meticulously selected from the remaining dock workers, filtering out over two hundred strong individuals who would carry the goods from the dock to the official road for loading onto the carts sent by the Zhou residence, with their wages settled according to the final agreement made earlier. He then waved to the others who had not been selected and said loudly, "The remaining villagers can disperse. We cannot take any more people; if we do, there won't be enough space on the dock!"

I spit! With a scarred face, the scoundrel spat on the ground, then ground it with his foot, resentfully counting: "Others make sixteen trips back and forth, working themselves to death just to earn half a dou of rice. You earn a dou and a half in a day, and you still have the nerve to take it! Be sensible, give me half of what your godfather gives you, and I will let you go! Otherwise, I will wait right here at the dock today and see how much rice you can bring home!"

Hehe, it seems that the gentlemen and ladies have been quite generous lately?" Cheng Bo clapped his hands, applauding the unity of the strong men. "If you don't want to work, please step aside. We are all from the same village, so don't make things difficult for others." After saying this, he glanced at the audience, his shoe tip pointing at the weakest among them, smiling while being fierce, "You, Wang Ermao, right?! Are you going to work or not? If you are, take a step forward. If not, get out of my sight immediately!"

Pah, pah, pah! The scoundrel with the pockmarked head has instantly turned into a mad camel, spewing filth non-stop. "I don't care about doing this job at all. I still have half a jar of rice at home, enough to last until the autumn harvest. I'm just worried that everyone might fall for your tricks, so I came to take a look. Sure enough, you two bastards are..." I'm just worried that everyone might fall for your tricks, so I came to take a look. Sure enough, you two bastards are...

Note 3: Seven chi, here referring to Chinese chi, is approximately 23 centimeters per chi. A height of seven chi is equivalent to 1.62 meters