From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 14 Hunting Tax
"Let's go and carry it home."

Xu Fugui lifted the two front legs, and Xu Xiaoniu carried the two hind legs, and they brought the wild boar weighing more than 200 kilograms home.

The gate opened with a "crash" and the two men carried him into the yard.

In the bedroom, Jiazhen was sleeping lightly with her clothes on. She woke up when she heard some noise in the yard.

She knew her husband had been out in the fields guarding against wild boars these past few nights. She got up, put on her thick cotton-padded jacket, and prepared to go to the kitchen to serve Xu Fugui the ginger tea he had prepared.

When I walked out of the room, I saw a "big thing" lying at the feet of Xu Fugui and the other man.

"what?"

She approached and saw a wild boar with black mane and blood on the ground. She exclaimed in surprise, "Did you kill the wild boar?"

Previously, Xu Fugui only talked about "preventing" wild boars from harming farmland, and did not say that he would hunt wild boars.

"Mom, Dad and I are awesome, aren't we?"

Xu Xiaoniu's face was full of pride.

"Are you two okay?"

Jiazhen was worried that the two would get hurt. Are wild boars so easy to hunt?
"It's okay. Light the lamp and kill it before it freezes."

It was freezing cold, and it was difficult to cut up the wild boar until it was completely frozen.

Jiazhen lit the two lanterns hanging under the eaves, illuminating the yard.

The three of them worked together to slaughter the wild boar.

The rich harvest made the three of them feel relaxed and happy, chatting and laughing.

"We can't finish all of this, so let's sell half. The other half won't spoil in this weather, so we'll hang it in the yard."

"Okay, I'll send a pork leg to the Du family later."

Du Hai usually takes good care of Xu Xiaogou, and Wang Qian also sends him cakes from time to time. Reciprocity is the way to get along in life.

The three of them worked until dawn and dealt with the wild boar weighing more than 200 kilograms.

He kept half and sold the remaining half to the village butcher for 9 taels of silver.

A pork leg was sent to Du Hai's family.

----

A few days later, the news that Xu Fugui had hunted a wild boar spread throughout the village, arousing everyone's envy.

noon.

The family had just finished their meal and were nestling in a warm room. In the depths of winter, with no farm work to do, it was a rare opportunity for them to rest.

There was a pile of two-colored pebbles on the table, and Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou were playing Gobang.

"Brother, you lost again, hehe."

Xu Xiaogou was very proud. He quickly got the hang of this little game invented by his father.

Xu Fugui took out the hot sweet potatoes from the stove, which attracted the children to scramble for them.

Just then, there was a "clang clang clang" sound of a door knocker.

Xu Fugui went to open the door.

When the gate opened, he saw a middle-aged man wearing a brocade hat and a fur coat.

"Master Fang?"

Xu Fugui was surprised. He recognized the person in front of him: Fang Yue, the "Shan Yu" of the Forest Supervisor, an official in charge of various miscellaneous affairs in the forests.

"Why, you don't welcome me?"

Fang Yue's face was grim and he raised his eyebrows.

"No, no, please come in, Master Fang. It's cold outside, let's talk inside."

Xu Fugui knew that a country boy like him could not afford to offend the police, so he nodded and bowed, welcoming him into the main hall.

"Jiazhen, quickly pour tea for Lord Fang."

He called Jiazhen to pour tea and asked Fang Yue to sit down.

Fang Yue sat down in the main seat without hesitation, looked around the main room, and sniffed a few times: "It's quite warm in your house. What did you eat for lunch? It smelled delicious."

Xu Fugui didn't know what he was here for, so he just replied casually: "It's a home-cooked meal made at home."

When Jiazhen brought the hot tea, Fang Yue held the cup in his hands to warm them and then got down to business: "I heard you hunted a wild boar a few days ago?"

"Forehead……"

Xu Fugui had a bad feeling in his heart: "That's what happened."

"Why don't you pay the hunting tax?"

Hunting tax? Xu Fugui suddenly realized that this was the reason for his visit.

Although Baihe Mountain is next to Baihe Village, not everyone can use its various resources.

Whether you are chopping wood, collecting herbs or hunting, you have to pay taxes.

He had paid for cutting and transporting wood before. Cutting and transporting wood was hard work with little profit, and he only paid 300 wen for a winter.

"Master Fang, I didn't go hunting in the mountains. The wild boar came to my field to eat food and fell into my trap."

He tried to explain.

"Just tell me, is that wild boar from Baihe Mountain?"

"……Yes."

"It's on Baihe Mountain, so I'm in charge. You can't hunt wild boars without paying the hunting tax."

Fang Yue said as he picked up the teacup and took a sip of hot tea.

The hot tea flowed down his throat, warming his chest. This was the taste of power.

In the side room connected to the main room, Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou both heard Fang Yue's words.

Thirteen-year-old Xu Xiaoniu couldn't understand why he and his father had to pay that stranger for the wild boar that he and his father had hunted after spending a lot of effort and waiting in the snow for several nights.
He peeked through the crack in the door, and was irritated by the man's complacent look.

He pushed the door open and shouted, "Why? You didn't come when my fields were being destroyed by wild boars, and now you're asking for money after we hunt them?"

Ok?
Fang Yue raised his head and glanced at Xu Xiaoniu coldly.

Xu Fugui thought to himself that this was bad, and quickly smiled apologetically: "I pay the hunting tax, I pay it. My child is a simpleton and doesn't know anything. Lord Fang, please don't take it to heart."

After saying that, he scolded Jiazhen: "Look at how you teach your child. He has the right to interrupt when adults are talking? Take him out of here."

Then he glared at Xu Xiaoniu fiercely and said, "I'll deal with you later."

When Xu Xiaoniu was dragged out of the door by Jiazhen with a face full of grievance, Xu Fugui bowed his head and smiled apologetically: "Master Fang, how much do you think the hunting tax should be?"

Fang Yue smiled, very satisfied with Xu Fugui's performance. If Xu Fugui tried to quibble and deny it, he would definitely take every penny he got.

"Ordinary hunters have to pay a hunting tax of five taels of silver in winter. I see you're not a hunter, and this was truly an accident. You only paid two taels of silver."

"Thank you, Master Fang, for your care."

Xu Fugui went to the bedroom and took out two taels of silver and gave it to him.

Fang Yue did not stay long. He took the money and stood up to say goodbye. When he walked out of the room, he saw Xu Xiaoniu standing facing the wall as punishment.

Xu Fugui saw Fang Yue off, closed the door, and sighed helplessly. His family really couldn't afford to offend the officials.

"Daniu, come in with me."

He planned to reason with Xu Xiaoniu and analyze the pros and cons of the situation. This lesson was very important for the children.

Xu Xiaoniu stretched his neck and stared at the wall motionlessly.

"What? Are you still being stubborn?"

Xu Fugui smiled and walked to Xu Xiaoniu's side: "Want to know why? Then come here."

Xu Xiaoniu really wanted to know why, because the father he had in mind was not like this.

In the hall.

Xu Fugui called Erxia and Sangou and asked them to "listen to the class" with Xu Xiaoniu.

"We are ordinary people at the bottom of society, without any status. What good will come of going against the officials?

Daniel, if I were to debate with that person, do you know what would happen?"

Xu Xiaoniu shook his head.

"That man wouldn't listen. Instead, he became disgusted and insisted on collecting hunting taxes from me, not a penny less."

"Dad, isn't he unreasonable? Clearly..."

"Reason? When you have power, reason is unimportant. Don't underestimate him alone. He has the government and the imperial court behind him. How can we go against the government?"

Xu Fugui spoke with great sincerity, hoping that the children could understand this truth.

"This applies not only to the government offices, but also to martial arts masters, aristocratic families, and even high-ranking immortals..."

These words made the three of them think deeply.

Xu Xiaoniu kept nodding, he seemed to understand.

Xu Xiaogou suddenly had an idea: "Dad, if we become martial arts masters, aristocratic families, or immortals, won't we no longer be bullied?"

"Haha, you are worthy of being Sangou, you have realized it. But if becoming a strong person is that easy, there wouldn't be so many common people."

"..."

(End of this chapter)