The Leisurely Life of a Peasant Woman in the Tang Dynasty

"Village Chief," Tang Youyou raised her head and looked at him firmly, "Can I ask you for a favor?"

Village Chief Wang sighed. He knew what Tang Youyou was going to say, "Youyou, it's not that I don't want to help you. It's just that the county government hasn't relented yet, and I don't dare to act on my own."

"Village Chief, I know you're in a difficult situation," Tang Youyou's voice was filled with pleading. "I just want to ask if we can sign the lease contract first? I can pay a year's rent in advance, and just consider it... just consider it as repairing the canal for the village!"

Tang Youyou gritted her teeth. This was the last solution she could think of. She knew that doing so was very risky. If the county government didn't agree in the end, then the rent she had prepaid would be wasted.

Village Chief Wang looked at Tang Youyou in surprise. He knew that it was not easy for Tang Youyou, a woman, to raise three children. She definitely couldn't save much money, but she was willing to use all her savings to gamble on an unknown outcome.

"Youyou," Village Chief Wang said earnestly, "I know you're anxious, but this isn't about money. What if..."

"Village Chief," Tang Youyou interrupted Village Chief Wang, "I know what you're worried about, but I believe that as long as we work hard, we can overcome the difficulties we face! Even if the county government doesn't agree in the end, I'll accept it. I'll just do my best for the children."

Village Chief Wang was silent. He looked at the strong woman in front of him, his heart filled with admiration. How could he not know Tang Youyou's difficulties? But he was just a small village chief and had no say in front of the county government.

"Youyou," Village Chief Wang finally shook his head, "I understand how you feel, but I really can't make the decision on this matter. Let me think about it again, think about it again..."

Tang Youyou's heart sank. She knew that Village Chief Wang had tried his best. Just when she was about to give up, a sarcastic voice suddenly came from outside the door...

"Hey, isn't this Mr. Tang, the kind-hearted man? Why, are you here to ask for alms from the village chief?" Widow Chen's sharp voice broke the silence in the room. She stood at the door with her hands on her hips, looking at Tang Youyou with a mean look on her face.

Tang Youyou took a deep breath and tried to suppress the anger in her heart. She knew that arguing with someone like Widow Chen was meaningless. She glanced at Widow Chen calmly, said nothing, and turned to leave.

"Why, are you angry because I said it right?" Widow Chen became even more excited when she saw Tang Youyou ignoring her. "Let me tell you, Tang Youyou, don't think you can buy people's hearts by just paying a little money. The people in this village are very shrewd. Everyone knows what you are up to!"

Village Chief Wang frowned and scolded, "Widow Chen, stop talking! Youyou came to me to find a solution for the village's problems, and you..."

"Village Chief, don't be fooled by her!" Widow Chen interrupted Village Chief Wang and pointed at Tang Youyou's nose and said, "She just wants to take advantage of the situation and rent our land at a low price, then rent it out at a high price and make a fortune!"

"You..." Tang Youyou couldn't bear it any longer. She turned around abruptly and looked directly at Widow Chen, her eyes burning with anger. "Widow Chen, you have to speak with conscience! When did I ever say I wanted to rent the land at a low price? When did I ever say I wanted to rent it out at a high price? If you dare to talk nonsense again, I..."

"Oh, you're still threatening me?" Widow Chen sneered, "I'm telling you, Tang Youyou, don't think you're great just because you've read a few days. I..."

"That's enough!" Village Chief Wang slammed the table, stood up, and glared at Widow Chen. "Are you done yet? I know what kind of person Youyou is better than you do! If you keep making trouble here, don't blame me..."

Widow Chen was frightened by Village Chief Wang's sudden anger. She curled her lips and said nothing, but her eyes were still full of suspicion and dissatisfaction.

Tang Youyou took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She knew now was not the time to argue with Widow Chen. She bowed deeply to Village Chief Wang and said, "Village Chief, I'm sorry to bother you today. I...I'll go back first."

After saying that, Tang Youyou turned and left Village Chief Wang's house. After leaving the yard, she looked up at the sky. The bright sunshine shone on her body, but it couldn't dispel the haze in her heart.

Despite the numerous difficulties, she couldn't give up. For the sake of her children, she had to pull herself together. Tang Youyou clenched her fists, a glint of determination flashing in her eyes. She decided to focus on restoring the farmland first, while actively communicating with the county government to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

After returning home, Tang Youyou saw Tang Wan and Tang Jin playing in the yard. The children's innocent smiles made her forget her worries for a while...

"Wan'er, Jin'er, come here. Mother has something to tell you..."

The setting sun dyed the sky golden red, and also cast a layer of warm color on Tang Youyou's family.

"Wan'er, Jin'er, come here, mother has something to tell you..." Tang Youyou sat in the yard, gently stroking her daughter's hair, her tone gentle but with a hint of heaviness.

"Mom, are the people in the village giving you trouble again?" Although Tang Wan was young, she was very sensible. Seeing her mother frowning, she guessed something.

"Yes, my mother's fields were flooded, and now we can't grow crops, and..." Tang Youyou hesitated to speak. She didn't want her children to bear the pressure of life too early.

"And what?" Tang Jin asked curiously, his round eyes full of childish innocence.

"Besides, our family may not have enough money to repair the fields." Tang Youyou sighed and gently stroked his son's head.

Hearing this, the two children fell silent. Although they were young, they understood that the situation at home was not good.

"Mom, don't worry, my brother and I will help you with the work!" Tang Wan clenched her fists, her little face full of determination.

"Yes, if we work together, we will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties!" Tang Jin also echoed, his childish voice full of strength.

Seeing the children's sensible appearance, Tang Youyou was deeply moved. She smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, let's work hard together!"

So, over the next few days, Tang Youyou and her family of three began to get busy. Tang Youyou led the children to clear the mud from the fields and repair the damaged ridges. Although Tang Wan and Tang Jin were young, they also helped carry tools and pull weeds, working enthusiastically.

Tang Xiaoya was like a happy little bird, running around on the ridges of the fields, picking some wild flowers from time to time, weaving them into wreaths and giving them to her hard-working mother and brothers and sisters.

"Mom, look, isn't the wreath I made beautiful?" Tang Xiaoya put a colorful wreath on Tang Youyou's head and said with a smile.

Looking at her daughter's innocent smile, the haze in Tang Youyou's heart was swept away. She smiled and kissed her daughter's little face, saying, "Beautiful, our little girl is the best!"

As night fell, the family of four sat in the yard, eating simple meals, but full of laughter.

"Mom, I believe we can rebuild our home!" Tang Wan looked at her mother and said firmly.

"Yes, I will!" Tang Youyou looked at the children's hopeful eyes, and her heart was filled with strength.

However, just as Tang Youyou and his family were rebuilding their home with hope, a piece of news came like a bolt from the blue...

"Knock, knock, knock..." The rapid knock on the door broke the tranquility of the night.

Tang Youyou was startled, and an ominous premonition came to her mind...

Tang Youyou was startled, and a sense of foreboding came over her. She quickly stood up and opened the door, only to see Village Chief Wang standing outside with an anxious look on his face, followed by Widow Chen, who also had a worried look on her face.

"Village Chief Wang, it's so late, what happened?" Tang Youyou felt vaguely uneasy.

"Youyou, something terrible has happened!" Village Chief Wang said hurriedly, without even having time to enter the house. "I just came back from town, and I heard... I heard..."

Village Chief Wang hesitated, and Widow Chen couldn't help but interrupt, "Youyou, I heard that there's a problem with the land we rented this time, and the government wants to take it back!"

"What?!" Tang Youyou felt her vision go dark and she almost fainted. She had finally rented this piece of land with great difficulty and was about to have a good harvest, so how could it be suddenly taken back by the government?

Village Chief Wang sighed and explained, "Ah, I just heard that the land was originally government farmland, but somehow it was wrongly allocated, and now it's being reclaimed and redistributed."

"Then what about the costs we invested before? And the rent..." Tang Youyou felt a wave of despair. This sudden change instantly shattered her hope of rebuilding her home with great effort.

Widow Chen held Tang Youyou's hand and comforted her, "Youyou, don't worry, things haven't reached the final step yet! Isn't Village Chief Wang here to discuss countermeasures with you?"

Village Chief Wang nodded and said, "I heard that County Magistrate Liu is personally handling this matter. He is an upright man and will definitely give us justice."

"But we are unfamiliar with the place. How can we meet County Magistrate Liu and let him know our situation?" Tang Youyou was at a loss and could only pin her hopes on this legendary honest and upright official.

"I heard that County Magistrate Liu will come to inspect our village the day after tomorrow. We can then go and see if we can petition him in person," suggested Village Chief Wang.

A glimmer of hope ignited in Tang Youyou's heart. She clenched her fists and said firmly, "Okay, no matter what, I'm going to give it a try! I can't let the children's hopes be dashed like this!"

Two days later, Tang Youyou brought the children to the village entrance early, anxiously waiting for the arrival of County Magistrate Liu.

In the distance, a group of people slowly approached, and Tang Youyou's heart was in her throat...