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The Town Clerk was momentarily at a loss, as the chosen candidate was unwilling, and he couldn't force someone to drink water against their will.
A villager spoke up, "Qi Chong is good; he can read and write, teaches us how to make money without asking for anything in return. Unlike Gao Village Head, who charges two eggs just to write a document."
"Right! When I got married, he officiated the ceremony and took two pounds of cured meat."
Voices of discontent began to rise. Gao Changfa took a deep drag from his pipe, as if trying to cloak his face in smoke. The Town Clerk glanced at Gao Changfa and sighed subtly. "If Qi Chong is unwilling, you can't force him. Let's choose someone else."
The villagers protested, "That's not possible! Besides Gao Changfa, only the Qi family can read. The other two who can read aren't from our village. If we don't choose him, who else can we pick?"
The Town Clerk found himself in a dilemma and turned to Qi Chong. "It seems like it has to be you after all."
Qi Chong couldn't even be bothered to stand up and replied, "I won't resolve any family disputes; I only know how to throw punches. If I become the village head, I'll charge ten pounds of eggs for writing a document and require a pig for officiating weddings. You can choose me if you want."
Yu Chunmiao pinched him lightly and said, "Why would you portray yourself as a bully?"
Qi Chong scoffed, "Them? They just want me to help them make money. I refuse to do that."
The villagers fell silent; it wasn't that they believed Qi Chong would actually act that way but rather that they understood he truly did not want to take on the role of village head.
With no other option, the Town Clerk decided to let the villagers wait while he called Qi Chong aside for a private conversation. Since Gao Changfa was no longer a viable candidate for village head, if Qi Chong refused, there would be no one left in the village who could read.
He had many villages to visit and hoped to resolve this matter in one go.
Qi Chong followed him to a secluded spot, standing there with his arms crossed, revealing no signs of emotion. The Town Clerk had initially stood close but found himself having to look up while speaking; after a few sentences, he quietly stepped back two paces.
Yu Chunmiao empathized with him and unconsciously rubbed the back of her neck.
The villagers could not hear their conversation but saw Qi Chong attempt to leave multiple times, with the Town Clerk stopping him each time. On his final attempt to leave, Qi Chong broke free, and the villagers displayed expressions of longing.
The Town Clerk returned under the Banyan Tree, his brow furrowed as he prepared to say something.
At that moment, an elderly man rose from the crowd; he appeared to be over ninety years old, his eyes clouded with age. Leaning on a cane, his voice was worn and resigned as he spoke. "Qi Chong, everyone here feels sorry for your father and your family. But in the end, none of us are truly wicked people; we are all just struggling in poverty!"
Qi Chong's lips twitched, and his gaze turned cold. Chen Ruolan buried her head in Qi Yuan's arm, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
The old man continued, "The court tax requires each person to pay five hundred wen a year. The Guang Family has eight members, which means they owe four taels of silver annually. On top of that, after Qiu Shou, each mu of land must yield one hundred fifty jin of grain. But we only harvest four hundred jin from each mu."
"What can the poor farmers do to pay the head tax? They have to sell their grain! If they don't sell it, they won't have money for taxes; if they sell it, they won't have enough to eat."
"It's starvation! Money becomes a precious treasure; they truly can't bear to lend it to you."
"Your father has been in the army and seen the world. You've read books and gained some perspective. The villagers are selfish and shortsighted. Why not give them a chance? If they remain as unkind as before, you can always walk away then."
Yu Chunmiao watched Qi Chong's pained expression and kept patting his back to help him breathe easier. "A dead friend is better than a poor friend. Qi Chong, if you don't want to, no one can force you."
"Even if people are shortsighted and inexperienced, they should at least understand kindness," Yu Chunmiao said loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Qi Chong gritted his teeth and replied, "I don't hate them; I hate Yang Zhengshan."
Yu Chunmiao casually remarked, "He’s the one who chose Gao Changfa as village chief; he doesn’t want you to take that position either."
"Is that so?" Qi Chong looked toward Yang Zhengshan in the crowd. "Then I will definitely become the village chief."
"Isn't that a bit rash?" Yu Chunmiao pulled him back just as he was about to stand up. "Becoming village chief doesn’t guarantee he’ll confess and face justice."
"Not necessarily," Qi Chong said firmly as he stood up. "I will be the village chief."
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