Chapter 451 - Chapter 451: Chapter 451: Good Solution (1/2)

Chapter 451: Chapter 451: Good Solution

“What on earth is going on? What are the guidelines for this year’s spring conscription? What is the main work we’ll be doing?”

Elderly Mr. He from the side even forgot to eat in his haste to ask questions.

“Finish eating first, we can discuss in detail afterwards, the food won’t be as delicious once it gets cold.” Liu Sisi hastened to say.

Looking at Di Yelei, it was clear he was both cold and hungry.

Naturally, no one had any objections, and they all chewed on their food, but the former light-hearted atmosphere gradually faded away.

Only when the bowl and chopsticks were removed and tea was brought up, did Di Yelei finally exhale a deep breath.

“Last year’s unexpected cold, compared to our Macheng County’s three feet of ice, was even more severe for the outlying areas with higher altitudes. There were countless people who were frozen to death or injured from the cold. The imperial court decreed that this year, for every three men one must be conscripted, and for every five men two must be conscripted, for the Spring Labor Service, and it couldn’t be replaced with silver. The decree will be handed down tomorrow morning by the runners from various government offices.”

“What’s the big deal about this? The command in previous years was almost the same, wasn’t it?”

Elderly Mr. He curiously interjected.

Although the County Magistrate of Macheng County was greedy, because of the presence of Heilong Mountain, the tax compared to those miscellaneous taxes from other prefectures, which were many and confusing, was relatively reasonable.

Di Yelei smiled bitterly, “You only know a part of it, not the whole story. The one out of three, two out of five conscription isn’t like before when it took from the adult male population between the ages of fifteen and fifty-five, this year every male who is counted in the official record, all must be included.”

“Ah!  No way?”

Everyone was stunned!

Liu Sisi’s thoughts immediately turned, “So by this logic, our family has to count as three people?”

“Wrong! We have five people in our house, you forgot about Old Cheng and Da Mao,” said Di Yelei with a bitter smile.

After Liu Zhi’er and Da Mao left the Dong Family, they temporarily moved in with the Di Family. Counting now, Elderly Mr. Di, Di Yelei, Di Xuan, Old Cheng, and Da Mao, naturally there are four men.

“This… Da Mao is such a small child, they’re counted too? Old Cheng also counts, does the government even want people to live?” Liu Sisi was furious.

“That’s not right? Old Cheng is included too? Did you misspeak?” Even Elderly Mr. He who sat to the side frowned. “I have quite a few people in my shop. If they calculated it like you said, then isn’t it…”

“It’s eight people, Old Master,” interjected the medicine boy from the side.

“Then you need to send out three people, you can still manage that, but for us five out of two, where will we find the manpower?” Di Yelei’s bitter smile was incessant.

If they had to serve in conscripted work, the old and young would basically be setting off to die. The only ones who could go were Di Yelei and Old Cheng. When the two of them left, what would become of their home?

“You’re a constable, can’t you be exempted from conscripted labor?”

“I can’t!”

Di Yelei shook his head, “The imperial court has rules that only families with an official status can avoid forced labor. Although a constable works in the government office, they are not considered officials. The best they can do is avoid their own required labor. So by this calculation, our family still needs at least one person to serve.”

Liu Sisi immediately thought of someone: “Your big brother…”