Everyone's gaze fell upon the ancient elm tree in the center of the village.
Liu Zexi had sacrificed himself, and it was definitely not as simple as just wanting to hang under the tree. What he thought of before his death was certainly not about a happy family or national peace and prosperity.
To take revenge on those who put him in such a plight!
Since he was powerless to take revenge, he would offer himself as a sacrifice to the divinely skilled godmother so that she would take revenge for him!
And the government officials from Xinxiang County before him were the targets of his vengeance!
Chen Shi looked toward the small temple in front of the tree; the little girl inside still sat there, devouring the various offerings, oblivious to the scene unfolding.
Yet the leader of the government officials couldn't see the little girl. His gaze was fixed on the ancient elm tree, and he sneered, "If godmother plans to take revenge for Liu Zexi, then she is opposing the Xinxiang County office and the Great Ming! The authority of rural deities is nothing compared to imperial law. Once the Great Ming's laws are enforced, eradicating godmother will be a piece of cake! By then, without godmother's protection, all of Fangdian Village will be exposed to the gaze of evil and cannot escape their fate!"
Chen Shi trembled a little inside; this leader of the government officials had actually dared to threaten the godmother of Fangdian Village!
He looked at the little girl, who still ate the offerings inside the temple as if she had no concern for the situation at hand.
"Right, whether to take revenge for Liu Zexi or to protect the other villagers of Fangdian Village, which is more important? The godmother of Fangdian Village certainly knows the difference," Chen Shi thought to himself.
Seeing no reaction from the ancient elm tree, the leader of the government officials gave a slight smile and asked, "Liu Zexi is dead, but even in death, taxes cannot be left unpaid; the law states just that. Where are his other family members?"
A villager said, "There's no one else. He originally had a son and a daughter. The daughter was sold, and the son drowned while taking a bath in the river. There was also a woman who, after this tragedy, became insane. One day, she left the village singing and dancing, and then she disappeared. She's probably dead too."
The leader of the government officials pondered for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "When a man dies, all matters cease; we won't pursue past wrongs. But the taxes still need to be paid. People, move out whatever valuables Liu Zexi's home has so we can settle accounts when we return."
A group of government officials entered Liu Zexi's home, but since Liu Zexi's family was truly impoverished and had nothing but the walls, they could only move out some pots and pans, hoping they might be exchanged for some money.
On seeing this, the leader shook his head and said, "It's pitiful. This little amount of money surely won't cover the shortfall. Our boss will have to use the official department's funds to make up for it. People always think that we, the officials, are all about extortion, but they don't know how greatly they're mistaken!"
With deep feeling, he slowly stood up and said, "The taxes are collected for the Great Ming; what has it to do with our office? If even a copper coin meant for the taxes ended up in our pockets, I, Lu Tiannan, should be struck by lightning! Conversely, for the taxes that are not collected, both we and the lord have to pay out of our own pockets; otherwise, it's the crime of deceiving the emperor! Villagers, don't panic!"
He glanced around and laughed, "You'd better pay your taxes honestly and not resort to knives at the slightest provocation. Liu Sanyin, take out that knife hidden in your trousers. Be careful it doesn't slip and cut off your bird!"
He regarded the villagers as if they were nothing, making his way through them as he declared loudly, "My brothers here have all participated in the county examination and are scholars who have received the blessing of the True God and cultivated the Divine Embryo! You can't beat us, so why commit the crime of assaulting an official? Drop the knives, all of you, drop them. Let's talk nicely!"
Behind him, each government official operated the Heavenly Heart Righteous Qi Technique, their heads surrounded by a divine light, forming small shrines each about a foot high. Within each shrine sat a Divine Embryo, solemn and dignified.
The faces of Fangdian Village's villagers grew ashen, and they silently laid down their kitchen knives and axes.
The leader of the government officials waved his hand, directing the officials to collect taxes from each household, while he himself strolled over to Chen Shi and his grandson's talisman stall.
The grandfather had prepared the tax money in advance and handed it over, saying, "Lu Tianan, you cut a fine figure."
The head of the government officials, named Lu Tiannan, obviously knew the grandfather well. Taking the talisman tax, he laughed and said, "Not at all, just doing the court's work. Chen, you're in good health; I'm afraid I'll have to collect several more years of talisman tax from you."
Suddenly, he caught a faint whiff of a foul smell and instinctively wrinkled his nose, a chill running through his heart: "It's the stench of decay!"
His eyes fell on Chen Shi, and his expression changed dramatically as he said, "Chen, is this the child? The Child Scholar who was first in natural talent across fifty provinces?"
The grandfather didn't speak.
Lu Tiannan hastily stepped back a few paces, widening the gap between him and Chen Shi. He scrutinized Chen Shi, chuckling, "Impressive, Chen, truly impressive! You've managed to steal the mysteries of heaven and earth, a feat believed impossible! But don't break the law; be careful not to end up in my hands!"
Chen Shi felt utterly bewildered and said, "This Six Gates seems very afraid of me. Grandfather, was I really the number one Child Scholar across fifty provinces?"
"Why bring up the past?"
The grandfather laid out yellow paper, took up cinnabar, and a brush and inkstone. Chen Shi got the peach wood card and jade embryo down from the cart. The grandfather took out a knife, gestured for Black Pot to come forward, and Black Pot approached with a whine, tail tucked.
The grandfather stabbed Black Pot, and Chen Shi immediately brought over a small basin to catch the black dog blood. After a while, the grandfather threw Black Pot a piece of mutant beast meat, and with the meat in its mouth, Black Pot hid under the cart, alternating between eating and licking its wound, in pain yet enjoying the taste.
The grandfather and grandson duo continued to draw and sell various talismans at the market.
The government officials of Xinxiang County collected taxes from house to house, stirring up chaos in Fangdian Village with chickens flying and dogs jumping. The village was in a state of panic, and from time to time, cries of despair could be heard, a harrowing scene indeed.