Start practicing archery

Chapter 4 Tax Collection
Chen Sanshi ran over excitedly, picked up the rabbit from the ground, weighed it a few times, and estimated that it weighed at least seven or eight kilograms.

"According to the current market price, it can be sold for at least sixty copper coins!"

He did not rush down the mountain, but tied the rabbit with a rope and hung it on his body and continued to look for new prey.

"Cuckoo-"

There is still a constant stream of bird calls nearby.

With the help of [Search and Hide], Chen Sanshi quickly locked onto the two pigeons on the distant treetops.

He drew the bow, put the arrow on it, pulled the string, and released the arrow, all in one smooth movement.

A shadow flashed by, and two pigeons were shot into a string, falling to the ground from the tree with a "pop".

Chen Sanshi successfully took it into his pocket.

Pigeons are very nutritious and their price is even slightly higher than that of rabbits. Two pigeons are worth thirty copper coins in total.

He wanted to continue, but unfortunately it was getting late, so he had to pack up and go down the mountain.

To sell game, one needs to go to a restaurant in the county town.

Along the way, we passed many villages that were even poorer than Yanbian Village. The people here were all thin and yellow-skinned, and some were lying on the ground motionless, and no one knew whether they were dead or alive.

When they saw the prey in Chen Sanshi's hands, they all cast envious and greedy glances at him, but when they saw the bow and arrow behind him, they could only suppress their evil thoughts.

"Babao Restaurant."

Half an hour later.

Chen Sanshi stopped and looked at the plaque with large gold characters standing high above him.

This is the restaurant where my father used to frequently deliver goods. It is also one of the largest restaurants in the city. It is said that a simple meal here would cost at least three to five taels of silver.

Just now, there were people starving to death on the roadside, but at this moment, he saw with his own eyes a rich man pouring a full plate of fresh meat and vegetables on the ground to feed his dog.

"It's really true that 'the rich have wine and meat, while the poor freeze to death on the streets'..."

Failure of harvest?

If we really take out all the food in the granaries, it may not be enough for the whole city to eat through the winter.

Chen Sanshi felt emotional.

The restaurant owner who came to receive him was an acquaintance of my father.

"Eight catties and two ounces of rabbit meat, and a pigeon weighing half a catty. The total amount is eighty-five coins."

The slightly plump middle-aged man flexibly fiddled with the abacus beads with his fingers: "Do you think it's suitable?"

"It's appropriate. Thank you, Uncle Liu."

Chen Sanshi knew what was going on.

Liu Hongda said with a smile: "If you have good stuff in the future, just come to me, I promise you will get half a cent less."

Chen Sanshi took the copper coin.

"You can earn nearly one penny a day, which is definitely enough to live on in normal times."

"But now I have to pay taxes and repay debts, so this amount of money is not enough."

"We still have to hunt down big prey!"

While he was counting the copper coins, another thin and dark boy came over to sell fish.

"Brother Shi?!"

The boy recognized him immediately.

The corresponding name quickly emerged in Chen Sanshi's mind.

Zhang Shun.

The children of Aunt Li used to play in the mud together with their bare butts when they were young.

In the past six months, if Aunt Li had not taken Lan Jie'er to work and provided some help from time to time, they would have starved to death long ago.

"Shunzi, you've come at the right time."

Chen Sanshi took out the copper coins that were not yet warm: "I owe you..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Shunzi.

"Don't worry, Shi Ge'er. I don't need money for the time being."

As Zhang Shun spoke, he picked up the fish basket at his feet and showed it full of catches, including a large fish weighing seven or eight kilograms. "Brother, you've just recovered from your illness. You have many places to spend money. You can pay me back when you have enough money!"

"Okay, thank you Sunja."

Chen Sanshi didn't refuse too much.

He owed someone two cents of silver, not even a cent was enough, so he decided to wait until he had enough money and pay it back in one lump sum with interest.

"Brother, why are you being so polite? You were the one who taught me how to read when I was a kid!"

Both of them lived in Poyang County, so they simply went home together.

While chatting on the way, I learned that Shunzi's family had saved more than ten taels of silver and planned to go to a martial arts school to learn martial arts in a while.

"Practicing martial arts."

Chen Sanshi knew that martial arts could be practiced in this world, and that those who practiced martial arts had extraordinary status.

If children from ordinary families can join a martial arts school, they can become successful and if they achieve some success, they can bring honor to their family.

He has a progress panel on his body, so naturally he wants to learn martial arts, but that requires a hefty tuition fee, so he has to get through the current difficulties and save up enough money first.

Entering the town, Chen Sanshi and Shunzi said goodbye.

Before he reached home, he saw a beautiful figure standing at the door, looking around anxiously from afar.

Of course it is Gu Xinlan.

She deliberately finished work early today and went home to cook, but her husband didn't come back for a long time. It was getting dark and she was almost anxious to go up the mountain to look for him.

"Brother Shi!" Gu Xinlan came over in a hurry, half caring and half scolding, "You came back after it was dark, you want to scare me to death! Didn't I tell you that it doesn't matter whether you can hit something or not?"

Chen Sanshi didn't rush to speak, but took out a gray pigeon from behind with a smile.

"Hey, Shi Ge'er got something?"

Before Gu Xinlan could come to her senses, another bag of copper coins was stuffed into her hands, and a gentle voice sounded in her ears: "Tonight, we will eat meat."

After half an hour.

In addition to salted duck eggs and rice, there was also a pot of fragrant pigeon soup on the table.

Ever since the original body's father passed away, their family has not eaten meat for half a year.

"Brother Shi, you are really amazing."

Gu Xinlan still couldn't believe it: "I heard that even Uncle Zhao from the village returned empty-handed today."

"I'm just lucky. Uncle Zhao and his men are all veterans at Erchongshan, so when they get goods, they're big ones."

Chen Sanshi gnawed on pigeon legs and ate rice mixed with salted duck eggs, and his stomach was greatly satisfied.

He deliberately did not sell all of it for silver, just to supplement himself and Lan Jie'er.

Even Gu Xinlan still couldn't bear to eat meat.

After repeated persuasion from Chen Sanshi, he finally ate a pigeon wing.

After eating and drinking, he pulled Lan Jie'er to sit on the edge of the bed. The latter lowered her head, her face flushed, and her fingers nervously clasped together.

Actually, today is the first day after their wedding.

Under the flickering candlelight, Chen Sanshitou carefully observed Lan Jie'er's pretty face.

Her thin willow-leaf eyebrows are charming and graceful, her almond-shaped eyes reflect the candlelight like the moon reflected in autumn water, her slightly rosy cheeks are like peach blossoms, and her whole body exudes an irrepressible charm.

In addition, she was literate and knew how to embroider. If it weren't for the coarse linen clothes she was wearing, she would definitely be a lady from a prominent family.

"Sister Lan."

Chen Sanshi came closer without him noticing.

"What's wrong, Shige?"

"You smell so good."

"Brother Shi, I...I'm still in pain."

……

Later in the night.

Chen Sanshi leaned against the head of the bed, one of his arms still tightly held.

"Brother Shi~"

Gu Xinlan looked worried: "Did our family offend Qin Xiong?"

"Qin Xiong?"

"Ah."

Gu Xinlan nodded: "I heard from the neighbors that a man named Qin was lingering in front of our house for a long time during the day."

"..."

Chen Sanshi took note.

It seems like that guy is really not willing to give up. I have to be more careful next time.

He comforted her, "Go to sleep, Sister Lan, I'm here."

"Ah."

Gu Xinlan was already exhausted and fell asleep quickly.

She felt inexplicably at ease these two days.

Chen Sanshi leaned against the head of the bed and found an old book left there that had not been sold, so he picked it up and started reading.

[Skill: Reading (beginner)]

[Progress: (15/300)]

【Effect: Refreshing, photographic memory】

"It's really good."

When he was hunting during the day and understood the skill of [Searching for the Trail and Hiding], he wondered if reading would also be possible.
As it turned out, he was right.

Not only that, but you can get started right away.

It seems that the original person had accumulated a lot in the past, so how come he couldn’t even pass the exam to become a scholar?

With the panel in hand, Chen Sanshi estimated that he would definitely pass the scientific examination if he took part in it again.

Unfortunately, the next scientific expedition will be two years away and we can’t wait.

He has to survive first.

After flipping through the book for a while, Chen Sanshi fell into a deep sleep.

"Boom boom boom——"

"Open the door!"

"Open the door quickly!"

The next morning.

Chen Sanshi was awakened by the sound of rapid banging on the door.

He asked Lan Jie'er to put on her clothes and hide in the inner room, and he got up to open the door.

(End of this chapter)