The Great Qin Empire---Qin Li

At this moment, in Xiyangli, in front of Heifu's house, there were dozens of people surrounding them. They were all villagers, and there were more women than men.

In theory, although there was no farm work in winter, farmers were not allowed to relax. Because the Qin law stipulated that after February in spring, it was forbidden to cut wood in the mountains and forests, and the ban was lifted in July. Only coffins made of wood for death were not restricted by seasons.

Therefore, adult men in farmers' families had to cut enough firewood after the beginning of spring when there was no ban in winter. If they had a skill, they could also go up the mountain to set traps and nets to catch birds and beasts, and go down the river to get fish and turtles to supplement their family income.

As for women, in addition to weaving, they would hold wooden pestles at home and pound the millet that seemed to never end.

This afternoon, which should have been normal, was broken because the wife of the village head came to the door.

The wife of the village head told the peasant women who were busy at home that she heard that the Zhong family, who lived in the east of the village, had made a new rice pounding device that could greatly reduce the time of pounding rice, and it didn't take much effort and didn't hurt the arms.

"These were all said by the wife of the craftsman Yu when she was chatting with her neighbors. It was said that it was made in the middle of the month and kept in Zhong's house. It has been used for more than half a month and has pounded dozens of stones of millet!"

"Are you serious?"

When they heard that there was such a good thing, the women in the village were immediately excited. They threw down the wooden pestles in their hands and clamored to go and see it.

Just as they walked out of the house with laughter and prepared to knock on the door as usual, the village head appeared.

The village head told them with a gloomy face that he had just gone to find Yu who made this device, but Yu refused to make it for others and ran to Zhong's house with his wife!

"Yuan said so." The village head said to the men and women gathered in each household: "He said he swore that he would not make this thing for others!"

Many women shouted when they heard this.

"This is really outrageous!"

"As a craftsman, shouldn't he make tools for us soldiers? How dare he not do it when the village head ordered!"

Seeing the indignation of the crowd, the village head raised his hand and incited: "Listen to me, for generations, the villagers in the sunset are like a family. They worship their ancestors together in the twelfth lunar month, and when the village gathers for drinking, they also take out food from each family to share. If there is anything good, it should be shared with everyone in the village! This is the rule that the village has set long ago!"

"Yes."

"That's right!"

Everyone echoed, although no one took this so-called rule seriously.

"But now, Zhong and Yu are unwilling to hand over this thing, and are unwilling to let the girls in the village save some energy when pounding rice. Even if I am the head of the village, I can't do anything about them. Since I can't convince them, I hope you will go with me and persuade them to let Zhong hand over this thing. If it is really useful, let Yu make one for every household, what do you think?"

"What the head of the village said is very good!" When everyone heard that the head of the village wanted every household to use that good thing, they were immediately happy and agreed.

So, soon, outside Zhong's house, the half-acre mulberry forest that was empty in the past was crowded with people, and the ground was trampled into a mess. Some people even tiptoed over the wall to look inside.

More village women started to shout outside:

"Zhong, come out and say something!"

"Is that instrument that can save effort and time when pounding rice real?"

"Yuan, if there is such an instrument, as a craftsman, why don't you make it for the villagers?"

The wooden door of Zhong's house was closed, and the people inside said nothing, but there was a faint cry of a child...

...

Seeing Zhong's family blocked in the door and being interrogated by the villagers, the head of Xiyangli felt very relieved.

Although the head of the village was small, he was also the head of a village, responsible for managing household registration, checking illegal activities, and collecting taxes and labor service. Whoever saw him on weekdays would bow to him respectfully?

But since Heifu went to the county to serve and returned with meritorious service, his family became more and more arrogant and did not take him seriously. Heifu, that little brat, greeted everyone he met on the road in a friendly manner, but when he met the head of the village, he didn't even bother to nod. Did he really think that he was great just because he had obtained the title of a duke?

Because Heifu asked his family to keep their mouths shut and not to reveal his intention to become a pavilion chief before the matter was completed, no one in the village, including the head of the village, knew about it...

The head of the village had some grudges against the Zhong brothers, and he had already made up his mind that when Zhong and Heifu came to borrow cattle for the spring plowing this year, he would make sure they knew who had the final say here!

But the opportunity came faster than the head of the village expected. Two days ago, when his wife went to visit the north of the village, she sent back a message: the wife of the craftsman Yu, who is also Heifu's sister Huan, let slip when chatting with the neighbors that Yu helped Heifu and Zhong make a rice pounding device that can be stepped on by foot, which can save half the time of pounding rice, and it is not laborious...

The head of the village was a little unconvinced, but he couldn't resist his wife's nagging, so he went to Yu's house today to ask about it.

Unexpectedly, Yu was hesitant and obviously had something to hide!

The head of the village was suspicious, so he pretended to go to the toilet, and when he touched Yu's backyard, he actually saw a rice pounding device that looked like a lever!

Yu had no way to defend himself, so the head of the village ordered him to make a similar one for him and send it to his home the next day. Unexpectedly, Yu was also cruel enough, and rejected the head of the village on the spot, and smashed the thing! Then he took his wife and daughter and ran to Zhong's house...

The head of the village failed to succeed, and in a rage, this scene happened today.

Since he couldn't get what he wanted, he pretended to be fair and made Zhong's family look bad, which made him hostile to the whole village!

"Let's see how your family will gain a foothold in the village in the future!"

Just as the head of the village was looking at Zhong's family being surrounded with pride, Tian Dian came over. He whispered to the head of the village that things were different now, Zhong's younger brother Heifu was not an easy person to deal with, and he had a reputation in the whole county. Who knew what would happen in the future, so don't do it too much!

"What if I do it too much?"

The head of the village was indignant. He was originally a stubborn little landlord, proud of his family's former "scholar" status, and wanted to maintain his position in the village.

At this point, it was no longer a matter of pounding rice, but a matter of his prestige in the village. If even a small craftsman dares to disobey him, and he can't even deal with the brothers of the Zhong family, how can he still be the head of the village? The old man who is higher in rank than him, the head of the village, is always coveting this position!

So the head of the village insisted on his own way and said to Tian Dian: "Don't persuade me anymore. Today, I will make the Zhong family bow their heads and hand over the artifact obediently!"

Tian Dian shook his head and left. Before leaving, he said that he would not help either side in this matter.

"Nai Gong doesn't need your help! I am the master of this sunset village!"

Looking at Tian Dian's cowardly appearance, the head of the village was very contemptuous. He continued to say some words to incite the people in the village, making them more resentful of the Zhong family, as if the Zhong family owed them if they didn't hand over the artifact.

This is how life in the countryside is. The place is small, and you can see them everywhere, so there are many frictions. Although neighbors are usually friendly with each other, once your family has something that my family doesn't have and I want what you have, it will lead to jealousy and envy.

Since Heifu came back, Zhong's family has been thriving. Not only have they repaired the doors and walls, but they can also eat fish and meat every few days. In order to keep the secret of treading the pestle, they have not invited neighbors to sit at home these days...

Gradually, the neighbors around them have some opinions about Zhong's family, and various emotions have begun to brew. Many people secretly say that their family is arrogant and looks down on others. Now that the village head has added fuel to the fire, those ignorant village women who are left alone at home to pound rice when their husbands and sons go out are very willing to follow the village head to watch the fun...

Some people even maliciously threw mud on his brand new door to vent their jealousy.

Seeing that it was almost time, the village head pretended to stop everyone. He separated the crowd, raised his proud head, stood in the front row, put his hands on his waist, and shouted loudly to Zhong's family: "Zhong, if you don't come out, we will go in by ourselves. If we scare your mother and children, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

He knew that although Hei Fu was a ruthless character, he was not at home today.

As for Zhong? Haha, the village head watched him grow up. Zhong has been an honest and decent child since he was a child. After he injured his leg on the battlefield, he became more humble in front of others. He would not argue about anything and would tolerate everything. In the past, the village head made it difficult for Zhong to borrow cattle, borrow farm tools, and divide the land, but Zhong just smiled helplessly and did not dare to have any opinions.

So the village head was sure that Zhong would bow to him!

As soon as he finished speaking, the dark wooden door of Zhong's house creaked open.

Zhong had one foot outside the threshold, one foot still inside, his left hand holding the door, his right hand hidden behind his back.

He looked at the crowd of villagers outside, at the arrogant headman, his face turned pale, and the injured leg inside the threshold seemed to be trembling slightly...