Ningzhou is short of grain, Xie Xun has almost raided all of Yanyang's granaries to gather enough supplies to send to Ningzhou. These people in the Capital City, unaware of the hardships, dare to drive up grain prices, while her parents are fighting enemies in Ningzhou.
"We did not, Third Miss, do not falsely accuse us!" Village Chief Wang exclaimed, the villagers echoed one after another. Village Chief Wang had only intended to scare Fengyu away, not expecting Fengyu to discover Yiling Village's grain reselling, leaving him with no choice but to deny it to the end.
"Yes, we did not, Third Miss falsely accuses us."
The villagers were like an uprising of thieves, trying to drown them out. Qiuxiang was frightened by the atmosphere, but Chunlu, bolder and steadier, stood by Fengyu, watching the villagers warily.
"Miss, we should leave first!" Zhang Da gripped the handle of his knife tightly, fearing for Fengyu's safety.
Village Chief Wang heard him, "Third Miss, after slandering us, you think you can just leave? We won't agree without a resolution."
"We won't agree!"
"What, do you intend to kill me?" Fengyu smiled like a flower, "Zhang Da, step aside!"
Zhang Da gritted his teeth and, under Fengyu's smiling gaze, stepped back. Fengyu walked up to Village Chief Wang, her smile like spring sunlight, "Do you dare?"
Her smile was more dazzling than the sunlight, fearless and unafraid.
The crowd, "..."
The rowdy villagers watched as the jade-like Third Miss stood unarmed before them.
Fengyu asked, "Do you dare?"
Village Chief Wang was pushed to the brink, not expecting Fengyu to be so strong-willed. Clearly just a young girl, yet like a seasoned player in a business market, unafraid.
"I am Fengyu, of the Southern City Feng Family, daughter of General Wude. If you even touch a hair on my head, my father will lead troops to drive you out of Yiling Village, confiscate your lands, and you will lose your cattle, houses, and good fields. You will have nothing, your children will wander with you, your parents will starve on the streets, you will lose everything!" Fengyu spread her hands fearlessly, "Go on, whoever backs down is a coward."
Though Yiling Village is very close to the Capital City, it actually falls under the jurisdiction of Gaoping County. The Gaoping County Magistrate heard about the villagers' uprising in Yiling Village at dusk.
The Gaoping County Magistrate was shocked to hear of the uprising in Yiling Village. Gaoping County is fertile, close to the Capital City, and rich, known as the Capital City's granary. Yiling Village is even more famous as a prosperous place in Gaoping County, envied by surrounding areas. A decade ago, that land was barren. The Su Family had the foresight to buy up a whole mountain range. The next year, a famine occurred, and many refugees flocked to the Capital City. Unable to resettle them, the Capital City sent them to Gaoping County.
The County Magistrate at the time was the maternal cousin of the Feng Family's mistress. After consulting with the Feng Family, they settled the refugees in Yiling Village, leasing the good fields to them. Initially, there were only fifty or so households. Due to the fame and prosperity, gradually over a hundred households have settled in Yiling Village.
"They have settled and live comfortably, why are they rioting?" the County Magistrate couldn't understand.
Just then, a returning constable reported, "I heard that the Third Miss of the Feng Family went to Yiling Village to collect rent, discovered incorrect accounts and started arguing, the villagers surrounded Miss Feng San, refusing to let her leave. But the people Miss Feng brought are not pushovers, the situation escalated."
A youth who had been leaning impatiently heard the name of Miss Feng San, straightened up, mounted a horse with a swift flick of the whip, and galloped out.
"Lin Xiao, wait..." The County Magistrate took a few steps after him, exasperatedly said, "Quick, send a squad to follow him."
"Yes!"
In Yiling Village, just after nightfall, a bonfire lit the square as bright as day. The villagers had surrounded Fengyu and her people. Several villagers attempting to cause trouble were subdued by Zhang Da.
They dared not hurt Fengyu, but neither did they let her leave, wanting to negotiate. After Village Chief Wang and several others discussed, they agreed to make up for this year's land rent, hoping Fengyu would let this matter go, even willing to pay 1.5 times the rent.
Fengyu said, "Absolutely not!"
Village Chief Wang flushed red, "What exactly does Third Miss want, to force us to death? We are merely tenant farmers, unarmed, can General Wude's daughter really bully us so wantonly?"
Qiuxiang spat, "A fine case of the thief crying thief, if not for my lady providing evidence, you would still be denying it, unarmed? You're wielding sickles and iron tools surrounding our lady, as arrogant as ever."
Village Chief Wang was unwilling to argue with Qiuxiang, "What does Third Miss ultimately want?"
"You've finally asked." Under the firelight, Fengyu's brow and eyes appeared even more charming, beauty even more pronounced in the lamplight, "I won't argue with you over the past years' rent. Three years ago, under Village Chief Wang's leadership, you had crooked intentions, stocking up surplus grain at home or storing it in granaries. Take out the real accounts of these three years for verification. All surplus grain will be offset by rent. Rent arrears for three years, with interest, these three years' rent will be calculated according to the two-eight split. If grain cannot be provided, then pay in cash."
The entire village fell silent.
"Aren't you trying to rob the villagers of all their surplus?" Village Chief Wang raged, "We sold the grain a long time ago and spent the money, how can we give it to you?"
"Then there's nothing to be done. I won't lease Yiling Village anymore." Fengyu curled her lips, politely said, "I don't do unprofitable business. If I lease to others, wouldn't that be better?"
The whole village was in uproar, whispering, with eyes red as they looked at Fengyu, filled with a hatred as if wanting to skin and dismember her.