I traveled back to the Qin Dynasty, and the First Emperor begged me to become his empress.

Chapter 231 Persuading Chen Pingjia

In Yangwu County, this ancient and tranquil county town, Wang Wu and his entourage arrived. They hurried towards the county government office, their hearts filled with an urgent desire for information about Uncle Chen.

Inside the county government office, after much effort and searching, they finally obtained accurate information about Uncle Chen—it turned out he came from You Township. Upon learning this crucial clue, Wang Wu and his team immediately set off for You Township.

Along the way, the country lanes wound their way through the fields, the sparse wheat adding a touch of green to the cold winter. However, Wang Wu had no time to appreciate the beautiful rural scenery; all he could think about was finding Uncle Chen as soon as possible.

Finally, with the enthusiastic guidance and help of the village head, Wang Wu and his group arrived safely at Uncle Chen's house. What they saw before them shocked them: a dilapidated, crumbling mud-brick house, seemingly ready to collapse even with a gentle breeze. There were no walls surrounding the house, making it appear exceptionally empty and desolate. Inside were only two rooms, so simple it was heartbreaking.

When Wang Wu stepped into the room, he found that Uncle Chen was not home. He saw a hunched-over, haggard-looking couple lying on the heated brick bed, their eyes closed, fast asleep. At the other end of the bed, a small child was crawling with difficulty. The little one looked very thin.

Seeing this, Wang Wu frowned deeply, a heavy feeling rising in his heart. Chen Hui, the pavilion chief standing to the side, keenly noticed the change in Wang Wu's expression. He knew that this guest from Xianyang was of noble status and should not be offended lightly.

So, he carefully called Wang Wu out of the house and said in a low voice, "Sir, you don't know this! This Uncle Chen is only a teenager, but his parents have been in poor health for a long time. As farmers, they work hard all day long and are exhausted. In winter, the old couple can't get out of bed because their condition worsens. This family lives a really hard life! As for the child, that's Chen Ping, only four years old. Look at how thin and small he is, he looks like a two-year-old child."

Wang Wu asked with a worried expression, "Is this how the people of Youxiang always are in winter?"

Chen Hui slowly shook his head and sighed as he replied, "Most families are in similar situations, only slightly better off than this one. This couple only has two sons, and no other relatives or friends can lend a helping hand. Although everyone in our Chenjia Village shares the surname Chen, we all live a very frugal life, and no one has the spare capacity to help others."

“This elderly couple wasn’t in very good health when they were young, especially Aunt Chen. Ever since she gave birth to her youngest son, Chen Ping, her health has steadily declined. As winter approaches, her condition worsens. And Uncle Chen, whose legs are already weak, is almost completely immobile once the cold winter arrives. Therefore, the livelihood of the whole family now depends entirely on Uncle Chen, who is only a teenager, struggling to make ends meet!” Chen Hui said with a sigh.

Seeing that Wang Wu was listening intently, Chen Hui paused for a moment, then continued, "Alas, the county government and the township have tried various ways to help and provide relief. However, as you have seen along the way, the overall situation in Yangwu County is so dire. The grain grown is not even enough to feed their own families. I heard that the old couple have both developed fevers recently, so I suppose Uncle Chen must be trying to find a doctor. It's just a pity for the child, having to endure such a life at such a young age; it truly breaks my heart!"

Just as the group was talking, their attention was suddenly drawn to a figure. A slightly thin boy, carrying a large basket on his back, was slowly walking towards them. Upon seeing so many people gathered in the courtyard, the boy's expression changed drastically. Without hesitation, he rushed over and quickly blocked the doorway. His face was filled with tension, and his voice trembled as he shouted, "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"

Chen Hui turned his gaze to the young man named Chen Bo. Seeing that although he was filled with fear, he still resolutely opened his arms, trying to protect his family behind him, Chen Hui felt a pang of sorrow. So, he quickly stepped forward, stood up, and said gently, "Uncle Chen, don't be afraid, it's me! These people are all high-ranking officials who have come all the way from Xianyang."

Hearing the familiar voice, Uncle Chen's expression softened slightly. When he saw that the person in front of him was Chen Hui, his tense nerves finally relaxed. However, he still stared at Chen Hui with a hint of doubt and asked, "Chief, what are these high-ranking officials doing at my house? Could it be that they've come to collect grain again, like before?" Before he finished speaking, a look of vigilance and unease reappeared on his face.

Wang Wu, standing to the side, looked at the young boy with great interest and asked, "Collecting grain? Does that mean people often come to collect grain here?" After saying that, he turned his head and looked at Chen Hui, as if waiting for the other party to give an explanation.

Upon seeing this, Chen Hui hurriedly waved his hands and said in a panic, "What nonsense! No, no, we only have normal land tax and poll tax here, there are absolutely no other messy taxes."

Then, he turned to Uncle Chen and shouted, "You child, what nonsense are you spouting! When has there ever been such a thing as collecting grain?"

Uncle Chen lowered his head and remained silent, like a child who had done something wrong. Looking at Uncle Chen's expression, Wang Wu frowned and asked seriously, "Are there really no other taxes?"

Upon hearing this, Uncle Chen slowly shook his head and replied in a slightly trembling voice, "No...no, sir. I was just too scared before, so I talked nonsense. Please forgive me!"

After hearing this, Wang Wu breathed a long sigh of relief, his tense expression easing slightly, and said, "That's good."

After a brief pause, he immediately asked Uncle Chen, "What were you rushing off to do just now?" As soon as he finished speaking, Uncle Chen, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly covered the bamboo basket on his back tightly, as if it contained some rare treasure and he was afraid that others would take a look.

Seeing this, Chen Hui quickly moved closer to Wang Wu and whispered, "Sir, in my humble opinion, this child has probably gone up the mountain. In winter, many families here choose to go hunting in the mountains to get some meat to get through the winter. I suppose this child is thinking of improving the meals for his elders."

Wang Wu nodded slightly in agreement, replying, "Well, that makes sense."