The next morning, the village chief got up and went outside as usual.
"Village chief, something bad has happened! Today I went to tell everyone to pay their taxes, and I heard someone say that several people in the village have gone missing."
Yesterday, the villagers ran breathlessly to the village chief, who had just gotten up.
"Don't panic, they might have gone to the fields." The village chief ignored the villagers rushing towards him and instead looked towards the distant mountains. "Have the tax collection and conscription notices been given?"
"Don't worry, village chief. I've notified every household, so I'm sure no one has been missed."
"Hmm, very good. You and I will go collect the taxes. The lord really needs these taxes."
The two quickly found a handcart and began heading to the village to collect taxes.
They arrived at the first villager's house in the village, and the people inside seemed to have already seen them.
"Village chief, you've arrived. I haven't prepared the tax yet. Please come back this afternoon to collect it from our family."
The village chief didn't say anything and went to the next house.
"Village chief, you've arrived very early. I'll pay half of the taxes first. As for conscription, if one person from my family goes, there will be no one to do the work. How about you consider families with more members?"
The village chief nodded and continued to the next house.
"Village chief, I'm starving to death! Where would I get the money to pay taxes? Just send me to the battlefield!"
"Okay, I'll speak to Lord Tax Collector." The village chief sized up the villager and continued:
"By the way, where's that family next to you? Did they go to the fields? Didn't I say I was coming to collect taxes today? Why did they go out? Don't they listen to me anymore?" The village chief asked, looking at the empty house next door.
"Oh, them! I didn't see them this morning. I wonder where they went? Village chief, I can't even feed myself, how can I have the heart to care about others?"
"Okay, remember to care about others next time." The village chief said and left.
The tax collection work this morning did not go very well; only a small amount of tax was collected.
However, most villagers said they would pay in the afternoon or tomorrow, which made the village chief's somewhat unpleasant expression turn into a slight smile.
The next day, the village chief continued collecting taxes, followed by the same villager from the previous day.
The village chief first went to the first house from yesterday.
However, the doors of the villagers who said they would pay taxes in the afternoon yesterday were closed today.
"Go and knock on the door," the village chief said to the villagers who were with him.
"Knock knock knock".
No one answered from inside.
Let's emphasize the key points again.
"Knock knock knock".
There was still no response from inside.
"Did you go to the fields? Didn't you know I was here to collect taxes? You'll be sorry when you get back." The village chief cursed, then turned and headed towards the second house from yesterday, but the door was still closed.
"Knock knock knock".
No one answered.
"Knock knock knock".
Still no one answered.
"Village chief, where have they all gone?"
The village chief didn't speak, but looked at the distant mountains.
We continued to the last place from yesterday.
"Knock knock knock".
The door opened, and the villager who had said he would send him to the battlefield yesterday came out.
"Village chief, didn't I say you would send me directly to the battlefield? I really can't afford to pay the taxes."
"I know, I wanted to ask you something. Yesterday I asked you to show some concern for others. Did you show any concern?" the village chief asked after looking at the villager.
"Village chief, how could I not listen to what you say? Of course I cared about it."
"Okay, then let me ask you, what were those people from the previous few houses doing? Didn't they know I was going to collect taxes these past few days?"
The village chief's tone was unpleasant; he seemed somewhat angry.
"Village chief, I haven't checked on those families yet. Aren't we supposed to come one by one? I'll check on the people next to me first."
"Oh? What's the person next to you doing? Is he home today?" the village chief asked curiously.
"They! I heard they ran away. Aren't you going to collect taxes and conscript soldiers? They have three sons. Are you going to conscript them? They have the most and best land in the village, so they ran away after hearing that."
"Huh?" The village chief was stunned. "They just ran away without even taking anything from the land?"
"Yes, village chief. I also heard…"