Chapter 14

Corvée labor existed in every dynasty, and the Jing Dynasty was no exception. Jing followed the rent‑labor‑tax system, meaning commoners not only had to pay taxes but also perform about twenty days of corvée labor each year. If major state affairs arose, the labor period could be extended by another half month.

In Jing, corvée labor was divided into three types: official labor, convict labor, and commoner labor.

What the village head announced this time was commoner labor, the corvée imposed on ordinary people. It was a compulsory regulation: each household had to provide adult men, and whatever work the government assigned, they had to do.

For villagers, corvée labor was terrifying. Ordinary people dreaded seeing the government officers in charge of it, as if they were demons from the underworld dragging souls away.

If work was done even slightly slowly, overseers would whip them. Food was poor, sleep was poor, and they had to rise before dawn to work. Meals were thin gruel three times a day. After one round of corvée, a person could lose more than ten pounds, as if stripped of a layer of skin. Those with weak bodies often could not endure it and died.

Zhang Xinghua sighed, “If only Sheng had passed the licentiate exam last year, then our family wouldn’t have to send men for corvée labor.”

In the household, there were seven adult men: Song Laoda, Song Lao'er, Song Laosan, Song Ping, Song Feng, Song Cheng, and Song Sheng. The rule was five men provide one, seven men provide two. Since the Song family had seven, it meant they had to send two men for labor.

Last time, it should have been Song Ping and Song Cheng’s turn, but Song Laoda and Song Lao’er pitied their sons and went in their place.

Because Song Sheng was studying, Zhang Xinghua naturally couldn’t bear to let him go. But this year, deciding who should serve was difficult.

She opened her mouth but couldn’t say it. With so many men and so much land, her three sons already suffered enough just farming. She felt heartache.

Song Sheng said: “Can’t we redeem it? Why don’t we pay the redemption fee?”

He still had a few taels of silver left from selling books today, which he could give to his grandmother for redemption.

Throughout history, corvée labor could be redeemed with money. Wealthy families unwilling to let their sons suffer would pay to buy them back, sparing them the hardship.

Zhang Xinghua looked pained: “Our family must send two men. By regulation, we can only redeem one. And redemption costs too much—ten taels of silver for one man. Sheng, we don’t have that kind of money. What little we have must go toward your studies.”

Song Sheng touched the five taels left in his pocket, feeling miserable. For the first time, he realized how urgent and important it was to pass the licentiate exam.

Seeing everyone upset, Lu Qing said: “Grandmother, I still have eight taels of silver in my dowry. Why don’t we add it together to redeem one man?”

He knew his husband had five taels from selling books, minus two for tuition, leaving three. Together with his dowry, that made eleven taels—enough to redeem one man.

Zhang Xinghua knew Lu Qing had brought a generous dowry when he married in. The Song family hadn’t given much bride price, so they had benefited from the Lu family.

Now Lu Qing was offering his dowry again. She felt guilty, but compared to her sons and grandsons, money seemed less important. She could always repay her grandson’s husband later.

She remembered how Song Laoda and Song Laoer had returned from corvée last time, nearly broken. The thought made her want to cry.

Song Sheng said: “I also have five taels, Grandmother. We have enough for redemption.”

Seeing him take out the silver, Zhang Xinghua trembled: “Sheng, where did you get so much? You didn’t do anything improper, did you? I heard some families hire substitutes for the child‑student exam. My grandson, you didn’t risk being a substitute, did you? That could land you in prison!”

Song Sheng quickly explained: “No, Grandmother, nothing like that. I sold some useless books in town today. That’s where the five taels came from.”

When she heard he had sold books, Zhang Xinghua scolded: “You wastrel! Why sell books? Our family isn’t so poor that you need to trade books for money! Where did you sell them? Go return them immediately!”

Song Sheng had expected her anger and hurried to explain: “Grandmother, those were useless books—geographies and tales of spirits. They’re not needed for exams. They were molding anyway. Better to turn them into money for emergencies. Besides, once a shop buys books, they don’t return them. Buying them back would cost even more.”

Zhang Xinghua said: “Sheng, don’t lie to me. Books are the most important thing for a scholar. Even if we’re poor, we can still support your studies. Never think we’ve reached the point of selling books. Do you understand?”

Song Sheng answered obediently: “Grandson understands.”

Seeing that Song Sheng’s words didn’t sound like lies, Zhang Xinghua felt more at ease. The money was now gathered, and she finally decided: “Alright, this year our family will redeem one man from corvée labor.”

But even with one redeemed, another still had to go. The law stated that each household could redeem only one; since the Song family had to provide two, one man still had to serve.

Song Laosan stayed silent for a moment, then stepped forward: “I’ll go this year. Last year it was eldest brother and second brother. This time it should be me. Besides, Sheng’s studies have cost the family much effort. I’m the most suitable.”

His words made sense. Though Zhang Xinghua felt reluctant, she knew her third son was indeed the best choice, and she was moved that he volunteered.

Hearing this, the families of Song Laoda and Song Laoer both breathed a sigh of relief. Corvée labor was inhuman, and privately no one wanted their own household members to go.

Thanks to Song Sheng and Lu Qing pooling silver to redeem one man, the first and second branches were spared. They were deeply touched, especially since Song Sheng had even sold books to contribute. His uncles felt comforted, thinking all their years of supporting his studies had not been wasted.

They had once worried that this nephew was too gloomy and withdrawn, and feared he might forget family ties if he succeeded. Now they saw he valued kinship greatly. They resolved to listen to their mother and continue supporting his studies. If he passed the licentiate exam, they would all be exempt from corvée labor.

But when Song Sheng heard his father would go, his heart ached. His father was always quiet but treated him with great kindness. Having married late, his father was no longer young. To endure corvée labor again might break him.

Unable to bear it, Song Sheng said: “Father, let me go instead. I can keep accounts. At least I’m a scholar, able to write and calculate. I could ask the overseers to let me do bookkeeping, which is easier.”

As soon as he spoke, the entire family rejected the idea—even Lu Qing opposed it.

Lu Qing whispered: “Husband, did you forget about the wager today? If you go to serve corvée labor, what will happen to the academy’s big exam?”

Song Sheng gave a bitter smile. He regretted being impulsive in challenging Li Hongyun. He could have found another way to teach him a lesson instead of rashly proposing a wager.

But even without the exam bet, Zhang Xinghua and the rest of the Song family would never agree to let him go.

Song Sheng was a scholar. Since he began studying, he had never been made to do farm work. His body was thin, much weaker than his cousins.

Even if he claimed he could do bookkeeping, the food during corvée was the same for everyone. No matter the task, meals were limited. If you were late, there was nothing left, and you had to work hungry.

The food was already poor, and Song Sheng could never compete with others for it. If he went, he would grow weaker, and if he fell ill, he might not even survive.

The family would never allow him to go. They were counting on him to study hard and pass the licentiate exam.

At that moment, Song Sheng finally realized clearly how important it was to earn the title of xiucai. Exemption from taxes was secondary—the true value was freeing the family from corvée labor.

“Grandmother, Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, Father, don’t worry. I will study diligently,” Song Sheng said, determined to put more effort into his learning.

Seeing his resolute expression, Zhang Xinghua felt gratified: “Good! Our Song family has no cowards. You just focus on studying, leave everything else aside.”

Song Sheng then asked: “When does the corvée begin?”

“The village head said in ten days,” Zhang Xinghua replied. “We don’t yet know what work will be assigned. We can only leave it to fate.”

Because of the corvée matter, the family ate dinner absent‑mindedly. That evening, washing dishes fell to Second Sister‑in‑law Li, while Lu Qing only helped gather the bowls.

After dinner, Song Sheng and Lu Qing returned to their room. Without lighting a lamp, they washed and lay down.

During dinner, Lu Qing’s face had looked troubled. Song Sheng thought he was upset about the eight taels of dowry money. He held his hand and said: “Lu Qing, thank you for those silver taels today. In the future, when I earn money, I’ll give it all to you to manage. I’ll study hard and make you the licentiate’s husband.”

Not every newly married husband would willingly give up his dowry for his in‑laws. Only Lu Qing, this sincere “little fool,” had done so wholeheartedly.

Lu Qing replied: “Husband, you don’t need to thank me. We’re one family. I’m not upset about the dowry. I’m worried about my younger uncle. Since Song Family Village is being drafted for corvée, West Village surely won’t escape.”

Song Sheng said: “But isn’t it possible to redeem with money? The Lu family only needs to send one adult man. If they gather some silver, they can redeem him.”

The Lu family was better off than the Songs. Just from Lu Qing’s dowry of eight taels, it was clear that redeeming one man wasn’t impossible. If they wanted, they could gather the money.

But Lu Qing sighed, turned to face Song Sheng, resting his hand under his head: “Husband, you don’t know our family’s situation. My eldest aunt would never agree to spend ten taels of silver to redeem corvée. So this time, it will surely be my younger uncle who goes.”

Lu Qing said: “My younger uncle refuses to marry, and my eldest aunt thinks he’ll eventually rely on them for support in old age. So she always treats him poorly at home. My eldest uncle fears his wife and doesn’t dare say a word… sigh.”

Song Sheng replied: “It’s fine. Once your younger uncle marries and moves out, your eldest aunt won’t be able to control him. If you’re still worried, tomorrow we’ll buy some pork especially for him to strengthen his body.”

For those chosen to serve corvée labor, the family always gave them the best food. Meat was reserved for them first, so their bodies could be nourished before enduring the harsh service.

But Lu Qing shook his head: “Forget it. Even if we buy meat, my younger uncle probably won’t get to eat it. My eldest aunt would never give all of it to him.”

Seeing Lu Qing’s worried face, already frowning and sighing at such a young age, Song Sheng patted his shoulder. Without thinking, he placed his hand behind Lu Qing’s neck and pulled him into his embrace. He couldn’t bear to see him frown.

It was meant as ordinary comfort, but because Lu Qing kept shifting in his arms to find a comfortable position, something long dormant in Song Sheng suddenly stirred.

Lu Qing was startled by this unexpected reaction. He froze, not daring to move. Yet Song Sheng’s hand still held his back firmly, not letting go. Blushing, Lu Qing lowered his eyes and asked shyly: “Husband… shall we…?”