Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

A suffocating sense of impending doom enveloped the entire village. Panic gripped the people, rumors swirled, and every household was weighed down by the shadow of war and heavy taxes. To stabilize the village and ensure their survival, five respected elders gathered overnight to discuss and deliberate on a plan for the entire village's survival. Early the next morning, a gong at the village entrance resounded, its urgent sound piercing through the waves of rice, summoning all the villagers, young and old, to the threshing ground to discuss the matter of life and death for the entire village.

The clear, urgent sound of a gong pierced the village, echoing between the rice paddies and the mountains. Villagers, who had been busy with their tasks, put down their work and gathered nervously at the threshing ground. The elderly hurried along, leaning on their canes; the young men walked slowly, their faces grave; women led their children, their eyes filled with fear; even the usually playful children were held tightly by their wrists, too afraid to make a sound. In no time, the spacious threshing ground was filled with people, a dark mass, completely silent except for the soft rustling of the wind through the rice leaves, which only amplified the solemn and oppressive atmosphere.

Five village elders stood side by side on a stone pier high in the threshing ground, their faces somber and brows furrowed. The oldest, Grandpa Zhao, with his white hair and beard, had spent his entire life working the land, weathering countless storms. Looking at the anxious villagers below, his voice was hoarse and rough, but he spoke steadily, silencing the clamor: "I've called you all here today for no other reason than this crucial matter concerning the survival of our entire village! Everyone, listen carefully!"

"The situation outside is absolutely terrible! Guangzhou in the south and Wuhan in the north have both fallen into the hands of the Japanese!" Grandpa Zhao's voice was firm and resolute, each word piercing the heart. The audience below instantly felt a chill, holding their breath in suspense. "Both the north and south passes have been blocked by the Japanese. They are now attacking from both sides, clearly indicating that their next move is to attack Hunan! Here in Shaoyang, there are no more barriers to stop the war. It won't be long before the flames of war reach our remote mountain valleys, and no one can escape it!"

His gaze swept heavily across the entire village, taking in the sorrowful faces. His tone grew increasingly somber and helpless: "And this year's autumn tax has skyrocketed, piled on top of each other, making it hard for us ordinary folks to breathe! We all know perfectly well that the government isn't really trying to collect grain; they're just using various methods to force us to send able-bodied men to fight! If we pay the tax honestly, ordinary farming families simply can't afford it; if we can't afford it, we end up having to use the men in our families as collateral. This is the deadlock we're facing right now, and our entire village can't escape it!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a chorus of sighs and murmurs filled the threshing ground. Many young men clenched their fists, their faces pale, filled with helplessness and resentment; women bowed their heads and wept, secretly worried about the safety of their fathers, brothers, and children; the elderly shook their heads repeatedly, their eyes filled with sorrow and desolation, for survival in chaotic times has always been a difficult journey.

Old Wang, the village head, stepped forward, his tone earnest and sincere, full of the simplicity and wisdom of an old farmer: "We old folks stayed up most of last night, thinking things through repeatedly before finally gathering everyone here. We're not here to force anyone's child to join the army. In these chaotic times, you can't survive alone! Our whole village must unite as one, have a unified plan, and work together to minimize deaths and protect the elderly and children in our families!"

"The enemy is at the gates, taxes are being levied, and conscription is inevitable—there's no escaping it!" Uncle Taiye looked at everyone, every word a stark truth. "Fortunately, the Song family's sweet potatoes grew well this year, and they've been planted throughout the village. Every household has some surplus grain, and they can earn a little money through this road, barely managing to withstand this heavy taxation and avoid having to sell their men for their lives for now. But don't be complacent, everyone! This is only temporary peace! High-yield rice and potatoes won't be available throughout the village until next year; this autumn's harvest isn't going to be enough!"

"The worst part is that our county is one of the largest in Hunan, and there's a saying going around: 'No Hunan, no army!' That used to be a matter of pride, but now it's a death knell! When the government needs soldiers or supplies, we're the first target; when the Japanese invade, we're the first to be plundered! This ordeal is far more difficult than we imagined!"

"Everyone passing through these days says that after the Japanese invaders broke into the city, they burned, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of atrocities. The people in the occupied areas have been displaced, and countless have died or been injured—it's a terrible sight!" Old Man Li's voice grew increasingly anxious. "If the Japanese really invade our Shaoyang, the elderly, children, and women in the village simply won't be able to withstand it! We must plan our escape route in advance and establish rules. While we still have a few days of peace, we need to make plans as early as possible—whether to stay or leave—so that we don't panic and be at their mercy when the soldiers are already at our doorstep!"

After thoroughly analyzing the perilous situation, the village elders explained their overnight strategy to everyone present, using simple, straightforward language to ensure that everyone understood and remembered it. From now on, the entire village would audit each household's grain tax accounts. Families with surplus grain would proactively assist their neighbors struggling to pay their taxes, working together to weather this heavy tax burden. In addition, all the village's young men would gather together, dedicating their free time each morning and evening to physical training and self-defense skills. They would take turns patrolling the village, closely monitoring any activity in the mountains and outside the village, to prevent bandits and deserters from raiding and robbing the village, doing everything in their power to protect their homes and the livelihoods of everyone in the village.

A cool autumn breeze swept across the empty threshing ground, stirring a somber and heavy atmosphere. The entire village stood silently, listening attentively to the village elder's arrangements. No one objected, no one argued, and no one shirked responsibility. Having weathered the storms of war and heard of the nation's devastation, everyone understood deeply: with the country shattered and the world in turmoil, the days of personal peace were long gone. Only by uniting as one, pooling their strength, and facing these difficult times together could the entire village fight tooth and nail for a chance at survival for their families and their homeland in this chaotic world.

The Song family was specially exempted from the village's patrol duty schedule. Everyone in the village knew that the Song family had led them in trying out improved varieties and farming methods, increasing production and income year after year, quietly benefiting their neighbors. This kindness was always remembered. Because they trusted the father's calm experience and exceptional skills, the villagers sincerely invited him to take some time to instruct the village's young men in physical training and practical battlefield self-defense techniques, giving these inexperienced youths more confidence to protect themselves and their homes in turbulent times.