Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

Back home, Xingbao hesitated several times before swallowing his words, ultimately remaining silent. After careful consideration, he fully understood the pros and cons. The position of village chief in this chaotic world, seemingly a position of power and authority, was in reality a heavy burden hanging over their heads. While their family business appeared to be stabilizing and gaining a reputation, their foundation was still weak, and they relied on the support and protection of the Liu clan for their actions. The stringent conscription and grain requisition tasks imposed from above were extremely demanding, with very little room for error. Taking over would place the entire family in a precarious position.

If one impulsively seizes this position, and in times of tension and heavy workload, any slight mistake or failure to complete the task will, at best, result in reprimands from the authorities, and at worst, implicate the entire family and hinder village affairs, education, and agricultural development. Rather than forcing oneself into an unstable position, bearing endless risks, and ending up disliked by everyone, it is better to gracefully step aside, remain uninvolved, and peacefully safeguard one's livelihood and principles—a truly peaceful and secure path.

Having figured out these complexities, Xingbao's resentment dissipated, leaving only a profound understanding and clarity. Uncle Bu's sudden rise to power and his petty ambitions would surely lead to trouble and endless difficulties in the future. However, the Song family's foundation was steadily being strengthened. As long as they proceeded with steadfastness and caution, they could calmly handle any storms or difficulties that arose.

No one expected that on the second day after Uncle Bu took over as head of the village, he couldn't wait to spread the word that he had changed the old rules of Wang Lao, who was fair and considerate to his neighbors, and privately set up a set of absurd local rules for conscription.

Using the newly acquired power in the village, he exploited the villagers' fear of their children dying and their reluctance to be separated from their families. He openly announced to each household that the conscription quota could be flexibly adjusted. Any family with able-bodied men who did not want their children to go to the front lines for military service could pay money to avoid conscription. Those who paid enough money could directly exempt their children from military service and completely avoid the dangers of war. However, the five poorest families who paid the least amount would be forcibly conscripted, with their children filling the village's conscription quota.

The news caused an uproar throughout the village. For years, Old Wang had served as the village head, and despite the heavy burden of conscription orders and countless difficulties, he always upheld fairness, assigning quotas fairly and on a household-by-household basis, never engaging in favoritism or corruption, and never considering using conscription to enrich himself or exploit his neighbors. Even though he was tormented daily by pleas for forgiveness and the pain of losing loved ones, he steadfastly adhered to his principles, enduring hardship for himself and his family, never oppressing his neighbors or enriching himself.

Once Uncle Bu gained power, he completely revealed his selfish and tyrannical nature, utterly disregarding the suffering of the people in this chaotic world. His actions were clearly a blatant attempt to exploit the urgent need for conscription to amass wealth and control the lives of the masses. Wealthy families could buy their way out, easily escaping death and calamity; impoverished farmers, destitute and unable to afford the money, were forced to passively accept their fate, compelled to send their sons to their deaths on the battlefield—a ridiculous and cruel act.

The village was thrown into turmoil, filled with resentment. The stark gap between the rich and poor was laid bare, and conflicts arose between neighbors. Families with some means secretly plotted to raise money to avoid corvée labor; while impoverished farmers, who had farmed for generations and had no savings, were filled with sorrow and despair, looking at their young, grown children with a sense of powerlessness and indignation, yet utterly helpless.

Upon hearing this, Xingbao's heart sank, further solidifying his belief that his family's decision to remain silent and yield was the wisest choice. Uncle Bu, already narrow-minded and morally corrupt, now wielded real power without checks and balances, becoming even more reckless and unscrupulous. He disregarded village stability and the well-being of the villagers, seeking only to seize opportunities for personal gain, satisfy his desires, and use his position to suppress dissidents and settle old scores.

Sure enough, on his third day in office, Uncle Bu couldn't wait to put on his airs as a village head, swaggering into the bamboo house with his two burly brothers. It was almost noon, and Xingbao and Guixiang had just returned. A few passing merchants had taken their seats, and the shop was quietly welcoming customers, a scene of peace. The three of them entered with an air of arrogance, refusing to find a table or chair, order food or water, but simply standing in the middle of the hall, looking down at their surroundings with an overbearing attitude, causing the diners in the shop to turn their heads and fall silent.

Father was wiping the table with his head down when he saw who it was. A knowing glint flashed in his eyes, but his face remained calm and composed. Uncle Bu, without waiting for anyone to greet him, pulled up a stool and sat down with an air of authority. He gestured for his brothers to block the doorway, displaying the imposing manner of a village head. He casually picked up a rough porcelain teacup from the table, filled it with tea, and downed it in one gulp, his movements crude and careless, showing no regard for the Song family.

After downing a cup of cold tea in one gulp, Uncle Bu casually slammed the rough porcelain bowl heavily onto the table. The bowl struck the wooden table with a dull thud, carrying a deliberate provocation and arrogance. His chin was slightly raised, his eyes filled with the smugness of a petty person who had achieved success. He bossed and berated his father, his words light yet laced with coercion. He subtly hinted at past grievances, his meaning unmistakable: now that he held real power as the village head, old and new grudges were all at his fingertips. If the Song family was sensible enough to offer a sum of money to settle past scores, he would be more lenient and accommodating in future village affairs such as corvée labor, conscription, and grain requisition.

Faced with such blatant coercion, Father remained calm and composed, without the slightest ripple of emotion. He continued to wipe the table slowly and methodically, his movements steady and unhurried, never letting the other party's arrogance disrupt his rhythm. He responded politely and gently throughout, maintaining a distant and aloof demeanor, without making any excessive moves.

Those around them were deceived by the peaceful scene before them, completely oblivious to the undercurrents. Only Xingbao, standing to the side, accurately captured the coldness and extreme caution hidden deep in his father's eyes. His father was a man who had truly crawled out of the battlefields of a chaotic era, his martial arts skills honed over the years, improving daily, making him swift and courageous. The Bu family, relying on their seven brothers and their sheer numbers, usually acted arrogantly and domineeringly in the village. But if it came to a public confrontation, his father could easily deal with all seven of them single-handedly, without any hesitation in using force. However, his father knew perfectly well that today he absolutely could not let them pay to avoid trouble. A greedy person's appetite is never satisfied. If you give in today and settle things by spending money, the other party will definitely take advantage of you and increase their demands in the future. They will endlessly come to extort and manipulate you in every way. The Song family will only fall into a passive and manipulated situation and never have a peaceful day.