My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

Chickens flew and dogs barked, and cries of pain filled the air. The Li family was quickly alerted.

"You all stay home, I'll go see what happened?"

Mr. Li instructed his mother and Li Ling'er to stay at home while he went out to gather information.

"Honey, you have to be careful!"

Li's mother looked worried.

Although they didn't know what had happened, hearing the villagers' cries of agony, they could guess that something serious must have occurred, and they were worried that Li's father was in danger.

Don't worry!

Mr. Li turned around, grabbed a kitchen knife from the kitchen, and left the house with full vigilance.

Not long after, Li's father returned home, and Li's mother hurriedly asked him questions.

"Master, what happened?"

"Ugh!"

Li's father sighed, "The government came to collect taxes. Many villagers couldn't pay their taxes, their families were taken away to serve in the army, and some people are selling their children."

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As Mr. Li spoke, he couldn't help but recall a scene from two years ago.

The Li family couldn't pay their taxes, which is why Li Xuancang was forcibly taken away. All of this is still fresh in my mind.

"What? Didn't the imperial court just collect taxes? Why are they collecting taxes again?"

Li's mother looked surprised. This year's taxes had already been collected, so why was it necessary to collect taxes again?

"According to these officials and yamen runners, it is because of the defeat at the front lines that more food and supplies are needed, and the emperor has personally ordered the collection of taxes."

Mr. Li has already found out the details and informed Mrs. Li.

"With the defeat at the front, will Xuan Cang be in danger?"

Upon hearing of the defeat at the front, Li's mother was struck dumb, her body staggered, she felt dizzy and almost fell to the ground.

With quick reflexes, Mr. Li caught his swaying wife and comforted her, saying, "Xuan Cang is a lucky man; Heaven will surely protect you. You'll be alright."

Li's father was also worried about Li Xuancang, but he couldn't show it, otherwise it would only make Li's mother and Li Ling'er more worried, and he couldn't let the family fall apart.

"Yes, yes, Xuan Cang will definitely be alright, God protect him, God protect him..."

With a devout expression, Li's mother clasped her hands together, praying to heaven to protect Li Xuancang and keep him safe.

At this moment, a commotion came from outside, and officials and commoners gradually approached the Li family's house.

"Let's go out and take a look."

Hearing the commotion, the Li family members hurriedly came out of their house.

When the yamen runners and tax collectors arrived at the Li family's courtyard, their attitudes changed instantly.

The tax collector, who had just been barking and shouting sternly, immediately put on a fawning and respectful smile and waved to stop the yamen runners who wanted to step forward.

He personally stepped forward and gently knocked on the courtyard gate, his tone extremely polite.

"Excuse me, is this the residence of General Li Xuancang?"

The courtyard gate opened, and Mr. and Mrs. Li came out. They looked at the group of officials who had just been committing violence in the village. Although they were a little nervous, they still tried to remain calm.

Upon seeing this, the tax collector smiled even more broadly and spoke with even greater respect.

"Master Li, Madam Li, I am a tax collector from the county, here to collect taxes on orders."

"I have long heard that you two are close relatives of Li, the sergeant at the border. Li has defended the border and made great contributions in battle. His family is protected by military status and is exempt from all taxes and labor. I have come here specifically to inform you and will not disturb you."

The tax collector had a fawning look on his face, and the group of yamen runners behind him also completely restrained their fierceness and became respectful. There was no trace of the arrogance and domineering attitude they had shown towards other people.

Seeing this, Li's father knew that his family was no longer what it used to be. He quickly calmed down, and the tension in his heart disappeared without a trace. He nodded lightly and said, "I understand."

"Okay! Alright!"

The tax collector readily agreed, his face beaming with smiles.

"If you two encounter any inconvenience in the village, or if anyone dares to cause trouble, please feel free to give me your instructions, and I will certainly take care of it for you. We will not disturb you any longer, and we will take our leave now."

Having said that, the tax collector, along with his yamen runners, respectfully stepped back a few paces.

He spoke softly and treated everyone with great courtesy throughout, a stark contrast to his earlier ruthless and brutal demeanor towards other civilians.

Many villagers followed the officials, begging for mercy and asking them to spare their families.

The villagers, who had just been brandishing sticks and hurling insults at the tax collectors and yamen runners, instantly lost all their ferocity when facing the Li family.

With his bowing and obsequious demeanor, the entire Qingxi Village fell into a brief silence.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

Forgetting to cry, forgetting to wail, they stared at the absurd yet real scene before them.

The yamen runner who had just kicked Old Man Wang to the ground and cursed the people was now bowing his head, his hands hanging by his sides, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The tax collector who had been slamming his fist on the table to forcibly collect taxes and threatened to confiscate their property and send them to the army bowed to Li's parents, not daring to offend them in the slightest.

Separated by a wall, two worlds lie on either side.

Here, families are torn apart, people are displaced, and they are wantonly bullied and exploited by officials. Even surviving is a luxury.

On the other side, everything was safe and sound, completely unharmed, and the officials treated them with great courtesy, protecting them thoroughly.

After a moment of deathly silence, the villagers' eyes were filled with overwhelming envy, and a hint of barely concealed jealousy.

"Look... look at their attitude towards the Li family, it's completely different from how they treat us..."

"Who can argue with that? We're all from Qingxi Village, so why is there such a big difference?"

"It's all because of the Li family's son. He became a squad leader at the border, and with his military status, even the imperial court has to give him face."

"If my child could be this successful, we wouldn't have to suffer like this."

"..."

Whispers spread through the crowd, and everyone's face was filled with envy.

Looking at the way the government treated the Li family, their eyes were filled with envy that was almost overflowing.

My eyes were red and my heart was filled with sorrow.

Both were farmers toiling in the fields, but the Li family, because they had a son who had rendered meritorious service on the frontier, were able to remain unscathed in this chaotic world of harsh taxes, without having to pay a single penny of tax, be conscripted, or suffer the wrath of officials.

Some people looked at their relatives being dragged away, then at the Li family, and couldn't help but wipe away their tears, their hearts filled with resentment and envy.

If they had such a powerful backer, they wouldn't have ended up selling their children and suffering the loss of their families.

Some people, seeing the fierce-looking officials treating the Li family with utmost respect, felt a quiet growing of jealousy, but even more so, a helpless envy.

They hated the injustice of the world, hated their own incompetence, and envied the Li family for having a good son like Li Xuancang, who risked his life to fight for his future on the frontier and protect his family.

All eyes were fixed on the Li family's courtyard, a mixture of shock, envy, bitterness, and jealousy.

In this chaotic world where every day is uncertain and everyone is in danger, the Li family's stability and dignity are something that everyone in Qingxi Village yearns for.

They envied the Li family's good fortune, and even more so, they envied Li Xuancang for single-handedly creating a peaceful haven for his family amidst the chaos of war.