After the group left the county seat, the Beiyang Army began marching in their customary single-line formation. The tax collectors from the county knew the way, so there was no need for Cao Yifeng to lead at the front of the column. The tax collector, however, was quite eager to ask Cao Yifeng about the growth of the crops in Caojiapu.

"The crops aren't doing well this year; the harvest won't be much." Cao Yifeng naturally couldn't praise the sturdy wheat ears and the granaries full of grain. Ever since the Beiyang government changed the tax collection method to directly collecting grain, the landlords in Hebei had already felt that life was becoming difficult. But the subsequent massive grain acquisitions filled the landlords' treasuries with silver dollars. As a landlord's son, Cao Yifeng was well aware of the faces of these tax collectors; if they didn't squeeze everyone dry, they wouldn't stop.

The tax collector naturally didn't care about Cao Yifeng's thoughts. Not only did he not care, but he also hoped to make Cao Yifeng understand and support the tax collectors' plans. "Young Master Cao, let's not beat around the bush. We brothers also eat from the bowl of tax collection, so we have to do our best. However, there is always a bottom line to tax collection. As long as the grain handed over reaches a certain amount, everything else is negotiable."

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly indicated the tax collector's thoughts: taxes had to be collected. However, the tax collector's personal benefits couldn't be missing either. Cao Yifeng smiled apologetically, but in his heart, he wished he could pick up a knife and stab these tax collectors to death. Although he knew that he and his family could absolutely never support the People's Party's land reform, seeing these faces of the tax collectors—or rather, seeing the faces of the old tax collectors restored after witnessing the People's Party's tax collection—Cao Yifeng's disgust soared to a height that even he found surprising.

Cao Yifeng had been to the People's Party base area; a cousin of his had married into a family in Henan. Based on what Cao Yifeng had seen and heard in the People's Party base area just a few dozen miles away, the People's Party's taxation was completely different from the Beiyang side. Common people didn't like paying taxes, so the People's Party never forced the people to pay taxes; paying public grain was voluntary for the people. After the consolidation of villages and the construction of towns, the people all lived collectively in some "communities" in the towns. Those were buildings with bright glass, beautiful floor-to-ceiling curtains, clean tap water, and smooth, polished cement floors.

After the summer harvest, all the grain was handed over by the people themselves; no one refused or delayed. Firstly, the thirty percent tax wasn't high. Secondly, if the tax grain wasn't paid on time, the people would be disqualified from purchasing at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives. The money spent buying goods at fair prices was much more than buying at the cheap prices of the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives; this expense was enough to buy two or three times the amount of the public grain. The common people calculated this account more shrewdly than anyone else. So there was never any coercion, let alone extortion by tax collectors; you could pay the tax grain or not, as you pleased. If you paid the grain, the grain collection station wouldn't make things difficult for you either.

Cao Yifeng's cousin married a local landlord nicknamed "Zhou Bapi" (Zhou the Skinner). This "Cousin-in-law," apart from being a farming maniac who worked desperately hard, was extreme in exploiting the labor of tenant farmers; he was almost beaten to death during the land reform. However, he had one good point: he loved farming, was stingy with money, and didn't like lending at high interest. In addition, he listened particularly well to the "government"; he didn't dare to resist even when his land was confiscated, so he managed to save his life. When the People's Party organized production teams, Zhou Bapi actually signed up. His reputation as a "skinner" was well known, but surprisingly, quite a few people who loved farming dared to cooperate with him.

Everyone first publicly established the rules of the production team according to the regulations of the People's Party. After "Zhou Bapi" volunteered and was elected as the production team leader, he personally planned the production arrangements. Moreover, the regulations stated clearly that if the yield per mu exceeded 280 jin, "Zhou Bapi" would get twenty-five percent of the surplus grain. This document was notarized by the People's Party Notary Office, and all participating commoners pressed their handprints and signed it. Furthermore, Zhou Bapi was particularly afraid of the government. The government suggested that their production team participate in the "Unified Purchase and Sale" grain acquisition plan, and after studying it, he also persuaded the participants of the production team to join.

This production team had a total of more than 580 mu of land. Over the year, the average yield per mu was more than 320 jin. In addition to the harvest from his own land, Zhou Bapi netted more than 6,000 jin of grain according to the document. Plus the breeding farm contracted by the production team, each participant received two pigs, twenty chickens, and more than two thousand eggs at the end of the year. According to the "Unified Purchase and Sale" plan, each person's year-end income exceeded 300 RMB. The Zhou family's total income for eight people was as high as 6,000 RMB. In Hebei, the exchange rate between RMB and "Yuan Shikai" silver dollars was at a level of 5:1 to 3:1. That is to say, the Zhou family's annual income was at least at the level of 1,200 silver dollars. In the past, when the Zhou family had more than 200 mu of land, they simply couldn't earn this much money.

So when Zhou Bapi invited his brother-in-law Cao Yifeng for a drink, the dishes were very "simple," but there was a lot of talk. Zhou Bapi praised the People's Party's investment in rural water conservancy infrastructure and praised the great use of the "tractors" even more. If irrigated land hadn't been popularized locally, if tractors hadn't come and gone continuously to implement deep plowing and transport various materials during the busy farming season, agricultural output simply couldn't have increased. As for the People's Party's agricultural technology department, Zhou Bapi almost praised these young people from out of town to the skies. Improved seeds, weather forecasts, various pest and disease control technologies, and even investigations of soil characteristics and nutrient components—these young people didn't go to the fields much, and many things were just strictly according to the book. Zhou Bapi was an old hand at farming for many years; although he didn't understand those new terms for a while, he understood the principles inside as soon as he heard them. Because of the urgent need for labor, Zhou Bapi once delayed his two sons and one daughter from going to school. As a result, Zhou Bapi was dragged to the village assembly by cadres from the education department and publicly criticized for "opposing the Compulsory Education Law," but Zhou Bapi held no grudge at all. He had already decided to let his two sons go to the newly opened agricultural school in Anyang after graduating from junior high school to study the People's Party's agricultural technology properly.

Although he was a good hand at work, Zhou Bapi couldn't hold his liquor; his tongue got big after a few cups. He said drunkenly to his brother-in-law Cao Yifeng: "Don't be afraid of having no land. As long as the People's Party keeps its word, you can make money if you are willing to work; there is endless money to be made from farming. Those other landlords in our village acted like their parents had died after their land was distributed. Actually, what the hell are they afraid of? The People's Party, this government, keeps its word; it is a good government. If your side gets liberated and you feel you can't get by, just come and farm with me, brother. As long as you are willing to work, I dare not say too much, but it's no problem to let you earn three to five hundred yuan a year."

Cao Yifeng didn't dare to say anything disrespectful at the time. The bulging veins on Zhou Bapi's calves and arms made Cao Yifeng feel a dull pain in his balls every time he saw them; that was from working day and night in the fields. Who within dozens of miles didn't know that Zhou Bapi had a way with farming? If he wasn't capable at farming, why would a small landlord with only a little over 200 mu of land be able to intermarry with the Cao family, who had more than ten qing of land? That Zhou Bapi could get rich by farming after following the People's Party was his own knack. The Cao family simply couldn't do this. Moreover, according to the news Cao Yifeng got from his cousin, although the production team organized by Zhou Bapi had a good harvest, there were not many people willing to continue joining. Furthermore, after a year of desperate labor, some production team members who couldn't stand it also requested to withdraw. Zhou Bapi himself could be a farming maniac, a labor maniac, but others might not be willing to go crazy with Zhou Bapi. Based on Cao Yifeng's understanding of himself and his family, no one in their family could withstand such labor.

So although he was no longer as afraid of the People's Party's land reform as before, Cao Yifeng still firmed up his attitude: he would absolutely not give up the struggle against the People's Party until the last moment. Even though he was extremely disgusted with the tax collectors in front of him, Cao Yifeng still put on a smile and began to deal with them.

From the county seat of Linzhang County to Caojiapu was more than thirty li. Coupled with the scorching sun now, the marching speed of the Beiyang team was not fast. After walking seven or eight li in more than two hours, the Beiyang Army demanded to rest in a village. After the team stopped, a low-ranking officer of the Beiyang Army walked over with a cheeky smile, "Young Master Cao, everyone has worked so hard, do you want to buy some water for everyone to drink?"

Seeing this hooligan look of the Beiyang Army, Cao Yifeng hated it in his heart! Attacking the People's Party was originally the Beiyang Army's official business. The Beiyang Army taking the tax collectors to Caojiapu was already a clear statement that the Cao family was inclined towards the government. Even if they didn't give encouragement and praise or even rewards, it had already made Cao Yifeng very disappointed. Needless to say about the tax collectors, the Beiyang Army also wanted to extort some "tea money"; this was really too detestable!

But at any rate, Cao Yifeng was not a rural peasant; he still knew about matters on the scene. While smiling apologetically, he took out a few silver dollars and handed them over, "This officer, my brother is also serving in the Beiyang Army; we are all one family. Naturally, we should pay for this tea. Otherwise, if my brother returns home and hears about this, wouldn't he scold me for not knowing the rules?"

The Beiyang officer was originally smiling cheekily, but his face changed after hearing Cao Yifeng's words. "You sure know how to talk! What's wrong? We brave such a scorching sun to march; when we get to Caojiapu, we are risking our lives for your family. You feel distressed just buying us some tea? Who are you sending off with these few dollars? Your brother is a battalion commander, so what the hell? I am Brigadier Zhu's man. Does that Battalion Commander Cao of yours dare to fart when he sees our Brigadier Zhu?"

Having been scolded harshly by the Beiyang Army officer in front of him, Cao Yifeng's face turned as purple as an eggplant from anger. The Beiyang Army officer didn't care at all what Cao Yifeng thought or how angry he was. He raised his finger and pointed at Cao Yifeng's nose, "Which of us five hundred brothers doesn't get more than ten silver dollars a month? Who the fuck are you sending off with these few dollars? I'm telling you, this drink of water won't do without five hundred silver dollars."

This commotion had already made some Beiyang soldiers gather around to watch the fun. Hearing the officer state the price of fifty silver dollars (sic - context implies 500, earlier sentence said 500), someone immediately shouted: "Five hundred silver dollars is worth a fart; even two thousand silver dollars isn't enough. In my opinion, this drink of water should cost one thousand. How is it enough if we don't get two silver dollars each!"

Cao Yifeng's face was originally purple with anger, but hearing the shouting of the surrounding Beiyang soldiers, his face began to turn pale even though the weather was very hot. When Cao Yifeng's brother joined the Beiyang Army, the Beiyang Army's discipline was still passable; at least he heard that the orders absolutely did not allow harassing the common people. But now, marching with the Beiyang Army in person, he found that those words were all lies. These Beiyang soldiers in front of him stared at Cao Yifeng with the eyes of jackals staring at sheep. Even those who didn't stare at Cao Yifeng didn't do so out of a guilty conscience, but with a contemptuous attitude of "having Cao Yifeng eating out of their hands." Such a group of Beiyang soldiers dared to ask for 500 silver dollars just for a drink of water. If they arrived at Caojiapu, how much would they demand from the Cao family? Thinking of this, Cao Yifeng felt cold all over, and his face became even paler.

The tax collector beside Cao Yifeng looked at Cao Yifeng with the eyes one uses for a country bumpkin. He sneered and began to explain: "Young Master Cao, the Beiyang Army has rules for dispatching troops. Departure fees, marching fees, tea money; when fighting, the officers have to scatter money by the handful. Five hundred silver dollars isn't much."

Five hundred silver dollars wasn't much? Cao Yifeng had never heard such absurd words. In Caojiapu, five hundred silver dollars could buy quite a bit of good land; if it were draft animals, it would be enough to buy several heads. Having walked seven or eight li, he had to pay five hundred silver dollars. Caojiapu was more than thirty li away from Linzhang County; wouldn't the whole trip cost two thousand silver dollars? The Cao family might not even net this much money in a year.

Seeing Cao Yifeng's face turning red and then white, the Beiyang officer who first bargained laughed: "Seeing that you don't understand the rules, presumably you didn't bring that much money on you. How about this? You don't have to pay the water money this time, but you have to write me an IOU. Rules are rules; even if our Brigadier Zhu personally led us out, it would still be this price. How about it, Young Master Cao? If you don't know how to write, we have a clerk here; you just need to make a mark."

Cao Yifeng's brain was running rapidly. He wanted to find a solution to the immediate problem. A moment later, he thought of a method that wasn't really a method, which was to find Battalion Commander Hu who was leading the team this time. Cao Yifeng didn't dare to go look for Brigadier Zhu stationed in Linzhang County seat, but Battalion Commander Hu and Cao Yifeng's brother were both battalion commanders; presumably, he would give Cao Yifeng some face no matter what.

Thinking of this, Cao Yifeng shouted loudly: "I want to see Battalion Commander Hu! I want to see Battalion Commander Hu!"

The officer who spoke just now saw that Cao Yifeng refused to submit. He frowned in disgust, "I say, why are you so insensible? Seeing that your brother is also a battalion commander in our Beiyang Army, I was this polite to you. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Men, teach him a lesson."

As soon as the officer's voice fell, several Beiyang soldiers walked over carrying rifles.

Seeing that things were going wrong, Cao Yifeng couldn't care about fulfilling his father's instructions anymore; instead, he turned around and ran. Only now did he understand that he hadn't invited any rescuers at all, but had provoked a group of plagues. He had just run two steps when Cao Yifeng felt his arm being firmly grabbed. Turning his head, he saw it was the tax collector who had been by his side all along. The tax collector looked at Cao Yifeng with a look of disgust, as if hating iron for not becoming steel. In just this moment of pause, Cao Yifeng felt a sharp pain in his back, and he couldn't help but scream loudly.

"Still want to run? Are you a fucking spy for the People's Party? Huh?" Cao Yifeng heard the officer cursing while he was on the ground. Before he could explain, a storm of beatings began to land on Cao Yifeng's body.

At the beginning, Cao Yifeng could still scream under the beating, but a moment later, his back and ribs were hit hard, and he couldn't even make a screaming sound. Moreover, two Beiyang soldiers stepped firmly on Cao Yifeng's hands, making him unable to move. The others swung their rifles and smashed Cao Yifeng with the rifle butts. Under such a beating that seemed to have no end, Cao Yifeng only felt like dying.

He didn't know how long he had been beaten; anyway, Cao Yifeng felt that his consciousness was completely confused, and even the pain in his body during the beating began to become distant. However, someone poured a basin of cold water over his head. Part of the water got into Cao Yifeng's nostrils, and the coughing caused by choking made Cao Yifeng wake up again. Before he had time to feel how much his body hurt, Cao Yifeng felt someone prop him up. Because his head had been hit by several rifle butts, Cao Yifeng felt dizzy. In such dizziness, he heard someone say: "Young Master Cao, come on, press a handprint here."

After speaking, Cao Yifeng felt someone smear something on his finger, and then something came into close contact with his finger.

In the confusion and despair, Cao Yifeng suddenly heard someone ask in a low voice: "Is it inappropriate to beat him like this?"

Finally, someone was willing to speak for him; a surge of warmth suddenly arose in Cao Yifeng's despairing heart.

"What appropriate or inappropriate! What the hell are you afraid of? We are going to fight such a big battle this time. A small battalion commander of the Cao family is worth a fart. Now there are eight thousand if not ten thousand battalion commanders in our Beiyang Army; this small battalion commander counts for nothing. Whether we brothers can survive when the fighting starts is still up in the air. If we don't get money now, where will the travel expenses come from if we want to run away? At a time like this, if we brothers still wrong ourselves, isn't that being incredibly stupid?" The shouting that followed completely shattered that bit of hope in Cao Yifeng's heart just now.

Cao Yifeng could no longer tell who shouted these words, and it no longer mattered who shouted them. What was revealed in this voice and these words was a madness born of despair. These Beiyang soldiers had no confidence in winning the war; they were like wild beasts that only cared about their immediate interests. Cao Yifeng also despaired. He originally thought that with a Beiyang officer in his family, he could protect the Cao family's property by relying on the government. But the Cao family obviously hadn't figured out what kind of group the government and the Beiyang Army they wanted to rely on actually were.

His brain was groggy, but for some reason, Cao Yifeng thought of his cousin-in-law Zhou Bapi. The image of that farming maniac speaking drunkenly after a few cups of wine appeared strangely vivid in Cao Yifeng's mind, "It was worth it for me to meet the People's Party, this government; one can also earn money by farming..."

The voice in his mind became fainter and fainter, lighter and lighter. Cao Yifeng fainted.