Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Chapter 543: Chapter 283: Emergency Marriage

The men then discussed it carefully amongst themselves and decided to start digging the tunnel and underground storeroom the very next night. They would dig the Zheng Family’s first, then the Zhang family’s. The primary purpose was to hide grain and supplies. Of course, they would hide a little Silver too, but it wasn’t like they had that much to hide in the first place.

Once the work began, both families were swamped. They couldn’t ask anyone for help, so they had to do it all themselves. Fortunately, both their backyards backed onto the mountain behind them, which made the digging easier. At least they wouldn’t lose their way; they just had to take the proper safety precautions.

They set the entrance at the base of the backyard wall, hidden behind a few removable bricks. With fruit trees providing cover and the woodshed moved in front of it, it would be impossible to find unless someone was specifically looking. The exit, located in the forest on the mountain, was equally difficult to spot.

Between the digging and finishing touches, everyone pitched in except for Juhua and Liu Yunlan. They worked for a full month to complete the storerooms and tunnels for both families. Even then, it was only because the storerooms weren’t very big and the tunnels weren’t too long; otherwise, a month would never have been enough.

Juhua and Qingmu had originally assumed that even if the new County Magistrate Li was corrupt, he wouldn’t be too excessive right from the start. Even if he planned to squeeze the people dry, he would likely begin with the nearby county seat of Qinghui. As for a remote village like Xiatang Market, they expected he would probably just increase the levy when it was time to collect the summer taxes.

But then, while everyone was transplanting rice seedlings, Li Changyu hurried back with shocking news.

The Emperor of Jing Country was on his deathbed, and several Princes were already making their moves. To secure their own futures, officials were backing their chosen Prince, waiting for an opportunity to help him seize the throne. The imperial court was in utter chaos.

Normally, such high-level power struggles had little to do with the common folk—no matter who became Emperor, they still had to farm their fields. Even if a new Emperor established different, exorbitant taxes, he still had to let them have enough food to survive. He couldn’t very well drive the populace to their deaths, or he would end up as an emperor with no subjects left to rule.

However, the officials in the capital and the local officials were scrambling, resorting to every scheme imaginable as they vied for the credit of backing a successful claimant to the throne. There was no shortage of dirty deals, and County Magistrate Li had received an order from the Capital City: he was to round up a number of beautiful women from the south and send them to the Fourth Prince.

”This isn’t like the court’s official selections for the imperial harem—at least those have some kind of procedure. This is just outright kidnapping. I’m afraid being betrothed won’t be enough to stop them. A girl has to be properly married to make them give up—after all, a married woman is no longer a virgin.”

Li Changyu said worriedly. Even his brother’s esteemed mentor, Ding Xuezheng, was powerless to stop this, so what could he do? The only thing he could do was come and warn the village.

He was now sitting in the Zheng Family’s courtyard, telling Qingmu and Zhang Huai about the events unfolding at court and about County Magistrate Li’s character and reputation. The two men had just come up from the rice paddies and had been pulled back by Li Changyu before they could even wash the mud off their legs.

The color drained from Qingmu’s face as he listened. ’Just a short while ago, I was so happy the scar on Juhua’s face was fading,’ he thought. ’Now that good thing has become a terrible one. If she’s to avoid being chosen, she has to marry Huai Zi immediately.’

Zhang Huai, however, didn’t seem too concerned. ’Juhua would never be chosen, obviously.’ He was still asking Li Changyu, ”So, you came back for Jinxiang, then? There are other young women in the village, too. We should warn their families.”

Li Changyu sighed. ”This matter can’t be spoken of openly. You two have to help me warn them discreetly. If that damned official finds out I came to spread the word, I’m afraid he’ll bring trouble to my family.”

Zhang Huai asked worriedly, ”But what if a bunch of the village girls suddenly get married in the next few days? Won’t that damned official get suspicious? And if he gets suspicious, won’t he immediately think of you?”

Li Changyu retorted irritably, ”As long as he doesn’t have any obvious proof, he can’t do much to me. My brother is a scholar, after all, and his mentor is a third-rank official. We have connections in the Capital City. Besides, their priority right now is to win over anyone they can. Nevertheless, I still can’t go around making a big fuss about this in the village.”

Qingmu asked in a heavy voice, ”They say they’re selecting ’beauties,’ but what exactly is their standard? Also, while the girls of age can find someone to marry, some are still too young. They can’t possibly get married, so will they be taken away too? Raised for a couple of years until they’re old enough?”

Zhang Huai listened intently as well. The village didn’t have many girls of marriageable age, but it had plenty who were eight, nine, or ten years old.

Li Changyu looked at Qingmu, tempted to make a joke, but the topic was far too serious. He swallowed his words and said with a complicated expression, ”In any case, you’re right to hide her well. Who knows? Once they see your sister-in-law’s face, they might be shameless enough to steal another man’s wife. As for the little girls? *Sigh.* The pretty ones certainly won’t escape. To be honest, the women they’re supposed to send up are exceptionally beautiful. If they truly stuck to that standard, we wouldn’t have to worry. But those men will definitely use this as an excuse to round up young women on a massive scale, and then... the outcome is anyone’s guess!” He gave a helpless, bitter laugh.