Seeing both children looking at her, Ms. Yang quickly comforted her: "Little Miao'er Ya'er is not afraid."
"Auntie, I'm not afraid!" Xiao Miao'er straightened her body like a newborn calf.
Well done. Yang glanced at her, then turned to a few people who were known as the boat gang, and kept saying good things, hoping that they would let them go.
"Are you in the same group?" a man asked mischievously.
"Yes, yes, we all entered the city together. We are new to the city and do not know the rules of the city. Please forgive me. Those who do not know are not guilty. We will leave now."
Yang said something flattering to the other party.
Unexpectedly, when the other party saw Yang's show of weakness, he refused to comply: "You stinky fishermen can come and leave this city whenever you want?"
"That is, if you don't do your fishing well, you should follow the example of others and go to the city to make money, and you have to see if you have that fate."
"You can leave if you want. Just keep all the copper you earned tonight and pay five taels for a boat trip across the river, and then you can leave."
Five taels? The lion is opening his mouth!
Five taels per boat? I don’t know if the four boats made twenty taels tonight. And after working hard all night, they still have to pay back. Who would be happy?
Sure enough, the three of Qi Defu jumped up when they heard this: "What about robbery? We have worked hard all night, and you guys did nothing. You just come out of nowhere, rob someone when you stop them, and then return the boat gang? Collect the money for crossing the river? What do you think?"
You are official servants!"
"Hey, don't you plan to pay the money to cross the river?"
"It seems that we came here with bad intentions. Originally we only wanted you to keep the money for crossing the river, but now let's keep the boat as well. This inland river is not for you to come and leave whenever you want."
A man who looked like the boss of a boat stood on the bow and said something.
After saying this and waving his hands, he saw a few thug-like men on the boat jumping onto their three boats with ferocious looks, trying to seize the oar boards from the hands of Qi Defu and the others.
How could Qi Defu and the three of them give them the oar board?
Giving them the oar plank means giving up the boat to others. Not only is this boat their livelihood, but it has been with them for many years, so there is no way they would be willing to give it up to others.
Mi Mancang and the others soon started fighting with the people who came to rob them.
Xiao Miaoer screamed and wanted to go up to help, but Yang held her tightly. Zou Sheng stepped forward to help Mi Mancang, but was slapped by a man and almost fell into the river.
Yu Ya was so frightened that she trembled all over, bit her lip and looked at Yang.
"Stop, you guys stop, please speak up if you have something to say!" Yang was so anxious that she turned to the captain standing on the big ship and shouted to him, asking him to stop and speak up if you have something to say.
The boss of the ship ignored Yang and only watched with interest.
If you want to do business on the inland river, you have to listen to him and let him have the final say. Whoever dares to break his rules will be forced to go around in trouble.
Some boatmen nearby were worried about Qi Defu and others, and wanted to come forward to help, but they were also a little afraid of the boat boss and feared he would retaliate.
I was angry that I had to pay five cents to the other party for earning ten cents, but no one dared to resist. Although the tribute was a lot of money, at least I would still be half behind. If I offended the boat gang and lost my job, it would be difficult to make a living.
Huo Xi was extremely anxious. She turned around and saw that the other party was blocking the mouth of the river with a boat larger than theirs. Once the mouth of the river was blocked, their boat would not be able to pass.
You can't even turn around. Dongshui Pass and Xishui Pass go in and out. You can't get out of the city by going to Dongshuiguan. Unless you just wander around the inland river. But the inland river is the other side's territory. As long as you sail, the other side will definitely be able to find you.
Unless the ship is no longer needed.
But there are still their goods on the boat. Besides, how can the fishermen fish without their boats?
Huo Xi was so angry that it was so difficult for ordinary people to earn some money! Not to mention collecting fishing taxes when fishing, but now someone wanted to make extra money, and someone jumped out to block the way.
Just when I didn't know what to do, I turned around and saw a person walking in the street. He looked familiar.
After taking a closer look, he didn't look familiar, so he quickly ran towards him.
"Brother He!"
He Feng was patrolling the streets with two of his men.
The emperor canceled the curfew, and the streets were full of people who came out to watch the excitement. The excitement was lively and full of human fireworks, but it was a pain for the officers and soldiers stationed in Beijing.
Originally, it was not their turn to patrol the streets. This was the job of soldiers dispatched by Jingzhao Prefecture. But now that the curfew has been imposed, there are not enough government officials in Jingzhao Prefecture.
"Everyone has gone to the streets to watch the excitement, but we are the only ones patrolling this corner." One person kicked and kicked, complaining.
Another person also complained: "No. I won't get a salary increase. It's such a cold day and I patrol the streets in the dark. I just want to warm myself by the fire in the barracks."
"It would be nice if there was a drink here."
"You still want to drink when you are patrolling the streets? You are so beautiful!"
"Can't I just say no?"
Two of his men took a step behind him to complain. He Feng hugged his saber with a serious look on his face and looked around, not daring to relax.
"Who is it?" Seeing the sound of footsteps running towards them, He Feng's two men immediately spoke up and stood guard with their knives.
"Brother He, Brother He!"
Hey, do you know each other? He Feng's two men all looked at him. He Feng also looked up.
Hey, we really know each other. He Feng's lips twitched.
"Brother He, do you still know me?"
Huo Xi panted and looked up at him, seeing him smiling at her and knowing that the other party recognized her, she was very happy.
"Last time I wanted to thank Brother He for taking care of me all the way, but then we didn't find Brother He when we left. I kept thinking about it."
Seeing that the child was grateful, He Feng felt warm in his heart and looked behind her: "Why did you enter the city alone so late?"
"I didn't go into the city alone. I went into the city with my mother and many people who fished with us, but now we have encountered some troubles."
He would encounter a local snake, and he didn't know who to look for to rescue him. Finally, seeing He Feng as a straw, Huo Xi was not going to let it go.
Step forward, grab He Feng's robe, with pleading in his eyes: "Brother He, my family is in trouble, can you help us?"
Seeing that she had such strong expectation in her eyes and regarded herself as a straw for survival, He Feng softened his heart.
"lead the way."
Huo Xi trotted to keep up with him and explained the reason clearly along the way.
He Feng had an idea in his mind.
What kind of boat boss dares to act as a tax official in the capital and raise a banner to collect boatmen's money for crossing the river? Either there is someone above to protect him, or he has the courage of a bear's heart and a leopard's heart.
"I heard that someone collects money for crossing the river here?" He Feng hugged his saber and said coldly.
A fierce battle was going on inside, and the onlookers and boatmen surrounded him several times.
After hearing He Feng's words, they all turned around and saw three officials standing there holding their swords with solemn faces, and shuddered.
"How much have you collected? Report it too so that I can report the account to Mr. Jing Zhaoyin." He Feng said coldly to the people on the big boat.