Speaking of the way these two villages conduct themselves, Ye Ziāan said it was just the behavior of hooligans. When the bailiffs arrived, the women were the first to confront them. Once he and Ye Si appeared, the village girls stepped forward. These people werenāt the slightest bit afraid of the authorities. The more people you sent, the entire villageāmen, women, old, and youngāwould all come out. If you dared to draw a knife, they dared to brandish pitchforks. They were incredibly united.
"So what youāre saying is that theyāre essentially thuggish villages?" Yang Chuxia snorted coldly, "Well, if thatās the case, thereās no need to hold back, just go in hard."
"Madam, these people arenāt afraid of a hard approach. Some even say they should all be arrested; that way, it would be great to eat prison food and save on household provisions. Iāve called several Land Officers to go and probe what exactly these two villages are up to."
"Never mind their motives, meeting violence with violence is also a strategy. Since they become more arrogant with your intervention, Iāll handle this matter." As she said this, Yang Chuxia took the opportunity when no one was around to pinch Ye Ziāanās cheek teasingly, "You and Ye Si are both too good-looking. You should consider scarring your faces to prevent public duties from being affected."
Ye Ziāan also felt helpless, always attracting those shameless women like Cao Lingling, completely disregarding what others thought.
"Iāll go with you," Ye Ziāan said, "These people canāt be killed, for the empire doesnāt have a law that says taxes can be left unpaid without penalty. As for arrests, if we really imprison a group for a year or two, that would scare them. The problem is the prison canāt hold so many and it would be a waste of prison food. Arresting too few would also be ineffective."
"Why bother with killings or arrests? Hurting them is best. Against the actions of ruffians, we usually have to use even more ruffian-like methods."
Having said that, Ye Ziāan and Yang Chuxia led people to the two villages.
Although called two separate villages, they essentially seemed like one, separated merely by a roadāone known as Yangxi Village, the other as Yangdong Village.
Before even entering the villages, Yang Chuxia noticed a group of women standing in the middle of the road, each looking fierce, holding clubs in their hands.
Spotting the group of women Yang Chuxia had with her, the villagers exchanged glances and took a couple of steps forward.
"Call out the Land Officers of your two villages!"
Yang Chuxiaās command was met with no movement, just disdainful eyes.
Some even said arrogantly, "Are you here to make us pay taxes again? Donāt even think about it."
"Exactly, donāt even think about it!"
"Mom, did I hear that our County Magistrate is here again?" A somewhat delicate female voice was heard.
Following that, Yang Chuxia saw several girls come out.
Yang Chuxia turned and whispered something to Ye Ziāan, then Li Wen, who had followed Ziāan, went back, while Ye Ziāan stepped aside.
"You really are a bunch of shameless creatures, already flirting with men while still sporting maiden braids." Yang Chuxia looked sternly at several of the girls in the middle, "Iāll say it again, bring your Land Officers out to talk, or else..."
While Yang Chuxia looked quite threatening when she was angry, the villagers werenāt scared at all. Having survived many floods and battled with death, naturally, they were fearless.
One of the women, who seemed to be the leader, said, "Or else what? Youāll arrest us? Then go ahead, it will save my familyās rice. Kill us? Haha, he wouldnāt dare. With hundreds of people in our two villages, if he kills us, he wouldnāt get away with it either."
"You really are arrogant!" Yang Chuxia snorted coldly, "I wonāt kill you or arrest you."