By evening, the Village Chief went from door to door, notifying everyone that they were to gather at the threshing floor. He had something to say, and at least one person from every household had to attend. Anyone found missing would be made to kneel in the ancestral hall.
People rushed to the threshing floor without even eating dinner. The place was packed tight; everyone had brought their families along, and as they crowded together, the murmurs began.
Zhao Yan’s family purposefully stood in a corner, seeking a moment of quiet. Zhao Yan guessed that the Village Chief’s business must be related to corvée labor. The mere thought made his heart sink. He felt utterly powerless; his individual strength was no match for the feudal rule of this era.
Chapter 161