“Now that you’ve settled down, you’ll have to pay head tax, miscellaneous taxes, and perform corvée labor. Things are getting increasingly unstable these days. The government might call for conscription any time now. You’re young, strong, an orphan with no family ties – a perfect candidate for the draft. If anything happens to you, at least you won’t have to worry about funeral expenses!”,After a little while, the old man came out, standing in the doorway with one hand hidden behind his back and the other beckoning to him. His eyes darted nervously around the yard as if he were a thief caught red-handed.,Sensing the old man's gaze, Yang Ge also turned his head to glance at the tattered fishing net beside him.。