(AN: Earlier I had mentioned that nobles and the powerful are wary of Qian Renxue, the new Angel Goddess. Well a short story taking 3 chapters which will let everyone understand the reason. Enjoy the chapter!!!)
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White Mushroom Village
An insignificant settlement on the vast Douluo Continent, this small village had earned its name due to the abundant production of a peculiar kind of mushroom. These mushrooms were not ordinary; they required nearly an entire month to mature and possessed a unique taste and texture that made them highly favored among the nobles.
Because of this single specialty, the once-unknown village gradually came to be known as White Mushroom Village.
However, prosperity built on a single source was always fragile.This season, the village faced an unexpected crisis.
An unknown pest infestation had spread silently through the fields, damaging most of the crops before they could fully mature. The mushrooms that did survive were few in number and poor in quality, far from enough to meet the usual demand.
As a result, the villagers were unable to sell their produce in the market, and their already modest income shrank drastically.Yet, despite their situation, the tax collector showed no intention of leniency. As always, he arrived on time and demanded the full amount with a threat of cold enforcement of noble authority.
This left the villagers with no choice.
Families that had little savings to begin with were forced to pool together whatever money they could gather, barely managing to meet the required tax. Even then, many households had to part with their last reserves, leaving nothing for the days to come.
The burden of taxation had always been heavy, but in times like these, it became suffocating. Still, no one dared to resist. Because this was not an ordinary world. This was a world of soul masters.
Even if the villagers united in protest, they would not last a single day against the power of those employed by the nobles. Any rebellion would be swiftly crushed, and the consequences would be far worse than starvation.
Now, the entire village was barely scraping by with the little food that remained. Hunger had begun to show on the faces of the people.
At the entrance of the village, an old man stood waiting. Old Guo, the village elder.
His figure was slightly hunched, his face lined with age and worry. His eyes, however, remained fixed on the distant road, scanning it repeatedly with barely concealed anxiety.
Earlier that morning, he had sent several of the able-bodied young men to the nearest town. Their task was simple, yet difficult—find any kind of work, earn whatever they could, and if possible, secure a small loan to buy food for the village.
As time passed, Old Guo's impatience grew.
The road remained empty. And with each passing moment, the weight in his heart grew heavier.
Suddenly, Old Guo noticed a group of men walking toward the village from the distant road. Their figures were slightly tired, their clothes dusty from travel, yet the mere sight of them returning made his heart ease a little.
With a hint of relief, he quickly stepped forward to meet them.
"How is it? Did you find anything?" he asked, unable to hide the concern in his voice.
At the front of the group was Zhang Ba, a robust man with a sturdy build who was known among the villagers for his reliability. He shook his head slightly before replying with a helpless smile, "It was difficult. We were only able to earn a little by doing manual labor, and the treatment of laborers there is extremely harsh."
In a world like the Douluo Continent, where feudal systems still dominated and strength determined status, the concept of human rights barely existed. Laborers were often treated as expendable tools, and those without power had no means to resist such exploitation.
Old Guo glanced past Zhang Ba and looked at the other young men. Seeing each of them silently shaking their heads, his expression dimmed further.
He let out a long sigh.
"Sigh… It seems we can only endure for now. We just have to get through these two weeks somehow. If we ration carefully, we might be able to scrape by. After all, this is not a full famine yet… it will only feel a little uncomfortable."
His words were meant to reassure, but even he knew how fragile that hope was.
Zhang Ba nodded quietly, understanding the meaning behind Old Guo's words. Just as he was about to respond, a clear and cheerful voice broke the heavy atmosphere.
"Papa… you're back!"
A little girl, no more than five years old, ran forward with small, hurried steps and leaped into Zhang Ba's arms. He instinctively bent down and lifted her up, the fatigue on his face softening instantly.
Looking at her, Zhang Ba spoke with a trace of guilt in his voice, "Sorry, Lin… I wasn't able to bring any toys for you this time."
Little Lin shook her head firmly and wrapped her small arms tightly around his neck. "I don't need toys… as long as father is here."
Her simple words carried a warmth that eased the tension in everyone's hearts.
From behind, one of the young men chuckled and said, "If little Lin keeps Brother Zhang Ba all to herself, then who will lead us next time?"
Little Lin stuck out her tongue playfully at the speaker, causing the group to burst into laughter.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
For a brief moment, the gloom that had hung over the village seemed to lift.
Old Guo stood to the side, watching this scene unfold. His aged eyes softened, and he quietly wiped away a tear that had unknowingly formed.