Chapter 2048: Extra Story 30: Human Nature Is Fundamentally Selfish

Better to be a peaceful dog than a person in troubled times; this saying applies everywhere. When the news of conscription and grain requisition came out, Wozi Village was like an oil pot boiling over, exploding with cries.

There had already been one grain requisition recently, and now another - where is all this grain supposed to come from? Is the Nanyue Court trying to starve the people to death?

As if that weren’t enough, now they want to conscript men - there’s no way for people to live!

Cries erupted throughout Wozi Village.

The village was tucked away in a corner, not a place of great wealth, especially in this time of war. If a family could hold onto a couple of acres of poor land and stay whole, they could count their blessings.

But now, they’re being taken away to be soldiers. Everyone knows there’s a good chance this is a one-way trip because only when there aren’t enough soldiers do they conscript more men. On the battlefield, isn’t a new recruit just heading to their death?

The cries were piercing. Wufu held Little Bun, gently patting his back, and glanced down.

The little one grew more each day; although thin and weak, he was clean and fair, very handsome, with brows and eyes much like Ah Jiu.

Ah Jiu, I wonder if things are going smoothly for him?

And little uncle, he’s been gone so long without any word - could something have happened?

Wufu felt a bit panicked, thinking if something happened to little uncle, how could she face Aunt and the children?

A burst of crying came from outside. Wufu’s heart skipped, and she stood up to go out. But at the door, she paused and only looked out from the window.

A few women were in the yard, holding Lady Liang’s hand, crying, some even kneeling and pleading.

They were here to borrow money.

For their children’s sake, to prevent them from being sent to die, they needed money and grain to compensate.

Wufu sighed, slowly returning to the bedside, letting her thoughts wander far away.

Lady Liang came in, looking at Wufu, hesitating to speak.

"Did they all leave?"

Lady Liang forced a smile, "You heard everything?"

Wufu nodded and said, "What do you want to do, Aunt?"

Lady Liang shook her head, "I don’t know." She lowered her head and said, "These are all difficult families, I..."

"Aunt. If you lend to one, can you lend to ten?" Wufu interrupted her, quietly watching her and said, "How much can you lend in this Wozi Village? If you lend to one or two, what about the others? How will they view the Zhou family? If Wozi Village cannot fulfill its conscription, the Old Zhou family will become the target of everyone’s grievances."

Lady Liang’s face turned pale.

"Human nature is inherently selfish; in times of war, being able to protect oneself is already fortunate," Wufu said deeply.

It’s not wrong to be sympathetic, but it’s important to know your principles and bottom line. Helping others while ensuring your family doesn’t fall into hardship is human nature.

Cruel? Indifferent?

Perhaps, but that’s human nature. Who isn’t like this? Would others not think the same?

If the Zhou family helped one or two, what about the rest? Not helping them would lead to accusations of favoritism, and while that’s one thing, everybody knows about such biases.

But the most crucial thing is that if Wozi Village doesn’t meet even one conscription, the village head or higher officials will not sit idly by.

After all, the most important thing now is people. To fight a war, you need people. Without them, no amount of money or grain will suffice!

"I, I’m just a woman; I don’t understand anything. We’ll wait until your uncle returns," Lady Liang said in a flustered manner.

Wufu hummed in response, "If someone comes again, just say that."

Lady Liang nodded, said a few words, and went out.

Wufu sat silently for a while, just about to lie down when she heard a commotion outside, looking over cautiously.

"Master, someone has arrived!" Xiao Qi announced at the doorway.

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