Sister Han is good at farming

Chapter 127 Paying Taxes

After Chi Jiajun left, Zaoziling was in a slump for a while.

When the sun was shining brightly, several elderly people in the village sat and chatted under a high platform in the middle of the village.

"Those kids don't know whether they have arrived yet or not?"

"How can it be that fast? I heard there's a Jianghuai Prefecture in between! It would be great if we can get there before the New Year!"

"Ah, a friend in need is a friend indeed! Have you heard? People in Caotouling, Liujiawan, Lijiacun, Meijiaji and Wanghewan heard from somewhere that the group of children were going to the border, and they all went to see them off along their route."

"Speaking of them, I also find it strange. When we all went down the mountain, we didn't see any people. We thought they were all gone! As soon as the snowstorm was over, they showed up one after another."

"You don't know this, do you? When our village was looking for shelter from the disaster, they were also looking for shelter from the disaster. I heard that they were able to escape the disaster entirely because of the help of those children, and that several of those children even sacrificed their lives!"

"No wonder!"

"What you don't know is that when Ruan Laoliu was looking for water, the group of kids had already persuaded several of our families. At first, we didn't take it seriously, but when we saw Ruan Laoliu's family taking action, our family members paid attention and took action."

"Isn't it? Those kids are really kind-hearted! And honest! Now that they are no longer in Zaoziling, I feel a little uneasy."

"What? Are you worried that your roof will collapse under the snow and no one will come to rescue you?"

"Go away, stop saying unlucky things!"

"Don't say that. I feel empty inside too."

"What's so empty about that? Those kids are there to guard the border. As long as we hold the border, we don't have to worry about those barbarians coming in to steal our food and money! This should be the greatest peace of mind!"

"Yes, those kids are reliable! Having them guarding us gives us the greatest peace of mind!"

While they were chatting, Village Chief Li walked to the platform with his hands behind his back and a heavy heart.

He hesitated again and again, and finally gritted his teeth, picked up the gong hammer next to the big gong on the platform, and started beating it.

"Village Chief Li, what's the matter today?" the old people below asked one after another.

"Oh, it's time to pay taxes!" Village Chief Li sighed deeply.

"How do I pay the tax this year?"

"Forty percent of the harvest from each acre of land."

"What do you mean by 40%? How can it be so high?" The people who were originally sitting below stood up in shock.

"In previous years, the highest was only 30%. Why is it so high this year? We just got through this year of disaster, and everyone hasn't recovered yet? We have to pay such a high tax in the first year?"

Village Chief Li sighed again. "Originally, the tax was 30%, but the war in Xiyuguan, Jiangxia, was intense. During the autumn harvest this year, the per-acre grain yield in Qingshui County was the highest among all the counties in Lulin, Jianghuai, and Jiangxia. So County Magistrate Fu decided to raise the tax we have to pay by 10%."

"This..." Everyone looked at each other.

"The grain yield was high, and we were thinking of exchanging some things to improve our lives, but who knew that the tax would be increased again. Sigh! Life is so difficult for us ordinary people!"

Suddenly, complaints came one after another.

Hearing the sound of the gong, other people in Zaoziling all came towards the high platform in the village.

A group of people were talking.

People who didn't know the situation soon found out why Village Chief Li was beating the gong.

"If you ask me, I'll give you 10% commission! Compared with previous years, the amount we left behind has more than doubled! I'm satisfied!"

Immediately, someone who understood the situation spoke up.

"If it weren't for Qingqing and Ruan Laosi, would we be able to achieve such a high output?"

"Qingqing and Ruan Laosi want everyone to live a good life, but it seems that the court won't allow us to live a happy life!"

"Hey, don't talk nonsense! This tax grain is to be transported to Xiyu Pass. If the soldiers guarding the border can't even fill their stomachs, how can they have the strength to fight the barbarians? If the barbarians really come, how can we live a peaceful life? What's more, Chi Hunter's group of children are still there! How can we bear to let them go to the battlefield on an empty stomach?"

Village chief Li was so frightened by what everyone said that he broke out in a cold sweat. These people really dared to say that. Aren't they afraid of losing their heads?

He immediately appealed to everyone's emotions and comforted them with reason.

After these words were spoken, everyone's resistance was much less. However, there were still some people cursing and refusing to accept.

Their high grain yield is their ability. How can the imperial court just pick on such capable people?

Ruan Qingqing recalled the behavior of some corrupt officials in ancient times who kicked and punched the common people when they went to pay taxes and grain.

Linjiantihu means that when the common people handed in their public grain, they would first pour the grain into the hu to check the quality and see the color of the grain. The hu should be filled to the brim and have a cone-shaped tip on it.

At this time, the official in charge went up and kicked it hard, so that the hu would not fall over, but the tip of the hu spilled out. The people were not allowed to recycle the spilled grain, which was regarded as a loss during transportation and storage. The people then took the remaining grain in the hu to weigh it.

In this way, everyone would invisibly pay a lot more food.

There are some tricks to kicking and fighting.

If the person who kicks is a strong man and kicks too hard, a lot of grain will spill out of the bucket, and it is common for half of it to spill out.

Magistrate Fu could secretly raise taxes without informing the people, so who knows if he will do something else excessive? Moreover, most of the grain that was spilled was embezzled by them, which was considered their hidden income and could not be checked.

This year she had finally made everyone have a good harvest, and she couldn't let their hard work go into the pockets of those officials. Moreover, she knew that those officials were not honest and trustworthy.

After a brief thought, she told Ruan Wantie about it and asked him to write a memorial, requesting Lord Zhou to send someone to supervise the collection of tax grain. Everyone can pay more, but they must pay clearly and not be treated as suckers and squeezed.

Ordinary people are also human beings and they also have to live!

When Ruan Wantie heard it at first, he didn't take it seriously.

Old Master Ruan beside him frowned, "Lord Zhou is a good man. He has indeed not done anything wrong during his years in office.

But before him, it was common to kick the cane with a drencher's knife. When encountering a black-hearted official, it was not uncommon to ask a strong man to kick the cane on his behalf, and it was also common to sprinkle half of it.

"Old Four, if it's convenient for you to pass this message to Lord Zhou, you'd better do it. After all, this is the first year after the disaster, and everyone is tight on money. There is no other way to send more food to the border soldiers who are defending the country. But if you send it to the pockets of these officials, it will be a bottomless pit!"

Ruan Wantie then realized the seriousness of the matter. "Okay, Dad! I'll go back and write it right away."