Forty percent rent!
As soon as the words came out, the village chief was still calm, but the villagers who had been staying nearby couldn't help but feel agitated. There was an urge to speak, but they were stopped by the people next to them, and everyone was noisy for a while. Then he stared at Man Bao and Li Chang with piercing eyes.
The head of the village hesitated, and asked: "Forty percent? Master Zhou, you have to know that if there is another drought like this year next year, forty percent, one mu of land may not even have a basket of millet."
Man Bao said with a faint smile: "If there is still such a drought next year, I don't want 40% of it. I should share the worries for His Majesty."
She said to the Li Chang: "I am an official, and I still know the principles of the family, the country, and the world. The people's livelihood is hard, how can I persecute you?"
When she said this, the head of the village became a little excited, and his eyes couldn't help turning red, "This, then, can Mr. Zhou decide this matter? Do you want to talk to your family again?"
"Don't worry, I will tell my family," Man Bao said with a smile, "My parents are also reasonable people, they understand."
The head of the village talked with the old man all afternoon, but he didn't think he was a reasonable person. On the contrary, he felt that he was not much different from some old men in charge of the village.
No, there are still some. They have a capable daughter who can be two officials of the fifth rank and the sixth rank.
However, he glanced at Zhou Man, and then at Bai Shan who was standing aside.
Although they didn't talk much all afternoon, the chief still had a vague feeling that the words of these two were quite effective, so Zhou Man should be able to decide.
Looking at Zhou Man's age again, the head of the village thought to himself: Little girls are always soft-hearted, so it's no wonder that they made such a decision after walking around the village.
For kind people, no matter what he thinks in his heart, the village head still likes to associate with such people, especially when the kind person is still him, he likes it even more.
Therefore, the head of the village immediately said with a smile on his face: "If it is 40%, then the villagers may be willing to cultivate an extra piece of land. After all, your job is closer to your home, and it is easier to come and go."
Seeing more and more people gathered around, Man Bao said, "Why don't we move the chairs and sit down and talk?"
Only then did the village head realize that he quickly invited a few people into the house to do it, and then asked his sons to kill chickens.
Bai Shan declined, and said: "We went home after we finished talking, it's dark and it's hard to walk."
Man Bao nodded, pointed to the empty space and said, "Let's talk about it here, and let them listen to it."
The head of the village thought for a moment, agreed, and asked someone to go back to the room and move four chairs out. He sat down with the three of them and talked.
Man Bao and Bai Shan looked at each other and said: "Not only do I only collect 40% of the rent, I also pay half of the grain seeds, and I pay all the wheat seeds. I will also find a way to buy a few more cows. Distribute it to everyone for farming."
The chief's eyes became brighter the more he heard it, and he immediately said: "Oh, Mr. Zhou is really a bodhisattva. We are so lucky to meet him. Please thank Mr. Zhou."
The more the villagers listened, the more excited they became, and they kowtowed when they knelt down.
Man Bao hurriedly got up to stop him, but seeing that he couldn't stop him, he said to the head of the village: "Head of the village, please take the time to thank me, I also have requirements for doing these things."
The Li Chang laughed and said: "Your Excellency, if you have any requirements, just ask, we will do what we can."
Man Bao said: "How to plant this land, you have to listen to us."
As soon as this remark came out, everyone was silent for a moment, everyone's eyes widened, and a farmer couldn't help but asked loudly, "Sir, do you have to listen to you when to plant seeds and when to pull weeds?"
Man Bao smiled and said, "Almost."
Many people retreated, "Well, this is not nonsense. If you point it out badly, we still have to listen to you. What if we can't grow a grain of food by then?"
"That's right, you are a high official, you don't lack food or drink, but we can't, if we don't have a harvest in a year, we will starve to death."
Man Bao nodded and said: "I know, so I will try my best not to let this happen. Unless there is a natural disaster, otherwise, it is impossible for me to have such a man-made disaster in my career."
She said: "Everyone has seen my parents, brother and sister-in-law just now, and you should also be able to see that my family is farming, and those of us who grew up watching our family farming grew up, and we are not I haven't played the land before, so you can rest assured that anyone can ruin the land, but we can't."
After saying this, everyone hesitated even more, wanting to believe her, but also a little scared.
They rent and farm the land, although the owner or the yamen will occasionally give pointers, but in fact how to do it depends mostly on their own wishes. They also know that the farming season is not good, partly because of the drought caused by God, and partly because of They don't want to plant, and manpower is limited, so it's really not good to plant.
But now the owner only needs 40% of the rent, if it is planted...
But if she directs it incorrectly and the seeds are damaged again, it will be fatal.
Bai Shandao: "Let's not hide it from you, we have been running farms since we were young, and we are no strangers to farming. Now it is Mid-Autumn Festival, and before October, the wheat in the field should be planted, otherwise the wheat cannot be planted in the first field." If it is green before the snow, the seeds will probably freeze to death. It is also because of this that we are willing to set the rent at 40%."
He said: "I know that there are many requirements in the workplace. Not only do you have to mow the grass, but sometimes you have to provide some extra cloth to the household department. Life must be difficult, but not here, we operate in our hometown The Zhuangzi will not ask the long-term workers for the mulberry hemp they grow themselves, let alone you are tenants."
One person asked loudly: "That is to say, you don't divide our cotton?"
Bai Shan said with a smile: "We will not divide the mulberry planted on the edge of the ravine."
As soon as these words came out, everyone heaved a sigh of relief and looked at the chief.
The village chief knew that they were more excited, and in fact he was also moved. He hesitated again and again, thinking of something, and asked, "My lord just said that you will provide the wheat seeds?"
"That's right, isn't there a new type of wheat on the market? I looked at the wheat you harvested, and it seems that none of them have been replaced with new types of wheat."
The head of the village smiled wryly and said: "That has to be bought with money, who has the money."
Man Bao was puzzled, "But now the new wheat seeds are not expensive anymore, they are almost the same price as ordinary wheat seeds, only a few pennies a bucket."
"We don't buy common wheat seeds either," said Li Zhang, "We use all the wheat seeds we keep at home."
So no need to spend money.
Man Bao: ... Sure enough, it saves money.
However, she could also understand that what the imperial court collected was fixed rent, and if the tenant farmers bought all the grain without paying a penny or a grain of grain, it would cost a lot of money.
It's okay when the harvest is good. If there is a drought like this year, there is really nowhere to cry.
Man Bao said: "I'll figure out how to plant new wheat. When the time comes, you decide to rent my land and I'll distribute it to you. You can think about it tonight. I'll come over tomorrow for an answer."
Man Bao got up straight away, "It's getting late, so let's go back first."
Before leaving, she and the head of the village also said to the villagers: "Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, there is still about a month of wheat planting time. You can think about it, but time is waiting for no one. I hope you can make a decision as soon as possible." .”