Naturally, Li Da did not dare to report false figures to the imperial envoy's goddaughter: "Because the rich family is in urgent need of cash flow, the price quoted is not high. If you buy them separately, one mu of high-grade land costs twelve taels of silver, and middle-grade land costs ten taels of silver." Two, seven taels of low-grade fields. If you buy them together, it will be 1,500 taels of silver."
The price was reasonable, so Yu Xiaocao decided to buy it on the spot. The next day, the housekeeper of Youfangfu went to the Yamen together with Li Yayu to go through the formalities.
At this time, it was the time of spring plowing, and because the farm was in a hurry to sell it, the Ma family did not rent it out to the tenants. The tenants on the Zhuangzi were in a very uneasy mood.
Tenants generally have no land and make a living by renting and planting other people's land. At the beginning of autumn, at least half of the grain produced in the field must be handed over to the owner's family. If you meet a more demanding host family, you will charge 60% or more of the rent, and if you meet an ordinary year, the tenants will not even be able to fill their stomachs. However, these tenants who have no skills other than farming have no choice but to rent the land. Without farming, is the family waiting to drink the northwest wind
In this Zhuangzi of the Ma family, the tenants waited anxiously for the arrival of the new owner. The Ma's family is considered to be the more benevolent of the master's family, and they only charge 50% of the rent. I don't know what kind of people the new owner is like, will the rent be raised? Will it not be rented to them? There are more than a dozen families in Zhuangzi, and they just point to these fields to eat!
Yu Hai wore a dark blue muslin robe, with delicate embroidery on the waistband, collar and cuffs. He had never worn such a formal attire, and he felt something was wrong. For the convenience of working, Yu Hai always wears bunts, which are light and comfortable. Wrapped in a robe, I always feel like I can't walk.
Yu Xiaocao looked at her father's uncomfortable expression, and said with a smile: "Father, you look so handsome in this suit! You are more handsome than those thin, short, and not cold masters! We are the first The first time you go to inspect your own village, of course you have to show the momentum of the master's house, so as not to be bullied by the master!"
Yu Hai straightened his chest after being praised by his youngest daughter. He was already tall enough, with good facial features, and healthy wheat-colored skin, he really looked like a master.
It was the steward of Fangfu who drove the carriage for them. Since he wants to show the aura of the master, how can there be no errands around, the housekeeper was sent by Mrs. Fang to help.
The carriage soon arrived at the Zhuangzi, and the tenant farmers who had already received the news were waiting in front of the Zhuangzi. In the past, when people from the Ma family came over, most of them were already in the sun. The tenant farmers couldn't figure out the habits of the host family, so they came earlier to make a good impression on the host family. I thought it would be a long wait, but I didn't expect that the carriage had already turned into Zhuangzi at Chenshi. The tenant farmers looked at each other, thankful that they came early!
The housekeeper stopped the carriage, and Yu Hai jumped off the carriage nimbly, then turned around and carried the little daughter off. Seeing the tenant farmers waiting respectfully, Yu Xiaocao was quite satisfied.
Can the tenants be disrespectful? Since last autumn, batches of refugees have come to Tanggu. Although a group has been resettled at the port, there are still many refugees looking for work everywhere. For slightly larger Zhuangzi, there will always be refugees who come and recommend themselves as tenants. Zhuangzi's original tenant status was threatened. If you don't work hard, are you waiting for the master to replace you? This is not uncommon. Didn't the Zhou family's sacrifice field next door replace several tenants
Yu Hai stood still in front of the tenant farmers. He had never spoken under the expectant eyes of so many people, and his hands behind his back trembled slightly. When Xiaocao saw her, she hurriedly stretched out her hand, held Dad's hand, and gave him spiritual support.
The Yu family will definitely be more than this in the future, as the head of the family, Yu Hai must be able to support it! Yu Hai took a deep breath, scanned the dozens of households with majestic eyes, and said loudly: "This year's spring plowing is coming soon, so as not to delay the farming season, everything will continue as usual! Who is the head of the village, come out and introduce the situation of Zhuangzi!"
Hearing the words of business as usual, the tenants were visibly relieved, and everyone's eyes shone with joy. An old man in his fifties, who was old and strong, took a step forward and said: "Go back to the master's house, the old man Wang Maocai is the head of this Zhuangzi!"
Seeing that the old man was about the same age as his father, Yu Hai showed some kindness in his expression, and said, "What's the situation with Zhuangzi, let's talk about it!"
Wang Maocai's respectful attitude did not change because of the kindness of the master's family to him. He said respectfully and authentically: "Going back to the master's house, there are sixteen households in Zhuangzi. Among them, there are forty-three laborers in their prime. to distribute."
Distribution by number of adult labor force? Yu Xiaocao thought for a while and said, "Old man, do the so-called labor force mean adult male labor force?"
Wang Maocai did not neglect her because of her young age, and hurriedly responded: "Miss Hui, yes!"
"Then... what if an accident happens to this adult male family?" Yu Xiaocao's worry was not without reason. If something happened to the man in the family, a family of orphans and widows could not even get a piece of land, how would they live
Wang Maocai was silent for a moment, then said: "Just wanting to tell the master, Liu Dazhuang broke his leg on the mountain in Zhuangzi. He is the only labor force in the family. Last year, he was allocated four mu of land. He is going to ask the master for instructions on how to distribute it this year. !"
Yu Hai slightly frowned. According to the old rules, the only labor force in the family is bedridden, so the land should not be allocated. However, the pillars of the family have collapsed and the land has been lost. This is tantamount to worsening the situation. How can the family make ends meet
At this moment, a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy rushed out from the crowd. With tears in his eyes, he clenched his fists, knelt down in front of Yu Hai with a plop, and said loudly, "I'm already thirteen, and I can stand up to a grown-up." Already! Please don’t take away my field.”
"Shanzi, come back quickly!" A haggard-looking woman squeezed out of the crowd, and shouted anxiously to the kneeling little boy, for fear that her son would contradict the master and be punished.
Yu Hai looked down at this boy who was about the same age as his eldest son, feeling mixed feelings in his heart. Thinking back to the time when I was bitten by Xiong Xiazi, lying in bed not knowing whether I was alive or dead, how similar the situation I faced at that time was to this family in front of me. Back then, he hoped that someone would help his family.
Yu Xiaocao thought for a while, then made a decision, and said, "My father just said that today's land distribution will remain the same as last year until a new decision is made!"
The little boy kneeling on the ground raised his head full of hope and asked, "My family allocated four acres of land last year. Will there be four acres of land this year?"
Yu Xiaocao nodded and said, "That's right, as much land as last year is the same as this year. From now on, not only adults will have land, boys over ten years old, women between sixteen and forty years old, as long as they are able to work , both men and women will share some fields as appropriate."
What? Women also have land? Eligible women and families with more children showed joyful expressions on their faces. But those with more labor in the family changed their expressions slightly. Because Zhuangzi only has so much land, after allocating it to women and children, they must have less land. Although these people were slightly dissatisfied in their hearts, they dared not say anything. The new master's house has the rules of the new master's house. If you show dissatisfaction, the master's house will not rent you an acre of land, and you can only watch!
Yu Hai said a few more words on the scene, encouraging everyone to work hard, and finally said: "Farming time waits for no one, take advantage of the good weather today, let's hurry up and start farming! Okay, let's go!"
After leaving Zhuangzi, the two of them were going to the town to buy some daily necessities. When the carriage walked outside the city gate, it was found that the number of refugees outside the city had increased a lot. Now is the time when there is a shortage of people. Many people in the Northeast who do not want to leave their homes have survived the severe winter and have run out of ammunition and food, so they have to embark on the road of fleeing southward.
Yu Hai, who was in a good mood after buying Zhuangzi, sat outside the carriage and talked to the housekeeper. Suddenly, a thin figure among the refugees attracted his attention. He stared at the man's back and clenched his hands tightly. Could it be her? If it was her, why didn't she go back to Dongshan Village to find him, but settled in a refugee camp outside the city
As if aware of his gaze, the thin figure turned around and looked over. When Yu Hai saw the haggard but familiar face clearly, he softly called out with a choked voice: "Eldest sister..."
Perhaps it was because he was too far away, the man didn't recognize him, but continued to walk a few steps forward, and slowly squatted down under a simple shed made of dead branches. In fact, even if the two were face to face, Yu Caifeng might not be able to recognize him.
Since the year when Yu Hai got married, the eldest sister came back once, more than ten years have passed, although Yu Hai's face has not changed much, but it has matured a lot. Over the past year, he ate well and was in a good mood. He was originally thin and tall, but his figure has become burly and powerful.
Today he wore a new suit of clothes, and sat in the carriage of Fangfu, like a rich gentleman in the city. Even when Yu Caifeng met him, she just felt familiar and dared not recognize him!
"Stop, stop quickly!" Yu Hai snatched the rein from the housekeeper's hand and pulled it hard. The horse, which was trotting forward steadily, gave a long neigh and stopped, its hooves stamped on the ground uneasily. Thanks to the well-trained horses in Fangfu, if they were scolded differently, they might be shocked!
Yu Xiaocao, who was dozing in the carriage, almost fell out of the carriage. She poked her head out with doubts, but saw her father jump off the carriage that hadn't stopped and walked quickly towards the area called the refugee camp.
"Father! What are you doing? Wait for me!" With the help of the housekeeper, Yu Xiaocao got out of the carriage, carrying a long skirt, and chased in the direction where her father left. But when I went to Zhuangzi with my father, my godmother insisted on making her dress so formally, it was inconvenient to run, and I accidentally stepped on the hem of the skirt.