When Ling Qingyu and his carriage arrived, they received a warm welcome. The neat fields, the brand-new small village, and the happy expressions of the farmers all made people feel cordial.
However, this kind of good mood completely disappeared when sitting in the main hall of the big house in the village.
"Why did it increase so much all at once?" Han Bian asked solemnly. When he was here last fall, it was only 30%, and it increased by 20%, which is too big.
"These are from the government after the year." The steward handed a stack of official documents to Han Bian, and then secretly glanced at Ling Qingyu.
There were more than 20 stewards and village chiefs sitting in the lobby, and their expressions were very tense at this moment. Although the Ling family was here for a short time, the treatment they gave was really good. In the first year, only 30% of the rent was charged. It only rose to 50% in the second year. Although it was only 10% less than others, the Ling family also provided seeds and farm tools, which was a lot of money. As soon as the tax increase documents came this year, some wealthy families around had already raised the rent. From 70% to 80%, how can tenants with only such a small income survive, but these are collected by the government. Is it possible for the owner to subsidize money to support the tenants? Many stewards and farm heads are ready to increase the rent, and have even done ideological work with everyone before coming here. The advantage of the Ling family is that the Ling family has sweet potatoes and potatoes, which are high-yielding crops. Some of this can always make ends meet.
"The Empress Dowager's 60th birthday this year, increase Enke's term, pay the silver silk of the Liao Kingdom, increase military expenses, tsk tsk tsk, the birthday outline of the emperor's birthday, increase the department to serve." Han Bian read and muttered, and put the stack of documents Slapped on the table, took a long breath, suppressed the anger, and said slowly: "There are so many names."
"These increased taxes, or all the taxes, will those officials and nobles also increase?" Ling Qingyu asked after taking a sip of hot water.
"How could this be added to them?" Han Bian said with a cold smile. Now these years, the tax has been increasing every year, and now it has reached such a point!
Expropriation has always been a harbinger of chaos in the country, Ling Qingyu sighed.
"Master, why don't we also add 10% to the rent?" The chief steward asked Ling Qingyu cautiously. This is the first time seeing this head of the house today, but seeing that Han Bian is respectful to her, the head manager immediately understands that this is the one who calls the shots.
"Then shall we distribute the seeds for free this year?" Another steward also asked cautiously. Seeds are also a batch of money. Even if it is added to 60%, the owner will not have much left. If there are more seeds and farm tools, it will be equivalent to the owner paying for it.
"Now the tenants below have some surplus food, why don't we let them produce the seeds themselves," said the chief manager.
Han Bian looked at Ling Qingyu. The Ling family had no official background, so they couldn't get any tax exemption, but if they really paid in full, even if they collected 60% of the rent, they wouldn't be able to provide surplus food. This was not in line with the original intention.
Ling Qingyu lowered his eyes, drew circles on the teacup with his fingers, thought for a while, and asked, "How much food does the tenant family need to survive?"
The in charge of the Zhuangtou's heart darkened, thinking that fortunately they had made preparations before coming.
"Our fields are good. Now we have provided farm tools and seeds for improvement. Compared with other farms, we can harvest 20% more. If it is for living, then 20% to 30% of the harvest has already been made." The big manager said.
"The basis of tax calculation is the basis of the field, should those ridges and miscellaneous land also be counted?" Ling Qingyu asked.
"Of course it can't be counted, only the area of the field." The chief steward said.
"Then, do we have to pay all the taxes in kind or can we pay them in cash?" Ling Qingyu asked.
"In the past two years, they were all in kind, but this year, when the government came, they said that they could pay in cash." The chief manager said.
Ling Qingyu and Han Bian looked at each other again, and then said: "In this way, we will not increase the rent for this year, and the rent for next year will depend on the situation of the government. This year's seeds cannot be given for free, and we can use the model of credit to use the money after autumn. Grain to repay, and then, this year’s surplus grain should not be sold to others, we will buy it at 20% off the market price.”
As soon as these words came out, there was silence in the lobby, and Ling Qingyu unconsciously said: "This is the bottom line, and we can't let it go any longer."
"The boss is the Bodhisattva!" The chief steward took the lead, and all the stewards in the lobby got up and kowtowed to the ground.
"Get up, what is this for?" Ling Qingyu quickly put down the tea bowl and helped him up.
The steward and the bosses got up and were still whispering to each other. No one thought that the head of the house would not increase the rent, which meant that the boss himself admitted the loss.
"There are a few things I still want to tell you." After the people sat down, Ling Qingyu said: "The first is to continue to think of ways to increase production, and the second is to conceal some things when calculating taxes. Can this be done?" Seeing that the stewards nodded in understanding, they continued: "Tell everyone, clear out the ridges and miscellaneous fields, and plant sweet potatoes and peppers."
After Ling Qingyu finished speaking, there was a lot of discussion below. Seeing that both the manager and the head of the village could understand, Han Bian said: "The head of the family also decided to build schools and roads. It is good that each family contributes their own manpower. After the school is completed, children can go to school for free. , We all have a certain amount of free matching of the books and ink used for reading, and if there are promising children who pass the exam and are willing to continue their studies, the Ling family will also select the best for funding."
Ling Qingyu sat down and accepted the group kowtow again, and hurriedly said: "Get up, everyone, this really frustrates me."
"If something happens to the head of the family, he will go through fire and water." A younger steward knelt down and said.
The others who had gotten up knelt down again, and then repeated his words in a bumpy manner.
Ling Qingyu glanced at Han Bian, helped the young steward up, and said, "Some trivial matters are not worth doing to you."
"The head of the family thinks it's a trivial matter, but for us, it's a reinvention." The young man said.
"Have you ever read?" Ling Qingyu asked, speaking so politely.
"After studying for two years, my family didn't have any money, so I didn't go to school. The head of the family, can I go to that school?" The young man asked a little shyly.
"As long as you have the heart to study, you can do it." Ling Qingyu smiled.
After the important matter was finalized, the other matters were handed over to Han Bian, and Ling Qingyu returned to the room arranged for her.
The house was specially built with blue bricks and tiles, and the floor was paved with stone slabs, but the furnishings in the room were very simple, a bed, a chair, and a table.
Ling Qingyu sat on the bed, frowning slightly.
"What?" Yan San asked, turning the brazier on.
"I think I'm so hypocritical." Ling Qingyu laughed at himself.
Yan San was a little surprised, and turned to look at her suspiciously.
"What I did today was actually buying people's hearts. I said it so grandly, but it was actually for the last sentence. Using favors to win people's hearts, isn't it hypocrisy?" Ling Qingyu said. It seems that her behaviors are all like the Holy Mother, but in fact, each of them has her own plan in it. The rent has not increased this year, and she will not lose much, but she can buy them at a low price. The purpose of building a school is to control public opinion and brainwash her. If something happens in the future, these people can be her help, not to mention the benefits that can be brought if someone enters the official career. In fact, everything has its own selfish intentions. , and expected that doing so would buy people's hearts, but when she was thanked so sincerely, she felt guilty.
"Qing Yu." Yan San stood up, walked to her side, then squatted down again, held her hand and said, "I told you, I've been wandering outside since I can remember, remember?"
Ling Qingyu nodded.
"If you don't ask me to go to school at that time, just give me a bowl of rice, and I will do whatever you ask me to do. No matter what your reason is for doing these things, but they really rely on this to get the chance and benefit of life. It is normal to ask them to be loyal. If they still betray you under such circumstances, it will be a death penalty instead." Yan San looked directly into her eyes and said.
"You mean, it's normal for me to do this?" Ling Qingyu asked.
"Yes, if you don't ask for anything in return, can you keep doing it?" Yan San smiled.
Ling Qingyu deeply thinks that, yes, although it is so noble to just give without expecting anything in return, I am definitely not noble. If I treat you well, I ask you to treat me very well, that's right!
"Then Yan San, what do you want for being so kind to me?" Ling Qingyu, who sensed something was wrong, asked with widened eyes.
"What I want is this." Yan San smiled and leaned close to her, kissing her lips lightly.
"But didn't you plan to keep me from knowing that you were going to die?" Ling Qingyu began to dig up old scores.
"Ah, that's because I've already received the reward." Yan San pecked again.
"What's the meaning?"
"That time at the crater, those few days you forgot, we were together." Yan San smiled, before her eyes widened and she started to get angry, he gagged her mouth deeply.