Lotus dropped her bowl and chopsticks and ran to open the gate.
Several villagers came in and asked, "Is Uncle San at home?"
"Yes, I just finished my meal!" Lotus responded and led a few people in. Just as they were about to close the door, someone shouted from afar, "Don't close the door, wait a moment."
After a while, eight or nine villagers gathered in the yard, all grinning foolishly at Mr. Tai San, looking embarrassed as if they had something to say but were unable to.
Master Tai San was an old and shrewd man, so there was nothing he couldn't guess. He laughed and scolded, "A dog's stomach can't hold two taels of soy sauce! Are you all thinking about the money for the corn seeds? Humph, you really can't wait even a day, you can't sleep without this little money!"
The villagers scratched the back of their heads, feeling more and more embarrassed.
Someone responded, "Uncle San, we've all been busy for a year, finally growing those big golden corn cobs. Now we can't get any money, and we feel like we're losing hope..."
"Yes, Third Uncle. We don't know how much will be left after deducting the fines for corvée labor. I tossed and turned and couldn't sleep, so I decided to ask Sixth Uncle. It would make us feel more at ease if we had an idea!" Another person also chimed in.
Third Master Tai grabbed his pipe, stood up, and said, "Let's go to your sixth uncle's house. Remember to call the heads of the neighboring households and try to distribute the money tonight so that you don't have to toss and turn on the kang to make pancakes!"
Everyone laughed and ran to find someone.
A moment later, the Tai family yard at the entrance of the village was filled with people, including the heads of each family and a few impatient women.
Seeing He Shan guarding the door, Old Man Tai said to everyone, "I originally thought everyone would have a good night's sleep tonight and distribute the money tomorrow. I didn't expect everyone to be so anxious. Let's distribute it quickly."
After saying that, he called Yang Lihua to get the account books and cash box.
Yang Lihua had also been prepared. Since she learned yesterday that those who had served labor service were returning, she had brought the old soldiers into the city in person and exchanged a lot of small change and copper coins, just for this moment.
The villagers were originally gossiping, but when they saw the money box, they immediately shut up and looked at each other with fiery eyes.
Yang Lihua first reported the total price of the corn seeds sold by everyone, deducted the cost of seeking favors from the county government, and the cost of food and supplies consumed in the mountains during this period of time.
The old man took the initiative to speak and said, "The expenses of seeking favors from the county government, as well as the food and expenses on the mountain, our family will bear half."
Master Tai San immediately objected, "No, your family has the title of Yongning scholar, so you don't have to do any corvée labor. Going to the county office to seek favors is purely for everyone's sake. How can we let your family bear half of the expenses! Besides, this is just a few taels of silver spent by the county office to bribe the clerks. In the future, the county magistrate and Manager Min will have to pay gifts from your family, and that will be the biggest expense.
"Even if our lives aren't as good as yours, we all have some foundation now. It's not right for us to keep taking advantage of you!"
"Third uncle is right. Sixth uncle has already worried about us all a lot. Don't waste money on him!"
"Yes, luckily we have Uncle Six. If it were us going to the county government office, we wouldn't even know how to give money to others!"
"Thank you, Sixth Uncle, for sparing us from the suffering of corvée labor. That's very good."
The villagers all agreed with Master Tai San. Even those with small minds felt ashamed after hearing Master Tai San's words.
It must be said that a good clan leader is crucial to a family. After all, not everyone is wise and sensible. With an elder constantly advising them, clan members can stay on the right path, work together, and live better and better lives.
Old Master Tai was satisfied, thinking that all his efforts for his clan members were not in vain.
He thought for a moment and said, "Okay, let's split the money the county government pays for favors. But the food and drink expenses for the wooden house on the mountain will be ours. After all, none of us go up the mountain often, so we're the ones who live there most of the time."
This time, Master Tai San didn't insist and said, "Okay, it's settled. From now on, villagers can come and stay here occasionally, just don't chase them away."
"That's not possible. We can build two more wooden houses so that everyone can live in them." Old Man Tai laughed.
After these things were settled, Yang Lihua began to distribute money according to each family's accounts, and the heads of each family came forward to put their fingerprints on it.
At this time, someone discovered another surprise.
"Isn't the fine for exemption from corvée labor more than three taels? Why is it only a little over one tael?"
Others immediately followed suit, shouting, "Did the sister-in-law make a mistake?"
Old Master Tai gestured for everyone to keep their voices down, and explained in a low voice, "The county magistrate, mindful of his familiarity with our Tai family, instructed the officers not to double the fine, so each person only received one tael of silver. Adding the benefits given to the officers, each person received more than one tael of silver.
"Everyone, please don't talk nonsense when you go out. Otherwise, if the news gets out and outsiders come to the county government to demand an explanation, we will be cheating them and hurting ourselves as well."
Everyone was overjoyed to hear this. Not only did they avoid corvee labor, but they also only spent so little money!
"No, no, don't worry, Uncle Six, we will never say anything nonsense."
"Great! I have two more taels of silver, enough to buy several dumplings!"
"Yeah, I thought I'd worked so hard this year for nothing, but I didn't expect there were still so many left."
The villagers responded with smiles on their faces, and the women were even happier. After all, they were the heads of the family, and no one was happier than them when their money boxes were full.
Master Tai San also followed suit, "Every woman should watch her mouth and not go back to her parents' home and tell them nonsense. Every family that has paid the fine will be upset and distressed. If they knew we took advantage, they would probably treat us like thorns in their eyes."
Upon hearing this, a woman responded half-unhappily and half-jokingly, "Third Uncle always reminds us of this, as if we're about to sell out our in-laws at any moment! No matter how good my parents' family is, we're like spilled water. Now we're Tai family members! Only a fool would sell out his own family!"
"That's right, that's right, Uncle San hurt us so much."
"Uncle San doesn't believe us. Our son's surname is Tai, and our father's surname is Tai, so of course we are also members of the Tai family!"
The other ladies also spoke up and joined in the attack.
Master Tai San quickly raised his hands to beg for mercy, "I was wrong, I was wrong! I will never say that again. We are all members of the Tai family, and we are all good daughters-in-law of the Tai family!"
Everyone couldn't help laughing, and said a few more words before continuing to distribute silver and money.
Some people planted more corn this year and some planted less, but no one backed down in support of the border defense troops.
Fortunately, the border defense troops were pretty good and didn’t let anyone suffer any loss.
When Yang Lihua closed the account book, everyone felt heavy in their arms, looked dazed, and vaguely regretful.
If I had known this earlier, I would have planted corn on all the land I bought. It’s so productive!
Old Master Tai looked at the crowd and said, "Because of the corvée service, many people were delayed in buying corn seeds. I guess things will get busy again after tomorrow. If you're selling corn, be sure to carefully consider the buyers and don't be too greedy for high prices. Try to find reliable ones. Make sure to calculate the money and inspect it carefully..."
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