Do I have to raise the money to buy the seeds myself?
Xu Genyou looked distressed. He had spent all the money he earned from selling charcoal before the New Year on grain, and now he had no money left.
However, if they don't buy seeds soon, they will suffer from hunger again this year, as they have already lost their winter wheat harvest and now they have even less corn.
Tian Gui also had a frown on his face.
He had spent all his money on rice in town last time, and he had no money left.
Seeing their predicament, Jiang Zhi waited a moment before saying, "Go and ask the others if they can raise some money. Xiao Man and I can contribute a hundred coins!"
Although she had a few taels of silver on her, she couldn't take on too much responsibility in this situation.
I'm the village chief, not a parent; I can't raise a giant baby!
Moreover, it's not easy to ask Zhang Juntou for money or anything like that.
What you owe, you must always pay back. If you break the rules from the beginning and it becomes a habit, you'll never take responsibility for anything and will always expect others to help you.
"Thank you, Village Chief Jiang. I'll discuss it with the others right away. We should take out everything we can. Buying seeds is the priority!" Tian Gui gritted his teeth.
With Village Chief Jiang's words, he had to make a statement.
Tian Gui knew that Jiang Zhi had spent two hundred coins on selling rush pith and straw sandals in town last time, and this was all the money left over after she spent it.
Xu Genyou also said, "Aunt Jiang, I'll think of something too!"
Everyone should contribute; even a small amount of money is acceptable.
Seeing that the two men had agreed to persuade the others, Jiang Zhi then told them about Zhang Juntou's demand to cut down trees and provide labor: "We must hurry up and cultivate seedlings and sow seeds to make time for corvée labor."
Upon hearing that they would be forced into corvée labor immediately, Xu Genyou and Tian Gui showed no reaction.
Previously, there were two months of corvée labor each year for road repair, dike building, salt production, and well drilling.
Not only did they have to travel long distances, but they also had to work in freezing cold water, or they would have to pay two taels of silver as "payment in lieu of work".
Those tax collectors are truly heartless!
Two taels of silver is no small sum for an ordinary family. If they don't contribute money, they can only contribute their own labor, and they are responsible for any deaths or illnesses.
Those roads and dikes were never properly repaired; they were repaired every year, only to collapse every year, requiring the levying of laborers every year.
As the duration of corvée labor increased, the cost of "paying in lieu of labor" naturally increased as well. Families with many members had to pay five taels of silver per year for this service.
Oppressive government is more ferocious than a tiger; the suffering is truly unbearable.
Now the new army has said that they will no longer have to pay such high taxes, and corvée labor can be done with the money of ordinary wages, for a period of no more than one month.
Ordinary people don't understand court intrigues, what a king or an emperor is, let alone the concept of the empire.
The emperor's words are not as powerful as the county magistrate's.
All they knew was that they could only farm to feed themselves, pay taxes, and perform corvée labor, living like ants, with nothing to eat if they didn't work the land.
Anyone who can make their life easier is a good person!
Seeing that they did not object, Jiang Zhi continued, "Inspector Zhang said that the trees that were cut down belong to us."
"Village Chief Jiang, is this for real? Can we take the wood?"
Tian Gui was quite excited: he didn't have to perform corvée labor in the winter, and the trees were right at his doorstep, which he needed to repair his house. It was practically free money.
"Yes, not only are there trees, but the county government has also promised to waive this year's taxes..."
Upon hearing that it was tax-free, Xu Genyou's eyes lit up, even though he had just been frowning: Tax-free!
Even if the tax rate is only 10% as the new army suggested, our family can still save hundreds of kilograms of grain.
"Okay, we'll go tell the others right now!" Xu Genyou clenched his fist, making up his mind.
In his heart, food was still the most important thing. If all else failed, he would swallow his pride and go to town to ask his younger brother's father-in-law for a loan.
Xu Errui will handle the money matters with other people.
Jiang Zhi was also busy.
She found Xu Genyou's mother, Liu, and chatted with her daughter-in-law, Tian, hoping to strengthen their bond and also learn about the situation of the women in the village.
Unexpectedly, the original owner of this body was too fierce in the past. Before she even opened her mouth, she made Liu's mother and daughter-in-law tremble with fear and say they didn't know anything about it.
This is too exaggerated. Jiang Zhi could only make up a few words before leaving the shack and wandering around outside.
Zhang Jun and his group are now living in a medical shed, which is less crowded than before, and it's separated from the village by a wall.
They opened a separate gate, preventing them from freely interacting with the villagers.
The rest of the area consisted of makeshift shacks.
Compared to the messy shacks of the year before, the houses are now barely habitable, except that ditches are dug haphazardly in front of and behind each household, and firewood is piled up indiscriminately.
Only when people have enough to eat and drink can they learn about etiquette. Spiritual civilization is built on the foundation of material civilization, and Jiang Zhi could only turn a blind eye to this at this moment.
She only stood there for a moment before Xu Errui and his group came over: "Mother, they said they can pool their money and are asking how to buy it?"
Behind him, Xu Gensheng and the others were filled with excitement and anxiety: Tax exemption! They could grow more grain, and it would all be theirs, but how would they divide the money and seeds?
Jiang Zhi has no house in the village, and every shack is crowded, so she can only work outdoors.
Fortunately, it's March now, and the afternoon sun is bright, shining through the newly sprouted leaves and casting dappled shadows on you. It's neither too hot nor too cold.
The chaotic soldiers destroyed the village, but the stone tables and walls were not destroyed. You could sit on a straw mat or place a wooden board on it to make a table.
So, a group of men gathered together and talked about the money to buy the seeds.
You give me ten coins, I give you twenty coins; those who still have some savings grit their teeth and take out a large handful of copper coins.
To Jiang Zhi's surprise, there was actually a scholar among the migrants who had received an education.
At this moment, Xia Shuyan stood in front of Jiang Zhi.
He looks to be in his late twenties, but he really gives off the feeling of a lost scholar.
His face was pale, his body thin and emaciated, and he looked as if a gust of wind could blow him away.
His long gown was patched and faded from washing, and what was most heartbreaking was his vacant eyes and dazed expression. He stood in front of people without communicating or interacting with them, only muttering articles.
This is insane!
Xia Shuyan's mother, who brought Xia Shuyan over, pulled Jiang Zhi aside and pleaded in a low voice: "Village Chief Jiang, my son has failed the exams for a long time. He is ridiculed by his classmates at school and mocked at home. He has lost his mind and only knows how to memorize books every day. He is not a violent madman who wants to beat and curse people."
The doctor said it was a mental illness, and that he needed to broaden his mind and travel to various mountains and rivers.
“We stayed here to recuperate because of the beautiful scenery, and we hope that Village Chief Jiang can forgive his rudeness.”
Jiang Zhi understood the meaning behind her words: Xia Shuyan had been driven mad by verbal abuse and wanted to recuperate here.
She didn't press for the reason, nor did she show any unusual reaction to Xia Shuyan. She simply said gently, "Sister-in-law Xia, don't worry. I just need the scholar's help to keep accounts."
Madam Xia nodded: "I've already heard from your young master that Shuyan just doesn't talk to people, but he can still read and keep accounts."
Jiang Zhi wanted to laugh. She had just become the village chief, and Xu Errui was already being called "Young Master"!
However, after hearing these words, Xia's mother made her take a few more glances.
He was older than me, wore patched coarse linen clothes, had a sallow complexion, and his hands were covered with purplish-red scars from frostbite. He was clearly a hardworking person.
But she stood tall and was humble and polite, and her words and actions were different from those of ordinary village women.
Xia Shuyan was indeed good at keeping accounts. Although his behavior was different from ordinary people, he was more normal when he had a pen and paper.
He meticulously recorded the villagers' odds and ends of money in his beautiful small regular script.
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