"Sir, this is a woman from our village who married into the family. She is the head of her household!"
"I wonder how much grain will be harvested per acre this time. I would appreciate it if you could set out a plan so that everyone can prepare."
The village head gave a brief explanation and then steered the conversation toward grain tax, not wanting the grain collector to keep an eye on Jiang Bai.
When the matter was brought up, the man finally withdrew his gaze from Jiang Bai.
"This time, the grain tax is three-tenths. Your Jiangjia Village has had a bumper harvest, so you should be able to pay the full amount, right?"
The grain collector stroked his beard and glanced sideways at the village head.
"What?"
"Three-tenths of the tax?"
"How could they have collected so much?"
In the past, the land tax was at most 20% of the total land tax, and a few years ago it was only 10%. This year, with a drought looming, how could the tax be 30% of the total land tax?
The villagers were incredulous, and even Jiang Bai frowned.
Their family has a total of three mu of land, and the total harvest is less than 500 jin.
The three-tenths tax mentioned by the grain official was not based on the actual harvest; he said Jiangjia Village had a bumper harvest this year.
When there is a good harvest, the yield can range from 240 to 280 catties per mu.
According to the highest standard for a good harvest, one mu of land must yield 84 jin of grain, and three mu of land must yield 252 jin.
That's half of their harvest this year.
After deducting 90% of the grain handed over to the clan granary, good heavens, their family could only keep less than 30 jin of grain.
Who are they trying to starve to death?
"quiet."
The yamen runners drew their swords, their faces cold and stern, their fierce eyes glaring at the villagers, who immediately fell silent.
"Three-tenths of the tax is the old rule. Among the villages in Nan'an County, your village has the best harvest. According to the law, it is only right to pay taxes."
The village head, with a bitter face, knelt down with a thud, and the villagers knelt down as if they had received a signal.
"Sir, this year there has been little rain and frequent pests, resulting in a reduced harvest. We beg you to have pity on us and set a new average!"
Even though it's the same 30% tax, the difference between collecting it based on 280 jin and 150 jin is huge!
No wonder the village headman couldn't get the grain collector to come to the countryside before the autumn harvest. If the official had come then, the harvest would have been evenly distributed, and the land tax would have been fixed.
In this way, we can no longer make such outrageous demands as we do now.
Jiang Bai knelt on the ground with the villagers, thinking mockingly to himself.
"That's easy to do."
The grain collector smiled slightly and opened the book in his hand.
"How about we determine this year's outcome based on last year's?"
The village head's expression changed, and he looked up at the grain collection official.
Last year, Jiangjia Village had a bumper harvest. The best fields yielded 280 jin, and the worst fields yielded 240 jin. When the average yield was set, it was set at 260 jin.
But this year is different.
His gaze met that of the grain collector, whose eyes flickered slightly as he raised his chin in Jiang Bai's direction.
The village headman felt a chill and quickly lowered his head.
Some clever villagers noticed the grain collector's signal and knelt down to move in front of the village head.
"Uncle, what does the master mean..."
"Shut up."
The village head stopped him, his hand trembling slightly.
"Alright, then use last year's average to send people to collect grain. You have one hour. If you haven't collected enough, our knives won't be blind."
The grain collector waved his hand, dismissing the man.
After the villagers left, a constable approached him and whispered, "Brother, wasn't that woman...?"
"Shut up, talk less, and observe more."
The grain collector gave him a cold look, and the man retreated dejectedly, not daring to utter another word.
The grain collector watched Jiang Bai's departing figure with an inscrutable expression, then withdrew his gaze and waited quietly for the villagers to collect the grain so they could all go to the county government office together.
"Uncle Village Head, have you sent someone to inquire about the tax collection situation in the neighboring village?"
Jiang Bai was unaware of the subtle conflict between the grain collector and the village head. After the meeting, instead of going back to collect grain, he followed the village head to his house.
The village head gave her a complicated look and nodded.
"Er Mao made a trip, and it was also three-tenths of the tax."
"However, their average score is 140."
This is based on this year's normal harvest.
"Are they targeting our Jiangjia Village?"
Jiang Bai frowned. They were both collecting taxes, so why was the average for Jiangjia Village based on the previous year?
"Yes... alright, you should go home and prepare food too!"
Just as the village head was about to nod, he suddenly realized something and waved Jiang Bai away.
As soon as Jiang Bai left, the village head turned around and went to find the clan leader.
"Since both villages are under the jurisdiction of Nan'an County, Jiangjia Village is no different from other villages. Why is it that only Jiangjia Village's average is comparable to the previous year?"
Jiang Bai couldn't figure it out, so he simply spoke up and discussed it with Ji Yanwen.
Ji Yanwen's family did not farm, or perhaps when he became Ji Yanwen, his family no longer owned any land, so he never paid land tax.
"Logically speaking, when the county government sets an average, it should take the best and worst values from one region and find a compromise between the two."
"The situation in Zhujia Village is relatively normal."
"Could it be that someone from Jiangjia Village has offended someone from the county government?"
Jiang Bai shook her head; she couldn't understand it either.
They can afford to pay the tax, but they need to figure out where their family's food will come from after paying it.
"Do you think... it's possible that it could be the Chen family's residence?"
When you can't think of an answer, think of your enemy first.
The Chen family is a prominent family in Nan'an County, and they also have a nobleman who is suspected to have come from the capital. If they were to make a call to the county government and cause trouble for the common people of Jiangjia Village, it would be very easy for them.
Jiang Bai's eyes lit up with realization. No wonder, no wonder that matchmaker hadn't come to Jiangjia Village for half a month.
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