Chapter 360 Extra Chapter: Song Erniang (Part Two)
Song Erniang had no idea how much trouble her words would cause. It wasn't until later that she realized her elder sister and the two noble ladies had come to investigate the land tax in Jiangnan.
It seemed like an impossible problem, but the eldest sister and those two benefactors accomplished it.
Song Erniang thought more than once that so many men had failed to accomplish what three women had finally achieved. Indeed, the world was just as her elder sister had said.
People are only divided into useful and useless, not male and female!
No matter who someone is, they will always have some use. Even the most useless person can be thrown into the ground as fertilizer!
These are all things to be discussed later.
After Song Zhimian and the others left that day, everyone gathered around.
"Song Erniang, those noble people didn't make things difficult for you, did they?"
"Song Erniang, you know those important people? I saw them talking to you quite a bit!"
"Song Erniang, are you alright? Those noble people actually ate the wontons you made!"
Everyone was talking at once.
Song Erniang smiled and explained to everyone.
"Back in the capital, because of my husband's family's troubles, a benefactor helped me get rid of that mess."
I never expected to run into you here again, so we exchanged a few more words.
Everyone immediately understood.
So those three benefactors were actually upright officials! No wonder they were eating at Song Erniang's stall!
People's impression of the nobles in the capital immediately improved a lot. They were approachable and would lend a helping hand when people encountered difficulties. What else could they be but a righteous official!
After Song Zhimian left, Song Erniang was clearly a little uneasy.
Just now, when my eldest sister left, she secretly asked someone to put a purse in the box where she kept her money.
Inside are four round beads and four gold ingots shaped like writing brushes and ruyi (a type of scepter).
Song Erniang recognized at a glance that this was her elder sister's doing. The purse belonged to her elder sister and was the same as the one her elder sister had sent when she left the capital.
The eldest sister not only left this purse, but when the group left Suzhou, the shopkeeper of Suzhou Chunbuwan also secretly sent them a plaque.
With this sign, she can ask someone who isn't late in spring to solve any problem.
Thinking of Chun Buwan's extraordinary status in Suzhou, Song Erniang knew that this was arranged by her elder sister, who was afraid that Chun Buwan would be bullied here and no one would protect her.
Song Erniang put the plaque away, feeling that she would never have the chance to use it.
...
"Song Erniang, do you know that the imperial court has issued another official document, and it concerns you!" A man who usually lured people here to eat wontons suddenly said a few words to Song Erniang.
"What does this have to do with us? What? Has the imperial court exempted us small business owners from taxes?" Song Erniang asked with a smile.
The man found it strange.
"Song Erniang, you didn't go into the city today! How did you know? The imperial court did indeed exempt people like you from taxes."
For small businesses like yours, with a yearly turnover of not much, the imperial court has exempted you from taxes.
"From now on, you really won't have to pay taxes anymore!" the man said with a smile.
Song Erniang was stunned. Was it true that she didn't have to pay taxes anymore?
Previously, the government offices in Suzhou rarely came to collect taxes from them, as they all knew that it wasn't easy for small merchants to make a living outside the city...
However, there is still no official document.
Now the imperial court has actually exempted these people from taxes, so they can openly avoid paying taxes.
"Really? That's wonderful! I never expected the imperial court to still care about people like us!"
"I can earn more in the future!" Song Erniang was also happy.
The person who came over to eat wontons saw how happy Song Erniang was and told her some more news.
"It's not just you small business owners who have good news; some farmers have good news too!"
"What good news?" Song Erniang chopped some vegetables and sent them over to the person.
According to the imperial decree, each farming household could be exempted from land tax for five mu of land, and families with soldiers who died in battle could be permanently exempted from land tax.
Those with family members serving in the three major military garrisons can also be exempted from part of the land tax.
"Oh, of course, these are all requirements. There must be no falsification, and no affiliation with wealthy households or landlords. If any connection with those landlords is found, it will be strictly investigated and punished," the person eating wontons continued.
Song Erniang continued to nod.
"That's only right! This is a benefit from the imperial court to us poor people, how can it be given to those people!"
Don't worry, if they don't pay taxes, farmers want their own land more than anyone else!
The small vendors outside the city immediately started discussing this issue.
Actually... they do have some money, and they can buy an acre or two of land...
Song Erniang also started to ponder this in her heart.
She has some money. If that's the case, she can buy five acres of land and rent it out to others to cultivate. That way, the little left over each year will be enough for her to eat.
Slowly... things will definitely get better and better!
Song Erniang became happier and happier as she thought about it.
...
And so, Song Erniang's wonton stall business became more and more prosperous.
More and more people are setting up stalls outside Suzhou, and Song Erniang's smile grows brighter every day.
"Song Erniang, three bowls of wontons, please!"
Just as Song Erniang was about to rest after finishing with a group of merchants, she saw that another group of people had arrived.
These are the three soldiers guarding the city gate.
Ever since Song Zhimian and her friends came here, these people have been coming here often to eat wontons.
Because they came so often, most of the shady characters in the area didn't dare to come to Song Erniang's place.
"You're changing shifts a bit early today! You never used to come at this time," Song Erniang said with a smile.
"We used to work two shifts a day, but now we can work three shifts, so we have more time to rest!"
"Song Erniang, the filling for your wontons is getting better and better. No wonder all the caravans love eating wontons here!" said one of the ten men, surnamed He, with a smile.
“Brother He, you must be hungry! You… you’ve even changed your clothes! Shall we walk a bit further?” Song Erniang asked.
"Yes, my wife's younger brother is coming to Suzhou to make a living."
We're not far from Suzhou. He's such an honest man, my wife was a little worried, so she specifically asked me to go and greet him after my shift.
Look... that's the one driving the oxcart not far away.
"Look at him, isn't he stupid! There's an oxcart here, and he's still walking on the ground, doesn't he know to get on and sit on the cart?" Brother He laughed and shook his head.
Song Erniang could tell that the man wasn't stupid; he was just worried about the ox and didn't want to add weight to the cart by sitting on it, making it harder for the ox to pull it...
"He's an old hand at farming!" Song Erniang said with a smile.
"How did you know?" Brother He asked, somewhat surprised.
"I feel sorry for the ox! The oxcart is full of farm tools, and they've all been used, but they're in excellent condition. What else could this be but an old hand!"
"Brother He, please invite your brother-in-law over for a bowl of wontons!" Song Erniang said with a smile.
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