The funeral was quickly completed, as burials could not be carried out at noon, so they had to wait until the sun set before leaving the house.
Song Jinxiu could only stay at home to prepare meals, and they would have to have dinner when they came back.
After everyone finished dinner, Song Jinxiu left with the village chief and several elders.
Some good people also stayed.
"Village chief, elders. Thank you for taking charge of my father's funeral today!" Song Jinxiu said softly.
There's nothing I can do about it, that's just how her personality is.
"It's the duty of the villagers. Is there something wrong with Song Wazi?" asked the village chief.
“When my father was alive, he often told me that he was able to grow up thanks to your care.
So after making money, I wanted to return to the village to develop. Over the past decade or so, I have lived up to the kindness of my fellow villagers.
But my father is gone now, and I don’t know anything about farming.
So I want to sell the land." Song Jinxiu said what she meant.
The people below were instantly furious. To put it bluntly, they had been cultivating this land for more than ten years and it was just like their own home.
You only need to pay 20% rent every year. Where can you find such a good landlord?
Now they can sell it at will. Isn't this equivalent to selling their own land?
The village chief's face darkened, and the faces of several elders also looked unhappy.
Song Jinxiu let them discuss for a while before continuing. "I know everyone has been farming for so long that they have developed feelings for the land.
So I decided that if the villagers wanted it, they could have priority to buy it.”
"Song, you know that the food we produce every year is just enough to eat.
We have no other income, so where would we get the money to buy land?" The villagers resorted to their old ways, complaining about being poor.
"Dear uncles, aunts, and grandfathers, I have no choice. I don't know anything about farming.
Moreover, my father arranged a marriage for me in the county. The girl is an old friend of his.
Now that my father passed away so suddenly, I want to go to the county to look for relatives.
I may not come back in the future. This land must be sold!
You say I am a weak woman, what will I do in the future if I don’t have some money? Woo woo woo!!”
Song Jinxiu also started to sob.
Anyway, I have been crying all day today, and the tears come as soon as they come.
The crowd gradually quieted down, and it seemed to be true.
The villagers can't bully little girls.
But selling your own land? No matter what little girl it is, no way.
"I know it's been tough for all of you uncles, but my father always taught me to remember the people who dug the well when you drink it.
This village is my root." Song Jinxiu sobbed and continued.
"Since everyone is in trouble, how about this: if the village gives me all the harvest this season, this piece of land will belong to you from now on."
Upon hearing this, the villagers started talking about it.
"Song Wazi, are you serious?" the village chief asked in disbelief.
Although he was the village chief, his family also rented land from Old Man Song's family.
"Let me make it clear first. I won't force you. If your family is in financial difficulty and needs food, you can just pay the rent.
But I will take the land back and give it to others who can make up for the food shortage." Song Jinxiu said.
There were actually a few villagers who thought this way: they could just hold off for now. Anyway, by the end of it, they wouldn't have to pay for the food, and the land would belong to them.
"My dear uncles, this is my final concession.
If that doesn't work, I'll have to find a big buyer and sell all the land at a lower price!" Song Jinxiu said.
"Grain will be handed over in half a month. I won't look at previous yields. This year, I'll hand over whatever the fields produce.
There is one more thing I want to clarify, I hope everyone will not be shortchanged.
The villagers can supervise each other. If anyone is found to have hidden grain, I will not sell the land to him and will only collect his original rent.
As long as the person who points out the land can replenish the remaining food, the land will belong to him.
Those who don't want land can also receive a 20-jin wheat reward. Land is also sold first to villagers."
It was impossible for her to check every household, so she had to let them supervise each other.
"Song Wazi, what do you mean? Uncle doesn't understand." Someone in the crowd asked.
"Let me give you an example. Uncle Liu's family produced 130 kilograms per mu this year, but he only gave me 100 kilograms.
Then Uncle Liu pointed it out. So I only collected 40% of the rent from Uncle Liu's family and gave him the rest.
"As long as Second Uncle Liu pays back the remaining 60%, the land will belong to him. Do you all understand?" Song Jinxiu explained.
After hearing the explanation, everyone started discussing it again.
"Alright, alright, let's all go home and discuss this.
"The wheat harvest is still half a month away. If you want it, go back and get the rules." The village chief shouted.
Indeed, after this delay, it was almost dark.
The crowd gradually dispersed, and soon only Song Jinxiu was left.
But Song Jinxiu couldn't rest yet, she had to go to the village chief's house.
Song Jinxiu asked Aunt Yang to accompany her.
There is still some distance from my home to the village, and I’m a little scared to walk alone.
Although it is not dark yet, it will be dark when we come back soon.
When they arrived at the village chief's house, Aunt Yang was waiting at the door, and Song Jinxiu walked in by herself.
"Is the village chief here?" Song Jinxiu shouted at the door.
The village chief's house is at least two or three times bigger than his own, but it is just a mud house.
Moreover, the village chief's family has many people.
"Who is it?" The village chief's wife came out of the house. "It's Miss Song."
"Old Song, Miss Song is looking for you." The village chief's wife shouted into the house.
"Hello, auntie, just call me Jinxiu." Song Jinxiu said.
"Oh, educated people are different. They always come up with nice names." The village chief's wife laughed.
"What's going on?" The village chief came out of the house and said to Jinxiu, "Come inside and talk."
"No." Song Jinxiu refused.
She didn't know if the people here had any taboos. Many people didn't get too close to the deceased.
"Uncle, I'll talk in the yard."
"Okay, mother, bring out two stools." The village chief said to his wife.
"Uncle, this is what I just said in the house." Song Jinxiu did not refuse, nor did she just wait, but directly explained her purpose.
"I often hear my father mention that he and you played well together when he was little, and he even went up the mountain with you to collect bird eggs.
Every year when I pay the rent, my father always nags me, saying that I am too polite.
The land was originally given to you to farm, but you still have to pay rent for it.
The only people I am closest to in the village are your uncle and his family.
So I want my uncle to help me preside over the grain harvest in half a month.
You know I might not even know everyone in the village, and I'm afraid something might go wrong with such a big deal as harvesting grain."
That’s right, this is Song Jinxiu’s purpose. Even a strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake, not to mention that she is not a dragon.
You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. Never underestimate the wisdom of farmers. Some of them have many tricks to play tricks on you.
It would be strange if these people with bad habits would obey you so well.
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