Chapter 238 Still a bit too small
When Meng Shilan and He Ran returned, the head of the manor was not yet at the manor.
She casually picked up an account book from yesterday's box and started flipping through it.
The maid serving tea immediately glanced at it.
"Would you like some writing materials, ink, and paper, Miss?"
"No."
The head of the manor didn't return until noon, with his servant leading two horses behind him.
The horse was entirely chestnut red with a glossy coat, looking exceptionally magnificent.
"Miss, this is the Akhal-Teke horse you asked about yesterday."
"It was dark yesterday, and I forgot that these two foals were just brought back from the horse farm."
He Ran's eyes lit up, and she rushed forward.
She circled the horse twice, touched its back, and then pried open its mouth to examine its teeth.
Zhuang Tou smiled and said, "Although it's still a bit small, it's enough for Miss He to ride and play with."
To everyone's surprise, He Ran's face instantly darkened.
"Boss, do you think I'm a fool?"
The head steward's smile froze on his face. "Miss He, what are you saying?"
He Ran snorted and patted the horse's neck.
"This horse is excellent; it's a top-quality Ferghana horse."
"But it's definitely not a Ferghana horse that can travel a thousand miles a day!"
She pointed to the horse's hooves, "The horseshoes are brand new, with very little wear, clearly they were just put on recently."
"There was a fishy smell of bean feed in the horse's mouth, which was obviously from another stable."
"I just went to the manor on the estate and saw that the horses are eating the finest fodder!"
With each word He Ran spoke, the head of the manor's face paled a little more.
He never expected that this seemingly loud and boisterous Miss He would actually be a horse connoisseur!
Meng Shilan walked over slowly, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Ma and Zhuangtou's faces.
She spoke softly, her voice not loud, yet it felt like a piece of ice hitting the village head's heart.
"Master, where has the Akhal-Teke horse in your manor gone?"
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Zhuang Tou's forehead.
He knelt down with a thud.
"Miss, spare me! Miss, spare me!"
"Those old horses...did indeed die of illness a few days ago! I was afraid of being punished by you, so I...I lied!"
Enraged, He Ran kicked him to the ground.
"Died of illness? What a coincidence, we all died of illness as soon as we arrived?"
"I bet it went into your stomach!"
Meng Shilan looked at him coldly, her voice remaining calm and unwavering.
"Summon all the stewards and servants from the estate to the threshing ground."
"I have something to announce publicly."
Zhuang Tou collapsed to the ground, scrambling to his feet as he answered "Yes," but his mind was in turmoil.
He couldn't figure out where he had given himself away.
The accounts were perfectly meticulously prepared!
In the afternoon, at the threshing ground.
The place was packed with people, all whispering amongst themselves, wondering what this new lady was up to.
The head of the village stood at the front, his face ashen, as if all his energy had been drained.
Meng Shilan and He Ran stood on the high platform.
Her gaze swept over the faces below, some curious, some fearful, and some numb.
“I know that many of you think the master of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion is easy to fool.”
The crowd below fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.
"A neatly prepared ledger is enough to appease us."
"You work hard all year round, but the grain you receive is only enough to fill your stomach."
"But some people are well-fed and rich."
Her words were like a knife, piercing precisely into the hearts of every tenant and servant.
Many people subconsciously looked at the head of the manor and the several managers beside him.
A cold smile curled at the corner of Meng Shilan's lips.
"Now, I'm giving you a chance."
"An opportunity for you to take back what is rightfully yours."
She paused, then spoke each word clearly to everyone's ears.
"Whoever can point out that the head of the estate is oppressing the tenants and exploiting those who pay taxes."
"I will decide on the spot to exempt you from rent for three years and exempt you from paying taxes!"
With a loud "boom!"
The crowd erupted in chaos!
Three years of rent-free?!
Exempt from grain taxes!
This is equivalent to being able to farm for free, without having to pay taxes, and keeping all the harvest from the fields for yourself!
This is like a windfall!
Zhuang Tou's face was ashen; he knew he was finished.
A generous reward will surely attract brave men.
He has been corrupt for so many years, and he has offended and resented quite a few people.
No one dared to do it before, but now, this Miss Meng has personally handed over the knife!
He Ran looked at the throng of people below and excitedly lowered his voice.
"Yao'er, that was a really ruthless move of yours!"
"They can tear this old man apart alive without us even lifting a finger!"
Meng Shilan smiled faintly.
"Winning hearts and minds is the best strategy."
Sometimes, the human heart is more effective than swords.
The next instant, the crowd exploded like a powder keg that had been lit!
"Is what you're saying true, Miss?!"
"If someone identifies the source, will they really be exempt from rent?"
"Good heavens! What kind of bodhisattva has descended to earth?!"
The whispers turned into a buzzing discussion, and countless eyes scanned back and forth between the head of the estate and the few stewards.
The head of the estate and his trusted stewards looked ashen-faced.
Zhuang Tou still wanted to make a final stand.
He roared at the crowd in a fierce and stern voice.
"Do you want to rebel?!"
His threats seemed so pale and powerless in the face of three years' rent.
The crowd became even more agitated, but no one dared to be the first to step forward.
Just then, a gaunt old man walked out of the crowd, trembling.
He knelt down with a thud below the platform.
"Miss! This old man has something to say!"
Zhuang Tou's eyelids twitched violently.
That's Zhang Laoqi, a tenant farmer on the estate!
He Ran raised an eyebrow; the show was about to begin.
Meng Shilan looked down at him, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable power.
"Old man, please speak slowly, I will stand up for you."
Tears welled up in Zhang Laoqi's cloudy eyes as he pointed at the head of the village, his voice hoarse.
"Miss! It's him! Every year when we hand over the grain, he uses his own tampered scales!"
"Ten bushels of grain became only eight bushels in his hands!"
"We work hard all year, and most of our earnings end up in his private coffers!"
The head of the village pointed at Zhang Laoqi in a fit of rage, "You're talking nonsense! You old bastard, you're spouting lies!"
Meng Shilan said calmly, "Oh? Is that so?"
Her gaze shifted to the crowd. "Whose grain has also been weighed by this 'eight-dou scale'?"
As soon as he said that, seven or eight more people squeezed out from the crowd.
"My family is the same!"
"And my family too! Last year, just because we were short two bushels of grain, he took our cow away!"
A woman holding a child cried out, "My husband only argued with him once, and the supervisor broke his leg. He's still in bed!"
"The head steward is ruthless! We beg you, young lady, to do us justice!"
The accusations came like a tidal wave, one after another, each one a testament to the blood and tears that had accumulated over the years.
The head of the village panicked completely.
"Someone come here."
Several guards from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion who were standing by immediately stepped forward.
"exist!"
"Gag them, tie them up, and lock them in the woodshed!"
"Search out every single account book in the mansion, old or new, public or private, not a single one can be missing!"
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