Ling Xiang glanced at the person who spoke. The other farmers followed behind him, and he seemed to be the leader of these farmers.
Qi Lianghan had been at the farm for some time and had been working diligently. Although he wasn't very good at managing the farmers, he did have some understanding of them. He walked over to Ling Xiang and introduced them in a low voice:
"Miss, the one asking the question is Wu He. He's one of the few people in the village who can read. He's incredibly strong, so everyone in the village respects him and listens to him on many matters. It was he who gathered everyone together to cause trouble today."
"Wu He, right?" Ling Xiang slowly sat down on the chair and looked at the people below.
The farmers' discussions gradually stopped, and they all looked at Ling Xiang who had spoken.
Ling Xiang slowly looked at Wu He: "Excuse me, when you asked that question just now, were you asking it for yourself, or for all of them?"
Wu He stepped forward and said in a booming voice, "Of course, I'm asking this on behalf of all the farmers on the farm! Miss Third, please give us an explanation!"
The others quickly echoed, "We all listen to Wu He! Miss San, please give us an explanation!"
"Since you want to hear the truth, then I will tell you." Ling Xiang's voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible authority. "Uncle Qi, go get the account book of the manor's income for the past three years and give it to Wu He."
The farmers looked at each other, not understanding what the third young lady was going to do.
Soon, Qi Lianghan brought the account book.
Unlike the others, Wu He was very calm. He took the account book and asked Ling Xiang, "Miss San, please give me your instructions."
"I heard that you are both civil and military, so reading an account book should not be a problem for you. On behalf of all the farmers in the village, you can calculate the income of all grains in the village in the past three years, calculate the grain prices, and read them out to everyone based on the highest price." Ling Xiang pointed to the four treasures of the study on the table.
Wu He was not at all reserved. He turned to the general ledger at the back of the account book, picked up a pen and started calculating.
Not long after, Wu He stared at the account book in disbelief: "Miss Third, this account book is wrong!"
"What's wrong?" Qi Lianghan was surprised.
He went to get the account book himself, so he wouldn't make a mistake. He had checked all the account books over the past few days and there was nothing wrong.
"We've always paid 40% rent, but the account books show 30%! Also, last year due to the drought, the account books showed rent-free, but we still paid 40% as usual!"
This statement immediately aroused the anger of the farmers.
The usual 40% rent already makes it difficult for farmers to live. In years of disaster, there is not much harvest, and they still have to pay this 40% rent. Many of them have relatives who starved to death or died of disease!
The crowd was excited, and Ling Xiang could only use his spiritual power and shouted loudly: "Quiet!"
"Miss Third, you have to give us an explanation!" Wu He took the lead in asking for an explanation.
"I came here today to explain things to you," Ling Xiang said loudly. "When I took over the Zhenguo Marquisate, I checked all the account books and found that I only collected 30% of the rent. During the disaster years, I also waived all the rent."
"How is this possible!" The farmer became more and more angry.
"Someone must be interfering! Manager Yang, find Manager Yang!" Wu He took the lead to catch people and soon tied up a middle-aged man with a big belly.
"Tell me, did you take our rent?" The farmer grabbed Manager Yang by the collar and was about to beat him.
In fact, if Wu He had not stopped him, the farmer would have beaten the man when he brought him over.
"Don't be anxious, everyone! Let's let the Third Miss find out what's going on first!" Wu He stopped everyone and waited for Ling Xiang's decision.
It is not uncommon to embezzle money, but those who disregard the lives of others for their own selfish interests deserve to be beaten to death!
Ling Xiang picked up the teacup and threw it directly in front of Manager Yang: "Do you want to explain it yourself, or should I find someone to help you?"
Manager Yang cried out in injustice, "I didn't do it! These farmers are the ones who banded together to frame me! Third Miss, please understand!"
"Search!" Ling Xiang only said one word, and Qi Lianghan led people to search Manager Yang's residence, and indeed found a lot of money that Manager Yang had hidden.
The evidence is irrefutable, and it is useless for Manager Yang to try to argue.
Ling Xiang kicked Manager Yang directly:
"The Marquis of Zhenguo Mansion has always treated farmers well. You deceived your superiors and subordinates, not only tarnishing the reputation of the Marquis of Zhenguo Mansion, but also disregarding the lives of thousands of people in the manor. Killing you would be too easy for you!"
The crowd was excited, but Ling Xiang did not stop them:
"This man has been enriching himself year-round, and he's a disgrace to all the farmers on our farm. Now, we're handing him over to you all for punishment! Those who have grudges should avenge them, and those who have grievances should complain! After the on-site accounting is completed, all the money he embezzled will be divided equally among everyone!"
"Ah! Kill him!" The first of those whose family members were killed by Manager Yang rushed to him and beat him with fists and feet.
It didn't take long before Manager Yang died. He was beaten so badly that his body was covered with wounds.
"Throw it to the dogs."
After dealing with Manager Yang, Ling Xiang called people over to settle the financial accounts found in Manager Yang's home on the spot. This took a long time, so Ling Xiang ordered people to prepare food so that everyone present could eat their fill and wait to receive their money.
Finally, Ling Xiang returned the property to everyone in front of everyone. For those who did not come, Ling Xiang also sent someone to deliver the silver to them.
The farmers got their revenge and the money that was rightfully theirs, but their lost loved ones will never come back...
"Miss Third is so kind! Thank you for taking care of us!" Wu He was the first to kneel down to Ling Xiang.
Farmers have a simple mindset: they will obey whoever gives them food.
As dusk approached, Ling Xiang looked at Wu He and said, "Let's continue publishing the account books."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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