The tenants in the village are all farmers from nearby villages who have been renting land in the village for several years.
I was quite startled to hear the news today that Zhuangzi had changed hands.
Although this harvest won't change much, afterwards, the land on their tenant farm will be divided 30/70, with them receiving 30% and the landlord 70%. Importantly, they won't have to pay taxes; the 30% is a guaranteed share.
Regardless of what the tenants thought, Steward Li and his entourage returned to the Jiang residence.
"Master Zhao, please carry the box to the outer study first. I'll go and give Madam a reply."
After giving his instructions, Steward Li knocked on the hanging flower gate and asked Granny Wei to inform her.
Mu Yi'an asked Sister Fang to lead the person to the living room. She and Sister Wei put down their account books and went to see Steward Li.
"Madam, there are fifty-seven tenant households on the estate. We have found the tenant register and some account books."
Steward Li explained the situation on the estate and also mentioned the tenants' concerns.
"Three days is enough time. Go find Accountant Song in a bit and tell him to hurry up and review all the account books and make a summary."
Make a copy of the tenant register as well, for future reference. Three days later, I will go with you to the estate to take a look.”
Steward Li went downstairs. Mu Yi'an hadn't seen the specific situation on the estate, nor did she know the soil quality, so she couldn't make any plans.
Accountant Song worked quickly, and finished clearing up the ledgers in just over a day.
“Madam, these account books are Zhuangzi’s accounts for the past five years.”
"So, is it a loss or a profit?"
Mu Yi'an wanted to know how much grain was produced on such a large estate.
"Reporting to Madam, except for one year of drought when grain production was too low and we suffered a loss, the other four years were profitable. This is the total of all income and expenditure in the ledger. Please take a look."
Accountant Song compiled all the account books and made a summary.
Mu Yi'an took it and looked at the records made by Song the accountant. The land yield on the estate was not low. This "not low" was relative to this era and could not be compared with modern agriculture.
"Okay, well done. There have been a lot of expenses at home lately, so you should also keep track of the accounts. Once things are settled on the estate, we'll be buying two shops to start a small business. You'll be responsible for the accounts then too."
"Understood, madam, I will do my best."
Accountant Song breathed a sigh of relief. He was an accountant, but the family he was in had a small household and simple accounts, so he was really worried that he would have nothing to do.
Mu Yi'an understood; she would go to the estate tomorrow.
In the evening, Jiang Shuyun and the children returned home. After dinner, the family chatted on the tatami mat.
Mu Yi'an believes that a family should have enough time to spend together.
People are either at work or at school, and we hardly ever interact anymore.
After dinner and before going to bed, the family should sit together and talk about what happened during the day.
"Mom, we played the piano today, but I didn't really like it. I wish we had practiced martial arts instead."
Shao Yun lay on the couch, swinging her legs as she played the zither, her hands aching.
"Shao Yun, playing the zither can bring joy. But everything should be done in moderation. You enjoy martial arts, but your life shouldn't revolve solely around martial arts."
"I understand, Mother. I like drawing, and I can draw very straight lines."
Mu Yi'an looked at Shao Yun's fingers and saw that they were a little red. She asked Yun Duo to get a hot handkerchief so that Mu Yi'an could apply a hot compress to them.
"Shao Ming, did you play the piano? Do your hands hurt?"
"Mother, let's practice calligraphy today and play the zither tomorrow."
Shao Ming was folding origami for Chu Yue, and the little girl leaned against her brother with an expectant look on her face.
"If your fingers feel uncomfortable when you come back tomorrow, tell your mother and I'll give them a hot compress too."
"Yes, Mother, I understand."
Shao Ming's folded paper crane was almost finished, and Chu Yue stared at it intently.
Mu Yi'an applied a hot compress to Shao Yun's fingers and then told Jiang Shuyun about the events at the estate.
"You go there first tomorrow. I have two classes in the morning. After class, I'll come to the estate to find you."
"Okay, no rush. I won't be back until the afternoon. I need to check the soil quality on the estate, what kind of plants are suitable for the woodlands and mountains. I also need to see where to build the livestock farm. It might take more than a day to finish."
"Mom, wherever you go, I'll go too."
Chuyue held the paper crane her older brother had made for her, and it flew around.
"Mother is going to the estate. There's a lot to do tomorrow, so you stay home first. Once your father and brother are out of school for the holidays, and Mother has finished tidying up the estate, we can go together, okay?"
Mu Yi'an didn't know the specifics of the estate and couldn't take Chu Yue there, fearing there might be some danger, especially since the courtyard had been vacant for some time.
"Alright then, I'll wait for Father and Brother. I'm going to go catch fish then."
Chuyue made a small request: she likes playing in the water.
"Tomorrow, Mom will go and see if there's a place where we can play in the water."
"Yes, Mother, take a good look, it must be there."
The little girl was still worried and looked at her mother very seriously.
"Mother, can we hunt on the estate? Can we set traps? Can we ride horses..."
Shao Yun was already looking forward to it, but unfortunately, they still had to go to school.
The family had a lively discussion about what they could do on the estate.
"Alright, it's time to go to sleep."
"Okay, Mother, hurry up and get the estate sorted out!"
Shao Yun and Chu Yue were both itching to go, and couldn't wait to go right away.
The children went to sleep, and Mu Yi'an and the others also returned to their inner room.
"Go to sleep, tomorrow won't be a relaxing day."
Jiang Shuyun, unusually, did not make a fuss about her daughter-in-law.
The next day, after breakfast, Mu Yi'an left Li Saozi and Fang Mianhua, and Song Xiaolan and her daughter at home to look after Chuyue, while Mu Yi'an took the others to the estate.
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