Taxation

Mǎn Bǎo was somewhat curious about the grain tax. After Zhou San Lang finished eating the remaining buns, she joined in the excitement.

The people queuing here were all adult men. Text: ### Not to mention children like Mǎn Bǎo, even semi-grown boys like Zhōu Lìng were absent. ### So, the people around curiously glanced at them.

Mǎn Bǎo quickly slipped in and saw the bailiff measuring the rice with a measuring device. After examining the household registration and the slip tucked in the book that he was handed, he announced, "Zhōu Hǔ, two adult males, need to pay four stones of grain, four zhang of silk, and four liang of cotton."

Zhōu Hǔ immediately stepped forward with the burden. Strangely, the bailiff did not weigh the grain but used a measuring cup. Ten dou equals one stone, so four stones is forty dou. Text: ### Mǎn Bǎo found this situation quite troublesome and was about to speak when she noticed the bailiff using the cup to measure a full dou from Zhōu Hǔ's bag. ### The bailiff carefully leveled the material before lifting and pouring it into a nearby cart. After confirming that there were no impurities in the grain, he sang, "One dou!"

He measured another two, and it also leveled off before being poured out. "Two dou..."

Mǎn Bǎo was stunned, watching the bailiff measure the grain thoughtfully, while the people around had long since ceased to be surprised.

After Zhou Hu finished, he went to the village chief's house. They had four adult males in their family, so they had to pay eight stones of grain.

Mǎn Bǎo squatted on the side, watching intently. The bailiff glanced at her several times and, seeing that the child was not causing trouble, did not drive her away.

As soon as the village chief's family had finished, it was Zhou's turn. Zhōu Dà Láng quickly handed over the household registration and slip. The laws of the dynasty stipulated that males reaching the age of eighteen were considered adults. Zhōu Sì Láng was fortunate because he still had two months before turning eighteen, so he was not yet considered an adult.

In the Zhou family, there were four adult males, so they also needed to pay eight stones of grain.

The bailiff was equally unyielding when it came to the grain from the Zhou family. After filling a doughnut, he sang loudly, and the official next to him took note. After sixteen characters were recorded, the tax was paid in full.

Mǎn Bǎo watched from the side, observing the gradually diminishing grain. She finally understood why her father had added so much extra grain last night when it was being weighed.

After the measuring was completed, only a thin layer of grain remained in the last bag from the Zhōu family. Zhōu Dà Láng went to the side to handle the paperwork, while Zhōu Èr Láng put the grain bag and the remaining grain onto a cart, then stepped aside to wait.

After receiving the paperwork, Zhou Da Lang reached out to hold Man Bao's hand.

Since all the individuals present were men, Zhōu Xǐ chose not to follow and stayed behind. When they came out, she immediately approached them and asked with a smile, "Is it done?" "Have you finished paying?"

"It was done very smoothly."

Zhōu Xǐ glanced at the remaining grain in the bag and lowered her voice. "Why was there so much grain measured this year?"

Zhōu Dà Láng also sighed and shook his head. "It's fortunate they didn't add more." I heard that in the neighboring county last year, they added an inch to the measuring cup.

Zhōu Xǐ couldn't help but mutter, "They're really despicable."

Mǎn Bǎo stood on the side and couldn't help but ask, "Big brother, are they embezzling?"

Zhōu Dà Láng was startled and covered her mouth. Nervously, she looked around before saying, "Little ancestor, let's talk about this at home." "It's not safe to say such things on the street."

Text: ### Mǎn Bǎo couldn't help but snort twice. ### Then, he turned and ran to find the fourth and fifth brothers to discuss, "Fifth brother, let's sell a little more sugar to Miss Fù." "Fourth brother, when we come to the county to sell ginger in the future, remember to go to the back door of the Fù family and raise the price a bit." "Don't be polite."

She added, "And also, visit the steward's house and the county magistrate's house, as they frequent their back doors more often."

Zhōu Sì Láng, seeing her angry, patted her forehead and asked, "What did they do to upset you?"

"Hmph, they're not good officials; we have to earn their money."

Zhōu Sì Láng was now very interested in making money. Upon hearing this, he nodded, "No problem." Even if you don't say it, the fourth brother will still visit their back doors. In this county, only a few families can afford to drink tea.

Although Zhou Si Lang had not visited the county as frequently as Zhou Wu Lang, he had many friends. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to the gambling den in the first place.

Their family cultivated a significant amount of ginger. In addition to selling it to Jì Shì Táng and the local grocery store at a relatively low price, they also sold it at a higher price for retail. He also preferred to sell it himself.

At forty wén per jin, it was the cheapest. Forty-five wen, fifty wen, he set the price according to the market, and now the ginger was tender and had a unique flavor. Although Zhou Si Lang didn't understand why the spicy ginger soup had any flavor, Man Bao said so, and he thought maybe the minds of scholars were different from theirs.

So, Zhou Si Lang fearlessly carried the ginger and called out along the street. When Zhou Wu Lang wanted to ask for forty-five wén, he opened his mouth and asked for fifty wén. He even exaggerated the benefits of his ginger based on what Mǎn Bǎo had told him.

What kind of ginger was grown at the foot of the mountain, watered with sweet mountain spring water every day, and fertilized with the best farm manure? The location had good feng shui, and the ginger grown there possessed special healing effects and was exceptionally delicious.

Then, in consideration of his sister-in-law (aunt), I'll give you a discount of two wén per jin. What, five wén off? That's too much. How about three wén? It's not easy for us farmers to grow ginger...

That's right, Zhōu Sì Láng had already crowned himself as a farmer of medicinal herbs.

Selling the ginger at forty-seven wén per jin, Zhou Si Lang also took the opportunity to promote the upcoming mature Chinese yam. He boasted about its healing effects and taste, and made a deal with everyone to bring some for them to taste when it was ready.

Zhōu Wǔ Láng watched the whole process with wide eyes. He thought he was already quite capable, having been in business for a year, but he didn't expect his fourth brother to be even more skilled and quick to adapt.

Zhou Si Lang was not only skilled at selling items but also adept at pocketing money. He looked around, and when no one was paying attention, he took out two wén from the money he had just received and put them in another small pocket. Then, he smiled and took his fifth brother to the next house to sell.

Zhōu Wǔ Láng blinked, pretending not to see, and obediently followed.

Zhōu Sì Láng was very cunning, choosing to sell his goods in wealthy areas or where the county officials lived. Residents in these regions were more inclined to spend money. He was selling daily necessities, and the ginger was very fresh, so there were quite a few people willing to buy.

He didn't even go to the market, but he sold all the ginger in these two areas. Then, he shook his head and wanted to go shopping.

Zhōu Wǔ Láng said, "Fourth brother, let's go home."

"Go home?" "It's still early." "Let's go for a walk before heading back."

"Mother said that if I lie, she'll break my legs when I get home, so fourth brother, I won't lie for you."

Zhōu Sì Láng's body stiffened, and he slumped his shoulders. "Fine, let's go back." Mother is really strict. "Even though we're grown up, she still manages us so tightly."

Zhōu Wǔ Láng felt that "us" shouldn't include him. "When I came to the county previously, my mother never reminded me of this." She's worried about you, not me.

Zhōu Sì Láng muttered, "I've changed."

Zhōu Wǔ Láng thought to himself, "Yeah, right!"