The peaceful scene was broken by this group of people.
Everyone in the courtyard frowned and looked at the visitor.
The servant of the Xue Mansion pressed the knife on the handle, and with a sullen expression waited for Xue Yongzhi's order to take away all the uninvited guests.
But when Granny Liu saw the visitor, she quickly welcomed him out with a smile and said, "Dear guests, don't be surprised. This is our local grain chief, asking me to pay for the summer grain!"
After finishing the consolation, he turned around and said to the visitors with a smile: "He Liangchang, I have some guests at home today. After they finish eating at noon, I will go to the farm to pay the food in the afternoon."
Among the group of people who had just come in, the black-faced man who was leading the group saw this, glanced at the food on the table, and said with a smile: "Old lady Liu, they usually say that your family is too poor to open the pot, every day. It’s rare food, how can I get it? We have guests here and we entertain them very well!”
Grandma Liu accompanied her with a smile and said: "These are all purchased with the money given by the guests!"
He Liangchang heard this, turned his head slightly and nodded to the person behind him.
Immediately, the rickety old man walked out of the crowd, first bowed his hands towards Xu He and the others, and then said with a smile: "Everyone, I am the head of this village. I wonder where the distinguished guest is in the fairyland? What is the purpose of coming here?"
It turns out to be the director!
Liancun Baojia, the leader of Lijia does have the right to question strangers when they meet them.
But no one here looked down upon this little leader, and Lu Heng was even dissatisfied with the way he kicked the courtyard door when they entered. She rolled her eyes at the leader and tilted her head to look away.
Seeing this, the chief there was a little embarrassed, but although the servants brought by the Xue family were not many, they were all tough and fierce people, especially with the swords hanging on their waists. They knew at a glance that they were not easy to mess with, so those people People, including the director, could only smile in embarrassment and did not dare to urge.
Seeing this, Xu He stood up with a smile and cupped his hands and said, "It turns out you are a village elder. We and all of us are from Hailing County. We are here to visit the lake and borrow the stove from my in-laws' home to cook lunch!"
There Chang Jian finally had someone reply, and he finally picked up his face that had fallen to the ground. However, he was quite wary of Xu He and others, and naturally he did not dare to act arrogant in front of the villagers like in the past, so he turned around to look Where is the grain growing?
He Liangchang didn't hesitate. He heard that Granny Liu was paying for the food in the afternoon, so he took another look at everyone, and then left with them in a big way.
After they left, Lu Heng's good mood was suddenly ruined. He slammed his chopsticks on the bowl and said angrily: "Don't these people have their hands? Are they so arrogant and domineering that they just kick down the door of other people's courtyards with their feet?"
Granny Liu was afraid that He Liangchang and others had not gone far, so she quickly came up and persuaded: "Young Master, calm down, calm down. In our small rural place, the sky is high and the emperor is far away. Even an official in the county government will spend his whole life." We may not even get to see each other once. Apart from the clerk's office, the chief of grain and the chief of security are the most talkative here! But even though they have a bad attitude, they are still helpful after all! Don't be too harsh, sir! !”
Hearing this, Gu Hengbo heard that there was something in the words of Granny Liu, so he asked warmly: "They treat my mother-in-law like this, and why does she say good things to them?"
Granny Liu sighed and said, "All of you nobles are from the city. You don't know the rules in our village. Every summer harvest, the grain chief and deputy grain chief of the district organize the villagers to go to the village to pay for grain."
"Over the years, Chief Mengli and Chief Grain have taken care of me. They know that it is not easy for me to take care of my grandchildren alone, so they only gave me a place to live. I only need to pay two dou of rice and eight liters of rice and sixty-two taels of silk. If it weren’t for this wait, my mother-in-law and grandson would have starved to death long ago!”
It turns out that the Wei Dynasty divided the people into three categories and nine categories based on land, wealth, and population.
The lower the level, the lower the tax rate; the higher the level, the higher the tax rate.
The lower class had the lowest tax of 10%, while the upper class had the highest tax of 10%. The difference was three times.
Hearing this, Lu Heng finally removed his stinking look and smiled: "These people look vicious, but they have a good heart!"
Grandma Liu smiled bitterly when she heard this and said, "She has a good heart, but she's not too good either!"
When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but asked curiously: "How do you say this?"
It turns out that if you want to be judged, you have to use some benefits. Since spring, Granny Liu has to send some fresh fish and shrimp to the elder's house every month.
On weekdays, even if her grandchildren want to drink fish soup, Grandma Liu would be reluctant to do so, because all these lake delicacies are grown in Xiaojing.
After being shown filial piety by the village chief, he went to the grain chief to make a reservation for the Wang Liu family.
Xu He and Gu Hengbo, who are accustomed to the warmth and coldness of the world, naturally know that it is a good place to live here. At least they get paid to do things. In some places, these squires eat and drink what you have, and bully men and women. Finally, I will book a household registration for your home.
What? Not paying?
That's fine, the grain director immediately sent a list of these [unruly people] who didn't pay taxes to the county.
By then, it won’t be so easy to talk.
First, the secretary office of the county government office called for payment one after another.
Still not paying?
Then three squads of yamen officers would go to the countryside to pick up people directly. Every summer and autumn, most of the shackles at the county yamen gate would be like this.
When Lu Heng heard this, the smile that just appeared on his face disappeared.
But she didn't speak either.
It was originally a good [farm banquet], but everyone ate in silence.
After finishing the meal, Grandma Liu brought out the pears that grew in her garden, washed them and placed them on the table like a mountain.
When Gu Hengbo saw this, he sighed and whispered in Xu He's ear: "This old woman is really kind. Her son and daughter-in-law were killed, and she held her grandson alone, but she still smiled at the li and grain chief who bullied her. We could have made two fewer dishes and two fewer pears for this meal, but she still spent all she had, eh..."
Xu He nodded. When he ordered the housekeeper, he didn't tell him how much food to cook.
But Granny Liu still acted like a country person. She stacked the dishes one after another, and she said sheepishly: "They are all worthless wild vegetables, which is a grievance for the distinguished guests. They are not worth a lot of money." Everyone eats, everyone eats! Eat more!”
After finishing the pears, Lu Heng took advantage of the stall where Granny Liu was clearing away the dishes in the kitchen and said to Xue Yongzhi: "Hey, cousin, bring me some money!"
Xue Yongzhi heard this and asked: "Why do you want money?"
Lu Heng glared at him and said, "Where's all this nonsense? Just take it if I tell you!"
Xue Yongzhi couldn't help but honestly took out his money bag.
Lu Heng snatched it from his hand and poured the money on the table. When he saw that there were only about ten taels, he immediately said disdainfully: "You are a grown man, and you only carry so much money with you? You are not grand!"
Xue Yongzhi's eyes almost popped out of his head, a little? Ten taels of silver. A grown man might not be able to earn this even if he doesn't eat or drink for a year. Is this still little?
Lu Heng picked up the silver and came to the door of the kitchen. Regardless of the smoky black ash inside, he put the silver on the stove, turned around and left after putting the money away.
Grandma Liu was stunned for a moment when she saw this, then she quickly grabbed the money and walked out and said, "Master, Master, Butler Xu has already given you the money. This, this, why is this happening? Take the money back quickly!"
Lu Heng said: "Mother-in-law, just take it if it's given to you!"
Unexpectedly, the mother-in-law refused to accept it even to the death, and kept stuffing the water-stained silver into Lu Heng's hand.
After fighting for a long time, Lu Heng still didn't give away the money. Granny Liu smiled honestly: "The money given by Butler Xu is enough to clean up two tables like this today. I'm a little embarrassed, so why don't I accept it again!"
Seeing this, Lu Heng felt an indescribable feeling in his heart, and silently threw the money to Xue Yongzhi.
