Now that Lu Jie had this idea, he naturally had to find a way to inquire more.
Xie Laosan went back to his house to sleep, so he sent his servant to go around the house and get back some information.
On the other side, Lu Jie also called Xie Xiuran poor.
"Brother, you don't know. My brother-in-law's property is not going well now. My monthly income has been reduced again and again. Now it has been reduced to seven taels. If it continues to be reduced, how do you think we, a big family, can survive?" ?”
Xie Xiuran nodded while listening, but said nothing.
He is not stupid either, seven taels of silver a month is a lot!
How many farmers may not be able to earn seven taels of silver a year?
Of course, you can't say this as it can easily offend people.
"Oh, I still have several children studying here. My eldest brother also raised scholars before. This ink, paper and inkstone are all horribly expensive. There are also Shu Xiu and the teacher appreciation ceremony three times a year. Nothing can be done. It’s missing. I’m just counting my days on my fingers every day.”
Xie Xiuran took a sip of tea, stuffed a peanut into his mouth, and said slowly: "Brother-in-law, don't worry, there are indeed many people in your family. But I heard that you are not the only one who has errands. I heard that you are not the only one. You are still working as an errand in the yamen, this is a fat errand, you can make a lot of money in just a year, right?"
Lu Jie smiled bitterly and said: "Brother, this news is out of date. Nowadays, the errands in this yamen are not easy to handle, and my brother is just an errand boy now, and his monthly salary is only more than a thousand dollars. What's the use of being in Fucheng? In addition, my father was seriously ill the year before last. In a few months, the medicines and supplements will cost more than three hundred taels of silver!"
This is true.
Until now, Lu Jie feels distressed when he mentions these more than three hundred taels of silver.
But no matter how distressed you are, you have to spend it.
Nowadays, the Lu family does not do business themselves, and they rent out the shops they have. They have changed their rural registration, and he himself works as a shopkeeper. In this way, his son can have a head start in studying.
Moreover, reputation is the most important thing for scholars, and this filial piety must not be in vain.
Fortunately, the money was spent, the old man's illness was cured, and life could finally go on.
A few years ago, Lu Jie himself could earn one hundred and fifty taels of silver throughout the year. In addition to monthly money, there were also rewards from his master, other benefits, etc.
Now that he can't even keep one hundred taels of silver a year, can he not be anxious?
The main reason is that the household expenses are high.
Even the master and his slaves, a family of more than forty people, have to eat and drink every time they open their mouths. This income is small, how can it be used?
Unlike the Xie family, the Lu family's land is tax-free.
Although the Lu family also purchased land, in addition to taxes and grain, the tenants had to keep it for their own families. Naturally, only about 30% of the land was handed over to them.
In other words, the Xie family originally had a lot of land. Later, after Xie Xiuwen passed the examination, Mr. Xie bought some more land. These are all owned by the public and there is no tax. Even if the rent is only 40% a year, That is also a lot of progress.
The main reason is that the Xie family has a lot of land.
After all, the Lu family is a little behind in this aspect.
Otherwise, you have to say that you are more confident if you are a scholar or an official.
At night, Lu Jie called the boy to a corner and asked, "How's it going?"
"Hui Master, I have all inquired clearly. The Xie family has quite a lot of property now. At the beginning of the year, the second master of the Xie family specially bought 80 acres of land for the eldest son of the Xie family, and it fell under the name of the eldest son of the Xie family. , now the third master is in charge of all the properties of Erfang."
Lu Jie frowned: "Do you still need to talk about this? I know that the third child is in charge. I'm asking you if you can find out how much income this farm can generate in a year?"
"It's hard to say, but I heard that last year, Mr. Xie added a hilltop to his name. Because it is a mountainous land, the tax rate is low and the price is also low. The county heard that Mr. Xie wanted to buy it, so the price was naturally high. Even lower. Nowadays, there are mainly some trees planted there. I heard that they mainly sell wood to outside. In spring and summer, they also sell some fruits. Occasionally, people at the foot of the mountain are allowed to get some dead branches for firewood. .”
Lu Jie felt envious in his heart!
It's another mountainous land. How rich must this second brother Xie be!
"I can't find out the specific number, and can't I get a rough idea?"
"Back to you, we can basically guess the income of this shop. It can bring in nearly two thousand taels a year, but we don't know exactly how much the third master can get from it. I heard that the shop only earns about 2,000 taels a year. I won fifty taels for Mr. Xie, but all the braised vegetables he eats all year round are for free."
Lu Jie snorted coldly: "Idiot! That shop is Liu's dowry. Even if Mr. Xie is in charge of it, there is still Mr. Liu watching from the side. Not to mention the two thousand taels of money in that shop, that's If you make twenty thousand taels, it has nothing to do with the Xie family."
The implication is that the Xie family got fifty taels of silver for nothing!
The boy quickly said yes and did not dare to refute.
What Lu Jie wants to know now is how much money the shop can give Xie Laosan a year.
Since they are helping to manage things, there is no way they can be in charge without benefits.
There are two shops in Fucheng and County. How can I say that they are not allowed to pay ten taels of silver a month?
Lu Jie's eyes rolled rapidly, thinking that in this year, Xie Laosan would almost get two to three hundred taels of silver. This was really a free benefit!
I have to say that Lu Jie really found out the truth inadvertently.
It's just that Lu Jie didn't know that the expenses of the three children of Xie Laosan's family in the capital were all paid for the second bedroom.
Therefore, he felt that two to three hundred taels sounded like a lot, but it was not particularly much.
If he were in charge and tampered with the accounts a little, he would be able to get at least five hundred taels a year.
When he thought of this number, Lu Jie felt that the hairs all over his body were about to stand up.
I was so excited that I wanted to go to Xie Laosan immediately to ask for management rights.
Calm down, you still have to think of something.
The couple was lying on the bed, so naturally they had to discuss such a big matter.
Xie Xiuying mentioned the return gift Liu Ruolan gave during the day, and Lu Jie immediately grasped the key point.
"I heard that the junior brother of Mr. Xu Shanchang of Mingshan Academy is named Wang, and he is now a cabinet minister. Logically speaking, our second brother should call Mr. Wangge his uncle. Could this wolf hair be given to him by Mr. Wangge?"
Mr. Ge?
Upon hearing this title, Xie Xiuying was so excited that she immediately sat up.
"Is he really the old man from Wangge?"
Lu Jie motioned for her to lie down and said slowly: "It's almost the same as ten. Now our second brother is a senior official of the fourth rank. Even when he comes to our city, the biggest official must be respected. You said, second brother is an official." Although he has a son under his knees, he is also studying now. With so many properties in his hands, can the third brother take care of it? "
