"These fields are the property of wealthy households. The tenants only farm them for them. It's good to be able to share them 50-50." The landowner felt strange and didn't know why Qiu Ping seemed to have such a big reaction.
"Then why don't the tenants have their own fields? Are they not diligent enough?" Qiu Ping continued to ask.
"This... they are naturally diligent in their work, but... it's just that the reasons are very complicated." Tu Tu Gong was speechless for a moment, and even evaded and panicked under Qiu Ping's questioning.
Seeing that Qiu Ping did not continue to speak, Tu Tu Gong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He just felt an inexplicable sense of oppression from the little loach's body, making him breathless.
The composition of these outsiders is very complicated. In addition to the servants and government servants of wealthy families, there is also a middle-aged monk who looks a bit nondescript.
"A strong young man, Li Huowang, cultivates 18 acres of paddy fields, and the grain due is 27 dan. Let's put it on the scale." A servant of a wealthy family flipped through the book and read loudly.
After that, Li Zheng arranged for people to fill the dendrobium barrels with so much grain that it overflowed. The rice poured on the dendrobium barrels and formed a sharp tip, like a pagoda.
After the weighing is complete, it’s time to bag.
But I saw a government official taking a few steps, then flying up and kicking the dendrobium barrel.
A lot of grain spilled out of the originally towering rice paddy in an instant, and a lot of grain sank in the dendrobium barrels.
When all the farmers saw this scene, they felt as if they were kicked in the heart, but they did not dare to get angry or speak.
But those who came with him laughed loudly and praised this kick as a proficient one. Ordinary people can't kick so many.
"What does this mean?" Qiu Ping expressed confusion. Could it be that the yamen servant was mentally ill? What was he doing with that kick?
"This is... kicking the stems with the tip of the tree. When weighing, the grains are loaded high. After the weighing is completed, they are kicked again to kick out some grains. The kicked out grains are consumed by the government, but that's all. If there are not enough scales, the tenants will need to go back and make up for the missing grain." The landowner explained in a low voice.
This had happened for a long time, and he was used to it.
But facing Qiu Ping today, he felt inexplicably guilty.
"Is there such a thing? If every dendrobium is kicked, the villagers will have to pay much more grain than the original allocation. This is too bullying." Qiu Ping heard this and was shocked by this arrogance. The operation was shocking.
"The government also needs to transport food to the treasury. There will be losses after all. This...this matter is also reasonable...these are human affairs. If the dynasty levies excessive taxes, God will punish it." The Earth God also does not know himself. What he was talking about was confusing, and in the end he even sounded a bit pleading.
"How does God punish? Is it a disaster? Or is it causing chaos in the four seasons?... Then who is punishing this? Is it the high-ranking officials in the dynasty, or the common people at the lowest level?"
Qiu Ping looked at Tu Tu Gong and asked seriously.
"Hush, be careful! People of Shintoism should not make rash comments about heaven." The Earth God's face changed, and his heart was beating wildly.
This little loach is too bold.
"These things have been like this since ancient times. I just have to do my part well." He was worried that Qiu Ping was young and energetic, so he said something long-winded.
Qiu Ping was silent for a long time, and then he sighed quietly.
"Is it right that this has always been the case?"
…
I kept busy until the sun was almost setting, and then all the food was weighed and bagged.
These grains were loaded on the village's carts and wheelbarrows, and had to be pushed into the city by the young men in the village.
"Everyone, please be quiet. Let me introduce to you on behalf of my master. This is Master Jinghai, who comes from the Luohan Zen Monastery in Huangzhong Mountain. Half of the paddy fields in Huang'ao Village have been donated to the Zen Monastery by my master. From now on, everyone will have to pay rent as well. It’s for this master.”
Seeing that the bags were ready, a servant from a wealthy family clapped his hands and introduced them to everyone enthusiastically.
The middle-aged monk always had a calm smile on his face. When he saw everyone looking at him, he clasped his hands and bowed.
No one had any reaction to this. It was just a change of owner, and they were not given a rent reduction or exemption, so there was nothing to worry about.
"Okay, master, let's go now." Seeing everyone's attitude, the servant felt that he was getting bored. Seeing that it was getting late, he pulled everyone on their way.
"Please wait a moment. When I entered the village, I saw a temple for gods in the village. I wanted to worship." The monk took out his alms bowl, filled it from the grain bag on the side, and then came to the head of the village. The land temple.
"The young monk is Jinghai of Luohan Zen Temple. He worships the righteous god of Fude in Huang'ao Village. He also invites the righteous god to use some new rice." Nowadays, within the scope of human dynasties, Shinto power is huge, and other Buddhists cannot get involved. Now if you want to promote Buddhism within Changning County, you naturally need to have a good relationship with the local people here.
The Earth God stood in front of the temple, took a deep breath, and drank all the essence of the food in the alms bowl.
If someone uses this rice to cook rice, it will taste like wax and be difficult to swallow.
This monk has some level of cultivation and is considered a practicing person. The sacrifices he offers are rare and excellent even for the little gods in the countryside.
After Jinghai worshiped, he dumped the rice on the altar table in front of the Tutu Temple, then changed another bowl of rice and walked to the ancient well.
Qiuping's rank is lower than that of the Earth God, and he does not have a formal place of worship. He just uses a few bricks and stones to press a piece of yellow paper with his name on it as a shrine.
"Jinghai has seen the Well God, and these new rice are offered to the Well God." In comparison, the importance of the Well God is much less important than that of the Tugong, and his treatment in all aspects is also shabby.
Although he was still performing sacrifices, his etiquette was not so thorough.
After reciting some words, he poured some rice in front of the ancient well and waited for the well god to suck it.
However, there was no movement in the ancient well, and no gods came to collect the essence of the rice.
Jinghai was a little confused, so he raised his voice a little louder and said, "Some new rice, give it to the Well God, and ask the Well God to enjoy it."
But after shouting, there was still no movement in the ancient well.
"A little bit..." He was about to amplify his voice a little more, but all he saw was a strong wind sweeping out of thin air around him, and thick mist rising from the ancient well.
Monk Jinghai was startled and was about to take a step back.
But only a huge monster like a giant dragon emerged from the mist. It was dozens of feet long, with hideous scales. Its eyes were like flames spitting out, and between its mouth opening and closing, there were sharp teeth. It looked like Extremely terrifying. There is a faint mist all around, and everything seems illusory and uncertain.
"boom."
The monster's tail whipped Monk Jinghai, sending him flying straight away.
A gust of wind blew up, and the rice on the ground flew away, scattering all over the monk.
"Call your mother, I'm the most annoying monk in my life, get out!"
I can’t beat a mortal, so I can’t beat you?
If a monk doesn't recite sutras well, how dare he imitate others in collecting rent?
