In October, the Li family got married. As the landlords of the village, the banquet was very respectable and very lively.
According to the close relationship, Qin Xiong's family is married as a nephew, and he should go to help out, but it is a married brother, and he is in a village. When he goes out, he just goes to block the door. The noodles are eaten at Li's house .
The couple didn't have any contact with Li's family before, they thought they would just bring gift money to dinner, but they didn't expect Li Kai to think highly of Du Heng, so he invited Du Heng to be the accountant.
As a result, the couple went out early in the morning, one went to Li's house to manage the accounts, and the other went to Qin's house to block the door.
After making a fuss all day, I went home at night.
The beginning of the month got off to a good start, and it was the most idle month of the year before selling grain. The households in the village rarely had a little bit of money, but the wine made by Du Heng really sold out.
Some people came to beat them in twos and half a catty, until the people from the county government came to collect tax money in the middle of the month.
Qin Xiaoman lay down in front of the table, talking to Du Heng about the various taxes to be paid, and Du Heng wrote down the accounts in his notebook.
"The population tax for adults is 120 yuan a year, and 240 yuan for two people. Men need to serve in the military. According to the regulations, you should go to the government to arrange labor for a month this year. This time, you have to pay 200 yuan. Wen; Although there are only two people in our family, no matter how few people there are, we are still a family with household registration. No matter how many people have existing household registration, we have to pay a household tax of 200 Wen." Du Heng wrote down an eyebrow and tightened
it point.
"Oh, by the way, apart from these, you have to pay a donation fee, one hundred and twenty yuan a year per person."
Du Heng frowned: "What is the donation fee?
" The emperor paid it specially."
Du Heng pursed his lower lip, not necessarily that the common people received much care from the emperor, but the taxes were not underpaid, and the payment was very complicated.
He summed up the money, eight hundred and eighty Wen, which is a small tael of silver.
There are only the two of them in the family. Not to mention the small population, the situation is simple. There are no children or they are old enough to marry, otherwise there will be miscellaneous taxes.
It is difficult for a family with a large population.
It was already noon when they received their house. There were four government servants with long knives at their waists, two bookkeepers, and one who was specialized in collecting money and managing accounts. One by one, they couldn't tell what kind of official positions they were, and when they came to the village on errands from the county government, everyone had to respectfully call them adults.
When collecting taxes, the government has a lot of people to turn around, and sometimes some strong and strong people are temporarily recruited to serve as yamen servants, and those who can read and count are good at keeping books, but most of the bookkeepers are young talents, and they have a little fame. Not to mention that the county government collects taxes on the body, not to mention, you can still receive a little hard work fee from the county government at that time.
Xiaoman's father was also called to do this job when he was alive before. It would be convenient if he was assigned to his own village, but it was decided by lottery.
A group of people poured into the yard, and the yamen guard with a knife walking in front said fiercely: "The tax has been paid! Can you prepare the money?"
Du Heng and Qin Xiaoman went out and asked a few people to sit down.
"Where should you sit? I'm busy with official business. There are so many households in a village. If every household procrastinates, when will your village pay!" Du Heng said politely, but when he saw the person's arrogant
appearance, he let him go. It depends on whether people sit or not, and those who do business will pay taxes.
Seeing that tax money and silver had been prepared, the leading yamen servant stopped yelling and waited for the two bookkeepers to check the household registration status, while the bookkeeper next to him began to count the large strings of copper coins that had been brought over.
Several people have not spoken, and others dare not disturb.
After the copper coins were counted, the yamen's bookkeeper and account manager exchanged glances.
Qin Xiaoman stood at the side, he raised his eyebrows slightly, and hurriedly stepped forward to stuff half a sling of money into the hands of the yamen's servant, and asked politely: "It's starting to get cold in Lindong these days, it's hard for you adults to go to the village to collect taxes, We peasants can do nothing to relieve the worries of the adults, so we can only invite a few adults to have some tea."
Then he said: "I don't know if my cousin will go to the village to collect taxes this time.
" Traceily put the money into his sleeves, his tone was a little more gentle than before, and asked: "Who is your cousin?" "
Ah, my cousin is the chief bookkeeper, Qin Zhiyan."
"Oh, it was Lord Qin ." Account book, Mr. Qin has never been to the countryside this time, and I am afraid that it will be hard work to add up and reconcile the account books in the county government." The account
manager next to him also became polite: "It turns out that I received taxes from Master Qin's hometown. A total of 880 essays, the number is correct. It really is the relatives of Lord Qin, who cooperate with the official affairs of the county government so much." "Your
Excellency is serious, this is what ordinary people like us do."
"Yes, if every family is like my brother's family, then the affairs of the court will be easier to handle. We are still busy taking in other houses, so we won't stay any longer. Let us leave." Qin Xiaoman said carefully: "Go slowly, officials.
"
Du Heng didn't open his mouth all the time, and after seeing the group of people walking away, he said: "Why do you want to give them so much money?"
Qin Xiaoman sighed: "The people who come back to collect taxes in our village are a group of strangers, even people they know well. You have to do something about it, let alone someone you don’t know well. If you don’t pay for your hard work, and a group of people borrow to do things for the county government, you can calculate the tax of 880 yuan according to the regulations, and others can say it is 1,100 yuan. Eight."
"If you don't give it, you are trying to violate the court's law. If you say that someone made a mistake, the yamen servant will reprimand you for deliberately causing trouble, and the knife will be pulled out and fell on you. If there is something good or bad, you can sue, and they will do the same. It is said that you caused trouble first, and the county government will only help those who do things for them."
Qin Xiaoman said calmly, every year after the autumn harvest, when taxes are paid, such things happen endlessly, and the people are not always at a disadvantage.
These people are used to bullying the weak, scholars, farmers, businessmen, the officials are heaven, and those who carry out official affairs are their helpers. Only in this way can losses and conflicts be reduced as much as possible.
"Give some money to shut their mouths, and let them know that there are people in the county government at home, so they won't be troubled if they are afraid."
Of course, although Qin Zhiyan is in the county government, but also It is impossible to move out of the oppressive house as soon as you come, and it will only be counterproductive to annoy these people. At that time, if you are tricked, you will go to find Qin Zhiyan, but Tang Shu also has many things of his own, and he will not say everything Forget it, it's embarrassing to go there.
Du Heng sighed slightly, it's not easy for farmers, and it's not easy for merchants, and in the end, he still answered the sentence.
Everything is suffering, only reading is high.
If he had a little bit of fame, he wouldn't let the editor who holds the screwdriver and the chicken feather as an arrow take it at will.
"It's hard for you to ask for everything."
Du Heng put his hand on the back of Qin Xiaoman's hand, it's hard for him to be so sophisticated at his age.
"You'll understand after reading too much. My father told me many things before he was alive."
At that time, his father didn't accept the money from his colleagues, and some people even called his father a hypocrite, Pretentious, in short, it is very ugly.
After paying the taxes, there will be no more important things this year, and there is no need to keep up with the farm work. Apart from digging sweet potatoes, it is probably just digging the land.
Although the corn and rice cultivated this year have been harvested, the rice and corn piles have not been processed yet, and they are disposed of while plowing the ground. If they are not rotten, they can be used as firewood.
During the two busiest months of autumn harvest, Du Heng didn't have much time to flip through books. Now that he was free, Qin Xiaoman didn't let him be busy with the work in the field, and let him study at home with peace of mind.
There will be a childbirth test in February next year, and it will only be more than three months.
Qin Xiaoman doesn't know how to read, but he still knows that the few months before the end of the court are important study time.
"You just stay at home. Although you can't pass the test, you can figure out what the test is, but you can figure out the questions if you go to the test more often. It's better than not going to the test." Xianshi lent a cow to Yao's family
. I really just came to ask Xiaoman when to dig sweet potatoes, and Xiaoman was more relaxed if he wanted to come over to help.
Du Heng couldn't but Xiao Man's kindness, so he agreed to cook for them while studying at home.
In fact, the matter of paying taxes made him more determined to take the exam for fame and fame.
In October, Du Heng didn't go out much, and spent most of his time reading in front of the window.
Naturally, three meals a day at home are still taken care of, and besides washing and cooking the meals for the animals, in fact, it takes time to do trivial things at home, so when Du Heng is lighting the fire, he still holds a book of poems in his hand, talking He was reciting words while lighting the fire.
The weather in Lindong is getting colder, it's okay at noon, and I have to wear quilted clothes later. It was much warmer for Du Heng to burn a fire under the stove to endorse than in front of the window in the back room, but he couldn't always be under the stove, as it was easy to doze off in a warm environment.
Qin Xiaoman still went out early and returned late as in the autumn harvest, took the cows out to plow the fields, and packed two baskets of sweet potatoes when he came back.
There are cows to help with the work, and he doesn't feel too tired even after a busy day.
"Ms. Yao, how is the crop output at home this autumn?"
Qin Xiaoman waved his hoe to dig sweet potatoes. The rain in the early winter was more humid, and the mud became firmer. Very laborious.
Tired of working with a dull head, he also chatted with Mrs. Yao who helped him dig sweet potatoes.
"Old Yao and I only have ten acres of land, and all of them are poor. This year's harvest is less than ten shi of grain. After paying the land, there will be taxes, and we have to live hard for another year." "
Family There are no two people, but it is compact enough to live, but I am afraid of encountering troubles, as long as there are no disasters and diseases."
Qin Xiaoman said: "The past two years have been relatively peaceful, and it is not bad that there have been no new exorbitant taxes. "
Ms. Yao nodded: "Yes."
After speaking, she smiled and said: "This year your family's grain harvest is good, and it is one of the best in our village. A few days ago when I went to the field, I heard everyone talking about it, saying that your Du Heng will Taking care of the fields, they are all studying how to make the land fertile.”
Qin Xiaoman replied: “You didn’t all see how fat you were before, and you laughed at Du Heng who didn’t know how to farm the land. Come to me and tell me not to be too dependent I'm watching him. Now I want to learn from Du Heng how to fertilize the land."
Mrs. Yao laughed: "Don't you know what the people in the village are like? Everyone has such a temper, but it's not too bad. After all, it's the one-acre land that matters. Now seeing your family's harvest is very greedy, It doesn't matter what I said before." "
I heard that your family used dry cakes to fertilize the land before, and those who have a bad harvest at home this year are preparing to stock up some dry cakes to fertilize the land. I went to Ge's house early in the morning to buy them. Withered cakes, the Ge family is full of people every day." "
Who knew that the Ge family saw that your family's dry cakes were making a lot of money, and the next dry cakes were reluctant to sell, and they would put the dry cakes in their own fields next year. In order to Chasing the folks, saying that a dry cake sells for three yuan, but everyone is so angry, they are all scolding Ge's businessmen for having no conscience."
Qin Xiaoman was in a good mood when he heard this gossip, and he watched them fight for fun.
Zuo Zuo's family has left dry cakes of mustard seeds this year. If it doesn't work, they can go to the oil mill in the county to buy them. Anyway, they won't be used to Ge's house anymore.
"Our family just doesn't have that condition, otherwise we would like to buy some manure to fertilize the land. There is not enough manure and water throughout the year, and there is not enough firewood in winter." After paying the production tax, the salary and crops are all paid up, and I have no private mountain
. Not enough firewood to burn.
Qin Xiaoman's brows twitched slightly: "The corn and rice piles in my field haven't been dug yet. If you lack firewood, you can dig them .
"
There is a lot of crops, and besides, I have firewood in the mountains, so there is no shortage of firewood."
Lady Yao was envious of the conditions of the Qin family, but she was also a little embarrassed and said: "This is borrowing your family's cattle and taking your family's firewood. ...I'll dig a pile and turn the land for you!"
Qin Xiaoman waved his hand: "Everyone has work, no need, I will lead the cow to turn the land very quickly. But the cattle have to dig the piles first, and you have saved me a lot of work by digging them out."
Lady Yao was very happy: "It is convenient to have animals, and I will cut two backs of cattle grass for you, don't you shirk."
Qin Xiaoman nodded: "Managing the crops of so many fields this year is really exhausting. It's just winter, and I'm a little lazy and don't want to work." Lady Yao said: "You have to take care of your
health and don't be too tired. You and Du Heng don't have any children yet, and it will be even more difficult to have children when your body is weak."
Qin Xiaoman heard this, but the peasant family has no leisure to support them, and everything is just a matter of daily life.
In November, it was getting colder and colder.
In the morning, the vegetable nests in the field have already frosted, and the sky is always drowsy and foggy.
The quilt is always warm in the morning, Qin Xiaoman hugged Du Heng's waist, a little sleepy: "I dug some winter bamboo shoots and saved them, and I will go to the county town in a few days, sell some money and bring back two bolts of cloth to make you a suit Nice clothes."
Du Heng rubbed the back of Qin Xiaoman's head, it was time for him to get up and cook, but he was a bit reluctant: "I have enough to wear, I don't need to spend money on new clothes.
" Are you going to take the exam? Put on good clothes and go. When the time comes, you and I will go to the county town and buy some pens, ink and new books. We still made a lot of money this autumn harvest." Not to mention how good the clothes for the exam are
. , but the weather in February is cold, how can you concentrate on the exam if you don't carry a warm clothes.
As the saying goes, buy early and enjoy early, and you can wear it for the New Year if you buy it in advance.
Du Heng chuckled lightly, and touched Xiaoman's glowing red ears: "Okay."
He lowered his head and kissed Qin Xiaoman's side face affectionately and long: "Sleep a little longer, don't talk to me today." It’s down to the ground. The fog outside is so thick, it must be very cold. I’ll make some snacks for you.”
Qin Xiaoman, who was a little confused, suddenly regained consciousness: “What are you doing?”
It’s not busy in winter, and the weather is cold. Thinking about getting something delicious to be comfortable.
"I'll find out later, let's go to sleep."
Du Heng got up after the blanket became cold.
Qin Xiaoman hissed, he felt that this year's winter was even colder than last year's. He was obviously very frost-tolerant, and he was a little afraid of the cold this year.
Maybe it's a bit tired to go to the ground by himself these days. He sleeps well at night, and he goes to bed earlier at night, and he still can't get up in the morning.
I don't know if Du Heng is used to it. In the past, he had to get up and cook by himself, and then go to the field after eating. He didn't feel tired when he got up earlier than a chicken.
Sure enough, people can't be lazy, and if you relax a little bit, you won't be as good as before.
He glanced at Du Heng who had gone out, and shrank back into the warm quilt.