Chapter 213: Paying Taxes in Grains
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling supported her chin and sat in line on the paddock, waiting to pay taxes in grains. There were soldiers guarding the paddock, and there were also soldiers helping to carry the grains.
Even though they were paying taxes, everyone’s faces were filled with smiles because after paying taxes, the remaining grains would be theirs.
The people in front had already said that the Little General’s people strictly collected grain according to the Imperial Court’s rules and did not collect excess from them. Since they were not taxed in excess and did not have to pay a porter or other miscellaneous taxes, everyone was naturally happy.
When it was the Mu family’s turn, Mu Yangling held Mu Bowen’s hand and went forward. TMu Yangling was actually the Mu family’s family head in practice, but according to the law, it was supposed to be Mu Shi. If Mu Shi wasn’t around, Mu Bowen would replace him. Hence, Mu Bowen needed to sign the document for such an important matter.
The siblings stood at the side as the soldiers weighed the bags of grains one by one. After doing some calculations, the accountant said, “Mu Bowen, your family has planted wheat, rice, and corn, and even raised rabbits. These are all to be considered. How do you plan to pay for the taxes?”
Mu Bowen glanced at his sister and said, “We’ll settle it with wheat.”
The accountant nodded and was about to speak when a soldier jogged over and whispered a few words in his ear. The accountant changed his words and said, “Because Little General and Young Master Fan share in the rabbit farming, this part is not counted. The corn is planted for General Qi, so this part is exempted as well. In the end, your family will have to pay 6019.4 catties of grain. You can take the rest home.”
Mu Bowen leaned close to his sister’s ear and asked, “Then, Sister, how much is left?”
Frowning, Mu Yangling said in a low voice, “There’s still 4,925 catties left.” Mu Yangling glanced at the accountant and asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Is Little General being magnanimous?”
The accountant frowned and looked at Mu Yangling. Mu Yangling said, “Although Little General and Young Master Fan have a share in the rabbit farming, the land is mine. According to the usual practice, for the 68 acres, taxes should be calculated according to the average yield of the low-grade land. As for the corn plantation, forget it. But you have to calculate the taxes for the rabbit farming for me.”
The accountant looked at her in astonishment. Mu Yangling looked at him firmly and said, “These are the rules.”
She was so insistent not because of the rules, but because she had never evaded taxes in her life. She was afraid that she would not be able to sleep at night.
Seeing that Mu Yangling was standing in front of him and not leaving, the accountant hesitated for a moment before softening his voice. “Miss Mu, don’t make things difficult for me. This is Little General’s idea. If I accept it, Little General will blame me later…”
With a smile, Mu Yangling said, “Don’t worry, I’ll explain this to him. 1 won’t make things difficult for you.”
Only then did a smile appear on the accountant’s face. He picked up the abacus and said, “Since Miss Mu insists, 1’11 help you calculate. However, the average wheat production in the low-grade lands hasn’t been calculated yet. So, I’ll use last year’s yield as an example and deduct 20 catties for you. How about that? After all, with the drought this year, the harvest is generally poor.”
Mu Yangling had no objections.
The accountant counted and finally said, “Miss Mu, you still have to pay 1,932 catties in the end.”
Mu Yangling nodded. This number was the same as what she had calculated in her heart. She nodded slightly at Mu Bowen, and he signed his name on the document and pressed his thumbprint on it.
In the end, Mu Yangling pulled back nearly 3,000 catties of wheat and 2,128 catties of rice, which made a total of 5,100 catties of grains. It sounded like a lot, but it was not much to eat.
Excluding Mu Shi’s rations, there were still eight people in their family who had to eat. Eating three bowls of rice per meal, Mu Yangling had to eat half a catties of rice each time. Although there were many children in the family, kids that were still growing had healthy appetites. Even the youngest twins had to eat a bowl of rice paste with two eggs for each meal. This was the lowest requirement. Considering the two of them had to eat five meals a day, that was actually more than what Bowen ate in a day.
Therefore, this 5,100 catties of food was really just enough for them to eat for about eight months.
Great-aunt was very satisfied with this result. Her way of calculating was different from Mu Yangling’s. In the past, after they paid taxes for farming, the remaining grains would be enough to last them six months in a semi-hungry state. It was already considered pretty good if they could eat chaff for the remaining days. Considering they could still keep so much grains despite the relatively poor harvest this year, how could she not feel delighted?
Great-aunt counted on her fingers for a long time. In the end, she said with a smile, “There’s so much grains. If we go semi-hungry, it’d be enough to last us for two years. We don’t have to worry about next year’s harvest anymore.”
The corners of Mu Yangling’s mouth twitched. “Great-aunt, has our family ever been semi-hungry?”
Great-aunt paused. It was true. After arriving at the Mu Residence, they had been eating their fill every day. They ate porridge or pancakes in the morning, and rice for lunch and dinner. There was always enough food in the house.
Great-aunt looked at the children and did some calculations again. She said worriedly, “If we eat like this every day, there will only be enough grains to last us eight to nine months.”
Mu Yangling said, “Eight or nine months will do. Won’t there be harvesting next year? If not, we can always spend more money to buy grains.”
The Mu family had always been spending money to buy grains and this was the first time they were eating grains planted by themselves this year. So, Mu Yangling didn’t feel pressured at all when she said this. However, Great-aunt felt bad having to buy grains for their own consumption when they were growing grains themselves.
“The money at home doesn’t come from nowhere. 1 think it’s better to save as much as possible. Why don’t we eat porridge for lunch in the future?” Great-aunt asked.
Mu Yangling jumped off the brick bed and said with a smile, “Up to you. As long as 1 can eat my fill, it’s fine. But now, 1 have to grind a bag of new rice to try it. Since it’s the first time in my two lifetimes that I’ve planted grains, I simply have to taste it.”
“Child, you’ve only lived for ten years in this lifetime. Where did the two lifetimes come from?” Great-aunt scolded her jokingly. “You only know how to talk nonsense.”
Grinning, Mu Yangling went to grind the rice. She shouted, “If I tell the truth, you’ll think I’m joking. When I’m joking, you’ll think I’m telling the truth. It’s too difficult to be an honest person.”
Great-aunt asked Shu Wanniang, “You and Rocky are both honest people. How did you give birth to such a cunning child?”
Shu Wanniang pursed her lips and smiled. “I’m also curious. If I didn’t give birth to her, I would have wondered where she was picked up from.”
Mu Yangling carried a bag of rice and went to Old Man Sun’s house at the entrance of the village. In the entire village, only his house had a stone mill for milling rice. Usage of the stone mill was allocated by the camp. The stone mill would be kept at the section commander’s house. In the past, it was placed not far from the Mu family’s door. Whoever wished to use it only had to clean it. Later on, when Hu Man became section commander, it was moved to the courtyard in the Hu Residence. Later, when it was moved to the Sun Residence, the Sun family tidied up a room and placed it there. This way, it wouldn’t be exposed to the rain or wind and it would be less dirty. Whoever wanted to mill rice would just have to come.
Old Man Sun didn’t expect Mu Yangling to come so early to grind the new rice. Stunned for a moment, he said, “Child, finish the old rice first. Keep this new rice for a longer time.”
Smiling, Mu Yangling said, “Grandpa Sun, 1 know. I just want to try the taste of this new rice.”
Old Man Sun:”…”
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