Chapter 582 Mowing the Grass

The clerk who came to read the county government documents had been wandering around the villages for a long time because of the corvée matter, and he had already experienced the cursing skills of the tough women in the village.

Hearing Mrs. Chen's words, he didn't even blink an eyelid, and even said soothingly: "Auntie, don't get excited..."

"Bah! What's in your eyes? I'm so young to be your aunt? You're almost thirty, call me eldest sister!" Mrs. Chen said angrily, scratching her neck.

However, Secretary Chen is only twenty-two years old, and his child has just turned three.

Gu Dagui was so frightened that he hurriedly grabbed her and said to the scribe: "My lord, don't blame me. A country woman is not polite. Please continue talking."

Clerk Chen was recruited from Tianfu County after County Magistrate Xu cleaned up the yamen. In the past few months, he was still reading books about sages at home and had not contracted the habit of being a cruel official. Ling had reprimanded him, saying that he could not deceive the people or plunder their property, otherwise he would be severely punished. He was still afraid and did not dare to do anything to Chen, so he only said: "It doesn't matter."

Two yamen servants came with Chen Shuli. One of them was Xiao Yang, the nephew of Team Leader Yang. He had been to Dafeng Village several times and recognized Ms. Chen, so he hurriedly persuaded: "Auntie, Secretary Chen is just following orders, the increase in grain tax is what the court said, so please don’t scold Secretary Chen."

Auntie, for the sake of you two having the same last name, please be merciful and stop scolding me.

Mrs. Chen just dared to curse people in anger. In fact, she was more afraid of the people in the yamen than anyone else, so she stopped talking after hearing the words.

Secretary Chen continued to explain: "There is a drought in the northwest. Our Jianghuai River is not severely affected, and we still have food to eat. This increase in grain tax is also to transport it to the people and soldiers in the northwest."

Therefore, you should be kind, prepare taxes and rations, and pay them as soon as possible.

He added: "You can use cash to offset the grain tax. The time limit is ten days. Those who fail to pay within the time limit will be fined silver and imprisoned."

After Chen Shuli finished speaking, he left the document with Village Chief He and said, "You can start preparations now. I will come back in two days to start collecting grain taxes."

"Hey, Secretary Chen, let's go." Village Chief He took the document and, supported by He Jinsheng, sent Secretary Chen out of the village.

After Secretary Chen left, the villagers began to curse, but no matter how much they cursed, the grain tax still had to be paid.

Gu Jinli's family harvested nearly 30,000 yuan of rice, and had to pay a grain tax of 9,000 kilograms. The amount suddenly dropped to 30%, which made Gu Dashan and Mr. Cui extremely distressed. The couple prepared the grain tax with red eyes.

Gu Jinli saw that they were so reluctant to part with food, so he simply said: "Let's pay with money. I've done the math and it's more cost-effective to pay."

After Gu Dashan and Cui heard this, they immediately agreed: "Okay, since it's more cost-effective to pay money, then our family will pay it."

But the family didn't use Gu Jinli's private money. The spice workshop, braised food shop, and tofu workshop all made money, and the family received dividends. Gu Dashan took the banknotes and paid all the grain taxes at home. The grain taxes on paddy fields and other crops totaled two hundred and ten taels of silver.

Several other families also paid in silver. They were fleeing famine and valued food very much in their hearts. They were afraid that there would be no food to eat at home, so they preferred to pay in silver.

After paying the grain tax, Dr. Wu called her to Xuanhufang again and gave her a contract: "Yuanzi Pharmaceutical Company has added 60,000 bottles of tooth powder and will deliver it before the year. If the pharmaceutical workshop can make it, you can Just sign it.”

Tooth powder is really easy to sell. As soon as 20,000 bottles of tooth powder were shipped to Linhe Prefecture and Jinling Prefecture, they were sold out in less than half a month. Now the branches of Yuanzi Medicine Store in the two prefectures have no tooth powder, and they are in a hurry to get it. goods.

Gu Jinli counted the inventory and nodded: "It can be done years ago."

She took the two contracts, read them carefully, took a pen and wrote her name, then pressed her fingerprint. She kept one contract for herself and gave the remaining one to Dr. Wu.

Old Doctor Wu gave her a thousand two hundred taels of silver as a deposit, and after saying a few words to Aunt Tao who had accompanied her, he let them go back.

Gu Jinli took the opportunity to go to Xia's house. He did not go in, but asked Aunt Tao to bring in the cotton cloak that Cui had prepared for Brother Cheng.

It was already November, and the weather was getting colder day by day. Cheng Geer only wore a cotton-padded coat when he went to school in the morning. Mrs. Cui was afraid that he would be cold, so she asked Gu Jinli to bring him a cotton cloak.

Mrs. Xia was very happy when she knew she was coming. She was afraid that Gu Jinli would be angry when he saw her, so she didn't dare to invite Gu Jinli into the house. However, she sent the previous nanny to give her a hand warmer.

Gu Jinli didn't ask for it: "Mom, take it back. It's not the coldest time yet, so you don't need this."

Grandma said: "Why isn't it the coldest time? When I get up in the morning, the water in the kitchen yard is almost frozen. Just take it."

Otherwise, her wife will shed tears again.

"Second sister!" Brother Cheng followed Aunt Tao out of Xia's house, carrying a small book bag and running towards Gu Jinli, followed not far away by Mr. Xia.

Gu Jinli was surprised and asked, "Have you finished school so early?"

"Well, sir, he said it was too cold today and asked me to go home early to avoid getting cold." Brother Cheng was very happy to be able to go home early.

Mr. Xia smiled and said: "Brother Cheng is wearing less clothes today. The child is weak and cannot be cold."

He found a doctor to check Brother Cheng's pulse. This child was weaker than other children because he had not eaten well as a child and had escaped famine. Not only did Brother Cheng continue to practice boxing, and he was also taking some medicinal food, his health was much better, but they were still very nervous, for fear that he would be sick.

Gu Jinli smiled and nodded to Mr. Xia, took Brother Cheng's hand and said, "Then let's go home."

"Yes!" Brother Cheng responded and waved his little hand to Mr. Xia: "Thank you for your hard work, sir. Brother Cheng will come back tomorrow. You can go back and don't freeze."

Mr. Xia was moved. Guanzhu Hu was right. As long as he and Brother Cheng developed a relationship, they were not afraid that the Gu family would not be willing to adopt Brother Cheng to the Lu family as their heir.

Gu Jinli came in a mule cart, and the driver was Kan Liu. After the siblings and Aunt Tao got on the cart, they drove to Shangjia Village. After waiting for two-quarters of an hour, when it was time for An Ge'er to finish school, he went in. Pick up An Geer and take the three of them home.

At home, Third Grandma, Mrs. Cui, and Gu Jinxiu were busy making winter clothes. Gu Dashan and Third Grandpa took out the farm tools again and asked Gu Jinli: "Xiaoyu, everything is ready. When are you going to cut the aphids?" "

The aphids they planted are ready to be harvested, but if they are not harvested, they will freeze to death.

Gu Jinli said: "We can cut it now. We still have half a day. We can cut a lot."

"Okay, you have to hurry up, otherwise the hoary frost will fall, and all the crops with leaves will die." Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan went out of the house with the knives and cut the aphid grass in front of the wasteland in their yard. .

Gu Jinan also rolled up his sleeves and went to cut the grass, and took Brother Cheng with him: "You go too, our family is poor, and you are not a young master."

Brother Cheng is young and his family dotes on him, but Gu Jinan doesn't want Brother Cheng to become cowardly.

Brother Cheng pursed his lips and said, "Brother, I'm cold..."

Gu Jinan's face darkened: "Don't pout, go cut the grass quickly."

He reasoned with him again: "It's cold, but if you don't do the work, you have to pile it up. You see, the eldest brother, father, and third grandpa all have to work, and Brother Cheng also has to do it."

Brother Cheng listened to Gu Jinan the most. After hearing these words, he followed him to cut the grass obediently.