Chapter 106: Chapter 106 Taxation (2)_1 Chapter 106: Chapter 106 Taxation (2)_1 “Why did you bring this out?” Mrs. Zhang jumped in surprise.
“Since we made a lot, we brought some out,” Lin Ziyin replied.
“Give it to the children. We’ll be home in a while,” Mrs. Zhang suggested.
“We’re full,” Changting said, patting his stomach.
“Satisfied,” Yanzhi also chimed in.
“What happened?” Seeing Lou Zheng look upset and despondent, the old man sat by his side and asked him a few concerned questions.
“This year’s tax has to be paid,” Lou Zheng sighed. “Uncle, you know the situation in the village. Each family only has a small plot of land, growing soybeans; where can we find surplus silver to pay our taxes?”
“Why would you have to pay taxes before the autumn harvest?” Lin Ziyin asked curiously.
“The money for city wall construction,” Lou Zheng answered, “Although the amount is not much, you can see the situation in the village.”
Then Lou Zheng sighed heavily.
“The head of the family has gone to the government office to ask for concession, but they do not care,” Mrs. Zhang’s face also darkened.
The old man sighed after hearing this. This was indeed the hardest time of the year.
“What if there is no silver to pay?” Lin Ziyin asked.
“Then we pay in labor,” the old man answered.
After hearing this, Lin Ziyin did not continue asking questions. Going to the border to build military facilities without modern equipment — it was clear that it would be quite a hardship.
Luckily, the Lin Family had some silver saved up this year, so they didn’t have to worry about the tax problem.
Due to the somber topic, the adults in the carriage were all in low spirits. The two children could sense the depressed atmosphere, and both of them sat quietly and obediently beside Lin Ziyin.
After returning to the village, when Lou Zheng spread news about the tax demanded by the government office, the villagers began to sigh. Those families with strong laborers even wailed in despair.
This situation did not affect the Lin Family, and everyone went about their usual activities.
“Brother, we don’t have much soybeans at home. Could you and Brother Dayou buy more in the village?” Lin Ziyin asked after gazing at the stored soybeans at home.
“I’ve already been considering it,” Lin Changshu put down the bowl in his hand and answered.
“If there are peanuts and sesame seeds, we can buy them all back home,” Lin Ziyin added.
“What do we buy those for?” Zige asked.
“Oil can be pressed from peanuts and sesame seeds,” Lin Ziyin explained.
“I’ll ask around in the village later,” Changshu responded.
After dinner, Lin Changshu went out, and in a short while, many villagers had gathered at the Lin Family’s house.
“Changshu, are you really willing to buy soybeans at market price?” An elderly villager asked as soon as he saw Changshu.
The other villagers also looked at Changshu with hope in their eyes.
“Yes, we need as many as we can get,” Changshu confirmed.
They had many rooms in the house, enough storage for any amount of soybeans they could buy. He was not worried.
“However, let me make it clear beforehand: we won’t buy any that have gone moldy,” Changshu pointed out firmly.
“Of course, we’re all from the same village. Nobody would cheat you,” someone echoed.
“Can we send them over now?” someone else asked, afraid the Lin Family would change their minds.
“Sure,” Changshu nodded.
And so, the villagers dispersed, cheerfully relieved.
After a while, many villagers had brought their soybeans, sesame seeds, and peanuts.
Lin Ziyin, fearing that Changshu would not handle the matter well, personally oversaw the inspection. She carefully checked the goods every person brought.
Upon seeing her thoroughness, several households that had wanted to sneak in inferior goods hastily took their soybeans and left.
“Ziyin, you’re incredible. You can quote the quantity at a glance,” someone complimented her with a laugh.
With a faint smile, Lin Ziyin replied, “After much practice, it comes naturally.”
The speaker’s expression became awkward. Practice? They didn’t have that kind of opportunity. Not every family could have as successful a business as the Lin Family.