Chapter 223 Go to Li’s House Again
“Why?”
Ms. Chen felt a little distressed. This time Zhu Ping’an won the election, and he received so many congratulatory gifts in just a short while. There will definitely be more to come.
"The law stipulates that accepting gifts is equivalent to accepting bribes." Zhu Pingan said softly.
When Mrs. Chen heard this, she felt that the banknotes and land deeds in her hands were very hot, and she threw them all on the bed without thinking.
"Then I will return them all quickly."
Although she was a little reluctant to give up, Ms. Chen was still anxious to return everything to them. In her heart, her son still came first. , Don't delay your son's future because of gifts.
"It's nothing this time, it's still a favor. But in the future, don't accept it. Don't worry, my son will definitely be filial to his mother, and he can make her eat well and wear warm clothes without accepting gifts."
Looking at his mother, Mrs. Chen, who was reluctant to leave but anxious to return the gift, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but smile and comfort Mrs. Chen.
"Is everything okay this time?" Mrs. Chen picked up the banknotes and land deeds and asked hopefully.
Zhu Pingan nodded.
"I'll put it away for you." Mrs. Chen immediately put the things under the pillow, and hid them again when no one was around.
Zhu Pingan had his own ideas about the villagers who came to donate after hearing the news in the yard. After communicating with Chen in advance in the house, Zhu Pingan walked out of the house and came to the yard. .
"Thank you uncles for your love, but as you all have seen, my house and yard are not big, so I really don't need a servant or a chef. If there is a need in the future, I will definitely bother you uncles."
Zhu Pingan walked out of the house and explained to everyone in the yard.
This made many villagers who came to donate their land as slaves and servants a little disappointed. Fortunately, Zhu Pingan responded to the donation of land, which made the villagers who had been waiting for a long time happy.
Voluntary donation is just to avoid taxes and corvee. The people who donate land in the yard have a relatively hard life and are tortured by corvee taxes. Contributing land is beneficial to them. Therefore, Zhu Pingan still accepted the donation of land in the courtyard.
Donating is strictly prohibited by the imperial court. Although it is popular on the surface, it is not a problem if someone finds out. Zhu Ping'an was accustomed to being considerate in his work, leaving no clues to others, and made two contracts with the villagers who donated land in the yard.
Two contracts, one is a land purchase and sale contract, which is a real contract that does not need to be performed and avoids dedication;
The other is a tenant land contract , the general content is as follows:
Liu Erniu was appointed as a tenant to cultivate some fields under Zhu Ping'an's name. It was agreed upon how much the rent would be paid every year, and if there was flood or drought, the rent would be reduced by that amount. After the autumn harvest, the rent would be paid on time, and the land would be farmed forever, with no limit on years. After learning that there is no proof, I will give this Butian document as a photo.
The villagers were very happy to get the second leasehold contract. With this contract, he nominally donated the land, but actually cultivated it himself. In order to comfort the villagers, Zhu Pingan specifically added the agreement of "permanent farming, no limit to the number of years" in the contract. This is equivalent to This land is actually no different than belonging to the villagers.
"How much is the general land rent?"
Zhu Ping'an asked when writing the contract.
"Shiyi"
"Twenty-eight"
The villagers gave different answers and looked at each other in confusion after answering. Ten-one means that the rent collected is one-tenth, and twenty-eight means that the rent collected is two-tenths. Generally speaking, the agricultural tax collected by the Ming Dynasty in the name of the state was less than 10%. However, landless farmers who became tenants paid money and grain to landlords as land rent, which was usually slightly higher than the legitimate agricultural tax of the state. Unscrupulous landlords may raise the tax. to 37 or even 55. Villagers gave different answers, probably depending on the landlord.
After listening to the villagers' answers, Zhu Pingan set the land rent at 5 cents when writing the tenancy agreement, which was half of the minimum rent given by the villagers.
Such a low land rent made the villagers who received the tenancy contract almost cry with joy and thank Zhu Ping'an again and again.
The villagers' thanks made Zhu Pingan, who had received nearly a hundred acres of fertile land for no reason, blush a little. He said that he had received nearly a hundred acres of fertile land for no reason and still collected rent, but in the end the other party thanked him endlessly. He felt like Fan It's like Wei's classic "thank you" from back then.
After lunch, in order to avoid people giving gifts and offerings, Zhu Ping'an took his schoolbag across his body and went to Shanghe Village to stay away from home for a while.
Before leaving, my mother, Mrs. Chen, said that if anyone comes, she will say that she will review and prepare for the exam.
"Master Zhu is here. Congratulations to Mr. Zhu for high school. Please come in quickly. It's cold outside and warm your hands."
Uncle Li, the concierge of Rich Man Li's house, is more enthusiastic and direct than before. Holding the door open with the small iron stove, he thrust the small iron stove into Zhu Pingan's hand as soon as he opened the door.
After finally getting rid of the enthusiastic Uncle Li, Zhu Pingan walked to the study. The study door was closed. Zhu Pingan knocked on the door from outside. Soon he heard footsteps approaching and someone opened the door.
A little maid with a bun face poked her head out of the study and was surprised to see Zhu Ping'an's little mouth growing into a round shape.
"Master Zhu Ping'an."
The little maid Hua'er with a bun face habitually called Zhu Ping'an's name, but after calling Zhu Ping'an's name, she remembered that Zhu Ping'an was already a civil servant. Yes, I added the word "master" to the end in annoyance.
The word "master" felt so awkward, and the little maid Hua'er's face wrinkled up.
"Just call me by my name." The corners of Zhu Pingan's mouth twitched slightly.
"This is what you asked for, don't regret it." Hua'er, the little maid with a bun face, was as good as she could be, her eyes curled into crescent moons.
"Hua'er, you stinky girl, you are so skinny, the cold wind outside is blowing in."
At this moment, a lazy female voice came from the study, just like in winter It flew into the house like a lark.
"Miss, Zhu Pingan is here to borrow books." Baozi's little maid Hua'er explained to her lady, then turned to Zhu Pingan and whispered quickly, "Come in quickly."
Zhu Pingan nodded and walked in. Baozi's little maid Hua'er quickly closed the door, held up her skirt and walked towards her young lady.
The study and the outside were like two seasons. The study was warmed by several charcoal pots. Zhu Pingan felt warm and comfortable as soon as he entered the study.
"Hey, I thought someone had won the prize and disliked the low threshold of our Li family."
The lazy female voice spoke again, sinister and full of sarcasm. .
Zhu Pingan looked up and saw a girl with bright eyes and white teeth lying on a reclining chair covered with the fur of an unknown animal in the study, rolling her eyes at him.
In addition to the girl who rolled her eyes and the little maid Hua'er, there were two old ladies and two maids in the study, guarding the charcoal brazier and making clothes.
"Why don't you say anything? But what I told you is true to your heart. Humph, isn't it just a civil servant? How proud are you?" He rolled his eyes and said sarcastically again. (End of this chapter)