Chapter 70: When you get money at the end of the year, it’s time to settle the payment
The period after the Winter Spirit Festival until the arrival of the New Year is a day of rest for people who have been busy for a year. Even bandits and thieves will have a holiday. The tavern will still be working.
If chatting in the streets is an information exchange center for middle-aged and elderly women, then the pub is an information station for men.
Shortly after dinner time, Bryant opened the door of the tavern, and the cold wind that came in made the drinkers at the door shrink.
After he took off his coat and hat, shook off the snowflakes and hung them on the coat hooks on the wall, the tavern owner’s daughter had already placed his usual order of wine and appetizers on his usual seat.
Taverns opened in residential areas are social places for men in the surrounding area, and they have their own underlying rules, such as which seats are reserved for regular customers, which ones are for occasional guests, etc.
Bryant sat down in his seat, and as soon as he picked up the wine glass and took a sip, a goatee at the table next to him asked him: "Are you sure about the crane team's game tomorrow?"
"Definitely." Bryant put down his glass and said confidently, "Although those working at the dock are fast, if we really want to kick them, we are still better!"
It's getting cold now. , everyone has more time, and more and more people come out to play football.
Not only Weissenburg City, but also football fields have been built in other places, and many villages and farms have also formed their own teams.
Compared with previous winters when there was nothing to do, everyone has more entertainment this year.
Goatee looked proud of "I have big news" and whispered to Bryant: "Did you hear that old Franz will retire next year?"
Bryant nodded slightly, it was no secret.
Goatbeard stroked his beard and asked him slightly proudly: "Do you know what old Franz will do in the future?"
Bryant really didn't know about this. He grabbed some roasted broad beans that go well with wine and put them on his plate.
Goatee said mysteriously: "I heard that he will be in charge of things like football in the future, such as how to set the rules, organize everyone's competitions, and train referees."
"Oh?" Bryant became curious, "How do you organize a game?"
Goatee said while eating roasted broad beans: "I heard that the team signed up, arranged the game on Sunday, and finally... There must be a championship, and there must be a bonus for the championship, and the final result will be next year.”
Bryant became excited when he mentioned the bonus, but Goatee didn’t find out any more information.
The two chatted for a while about the game between the coachmen's wheel team and the fishhook team this afternoon. At this time, a strong young man came to the tavern and sat at the same table with Bryant.
After sitting down, the young man ordered a glass of cider, then took out two bags and poured out the contents. One bag contained thin pieces of wood about the size of a finger, and the other strong bag contained several silver coins. Kreuz silver coins and a pile of large and small copper plates.
Bryant asked the young man curiously: "Pop, where did you get so much money?"
Pop looked up and replied: "These are all my wages."
Bryant said in surprise: "You can actually save so much money."
Goatee smiled and said to Bryant: "He just started training this year, and his mother is afraid of him He spent money indiscriminately and asked his master to give him all his wages at the end of the year. ”
Bryant understood, smiled and joked: "Good guy, you are getting an annual salary at a young age, and I am only getting a monthly salary."
Bobo replied with a few words in embarrassment.
The annual salary can only be received by the big shots. Among the wage earners, only outstanding craftsmen like clerks and Bryant are eligible to receive a monthly salary. Ordinary wage earners are paid daily.
Bobo laid out his salary on the table, and then arranged the wood pieces.
Bryant asked him: "The salary is not low, right?"
Bobo calculated there: "A month has 30 days, excluding Sundays every month, which is 27 days. There are 12 months in a year, minus the 10 days of vacation now, that is 314 days. I earn 34 copper coins a day, that is There is..."
He "had" there for a long time, which was obviously beyond the calculation ability of his head.
“10,676 copper plates.” In the end, the tavern owner at the bar not far away helped him figure it out.
"Thank you..." Bobo immediately thanked the boss, and then counted the money, 5 Kreuz silver coins and large and small copper plates with a face value of 10176 copper plates.
Bryant took a sip of beer and ate roasted fava beans and said: "A year is 5 florins, 6 Kreutz and 76 copper plates. The wages of a stonemason are not much. I have just graduated from the profession like you. The year is 7 florins and 17 kreutz.”
"Our blacksmith shop will start work next year. An ordinary master will get 1 gold coin a month, and an apprentice will get 10 kreuz."
Bobo scratched his head, a little yearning, but there was no way, who could let himself be afraid of fire.
He began to divide the money into many cents.
Put aside the head tax of 50 copper coins, the income tax of 10 Kreutz and the union fee of 1 Kreutz. These will be paid after the Chinese New Year next year.
Bryant and Goatee were chatting about tomorrow's football game. He glanced at the three piles of money and knew what they were used for. He reminded: "Remember to save the door tax, you should too. I helped my family pay the tax." Bobo was startled, and then he remembered that the house had to pay taxes according to the number of doors, and he immediately took out 1 Kreuz and put it over.
At this time Goatee said: "I heard that the young master is going to reduce taxes next year."
Bryant nodded and said: "I heard about it too, first from the village, saying that it is Two and a half percent of the crop harvest will be deducted for planting and rations, and the rest will be counted as rent.”
“We have also seen a reduction in the city. I heard that the head tax will be abolished and the income tax will also be reduced. . ”
“By the way, the young master said that the military recruitment will be tax-free next year.”
Goatee frowned and said: "Why reduce so much tax? It's not enough. What if the young master sees that the tax will be less next year and then increase more tax the next year?"
"You don't understand this. "Bryant laughed, "The young master even came to ask me about this matter."
"According to the young master, if everyone's taxes are reduced, there will be extra money. If I buy farm tools here and buy clothes from you, then our business will be easy."
"Our business will be easy, but that means the people we hire have work to do and their money is not enough. That’s a lot.”
“It’s not just us. If you buy more things like shoes, hats, tableware, etc., everyone will make money.”
Goatee stroked his beard and nodded, saying: "It seems to be the case, it makes sense."
At this time, Bobo came to find Goatee, put 3 pieces of wood and coins on the table, and used The louder voice said: "Boss, I borrowed a set of blacksmith's clothes from you this year for 5 Kreuz, a pullover for 70 coppers, and a woolen sweater for 3 Kreuz, a total of 8 Kreuz. 70 coppers, do you think that’s right?”
We are all in the same circle, and we are all neighbors. We have watched Bobo grow up, so we will agree to give him credit during this year.
Goatee looked at the account on the wood chip, counted the money again, repeated the credited clothes and the amount in a louder voice, and finally said: "The payment is cleared in full."
The drinkers in the tavern heard their conversation, which was a witness to prevent anyone from defaulting on their bill.
The tavern owner brought over a bottle of ink, a quill and a piece of parchment, and asked Goatee to write on the back of the piece of wood that the money had been received. He signed it himself, and the owner also signed as a witness.
Finally, the boss added on his parchment the year, month and day when so-and-so and so-and-so settled the payment in his store, who was sitting around and who was sitting around, and then asked all parties to sign.
If Bobo and Goatee go to court over today's matter in the future, this will be the key physical evidence.
The tavern owner gains social prestige by guaranteeing that he will not charge money, and other people must take his words seriously.
Then Bobo started to check out with others in the hotel. A pair of leather slime-soled sneakers cost 6 Kreutz, 10 pieces of salted fish cost 5 Kreuz, and 36 kilograms of cheap cheese cost 3 grams. Reutz, 3 lean chickens, 2 Kreutz for eggs bought in a year, 40 copper coins, and 3 Kreuz for a year's wine, and save the extra change.
At the end, Bobo had 3 florins, 7 Kreutz and 16 coppers left.
Bryant took a sip of wine and said to Bobo with a smile: "This is enough to build a two-story cabin with one compartment, and there is enough for the wedding banquet. All we need is a bride. "
He spoke a little loudly, and his eyes were directed at the tavern owner's daughter.
Bobo ignored his random behavior and said with some distress: "I want to go to Weissenburg University. I heard that there are scholars who open night classes in the city, and it only costs 10 Croy per year. ”
“But I heard that the tuition fee for the university is 5 florins a year, and the textbooks are even more expensive, so I have to save more money.”
Bryant thought for a moment and said to him: "I know a way, but it's just hearsay. I don't know whether it's accurate or not."
"The young master seems to have such an idea. Young people who want to join the army I'll be back in 5 years."
"The salary of an ordinary soldier is similar to your current income, but you don't have to pay for food and clothing. I heard that there are also night schools that don't cost any money. The family is tax-free, so you can save a lot of money. Less money. ”
“The most important thing is that those who have returned from the military can get a lot less tuition for going to Weissenburg University. If they have made meritorious service, they can even get free tuition.”
Bo. Bo's mind suddenly became active. In five years, he would be twenty-two or three years old. If he went to Weissenburg University to study law for a few years, after graduation, he could work as a clerk in the court or the Executive Yuan, or he could also become a lawyer. , I heard that a good lawyer can earn more than one hundred florins a year.
He collected the money on the table and sat there quietly drinking cider, thinking about whether to join the army.
Now there is a problem, that is, everyone knows that there will definitely be a war in two years. What will happen if you die.
“Can you help me find out something?” He asked Bryant, “What if I die while serving as a soldier?”
Bryant agreed and said: “Next A football match is still being directed by a young master. I’ll ask you after the match.”
After the football match, Bryant and Bobo met again in the pub.
Bryant said: "I asked you about yesterday's matter. The death benefit is twenty times the annual salary in the military. This standard will be used to provide living allowances to the family for twenty years every year. If there are blood brothers and sisters in the family, you can Give those benefits to the people you designate.”
Bobo thought about it while drinking, thinking that it would look good if he died and his brother went to Weissenburg University.
(End of this chapter)