The sudden increase in land taxes will have a huge impact on the people.
Chen Mingyi was worried that the family would not be able to survive, so he asked Mrs. Wu to ask Chen Zhongqian what he meant.
When Wu came back with a sullen face, he already knew the answer without asking.
Wu said, "Don't ask me to find those two evil-hearted people in the future. They don't care about our life or death. I even asked him for it, but he didn't give it to me. The land is still cultivated by my third uncle's family."
Chen Mingyi looked bad. He felt that he was the head of the Chen family. Even if Chen Zhongqian had separated the family, Chen Zhongqian must give him the face of his grandfather.
But the fact is that Chen Zhongqian didn't take his words to heart at all, and he never received any benefits after the separation.
He was still thinking about how to get this done, but Wu said from the side, "I think we shouldn't make him unhappy. Zhongqian ranked first in the county exam. What if he does well in the exam in the future?
"
"Don't you just want a powerful person to come out of the Chen family? Maybe it will be him. What's the use of making him anxious now?"
Chen Mingyi slapped the table, "How is Zhongda worse than him?"
Wu said, "Then if both of them are good, we will be even more blessed. In the future, our two grandsons will be filial. You have to make the relationship tense."
Chen Mingyi snorted coldly and stopped talking.
Mrs. Wu sighed, "You are good at home and don't speak out at all. The field tax will be raised this autumn. Our family will have enough food to eat. How can we pay for the increased field tax?"
Chen Mingyi scolded, "Then you should work more carefully in the fields. The weeds in the fields are taller than people. Can the crops grow well?"
Wu curled her lips, "You would actually say, why don't you go to work in the fields? You really think of yourself as an old man."
After saying that, she went to do other things. She had been looking forward to living a good life. Why did her life get worse and worse after several years?
In the past, Lin Yuxi and Chen Xiuyun did all the work at home and outside the house, so she almost didn't need to do anything.
Now that those two people are not at home, if she doesn't take action, she can only use Yang. Yang is lazy, so she just kicks and moves.
Furthermore, even though Mr. Yang is very diligent, he is still too busy. Now that there are just a few people in the family, things are really getting worse and worse. I don’t know what went wrong.
…
During the ten-day holiday at the end of March, Chen Zhongqian took a trip to Qingtai Mountain with many things prepared by Lin Joy, and Yue also went with him.
"Zhong Qian, why didn't my sister-in-law go with me today? There is also my sister-in-law's master in Qingtai Mountain."
Chen Zhongqian said, "My third great-grandfather caught wind and cold the day before yesterday. He is getting older and I don't feel comfortable leaving."
Yue Ye comforted him, "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
When the two arrived at the mountain, the old lady asked, "Did you bring me any halva?" as soon as she saw them.
Chen Zhongqian handed out a box, "This box is full of them. Joy knows you like to eat."
The old lady happily took the box and went inside to eat without even looking at her grandson.
Yue is also used to it. Grandma doesn't even want to talk to his father, let alone his grandson.
Chen Zhongqian classified the things he brought one by one and told his teacher which ones were which. Mr. Xianyun was very satisfied.
Chen Zhongqian didn't see the old man, "Where is Mr. Cen?"
Mr. Xianyun curled his lips, "I didn't let him drink my wine the day before yesterday. He got angry with me again and went to find his friends. Anyway, he has many friends, and I'm not the only one."
Chen Zhongqian and Yue also looked at each other, why did they hear a sour taste in these words?
At noon, Mr. Xianyun cooked a delicious meal. The old lady sat on the table and said, "The halva is not very sweet."
Chen Zhongqian smiled and said, "Xi Xie said that you shouldn't eat anything too sweet, so I specially made this unsweetened candy. It doesn't hurt to eat a few more pieces every day."
The old lady hummed, "I just think the candy is too expensive and don't want to put more sugar in it. With so many excuses, why don't I just ask my unlucky son to pay for it?"
Chen Zhongqian didn't need to explain at all, because he knew that the old lady had this temperament, and knew that Joy cared about her, which made him feel happier.
"Then I won't let you do it next time. You don't like to eat it anyway."
The old lady put down her chopsticks and said, "I think you won't come either."
You fool, you don't even understand her thoughts.
Mr. Xianyun handed the chopsticks to her hand again, "How could you not come? This is my apprentice."
The old lady glanced at Chen Zhongqian and said, "Bring more next time."
"Um?"
"Didn't we all say how many more pieces we can eat every day? How can we eat enough if we don't bring a little more."
Several people couldn't hold back their laughter. There was really nothing they could do against the old lady.
After lunch, Mr. Xianyun asked Chen Zhongqian to go to his study.
Yue did not follow him. Although this was his grandfather, he was not his teacher and he could not steal from him.
As a result, Mr. Xianyun came out again and asked, "What are you doing standing there all alone?"
Before Yue Ye could react, Chen Zhongqian said, "Come inside quickly. Isn't it cold outside?"
Only then did Yue Ye laugh happily, "Come on, come on, I'll be right away."
Mr. Xianyun will not give them lessons like the teachers in the academy. He will ask questions and let them give their own answers.
The most talked about topic recently is land tax. Chen Zhongqian and Yue also expressed their opinions respectively, and Mr. Xianyun nodded.
"You are disappointed with the court and disheartened by the emperor, but this cannot change the fact that now that the war is imminent, only by quickly replenishing the national treasury can we increase our country's hope of victory."
Yue Ye said, "But how can we compensate for the suffering of the people?"
Mr. Xianyun smiled and said, "No matter whether the country rises or falls, the people will always endure hardship. This has been true for generations."
Yue Ye was very angry, "Why did we have to fight in the first place? This war lasted for twenty years, and everyone was devastated. We were fighting from an advantage to a disadvantage. At first, it was just to fight for a mountain top, but now it has become like this."
"Even if the war is victorious in the end, how can the resentment against the imperial court be eliminated in the hearts of the people? If those in power cannot be loved by the people, the country will definitely not be able to prosper."
Mr. Xianyun touched his beard and said, "Zi Heng cares about the people of the world. If he becomes a parent official, the local people will really love him."
Yue Ye bowed his hand and said, "I don't dare to accept praise. Maybe when I really become a parent official one day, I will have difficulties that I can't think of now."
Mr. Xianyun asked Chen Zhongqian again, "Next month is the government examination. If the question is related to land tax, will you tell your true thoughts?"
Chen Zhongqian nodded, "I think since it is an exam question, you should answer according to what you think in your heart. I don't know who is right and who is wrong, but at least the other party can see different answers."
Mr. Xianyun said, "Then do you know what the consequences might be if you tell the truth?"
Chen Zhongqian nodded again, "His name is Sun Shan."
Mr. Xianyun smiled and said, "You are indeed my student."