Chapter 223 Go to the Li Family Again

"Why?"

Mrs. Chen felt a little distressed. This time Zhu Ping'an won the election. He received so many congratulatory gifts in just a short while, and there will definitely be more in the future.

"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'll send them all back immediately."

Although she was a little reluctant to give up, Ms. Chen was still anxious to return everything. In her heart, her son still came first, and she could not delay her 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 having to accept gifts."

Seeing his mother, Mrs. Chen, 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.

"Mom, 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 little 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 Ping'an left 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. It is beneficial to them to donate land. 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 deeds, one a deed to buy and sell the land, which was a real deed but not required to be performed, eschewing a dedication;

The other is a tenant land contract, the general content of which is as follows:

The tenant Liu Erniu was appointed to farm 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. There is no proof after learning, so I will give this Butian Wenyue a photo.

The villagers were very happy to get the second land 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 In fact, this land is no different from that of the villagers.

"How much is the general rent?"

Zhu Pingan asked when writing the contract.

"Top One"

"twenty eight"

The villagers gave different answers and looked at each other in confusion after answering. Shiyi means that the rent collected is one-tenth, and 28 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 thirty-seven or even five-five. The villagers gave different answers, probably because it varies from landlord to landlord.

After listening to the villagers' answers, when Zhu Pingan wrote the tenancy agreement, he set the land rent at 5 cents, 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 got nearly a hundred acres of fertile land for no reason, blush a little. He said that he got nearly a hundred acres of fertile land for no reason and still collected rent, but in the end, the other party thanked him endlessly. It felt like Fan Wei's classic saying Like thank you.

After lunch, in order to avoid people giving gifts and offerings, Zhu Pingan took his schoolbag across his body and went to Shanghe Village to stay away from home for a while.

Before leaving, mother Chen said that if someone came, she would say that she was reviewing and preparing for the exam.

"Master Zhu is here. Congratulations to Master Zhu for high school. Please come in. It's cold outside and warm your hands."

Uncle Li, the concierge of rich man Li's house, was more enthusiastic than ever. He directly opened the door with a small iron stove, and put the small iron stove into Zhu Ping'an'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 the outside, and soon heard footsteps approaching, and someone opened the door.

A little girl with a bun face poked her head out of the study, and saw Zhu Ping'an's small mouth grow into a round shape in surprise.

"Master Zhu Ping'an."

The bun-faced maid Hua'er habitually called Zhu Pingan's name, but after calling Zhu Pingan's name, she remembered that Zhu Pingan had already been elected, and added the word "master" to the end in annoyance.

Feeling that the word "Master" is so awkward, the little maid Hua'er's bun face wrinkled.

"Call me by my name." 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 kind and kind, her eyes bent into crescent moons.

"Hua'er, you stinky girl is skinny, the cold wind is blowing in from outside."

At this moment, a lazy female voice came from the study, like a lark flying into the house in winter.

"Miss, Zhu Pingan is here to borrow books." Hua'er, Baozi's little maid, explained to her lady, then turned to Zhu Pingan and whispered quickly, "Come in quickly."

Zhu Ping'an nodded and walked in. Hua'er, Baozi's little maid, 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 our Li family's low threshold."

The lazy female voice spoke again, sinister and full of sarcasm.

Zhu Ping'an looked up and saw a bright-eyed girl with 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 Baozi's maid Hua'er, there were two old ladies and two maids guarding the charcoal brazier making clothes in the study.

"Why didn't you say anything? But I told you what was in your heart. Humph, it's just a matter of lifting people up. Why are you so proud?"

The girl who rolled her eyes couldn't help but roll her eyes again when she saw that Zhu Pingan was looking at her without speaking, and said sarcastically again.