104 Difference Between Brothers
Old man w.a.n.g’s family had made a fortune. They had obtained 30 acres of land. This was the first time something like this has happened in Hu Family Village!
Most people were poor after spring as their family’s excess money had been used to buy food and seeds. Some people even had to buy seeds from the town market for farming.
There were also others who had spent money on miscellaneous things. In the end, there was nothing left.
Logically speaking, the poorest w.a.n.g Family in Hu Family Village should be tightening their belts.
In the end, their children were growing better by the day. They thought that it was because they had not finished the python meat from before. Now that they thought about it, could it be because Old man w.a.n.g’s family had become rich?
Where did they get their money from?
The villagers discussed curiously and naturally could not help but ask.
w.a.n.g Chuanman was even more confused than them.
“I don’t know either. My mother bought these plots of land. I’m just here to take a look.” w.a.n.g Chuanman also knew that he had to hide the fact that the land was all registered in his name.
There was no need to publicize this matter, lest it was changed again.
Widow Zhou was now the main labor force in her family. Others were too embarra.s.sed, but she did not think much of it.
Therefore, Widow Zhou went straight to Old man w.a.n.g’s house and asked Old Madam w.a.n.g, “Auntie w.a.n.g, can your family farm so much land at once? If there’s excess land, you can distribute two mu to our family to farm? You can collect the rent according to how the landlord farmers do it. What do you think?”
The land Old man w.a.n.g’s family had bought was all fertile land. The yield they could produce on that land was much higher than what they could produce on their own land.
However, those lands also had to be taxed. The taxes on the land itself were actually very small as most of the taxes were on people tax.
This was also the reason why the landlords became richer and richer, and the poor become poorer and poorer. Poor families usually have more family members and fewer land. Since the taxes were calculated according to the number of people in the household instead of property, they had to pay more taxes. Wouldn’t they become poorer like this?
However, if there were fewer family members in poor families, there would be insufficient labor. If there was not enough food planted, they would also be poor.
Therefore, no matter what, the poor were in a pit of poverty and could not climb out.
Old Madam w.a.n.g thought that Widow Zhou was here to ask about how they got rich. She did not expect her to be the first to ask about the renting of the farmlands.
“Our family will only keep 20 mu for ourselves to farm while the remaining 10 mu will be distributed. Go and discuss with our fourth son which two mu you want to use. As for the yield in the fields, if you use your own grain seeds, we’ll split 50-50. If we give you the grain seeds, we’ll split it 70-30.” Old Madam w.a.n.g felt that it didn’t matter who planted the seeds in the village.
“Is there anything I should take note of?”
“There’s nothing in particular. You can choose according to your preferences, we don’t have any demands.” Old Madam w.a.n.g added casually, “But you have to think carefully as we’re going to write a contract and you won’t be able to change it in the future.”
When Widow Zhou heard this, she felt that this 50-50 ratio would definitely be more worth it. She would rather spend money to buy the grain seeds herself. At that time, the cost would actually be less than 10%.
For Widow Zhou to be able to survive until now by herself, she was naturally not someone to be trifled with. She felt that splitting 30-70 was a little too ruthless. This was because whoever farmed the land would still have to pay the land tax. Although it’s only very little, it was still an expense.
In that case, 30-70 was a little unfair.
Old man w.a.n.g’s family was not a family that would cheat others.
Widow Zhou thought for a moment and asked, “Auntie w.a.n.g, did you buy your grain seeds from the town?”
If they both got their seeds from the town, then she would choose to split it 50-50.
Old Madam w.a.n.g looked at Widow Zhou with a faint smile. This person was a little smart.
Of course, Old Madam w.a.n.g had also said that on purpose just now. If it were other villagers, Old Madam w.a.n.g would not have reminded them.
Back then, when the people from Shanyang Village came to capture Ah Yu, it was w.a.n.g Sanpang who informed them. Old Madam w.a.n.g remembered this favor.
Now, it could be considered returning the favor.
However, the friendship between people was not something that could be offset by the repayment of favors.
Instead, it should be that since you’ve helped me before, I’ll help you too. This way their friendship would become stronger.
“Our family cultivates our own grain seeds. I can only tell you that it should be better than those sold in town.” Old Madam w.a.n.g stopped.
“Then I’ll listen to you and choose the 30-70 split. However, I think that the farming of the fertile fields hasn’t started yet. When will the grain seeds be given to us? I’m afraid we’ll have to start planting today.”
Now that it was already past the good season for cultivating seeds, the grain seeds could no longer germinate so they had to be planted in the fields directly. Of course, the earlier the better.
Old Madam w.a.n.g said, “Don’t be anxious. Sign the contract and I’ll send the grain seeds to you later.”
The pile of grain seeds Ah Yu had given Old Madam w.a.n.g weighed at least 70 to 80 catties.
Old Madam w.a.n.g thought that the quality of the grain seeds was good. At that time, five to six catties of seeds would be enough for one mu of land.
Widow Zhou was swift and decisive. She immediately pulled Old Madam w.a.n.g to sign the contract.
“You can just let my fourth son go with you to look at the fields. By the way, see who else in the village wants to farm our fields. Call them along to save the trouble.” Old Madam w.a.n.g was the most impatient to do such trivial things.
Widow Zhou then left happily.
Old Madam w.a.n.g rubbed her forehead. As soon as she walked out of the courtyard, she saw Little Ah Yu stuffing something into her bag.
“Ah Yu, come here.” Old Madam w.a.n.g waved at Little Ah Yu.
As Little Ah Yu skipped as she replied, “Grandma, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll rub it for you.”
She had usually seen her father rub her mother’s head. Every time her mother frowned, her father would rub her head.
“Grandma is fine. Are you going out to play? Don’t go out alone. Let your Fifth Brother accompany you.” Old Madam w.a.n.g tidied Little Ah Yu’s clothes and happened to see half a pancake stuffed into her bag. Her gaze paused.
“Who are you giving it to?”
“Ah Yu’s stomach is already full so I’m going to give this to Big Brother Ah You!”
Old Madam w.a.n.g thought that Qin Huai, who had let Ah Yu bring back a handful of candies previously, could be considered a child with a conscience.
She took two fresh pancakes from the kitchen and wrapped them in a dry leaf before handing them to Little Ah Yu.
“Ah Yu, it’s impolite to give something you’ve eaten to others. If you want to give it to someone, you have to give a new, uneaten one to them.” Old Madam w.a.n.g looked at Little Ah Yu’s puzzled gaze and explained, “It’s fine to give it to your family, but you have to be more particular when giving things to the people outside.”
Taking this opportunity, Old Madam w.a.n.g let Little Ah Yu understand that although Big Brother Ah You and Fifth Brother were both addressed as “Big Brother”, there was still a difference.
Little Ah Yu was confused. Why was her Big Brother different from her Big Brother?
Old Madam w.a.n.g said, “Look, your Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, and the others have the same grandparents as you, but not him.”
This explanation was very clear.
“Ah Yu now knows.”
Then, Little Ah Yu took out the half-eaten pancake from her bag and handed it to w.a.n.g Wulang, who had just come out of the kitchen.
“Fifth Brother, this pancake is for you!”
w.a.n.g Wulang was so touched that tears welled up in his eyes. “Little Sister Ah Yu, you dote on me the most. Fifth Brother is so happy!”
Then, he saw the thing in Little Ah Yu’s arms.
He asked, “What’s in this bag?”
“Pancakes! Ah Yu hasn’t eaten it before. It’s fresh pancakes!” Little Ah Yu revealed an angelic smile and said heartlessly, “Grandma said that Fifth Brother should eat the half-eaten one from Ah Yu while the fresh pancakes are for Big Brother Ah You because Big Brother Ah You is very special!”
[…]
Old Madam w.a.n.g: “…”
This comprehension ability was really amazing!
w.a.n.g Wulang, who was still touched just now and was only left with endless grievances: “…”
In other words, his heart felt cold.