Farmhouse Green Plum

Chapter 534 It’s different

Yuan Chuanshi was furious. "It's only because our family wasn't well off these past two years that we didn't borrow money. When you and Chengwa were studying, how could I, your younger brother and uncle, not borrow money?"

Yuan Chuanfang was emboldened now that his grandson had become a scholar, and he bluntly retorted, "Borrowing 10 cents is still borrowing, right?"

Every time I went to my second brother's house to borrow money, I said a lot of nice things. I wanted to borrow 50 cents from them, but in the end I could only borrow 10 cents. How many pieces of paper could I buy with that little money?

Seeing that the two brothers were about to quarrel, Yuan Qing quickly stated his attitude, "Second Grandfather, I will always remember the help you have given our family over the years.

But right now, I'm in urgent need of money. My grandmother and her family have worked hard all their lives and their bodies are almost drained. As their grandson and son, I dare not let them worry about me anymore, so I agreed to Mr. He's request.

But don't worry, when I pass the imperial examination and have more tax-free land, I will definitely think of your family first."

When the Qing dynasty was founded, scholars were entitled to 200 mu of tax-free land. Later, due to a dispute over the throne, the capital was moved north, and in order to encourage scholars, the land was increased to 400 mu.

Later, the tax rate was gradually lowered. In the prosperous old capital, the tax-free land for Juren was adjusted to 300 mu, while in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where the land was fertile, it was only 250 mu.

However, Jinchuan is located far away, and the government has been lenient with it, so there are still 400 acres of land, and in southern Yunnan, it is said that the land is as high as 500 acres.

Given their family's current financial situation, they won't be able to buy so much land in a short period of time, and their neighbors will definitely be interested in it by then.

They are all fellow villagers. Over the years, three generations of their family have been studying, and almost every household has borrowed money from them. These favors still need to be repaid.

As a junior, he couldn't explain the situation too clearly. Mrs. Tao continued, "Our family needs money right now. We're asking for a commission if we're affiliated with Mr. He. Can we even take a commission like that between relatives? Do we have the nerve to do that?"

Yuan Chuanshi was relieved after receiving the confirmation. He smiled awkwardly and pulled Yuan Qing to complain, "Qingwa, don't blame your second grandfather for being so picky. Our family is really not well off. You saw it when we paid the summer taxes and autumn grain. There was so much extra grain, and it was just given away to the officials for free.

Now that you are exempt from taxes, the land in my family is far from enough. I thought that after all, we all have the surname Yuan, so we don’t have to suffer this hardship in the future. Before I had the chance to tell you, Mr. He came to our house and left happily. How can I not be anxious?

But now I know it was my fault for not considering it carefully, so please don't blame me."

"Second Grandfather, what are you talking about? Don't worry about the summer tax and autumn grain. I will talk to the officials in the government office and won't make things difficult for you."

Yuan Chuanshi was even more delighted. At this time, he came to his senses. The Song family in the neighboring village received preferential treatment because they had a relative who was a minor official at the border. Although he had not been able to come back for so many years, he still paid summer taxes and autumn grain every year. What's more, their Yuan family had a new scholar this year.

Qingwa is so valued by County Magistrate Chen, and everyone in the yamen is very smart. When paying taxes, as long as he states that he is Yuan Qing's second grandfather, he will definitely not be troubled.

After persuading his second grandfather, Yuan Qing thought that the villagers would inevitably be concerned about his tax-free land. To prevent his family from getting upset, he asked his second grandfather to help him tell other people in the village that after he passed the imperial examination, he would definitely repay the villagers for their care over the years.

Mr. He's visit and Yuan Chuanshi's surrender made the Yuan family truly realize that their family would be different in the future.

The whole village realized this difference when the Chen family's carriage drove into the village on the afternoon of the second day.

Chen Yunze, dressed in splendid clothes, got off the carriage and congratulated Yuan Qing with a smile: "Brother Yuan, congratulations. When I first came across your article, I knew you were something special."

Yuan Qing was a little surprised, but he didn't show it at all. He bowed and said, "Brother Chen, you are too kind. I am dull and can only imitate Dong Zi's achievements."

"Brother Yuan, you're too modest. If you're considered dull given your qualifications, how many people in this world are not dull?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Yunze finally explained his purpose, "Brother Yuan, I'm here to ask you a favor."

His smiling and polite appearance amazed the villagers, who thought that the Yuan family was really different. Wow, all the rich young men in the city asked Yuan Qing for help!

Yuan Qing would not easily forgive Chen Yunze for using Yuan Shanqing's reputation to pressure him. Although they had several interactions afterwards, he still had a bad impression of the Chen family. He politely declined, "Brother Chen, you are joking. I am just a humble scholar with limited abilities. How can I help you, Brother Chen?"

Chen Yunze sensed the coldness beneath his politeness and quickly said, "Brother Yuan, have you ever heard about my partnership with Shopkeeper Luo in the pancreas business?"

The pancreas business is a partnership between Luo Yanxing, Song Ying and Lin Wenxuan, and this has long been no secret.

Yuan Qing nodded. Even though she didn't want to have anything to do with Chen Yunze anymore, she still wanted to hear what he had to say.

Noticing the change in his attitude, Chen Yunze breathed a sigh of relief and was glad that he had started with Song Ying and Luo Yanxing first.

"Well, we're both very satisfied with our cooperation in the pancreas business. We'd like to take it a step further. Doctor Song can enter and leave the inner chambers of the boudoir, which gives her a great advantage in doing business with women, so we're planning to set up a small weaving workshop to make Shu brocade."

Shu brocade!

Yuan Qing's eyes narrowed slightly. This is not a small business at all!

He also understood why Chen Yunze came to him. Scholars were exempt from the loom tax for two looms. Like Mr. He, Chen Yunze was using his name to avoid taxes.

He remained calm and asked, "What kind of Shu brocade are you planning to weave?"

"It's tribute-grade Shu brocade. My Chen family doesn't have the ability to get a ticket from a machine holder, so it's naturally top-grade jacquard brocade."

Daqian strictly controlled precious silk fabrics such as Shu brocade. Except for the official weaving bureau under the Ministry of Works, if the public wanted to weave these precious silk fabrics, they needed to obtain a machine household ticket issued by the government.

Since Chen Yunze was able to propose opening a workshop to weave high-quality jacquard brocade, he must have a way to obtain the corresponding machine household ticket. The Chen family should not be underestimated.

The market price of high-quality jacquard brocade is about 20 to 40 taels per piece, and it is generally sold to officials and wealthy businessmen for use. If this business really takes off, it will be very profitable.

Yuan Qing nodded slightly, "Wait a moment."

He talked to his grandparents for a few words, went home to get something, and left with Chen Yunze.

The villagers of Wutong Village were amazed and came to the Yuan family. "Wow, I remember Shu brocade was a tribute to the royal family, right? Qingwa can even partner with others to do this kind of business? It must cost a lot of money, right?"

Tao didn't understand any of this and wanted to leave and go home, but the villagers wanted to pull her aside to talk.

"Oh, Aunt Tao really arranged a good marriage for Qingwa. Before, I only thought Song Ying was a doctor and earned a lot of money; I didn't expect that she could also help the wives of officials with their business!"