Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Chapter 29 Double-Layered Auspicious Beast Brocade!
Zhang Dalang and Zhang Erya didn't say anything, but their expressions showed that they were shocked.

I knew this kind of thing couldn't be cheap.

Xiao Ran opened the other food boxes; they were all pastries, just a little different.

They all tasted pretty good, and everyone tried them.

Xiao Ran also thought it was quite delicious, thinking to himself: The Duke's family relatives are really something else, they eat so much better.

“I don’t have any money either, I’ll use this cloth to offset the tax later!” Xiao Ran pointed to it, “I just don’t know how much this is worth, or if it’s enough.”

If that's not enough, Xiao Ran will have to go back and get some more.

"This should be enough, it looks so expensive!" Zhang Erya really liked it.

“Young master, second wife.” Zhang Jinhe’s voice suddenly came from outside.

"Second Aunt, put these things away for now, and get some pastries to treat Jinniang!" After saying that, Xiao Ran led Third Aunt and Xiao Hei out of the house.

There was no gate to the courtyard, but Zhang Jinhe still didn't come in.

"Young master, Third Sister." Zhang Jinhe greeted her with a polite smile.

"Jinniang, let's go inside and talk." Xiao Ran pointed to the back.

"it is good!"

Fearing that Xiao Ran might change his mind, Zhang Jinhe calculated the taxes that needed to be paid and personally delivered them as soon as possible.

As Zhang Jinhe approached the door, he smelled a faint aroma of pastries in the air.

It felt somewhat familiar, like I'd seen it before, but it's been so long I can't remember.

Zhang Dalang was also inside the house, smiling and greeting Zhang Jinhe. It wasn't just Zhang Erya who felt inferior in front of Zhang Jinhe; Zhang Dalang felt the same way.

Once inside the room, the fragrance became even stronger.

Xiao Ran and the others ate it before, but they didn't feel anything.

However, Zhang Jinhe, who hadn't eaten anything, came in from outside and noticed the strong smell.

Zhang Erya came out of the kitchen carrying a plate containing the pastries from earlier.

Place it gently on the table.

"Sister! You should try some!"

"Huh?" Zhang Jinhe was surprised to see the pastries, and even doubted whether she was seeing things.

"Sesame cake?"

"And there's also 'Touhua Ci' (a type of glutinous rice cake) and 'Guihua Gao' (another type of glutinous rice cake)!"

Zhang Jinhe had only eaten these pastries once or twice; he rarely saw them except on special occasions.

Upon hearing Zhang Jinhe's words, Xiao Ran finally learned the names of these pastries.

Zhang Jinhe had mixed feelings. He was a poor household who had been in arrears with taxes for several years, yet he was eating top-quality pastries.

It's a bit abstract.

For a moment, Zhang Jinhe didn't know what to say.

"What's wrong with Jinniang?" Xiao Ran asked.

"It's nothing. I didn't expect to get to eat these pastries." Zhang Jinhe knew that the Zhang siblings couldn't possibly have these pastries, so they must belong to Xiao Ran.

I realized I had seriously underestimated Xiao Ran.

Offering these pastries to guests goes beyond simply being wealthy.

Zhang Jinhe picked up the sesame seed cake. He had eaten it before, but it was nothing compared to the one in front of him.

They're both sesame seed cakes, but there's a big difference between them.

Xiao Ran picked up a piece and handed it to Third Sister. Although the little girl wanted to eat it, she restrained herself and didn't take it herself. Her sensible manner was heartbreaking.

“As per the young master’s request, I will convert the rent, tax, and labor service of the fourth and fifth years of the Zhenguan era into Kaiyuan Tongbao coins,” Zhang Jinhe said, taking out a piece of paper.

Taxes were collected according to the number of people; one person received one share, a household with two adult males received two shares, and so on.

However, every adult male would be allocated a corresponding amount of land. In the early Zhenguan period, land was relatively plentiful, and men could obtain their full share of land.

Xiao Ran took the paper and looked at it:

Rent: Each adult male pays two shi of millet per year, equivalent to 60 wen.

The regulation stipulates that each adult male should pay two zhang of silk, equivalent to 200 wen (cash).

Yong: Each adult male who performs labor service for twenty days is compensated with six zhang of silk, three chi per day, and 600 wen.

Therefore, the annual tax for an adult male is 860 coins. Zhang Dalang and his cheap old man's tax for two years is 3440 coins.

Zhang Erya and San Niang don't need to pay taxes. They didn't before, and they still don't need to pay taxes now that they've become the heads of the household.

"Three thousand four hundred and forty coins," Xiao Ran muttered to himself, which is more than three strings of cash.

Upon hearing this amount, Zhang Dalang and Zhang Erya were shocked; it was a huge sum of money for the siblings.

Their income is so low that these taxes seem terrifying.

"Grandpa said that Second Aunt and the others had special circumstances before, so we can reduce the fee a little," Zhang Jinhe said, afraid that Xiao Ran would think it was too much and not give her any.

“It shouldn’t be necessary, Second Aunt, take the things out.” Xiao Ran looked at Zhang Erya.

"Okay!" Zhang Erya got up and left.

"Jinniang, I have no money, so I can only pay the tax with goods."

Zhang Jinhe thought to himself, 'You think you can afford these pastries if you don't have money? Who are you trying to fool?'

The money spent on these pastries is enough to pay taxes.

Zhang Erya carefully placed the cloth on the table, feeling very reluctant to part with it.

Zhang Jinhe's eyes widened even more when he saw what was on the table.

He rubbed his eyes and stared intently at the things on the table.

"No, no," Zhang Jinhe stammered, "Young master, you're using this to pay off your taxes?"

Xiao Ran was a little confused because he didn't know what it was or how much it cost.

I thought it was too cheap and not enough.

"Jinniang, is there a problem?" Xiao Ran felt that Zhang Jinhe, who had been a very calm person before, seemed a little agitated now.

"Isn't that enough?"

Upon hearing Xiao Ran's words, Zhang Jinhe's expression became complicated, and he remained silent.

Xiao Ran didn't seem to be faking it, because he genuinely didn't recognize him.

"Young master, are you using Shu brocade to pay your taxes?" Zhang Jinhe pointed.

What the hell!

Xiao Ran was also surprised, not expecting this thing to be Shu brocade.

Xiao Ran knew that this thing was a luxury item; it was expensive both in ancient and modern times.

I've never seen anything like this before, so it's normal that I don't recognize it.

Xiao Ran scratched the back of his head. "I didn't know this was Shu brocade before."

"You don't know about Shu brocade? Young master, you own Shu brocade but don't even realize it?"

"I've heard of Shu brocade, but I've never seen it before. This was a gift from someone."

Zhang Jinhe thought to himself, "What an arrogant friend of mine, to be able to send me Shu brocade."

Zhang Jinhe wanted to reach out and touch it, but was afraid of getting it dirty. His hands weren't dirty, so he wiped them on his clothes first.

He then gently touched it, his eyes growing increasingly intense.

This reaction was even more exaggerated than Zhang Erya's.

Zhang Erya knew it was a good thing, but she didn't recognize it or know exactly how good it was.

Zhang Jinhe knows!
“This is the finest Shu brocade; you can’t buy it even in shops in Chang’an,” Zhang Jinhe said.

"I've seen Shu brocade before, but the quality is far inferior to what you have, young master. The most expensive piece in the shop is only a single-layer floral and bird pattern, while yours is a double-layer jacquard auspicious beast brocade."

"This is something you can't necessarily buy even with money!"

Xiao Ran also realized that it wasn't enough for someone to have money; they also needed power and influence to possess this thing.

If you can't buy it in stores, then it must be for royal use!
Thinking of this, Xiao Ran was also startled.

A bold idea popped into Xiao Ran's mind, but he quickly shook his head and dismissed it.

This was during the Zhenguan era, and the emperor was Li Shimin, the Heavenly Khan. He was known for his diligence, so how could he possibly be out fishing!
If he is the emperor, then weren't the previous ones princesses?

It's unusual for a princess to be so easy to get along with.

Xiao Ran seriously underestimated what Li Shimin and Li Lizhi had given him.

"Um, how much would Jinniang be worth if she sold for?" Xiao Ran really wanted to know.

(End of this chapter)