New ink fragrance in old times

As everything was ready, Lin Xuejin drove the ox cart and walked steadily at the front of the team, Lin Xuebao drove the mule and was responsible for the rear, and the others walked in the middle.

Before the first ray of dawn in the sky fully illuminated the earth, the Lin family and their group had already set out on the journey to the government office.

After two hours of bumpy ride, the solemn outline of the yamen finally came into view.

Lin Mo jumped off the ox cart and looked around. He saw that the place was packed with people. Lin Mo couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I'm afraid this queue will last until the sun sets."

Just as everyone was looking at each other, not knowing what to do, a familiar voice came from a distance: "Dad, Mom, you are finally here!"

Lin Mo looked in the direction of the voice and saw Lin Xueqin standing at the front of the team, waving at them to come over.

"Uncle?" Lin Mo was surprised, but more delighted.

He walked up quickly and asked, "Why are you here? And you're already in line?"

Lin Xueqian smiled and patted Lin Mo's shoulder: "Sanlang, a few days ago, I received some clothes sent by your grandfather. He said that the Frost Descent was approaching and asked me to put on more clothes. I was wondering why they sent me clothes when I left home."

"Then I thought, if there was nothing going on at home, why would they remind me of this? So I guessed that our family might want to pay the tax before or after the Frost Descent Day, so I simply got up early today to line up." Lin Xueqin explained to Lin Mo with a smile.

Lin Wenru heard this and said, "Shi Tou, aren't you afraid that you might guess wrong and all your efforts will be in vain?"

Lin Xueqian smiled brightly, "Uncle, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. At most, I'll have to wait in line for a few more days. But what if I guess right? We can save a lot of time. Besides, doing something for my family is not a big deal."

Mrs. Lin's eyes were slightly red. She held Lin Xueqian's hand and said distressedly, "Boss, thank you for your hard work."

Lin Xueqian quickly comforted her, "Mom, don't say that. We are a family and should support each other. Okay, let's not waste time here and go in to deliver the grain."

Lin Wenhong, Lin Wenru and others followed Lin Xueqin through the crowd and entered the yamen.

Lin Mo followed behind, secretly admiring in his heart: "The wisdom of the ancients really should not be underestimated. Uncle was able to guess the family's plan based on just one small thing. This sharpness and carefulness is really admirable."

At the same time, a new doubt quietly arose in his mind: "If my uncle could guess, why didn't my family just tell him that we were coming to pay taxes? Is there some special consideration?"

Lin Mo secretly decided that he must get to the bottom of it after returning.

Following Lin Xueqin's guidance, the Lin family members successfully entered the yamen. The air was filled with an ancient and solemn atmosphere.

They passed through several corridors and came to the hall responsible for taxation.

Inside the hall, several officers in official uniforms were busy processing various documents, while outside the hall, long queues of people lined up, some anxiously waiting, some talking in low voices.

Lin Xueqin walked familiarly towards a seemingly kind officer and respectfully handed over his family's household registration book and the list of food that had been prepared long ago.

The officer took it, flipped through it quickly, then nodded and signaled them to go in.

"Thank you, sir." After Lin Xueqian thanked him, he turned to his family and said, "Dad, Mom, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, let's go in."

Lin Mo thought that he could pay the grain directly after entering the house, but he never expected that there were more complicated procedures to go through.

Lin Xueqin handed the household registration book to the registration officer, who took out one from the many books and began to look through it.

"Lin Wenhong, a resident of Guangyou Village, Qingmu Township, Shuanghe County?" The registrar's voice echoed in the empty hall.

"Yes, I am a commoner." Lin Wenhong answered respectfully.

The officer's eyes quickly scanned the household register, and after confirming it was correct, he raised his head, looked sharply at Lin Wenhong, and said in a clear and powerful voice: "Ten males and seven females, a total of seventeen people. Is the number correct?"

Lin Wenhong nodded quickly, a hint of caution in his voice: "Yes, officer, the number of people is correct."

The officer nodded, then turned to another page and continued to check the land conditions: "Paddy fields, 20 acres of top quality, 5 acres of medium quality, 5 acres of low quality, totaling 30 acres; dry fields, 25 acres of top quality, 15 acres of medium quality, 10 acres of low quality, totaling 50 acres. Do you know all this?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Wenhong frowned slightly, a trace of doubt welling up in his heart. He replied cautiously, "Officer, my family's first-class paddy fields were originally supposed to be ten acres. Why is it that there are only five acres recorded here, and there are five acres of lower-quality fields? And, my family's dry fields..."

Before he could finish his words, the officer interrupted him impatiently, "Alright, Lin Wenhong, you don't need to say any more. This year, the land grades have been reclassified, and your land has been classified as low-grade land according to the new standards."

Lin Wenhong heard: "But..."

Officer: "This is the court's decision. You and I must obey it."

Lin Wenru finally nodded: "Sir, I understand."

Seeing this, the officer curled up the corner of his mouth into a barely perceptible smile, as if he was satisfied with Lin Wenhong's obedience.

He continued, "Since there are no objections, let's get down to business. Based on the latest grades and yields of your fields, your family should contribute 4 shi 7 dou 8 liters of rice, 6 shi 4 liters 6 he 6 scoops of barley, and 1 shi 1 dou 6 liters of beans this year. Do you have any objections to these amounts?"

Lin Wenhong took a deep breath and shook his head slowly: "No objection."

The officer nodded with satisfaction, and then signaled Lin Wenhong and others to start moving the grain for verification.

Lin Wenhong, Lin Wenru and others moved the grain out one by one. After careful inspection by the officers and confirmation that it was correct, they pressed their fingerprints on the document and completed the tax payment procedures.

After Lin Wenhong successfully completed his family's grain delivery procedures, he turned around to help his younger brother Lin Wenru move the grain, while Lin Mo stood aside, closely following the verification process between Lin Wenru and the officers.

The officer's voice echoed in the hall, clear and serious. "Lin Wenru, a farmer, four males and six females, a total of ten people. The paddy fields are eight acres of excellent quality, five acres of medium quality, and two acres of inferior quality. The dry fields are twenty acres of excellent quality and twenty acres of medium quality. Based on this, your family should pay one stone six dou nine liters nine he eight spoons of rice, three stone nine dou six liters of barley, and seven dou seven liters of beans. Are you familiar with this information? Do you have any objections?"

Lin Wenru nodded quickly, his attitude sincere: "No objection, sir, I've made note of it."

Following Lin Wenru's answer, the officers began to direct the inspection of the grain.

Lin Mo was delighted to think that everything would be over smoothly and they could go home earlier, but at this moment, the inspecting officer suddenly stopped his work and frowned.

"Huh? Why does your grain seem a little damp?" The officer's voice was filled with doubt. He lowered his head and carefully examined a bag of grain that had just been opened, his expression becoming more serious.

Chapter 76 Sanlang, You Are Here