In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

"By the way, village chief."

Just as Chen He turned around to organize the villagers to line up, Chen Dao suddenly stopped him: "You have something to tell the villagers. Please gather them together!"

"to make!"

Chen He didn't ask what it was about, but walked towards the villagers who were gathering and said, "Everyone, please be quiet. Dao Ge'er has something to say to you all."

Upon hearing this, the chatting villagers immediately quieted down and looked at Chen Dao with curiosity, waiting for him to speak.

Chen Dao didn't keep everyone waiting long and said directly, "I heard some news when I went to the city yesterday: it's very likely that you won't have to pay the tax increase this time!"

"what?"

When Chen Dao said this, everyone, from the village chief Chen He to the ordinary villagers, was completely dumbfounded!

"Brother Dao, are you kidding us?"

"Brother Dao, this is no laughing matter!"

"The government doesn't need us to pay taxes anymore? How is that possible!"

"..."

The villagers looked at Chen Dao in disbelief. It wasn't that they didn't believe him, but rather that what he said was too outrageous. Since ancient times, there had never been a case of the government canceling tax increases.

"I'm not kidding you!"

Chen Dao said seriously, "I heard this from the county magistrate in the county town myself. You can ask Cheng-ge if you don't believe me!"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their attention to Chen Cheng, who had just walked up to Chen Dao. Everyone knew Chen Cheng's personality: honest, simple, and even a bit silly. The probability of someone like him lying was almost zero.

"Cheng-ge'er, is what Dao-ge'er said true?"

"Brother Cheng, has the tax increase really been cancelled?"

"Cheng-ge, speak quickly! Oh dear, I'm so anxious!"

"..."

Facing the eager gazes of the crowd, Chen Cheng recalled the conversation between Chen Dao, Xu Zhiwen, and Li Hu at the Fuhu Boxing Gym, and nodded, saying, "Brother Dao is telling the truth! This tax increase is indeed going to be cancelled!"

Although Chen Cheng is honest and straightforward, he is not stupid. Although Xu Zhiwen did not explicitly say that he wanted to cancel the tax increase at the Fuhu Boxing Gym, he meant it. Therefore, the probability of canceling the tax increase is almost 99%.

"Is it really going to be canceled?"

"Is there such a good thing?"

"Ah this!"

"..."

The villagers looked at each other in disbelief, but at the same time, they were overjoyed. The abolition of the tax increase was a great joy for them, which meant that they would not have to spend 2 taels of silver!

"Brother Dao..."

At this moment, village chief Chen He suddenly thought of something and asked, "If the tax increase is canceled, what will happen to the money you paid for renting our land?"

Chen He knew very well that Chen Dao was willing to pay two taels of silver as rent entirely out of a desire to help the villagers pay their taxes, but now...

The tax increase has been cancelled, will Chen Dao still pay them rent?

It wasn't just Chen He who was concerned about this issue; the other villagers were equally concerned. They all turned their gaze to Chen Dao's face, eagerly awaiting his answer.

Although they were already quite content with eating steamed buns every day, people's yearning for a better life is endless. Many villagers had even begun to fantasize about how to use this enormous wealth after receiving the two taels of rent.

"Everyone, don't worry!"

Chen Dao smiled as everyone watched and said, "Although the tax increase has been cancelled, I will continue to pay everyone the two taels of silver rent. Everyone will receive this money within a month!"

As Chen Dao finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the scene, followed by a deafening cheer from the villagers.

"Brother Dao is so good to us!"

"That's right! The tax increase is gone, and Brother Dao is even willing to give us money!"

"If anyone dares to say a bad word about Daoge'er from now on, I'll never forgive them!"

"..."

To be honest, many villagers were already mentally prepared for Chen Dao to cancel the rent. After all, the reason Chen Dao was willing to pay 2 taels of silver in rent was entirely to help them get through the difficulties caused by the tax increase. But now that the tax increase has been canceled, Chen Dao is still willing to give each household 2 taels of silver...

At this moment, the villagers' goodwill towards Chen Dao reached its peak. It was only because Chen Dao had no intention of competing for the position of village chief that they would have directly promoted him to the position.

Looking at the jubilant villagers, Chen Dao's lips curled into a smile. He could have easily canceled the rent, but he didn't, and the reason was...

The villagers were living in extreme poverty, and Chen Dao was willing to help them as much as he could, after all... he, Chen Dao, was also a member of Chenjia Village.

"All right!"

Chen Dao clapped his hands, signaling everyone to quiet down, and then said, "Everyone, hurry up and get your breakfast, then get to work!"

Upon hearing this, the villagers immediately lined up and entered Chen Dao's front yard one after another. After receiving their steamed buns, they carried their farm tools in twos and threes and headed towards the fields, chatting happily as they went.

"daughter in law."

Chen Sheng, walking with his wife Liu Jie and son Chen Gou, suddenly asked, "What are your plans for using the money once it's distributed?"

In Chen Gou's family, his mother Liu Jie always managed the money. In fact, this was the case not only in Chen Gou's family, but also in most of the Chen family village, where the women of the family were in charge of the finances.

"I'm planning to find a wife for Brother Gou."

Liu Jie thought for a moment and said, "Chen Gou is already 15 years old, which is the age for him to get married. His marriage should be settled as soon as possible."

"I don't want to get married!"

Chen Gou shook his head vigorously, saying, "I want to eat meat! If you ask me, these two taels of silver would be better spent on buying meat!"

At only 15 years old, Chen Gou didn't really understand matters between men and women. Or rather, at that age, he didn't have those kinds of thoughts in his mind at all; he only had his mind on eating meat and playing.

All you do is eat all day!

Liu Jie glared at Chen Gou, somewhat annoyed. Marrying a wife was a major event for the family to continue the family line, but this foolish son didn't care at all. Instead, he only wanted to eat meat, which was really annoying.

Chen Gou seemed a little afraid of Liu Jie, and quickly shrank his neck, but his expression was very firm. He didn't want to get married, at least not now. He wanted to eat meat!

"Hey!"

Chen Sheng smiled and patted Chen Gou's head. He knew that his son was always very opinionated and clever, so he didn't force Chen Gou. He just said, "Don't worry, Gou-ge'er. When Dao-ge'er gives us our money, he will definitely buy you some meat to eat."

"Really?" Chen Gou asked, his eyes shining. For a child his age, the temptation of eating meat was simply too great.