Chapter Seven, I am both mad and foolish

Girl, aren't you going to say goodbye to your mother?

As a servant, she was naturally well aware of the happenings within a hundred miles. While she spoke sharply, she pointed at the contract in Li Si's hand, her expression somewhat sinister. For her, it was not merely about the money; it was also her evidence for gaining favor with Young Master Lai.

The eldest son-in-law remarked, "Indeed, mother, let us accumulate some good karma. Even if we are to assist Young Master Lai, we should not get involved in such matters"

When Guantian pressed her fingerprint on the contract and received the bundle of silver, she felt the weight of the silver was particularly heavy, so much so that she did not even notice Liu Pozi's smile, which could no longer be concealed.

The second son spoke softly, "Why does Young Master Lai want you to handle this matter? Isn't it because he also doesn't want to offend those people too much? There are hundreds of miners in Fengtian Village; if anything happens, our Liu family cannot bear the consequences"

As the person approached with a few steps, Liu Pozi seemed to be nailed to the ground, her eyes wide open, and she raised her voice to shout.

Mother, is 20 taels enough for Father and Fourth Brother to finish the grain

In the courtyard, Old Lady Liu was raising her voice, not even giving a proper look to the Tian family.

30 taels? I said, Aunt Guan, even in Guangzhou, a girl skilled in culinary arts and needlework is at most worth 20 taels, and she must also possess beauty and talent. As for you, my dear, I won't even mention your looks, but you are still a plain girl. The sun is already up, have you... woken up?

"Madam Liu, the last time you mentioned this matter, you said that Lord Zhong seemed to take a liking to her. Is she not just regarded as a maid? The price cannot be based on that of a maid, can it?"

There is no intermediary, no guarantee; what validity does this contract hold? Are you not afraid that I will report you to the authorities for human trafficking?

Old Lady Liu nodded with restraint, then walked into the inner room. As she turned around, her face suddenly broke into a smile, and she murmured softly: "I originally thought I would have to go to his house and spend a lot of effort talking, but unexpectedly, the heavens are watching, allowing his family to be chosen first. Now, this fulfills the wishes of Young Master Lai..."

Both Guo Erjie and her daughter exclaimed in surprise, for the person who had arrived was Li Si

Li Si said in a deep voice

You... you... why haven't you caught this madman yet! Wake him up forcefully for me!

Old Liu's face was flushed with anger, and her tone grew increasingly sharp: "The daughters of ordinary families, I wouldn't even bother with! The second girl of the Guan family has been specifically chosen by Young Master Lai! If this matter falls through, will Young Master Lai be happy? If Young Master Lai is not happy, will Old Master Zhong be happy? If Old Master Zhong is not happy, can our Liu family still expect to live well? Who can I rely on in this family? That mad old man who only knows how to burn incense and refine elixirs?"

Sister Guan Er furrowed her brows and asked in a soft voice

Isn't it said that during the Kangxi era, the common people were happy? Why is it that even when one becomes a leader, they still end up ruining their family?

Old Liu chuckled coldly

On the road, Li Si had already recalled the memories of Liu Pozi, realizing that this plump woman was merely a lackey placed outside by the Zhong family. He had now brought the entire village into the fray, not expecting Liu Pozi to completely abandon her malicious intentions, but at least to keep her quiet for a while. What he needed now was time

Li Si was unclear about more details, but he knew before his time travel that understanding the tax situation was a threshold that distinguished a history enthusiast from a history researcher. As an outsider, he had no right to speak on the matter, nor could he use the conclusions of later experts to overturn the facts before him.

The men were both threatening and persuading. Li Si sneered coldly. If he did not reveal this knife, if he did not let them understand his determination to kill, how could they be so "polite" and unrestrained? Isn't that precisely Li Si's calling card?

Look at this girl, she is quite well-behaved. Your family is also unfortunate, so let me, Liu Pozi, help a fellow villager. Master Zhong entrusted me with this matter and left 20 taels of silver here. If you agree, we can draft the contract right now

Mr. Guantian's complexion turned pale, which naturally indicates that reality is significantly below expectations

Li Si

Have you read so much that your mind is in a daze? You don't even understand the white contract?

Old Lady Liu was so furious that smoke seemed to rise from her seven orifices. Within a radius of one hundred miles, apart from Lord Zhong and Young Master Lai, who would dare to disregard her authority? This young man before her was nothing but a foolish waste who had studied to the point of being silly, destined to rely on living off others for the rest of his life. How dare he act arrogantly in front of her?

Old Lady Liu was a plump woman, patting her quivering bosom, and after panting for a while, she finally had the strength to continue speaking

Although he had a rough understanding of certain matters, Li Si's doubts remained unresolved. He was alone, and the ten acres of rice fields only yielded the barest minimum. No matter how harshly taxes were levied, it shouldn't come to the point where Uncle Guan had to sell his daughter to settle the debts for him

Mr. Guantian opened his mouth as if to say something, but instead, he suddenly embraced Sister Guanyer, sobbing softly.

It is Li Si, but Aunt Guan is not selling this girl, so how could she marry the older girl to you? What is your purpose in stirring things up? Did you get hit on the head by a stone a few days ago, and you still haven't recovered?

Old Lady Liu, feeling quite satisfied, took another glance at the contract and casually muttered to herself. Just as she was about to roll it up and put it away, there was a loud crash as the courtyard door was flung open, and a figure rushed in like the wind

Thief ah

This matter shall be considered as if it never happened today. However, Liu Pozi, I must leave you with a word: if you dare to have any designs on the daughters of our Fengtian Village again, the village may lack many things, but there are still hundreds of men here.

"Old Liu, I kindly remind you to refrain from doing things that harm heaven and reason."

The young girl has not forgotten to mention a word.

When it comes to "registering households and unifying the populace," even a million words may not suffice to explain it clearly. Specifically, regarding the responsibilities of the head of the household, aside from the village chief's insistence on collecting taxes and grain, what exactly is the head of the household required to do?

Li Si raised two contracts and laughed coldly

But now is not the time for questions. Li Si clarified the whereabouts of that Liu woman and rushed out in a flurry.

The head of the household is responsible for various duties assigned by the county. These duties can be categorized into monetary and labor obligations. The monetary obligations involve payments that all households must contribute, which are used to support the officials and various personnel. The labor obligations consist of miscellaneous tasks, such as accompanying clerks to collect taxes, serving as laborers for road and bridge construction, receiving and sending off officials, and cooperating with the local militia in capturing thieves and bandits. This portion of duties can also be substituted with monetary compensation.

My mind is not functioning well; whoever dares to come near, I will dare to cut them down! I'm crazy, and cutting people is not against the law!

I already told Auntie not to get involved in selling people, but you shouldn't be so agitated either

Without much hesitation, Guan Tianshi gritted his teeth and said, "Let it be as the elder lady wishes..."

Knowing it is a white contract, do not use the authority of the government to oppress others

Old Liu tilted her head, unwilling to look at Sister Guan's small face, yet let out a sigh, seemingly moved by Sister Guan, and squinted her eyes to observe Mrs. Guan.

As for this trivial matter, there is no need to make such a fuss

Are you still considered men? A mere little knife has frightened you!

Hey... she really is a dutiful daughter

Indeed, according to the "law of the king," selling oneself into servitude not only requires a middleman but also necessitates a guarantor, such as a village head, for it to be considered a complete contract

Li Si spoke fiercely, his gaze sweeping across the room, and the knife at his waist seemed to glimmer in his bright eyes. The men from the Liu family exchanged glances, their hands and feet retracting in hesitation.

Return the contract! Otherwise, do not blame me for being unyielding; I will accuse you of breach of contract, which is a serious offense punishable by severe penalties! If you end up in prison, you can forget about coming out alive!

The men exchanged glances, remaining silent for a while. The eldest son, feeling aggrieved, finally spoke up in defense: "It shouldn't come to the point of causing a loss of life..."

In the courtyard, Guantian pulled up Sister Guo Er, silently brushing the dust off her knees, yet he never dared to look at her even once

After a considerable amount of time, Old Lady Liu regained consciousness and began to angrily scold the men in her household, including both her son and son-in-law

Li Si waved his hand, saying, "Go!" as he stuffed the silver back into Liu Pozi's hand

The men of the Liu family were awakened by a shout from Liu Pozi. They rolled up their sleeves and moved closer, but then halted in their tracks, a sound of gasping for breath echoed.

The obese figure resembled a bellows, wheezing and panting, while Old Lady Liu gritted her teeth

No way! The contract has already been signed, yet it was ruined by that madman and the bookworm. When have I, Liu Pozi, ever been so shameless in my dealings? Gather the good people from the village, as well as those rascals, and come with me to seize them!

Stop! Where are you going?

This young man is neither a fool nor a madman, yet it is precisely this that makes him even more terrifying; the knife-like gaze in his eyes is so sharp it could truly cut through flesh

In front of Liu Pozi and the five or six family members behind her, Li Si swiftly tore the contract into a pile of fragments, and the courtyard fell into a sudden silence. Although the authorities do not recognize white contracts, this is merely superficial; sometimes, in order to maintain stability, the officials must reluctantly use white contracts as a basis for judgment. Therefore, this contract cannot be kept.

Liu Village is located about ten miles away. The Liu family is prosperous, with a large number of members, and their residence is quite spacious. The brick walls of their small courtyard are even coated with white lime, making it stand out in this brick house, which is noticeably more affluent than the surrounding villages like Fengtian Village. Moreover, Liu Pozi has taken on various tasks within a hundred-mile radius, including matchmaking and... human trafficking.

Seeing that the old woman was still holding the contract, Li Si swiftly snatched it away, then glared at Guantian. With a hand extended, he demanded: "The contract, the money!"

Oh, a little girl, thinking of becoming a concubine in the Zhong family? Master Zhong may agree, but what about his several wives?

Please do not tell Fourth Brother; just say that I have gone on a long trip

Li Si lifted his shirt, revealing a short knife resembling an ox tail from his waist. Originally, there was an axe for chopping firewood at home, but it was too conspicuous to carry, so he could only take this tool that resembled a watermelon knife. Based on Li Si's experience before his time travel, one must always be prepared when undertaking tasks.

Li Si left with his men, and the gate of the Liu family's courtyard creaked and swayed. Several men and Old Lady Liu stood there in silence.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the system of taxation and household registration in present-day Guangdong continued to follow the "tu" system. Below the county level, there are "du" (towns), each of which has a "tu" (district), and each "tu" is further divided into "jia" (households). The establishment of "li" (neighborhoods) and "jia" has also inherited from the Ming dynasty, with every 110 households forming a "li", 10 households constituting a "li zhang" (neighborhood head), and 100 households making up a "jia shou" (household head). This cycle occurs every ten years, assisting the court in "completing grain". The terms "tu" and "li" are essentially synonymous, but the former primarily corresponds to the official household registration for taxation, while the latter pertains to administrative divisions. This is merely a design of the system; in practice, a "li" does not strictly consist of 110 households. Besides the "li zhang" and "jia shou", there are also miscellaneous households such as those with irregular management. In some counties, a single "du" may correspond to a single "tu", which is essentially just one "li".

Old Lady Liu calmed down, stayed silent for a while, and unwillingly snorted: "Fine! That little madman can be dealt with by Young Master Lai!"

I have read books and can recognize characters! I beg you, Liu Da Niang, please offer me a good price!

With a stern demeanor and a furrowed brow, exuding an irresistible authority, this face was familiar, yet this aura had never been encountered before. Guantian handed over the two items in a daze, not daring to utter a single breath.

Mr. Guantian's expression suddenly became incredibly rich, embodying both reluctance and joy. The reluctance stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the price, while the joy arose from the fact that he would soon receive the money

Amidst the sound of footsteps, the members of the Liu family surged out from the courtyard, while Liu Pozi seemed to awaken from a dream.

This is still our Liu family's courtyard, so please do not be too reckless

It is unclear whether the original owner of this body has made progress in mining during this period, or if his crossing over has strengthened this body. In just over ten li, he ran here in less than two quarters of an hour. Hearing what seemed to be the words of a contract being established from outside the courtyard, he felt a surge of anxiety and rushed in without a second thought

There is another critical issue, which is that among the households under A, those who owe the imperial grain are pursued. Although the system states that the village head should be responsible for collecting the debts, the usual practice of the authorities is to seek the assistance of the local gentry for collection. Since the households of the village head are mostly controlled by the gentry, the ultimate burden falls on the head household of A. In summary, once the head of A is involved, wealthy households can be reduced to destitution, while the destitute can only flee their homes. Of course, this seems to have occurred during the Ming Dynasty.

Old Liu's eyes widened in shock, yet she was momentarily speechless, having intended to intimidate Li Si but instead found herself threatened.

Coming to her senses, Old Liu was weakly sipping her drink. The so-called "white contract" refers to agreements signed without the endorsement of local officials. In the countryside, people often prefer to sign white contracts to avoid complications, but the authorities do not recognize the validity of these white contracts.

Fourth Brother

Sister Guan Er on one side knelt down and spoke softly