CHAPTER 289: CHAPTER 279: TAX EXEMPTION

Zhao Erya and Yu Xiaolian had reached a point where there were no secrets between them. Zhao Erya reckoned that since she had already lost her virtue, she might as well spend her life alone. She didn’t want to get married, believing she would be scorned by her in-laws, so she felt it was better to stay with Yu Xiaolian, living freely.

Zhao Erya was a stubborn girl, probably not one to easily change her mind. Yu Xiaolian thought she was still young, and perhaps in a few more years, Zhao Erya would have a change of heart. So she didn’t advise her too deeply.

Regardless, even if Zhao Erya wanted to marry, Yu Xiaolian wouldn’t let her marry Sun Manyang. Not that Sun Manyang is bad, but because Li Shi, the mother-in-law, is trouble. Li Shi knows how to make life hard for her daughters-in-law. Zhao Erya and Gao Qiao are of lower slave status; if they married into that family, Li Shi would likely intensify her bullying.

Before Yu Xiaolian could refuse Sun Dalin’s wife, she eagerly said, "Normally, our farming family’s marriages should be about matching backgrounds. Slave girls are absolutely out of the question, but I see those two girls are nimble in their work, and I’ve grown quite fond of them.

How about... Lian’er gives me their indenture contracts?"

Yu Xiaolian sneered slightly. Li Shi had a pretty sweet dream. Sun Manyang was already twenty-three years old, nine years older than Zhao Erya and Gao Qiao, an old cow eating tender grass. Not only that, she wanted to take the indenture contracts from her for free—dream on!

"I’ve grown accustomed to having them, and they must stay with me; they can’t marry."

Even if they did marry, they wouldn’t marry into your family!

Sun Dalin’s wife hastily added, "If you’re worried about having no one to command at your side, my family has several granddaughters you can order around as you please..."

She knew that Gao Qiao and Gao Pozi earned a higher monthly salary than theirs, though she didn’t know exactly how much more. But being a widow and orphan with no one to rely on, they had saved some before; eventually, it would all go to her son.

Moreover, that Zhao Erya seemed to earn even more than Gao Pozi and Gao Qiao combined. She didn’t know how much more, but heard it was from managing a very profitable shop for Yu Xiaolian.

Sun Shi had a petty scheme in mind—bring Yu Xiaolian’s maids over, then send her granddaughters to Yu Xiaolian’s side to learn skills. This way, she could uncover what exactly a small farmer girl like Yu Xiaolian did to earn big money.

Furthermore, she hadn’t heard Sun Chunfang ever sent this adopted wild child to a school. With just some random teaching at home from Yu Changhe, how could this child become a teacher?

Sun Dalin’s wife found it puzzling. There certainly must be something she didn’t know.

The Yu Family had moved to Taohua Village, with only Yu Xiaolian living in the big house in the city, supposedly to teach academy students. But Sun Dalin’s wife overheard Yu Changhe and Sun Chunfang during their chats—there was a shop in the city.

She didn’t know what was being sold or its location, but Sun Dalin’s wife instinctively felt that the Yu Family’s rise depended on this shop. The secret to their success must lie in the shop; otherwise, why would they hide its details?

Sun Dalin’s wife mused silently, thinking she would send her granddaughters to the shop to learn the Yu Family’s craft. Then, they could build a house as grand and fine as the Yu Family’s.

Recently, they had added a few rooms at home, but those were mud walls and straw roofs, unlike the Yu Family’s brick and tile house.

Actually, Elder Sun had enough money to build brick houses, but he was stingy and wouldn’t do it.

So, the extra houses built by Elder Sun were the common rural grass houses. Building grass houses was cheap, almost costless. Woods were available from the mountain for free and straw was bought cheaply from neighbors, and the mud was simply dug from the foot of the hill.

Elder Sun’s house now had ample room, and he had arranged separate grass houses for each of his grandsons who had reached marriage age. Although the interiors were simply furnished with wooden beds, without cabinets or anything, the young men were quite happy to have their own rooms.

Yu Xiaolian suppressed her temper, "No, the two of them are used to me, I’m not accustomed to others. If there’s nothing else, just go about your business; my mother and I have other matters to discuss."

Sun Dalin’s wife remained, as she still had more to say.

A few days ago, Sun Manyu made a trip back and wanted to sneak into Xiangyang Lane to steal test papers, but she didn’t even make it past the yard gate. Gao Pozi’s mother and daughter said Yu Xiaolian wasn’t home, and didn’t let her in.

Sun Manyu had no other choice but to come to her mother for a solution.

Li Shi scolded Sun Manyu for lacking brains.

Why steal regular test papers? Just openly ask Yu Xiaolian for them!

After all, they were relatives of Yu Xiaolian; asking for a test paper to reference should be harmless. Yu Xiaolian wasn’t that stingy.

Sun Dalin’s wife’s thoughts proved correct. Concerning giving test papers to Li Wenyuan, Yu Xiaolian agreed, saying she would bring two copies next time she returned.

Seeing Yu Xiaolian agree so readily, Sun Dalin’s wife wanted to press more on the issue of those two maids.

But Yu Xiaolian didn’t give her a chance, saying impatiently, "Get out!"

After Sun Dalin’s wife left, Sun Shi said helplessly, "This woman can’t resist a bargain, just because she looks honest and simple! Alas, people can’t be judged by appearance; it’s unreliable!"

Yu Xiaolian said, "Mother, let’s not talk about her. Let me tell you..."

Yu Xiaolian shared that Prince Jin had sent her some benefits, which surprised Sun Shi, "Does that mean we don’t have to pay any taxes in the future?"

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "Yes, neither grain tax nor commercial tax."

Sun Shi smiled, "That’s really good news."

After arranging people to build a shed in the field, Yu Changhe saw someone lurking at his front gate.

He went over and found it was the eldest son of Jiang Mangzi’s family from the village. Seeing him carrying a basket, Yu Changhe thought he’d come to borrow grain again.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Mangzi’s eldest son quickly handed over the basket upon seeing Yu Changhe, "Uncle Yu, I picked wild vegetables in the mountains. My father asked me to bring them for you to try fresh. I know you don’t lack food, but it’s a token of my family’s gratitude for lending us grain some time ago."

Yu Changhe considered it and then accepted the basket, "Wait a moment, let me empty the vegetables out and you can take the basket back."

When his father asked him to come to the Yu Family, Jiang Haiqiu was reluctant. Not because the wild vegetables were anything great, but he feared they couldn’t be gifted. The Yu Family was so wealthy; were they likely to eat these bitter wild greens?

He figured they’d reject it and mock him a bit, but surprisingly, Yu Changhe only hesitated slightly then took the basket.

Without disdain, Jiang Haiqiu was delighted, making a private resolution to bring the Yu Family a share whenever he gathered wild vegetables from then on.

Yu Changhe took the wild vegetables inside and saw Yu Xiaolian and Sun Shi, along with two children, sitting together and enjoying watermelon. Various snacks were also placed nearby.