he finally got on the carriage and set off again.Not until the carriage disappeared from sight did the Li family let out a breath of relief."Hurry back, only Red Ying and the others are left watching...Especially now, with the palace still under construction, of course, there's no time to spare for a small county lord's residence like Fu Niao's.

If one doesn't proactively ask for money, it will ultimately end up forgotten.

I'm afraid the silver would end up in someone's pocket, enriching those parasites!

"Good, thank you, Zhou Da Ren for the advice. Tonight I will tell the Marquis about this." Lao Tai Li agreed.

"Madam Zhou is too kind. I've just said a few words." Lord Zhou hesitated for a moment, then added, "A few days ago, my wife came home and told me about it. She felt very guilty for troubling you and asks for your forgiveness, Madam."

Old Li replied calmly, "Zhou sir, you've known the people in our village for a long time. You know we are ordinary farmers and don't understand big principles. We just know that if someone is good to us, we will repay them twice over."

But if anyone tries to play tricks on us or take advantage of us, we won't be pushovers either! We certainly won't grovel and fawn over them. So Zhou-daren, don't overthink it, let's just go our separate ways from now on.

The old woman pointed at the fruit trees on the distant mountain and continued, "Friendship, just like planting a tree, you give a bucket of water, I give some fertilizer, helping each other out so that the tree can bear good fruit."

But who did wrong To chop a tree halfway, it will slow down, grow a scar, and still live after spring. But what if you hack at it from the left and then the right, severing its roots completely Then it's finished, there's no saving it, is there

Mr. Zhou had a clear understanding in his heart. Old Madam Li was warning his wife, telling her not to play tricks on the Li family anymore. Otherwise, the friendship between the Zhou and Li families would be severed.

He nodded quickly, "The old lady is right."

But Old Mrs. Li waved her hand and smiled, "I'm just a farmer's wife, I don't understand anything. Mr. Zhou, you needn't mind if I talk nonsense."

After everyone had finished the fruit, Zhou Da went away politely with the craftsmen, making an appointment to draw up plans tomorrow and come back the day after to begin construction.

Old Mrs. Li missed her granddaughter and returned first, leaving the village chief and others excitedly wandering around the spot.

At this time, the village head of Dahuai tree and Wang Zhuang (big and small) arrived with the villagers. They greeted the village head from afar.

"Big brother, I heard that we're building a gate at Suijin Beach! Let's all come help out! This is an honor for our three villages. Don't drive us away!"

The village head greeted them with a smile, sitting down beside them on the stone. "Rest assured, this is a family affair, you can't hide even if you want to."

The three words "our own people" completely put the officials at ease.

The village head continued, “Today is the day officials from the Ministry of Works come to survey the site. Construction will begin the day after tomorrow. Our village can contribute five or six people. You three villages should follow suit and gather around twenty people together. That's more than enough to help the master craftsmen.”

"Alright," the three men readily agreed, chuckling. "All the young fellows in the village are clamoring to lend a hand, eager to share in the good fortune. We'll pick out the strongest and sturdiest ones when the time comes; they'll get the job done."

The village head quickly added, "Everyone bring a pickaxe and shovel, that's all! We'll have lunch here – vegetables and meat, all you can eat!"

"Haha, that's great! Everyone says the food in our village is the best, we're all in for a treat."

Three inside were all praise, flattering the village head and everyone, making them all happy.

Then the back side of the big locust tree asked, "Brother, when you have free time, help us ask, when will this year's taxes and grain arrive, so that everyone can prepare."

As for this matter, the Li family had already discussed it. So, Li Lao Si quickly replied: "The emperor's grace is boundless. Our village just settled here recently, and we were granted three years of tax exemption. This year is only the second year, so everyone should still pay the grain taxes to the government this year and next year."

At first, he didn't react. When he finally understood, he was quite surprised.

The Li family is clearly not taking advantage of the court!

Actually, the entire Suijin Beach is now Li family's territory. It's only natural that the Li family collects taxes from these three villages; no one can say it's wrong.

But the Li family insisted on adhering to the original rule of exemption from taxes for three years during land clearing, refusing to collect two years' worth of tax grain from them.

The village head also knew about the Li family's decision. "Although the tax grain from the three villages wasn't much, with the recent move of the capital, too many people had come to the new city. The emperor and the court were probably worried about food supplies. Collecting a few more bags wouldn't hurt."

"We've received many gifts from the Emperor. Not being able to ease his worries is a source of guilt for us all. Now that we can help, everyone is overjoyed!"

"Yes, yes!" The rest of the villagers also said: "We only rely on the grain harvested from the valley, which is enough to fill our stomachs."

"How can so many people, a hundred or so, be supported by the taxes and grain given to the imperial court"

"Yes, even mosquitoes are meat."

Three officials and the villagers they brought were all listening and watching, unable to help but feel emotional.

No wonder the Marquis was willing to live in Broken Gold Beach, so many nobles were willing to go in and out, and the Emperor even bestowed gifts time and time again.

These people at Suijin Beach are different from ordinary folks.

A heart of pure sincerity always makes people want to believe and want to get closer...

With such a leader, the three villages would only need to stick together and follow his lead. Their lives would surely be prosperous!

"Village head, if there's anything you need help with in the future, just shout. We're all family. Don't treat us outsiders like this."

"Yes, our three villages are also under the jurisdiction of the county princess. We must be given a chance to serve the county princess wholeheartedly."

The village head smiled broadly, giving them a reassuring pill. "Everyone, rest assured, recently we're just repairing a gate tower, but after the spring, we'll be building bridges and paving roads. We'll definitely need everyone's help then, so don't complain about being tired!"

"No, no! It's not tiring to work for yourself."

The three officials and the villagers were all overjoyed and readily agreed. To those who didn't know, they looked like they had stumbled upon a great bargain.

After chatting for a while, everyone dispersed.

The three villages' heads, the next day, called for manpower, loaded up the grain tax, and hurried it to the city.

Thinking about paying the taxes, they followed suit and set up a plaque!

The new capital was overcrowded, so people set up rows of makeshift huts outside the city walls. Those coming and going to pay their taxes resided there and registered themselves.

As soon as the people from Dàhuái Tree and Dà/Xiǎo Wáng Zhuāng arrived here, acquaintances came over to greet them.

"How did you get here Weren't your three villages designated as closed-off territories"

"Yes, you are supposed to pay taxes, and you should pay them in bits of gold on the beach, shouldn't you"

"Well, you dissent from the broken gold beach and hand over your tax grain to the imperial court"

Three of them hurriedly waved their hands, wishing they had eight mouths to explain to everyone.

It's not that we don't want to, it's just that Suijin Beach doesn't allow it!

"Yes, the Li family is not allowed!"

Onlookers didn't understand and asked, "What is he talking about Why wouldn't the Li family accept it They were even pushing it away."

“You’re right!” said the head elder of the Great Elm Tree, “The Li family said that since Broken Gold Beach was just newly cultivated, the imperial court had waived three years of taxes. Now, it’s only been a year. So, the Li family wants us to still pay this year’s and next year’s taxes to the imperial court!”s hands and feet, and then beat him with a club.Ji Gongzi was woken up and rolled on the ground begging for mercy, squealing like a pig being slaughtered, but it all got stuck in his throat.He soon fa...