After transmigrating into a stepmother, I transformed my whole family to work on farming

Under Old Man Liu's expectant gaze, Liu Ji rarely became serious.

He said firmly: "I have been used to it after being separated for so many years. I have never thought about moving back, and I have no such plan."

As soon as he finished speaking, Old Man Liu, who was originally full of confidence, suddenly darkened his face. The smiling faces of Liu Bao, Liu Zhong, He, Qiu, and others fell instantly.

People in the village are basically straightforward, and their thoughts are written on their faces.

Qin Yao raised her eyes and glanced around. Old man Liu and Mrs. Zhang were full of astonishment, as if they had never thought that Liu Ji would refuse the proposal to move back.

After all, the current family philosophy is that children and grandchildren stay together, share resources, help each other, work together when they can, and will never separate unless absolutely necessary.

Liu Bai and Liu Zhong sighed together, as if they had expected this result, but they still couldn't hide their disappointment.

He's eyes were about to burst into flames, and he almost pointed at Liu Ji's nose and yelled: Third brother, how could you do this!

In contrast, Mr. Qiu neither fought nor refused. It sounded like everything was left to chance, but in fact, he didn't want to take risks at all. He expected Liu Ji to agree to move back, but was also afraid of messing up the current relationship between the two families.

Qin Yao was watching without caring about her own business, and He's angry eyes suddenly glanced towards her.

He asked excitedly: "Ms. Yao, you said before that if there is any benefit, you will never forget our family, right?!"

Qin Yao nodded and acknowledged it generously, "I keep my word."

"But as a woman with a foreign surname, I can't decide on the matter of relocation. I will leave everything to my husband's arrangement."

She won't stand up for anything that offends others!

Liu Jike didn't care about this. Hearing her words "Everything depends on my husband's arrangement", he had no regrets even if he was the first person!

This was the first time that a wicked woman had treated him with such a low eyebrow in front of outsiders. Even though he knew she was pretending, Liu Ji was still very happy.

"Ahem~" He covered his lips with his fist and coughed, suppressing the corners of his mouth that were raised crazily, and said with a smile just a second before He was about to explode:

"I know that if I really move back, you guys, eldest brother, second brother, and fourth brother, won't be very happy. You want me to move back, just for the benefit of scholars being exempted from the corvee tax."

"Since my wife has already told my eldest sister-in-law and my second sister-in-law that she will never forget our own family if there is any good, then I will naturally fulfill this promise for her."

Qin Yao secretly rolled her eyes, but since she wanted to make someone look like a villain, she couldn't help but let him drift for a while.

Old man Liu was delighted, "Third brother, have you agreed to move back?"

"No." Liu Ji raised his hand to signal his father not to worry, "I have a plan that can reduce taxes for our brothers without having to move back."

"What about the corvee?" Liu Fei went to the academy to study as expected. Unlike his overjoyed family members, he immediately caught the loophole in his third brother's words.

The third brother only said that taxes would be reduced, but he didn't say that corvees could also be reduced.

Liu Ji glared at Liu Fei, "You are the only one who is very smart!"

Liu Fei stared at his third brother without any fear.

Liu Ji had to explain the matter clearly and said with a shrug: "I can't do anything about the corvee."

Unless he really moved back and became a family again, his family could enjoy the privilege of being exempted from corvee.

"But!" When the conversation changed, Liu Ji comforted him: "With our family's current situation, it is not difficult to find someone to do the corvee on our behalf. Anyway, my method can only exempt you from taxes."

As he said that, seeing that everyone in the old house seemed dissatisfied, Liu Ji banged the table, and because he couldn't write well, he just pushed it horizontally. His true character of a second-rate reappeared, and he sneered:

"You are still not satisfied with this. If you insist on me moving back, I will move back. But don't regret it, eldest brother and second brother. If you want to separate the family again and let me go, I will not leave again!"

As he said this, Liu Ji counted with his fingers, "Since we are one family, there is no reason to farm separately and spend money separately. My fame is not for nothing. It is all saved by my wife's hard work." The money is piled up. I'm afraid you don't know the cost. I will use an abacus to calculate the sum for you. The four of us brothers will share it equally!" "You can't just get benefits and not pay a penny, right?"

As soon as Liu Ji finished speaking, Qin Yao immediately took out the small abacus that she carried with her and handed it over from under the table.

Liu Ji looked at the abacus forced into his hand and was slightly stunned. A wicked woman is indeed a wicked woman. This method is indeed high!

Picking up the abacus and shaking all the beads, Liu Ji raised his fingers to start calculating.

Liu Zhong stretched out his hand, took the abacus and put it aside, "Third brother, tell me, what is your method that can reduce our family's taxes?"

Before He could react, she looked dissatisfied at Liu Zhong who stopped Liu Ji from settling accounts, but Liu Bai glared at her and whispered:

"That's almost it. It's good to be able to reduce taxes. We can't afford to pay that bill."

"Family, don't make it ugly." Liu Bai increased his voice, and He suddenly woke up.

Yes, the whole family relies on Laosan’s family, she almost got a photo!

He quickly smiled at Qin Yao and Liu Ji and said nothing.

Seeing their attitude, Liu Ji felt a lot better. His tax exemption was not in vain.

The evil woman said that if you want a horse to run, you have to feed it.

He didn't have much friendship with everyone in the old house, but the evil woman really needed their help when she was alone at home. It was not impossible to give some of the benefits of being a scholar.

After traveling a few times and seeing the power of those aristocratic families, Liu Ji knew in his heart that the higher he went, the more manpower he would need, but the fewer people he could trust.

Relatives like him in Laozhai who have the same bloodline are the helpers he can use with confidence.

What's more, the bottom line of everyone in Laozhai is higher than him. No matter how bad they are, they can't be much worse. They have a little desire and greed, but they are easier to control.

Liu Ji was thinking about Xiao Jiujiu, and expressed his idea slowly and calmly on his face.

His method was simple and crude, that is, to ask everyone in the old house to 'sell' all the fields under their name to him, and naturally all taxes would be exempted.

Of course, if they were worried, the two of them could write another document in private, guaranteeing that the land would actually still be the land on the old house's side.

"Anyway, you still grow the land yourself, and you still harvest the food yourself. I'm just a name." Liu Ji said, spreading his hands.

There are many people in the county who operate like this. The people do not raise officials and do not correct them. Everyone turns a blind eye and gets by in a daze.

Coupled with Qin Yao's reputation in Kaiyang County, Liu Ji didn't think anyone dared to expose him.

"Dad, if you think it's okay, let's give the land deed to me today, and I'll go to the government office tomorrow to finish the matter. This autumn harvest, you won't have to pay taxes anymore."

Old Man Liu has been an honest friend all his life. Although he was very moved by Liu Ji's proposal, he hesitated when he thought of the risk of being exposed.

The three Liu Bai brothers were all anxious. Old Liu hesitantly got up and went back to his room to bring all the land deeds. (End of chapter)