Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 415: Collecting Rent

"Here they come, here they come!"

The tenants, seeing Ah Wang driving an ox cart from afar, immediately returned home to prepare.

The hundred-acre field had all been rented out by Liu Ji, with land rent at thirty percent and field rent at forty percent.

Now it was the harvest season, and last year’s rent should also be paid.

This was Liu Ji’s first time collecting rent, and it was also the first time the Da Lang siblings were observing the harvest from the perspective of rent collectors.

Liu Ji brought all the tenant information and contracts with him, packed in a small wooden box, clearly written in black and white about who rented which land and how much the land rent was.

Unlike ordinary landlords, the grain tax in Qin Yao’s household was evenly split between the main house and the tenants.

While in other households, the grain tax was typically passed on to the tenants.

It’s extremely rare for landlords to take responsibility for the entire grain tax themselves.

Landlords with credentials would have their rent slightly higher than others, because their land could enjoy tax reductions.

For the main family, renting out the land was not as simple as just waiting to collect rent.

A qualified landlord must be well aware of what their tenants have planted and how the yield is so as to avoid being deceived by crafty tenants during the critical rent collection stage.

However, agricultural yields generally have patterns to follow; if there are no natural disasters, the previous year’s yield can serve as a reference.

If, when collecting rent, the tenant reports an unusually low yield, the landlord needs to verify the situation to confirm if it’s true and the reasons behind it.

Low yield on fertile land risks downgrading the land’s quality, making it harder to rent out the following year.

Liu Ji had long since consulted Liu Dafu for experience, preparing thoroughly.

This was the first profitable task Qin Yao had given him, and he intended to do it well to show her, achieving a splendid turnaround.

Arriving at the manor, the carriage stopped, and Liu Ji had Ah Wang first notify the Ding Family Manor to facilitate the proceedings.

He led the curious Da Lang siblings into a small courtyard used for storing farm tools and renting out rooms.

The school happened to be on holiday, so the renting students had all gone home, leaving the courtyard empty—perfect for temporarily storing the rent collected.

The same person who guarded the farm tools also helped with the rent collection, named Ding Liu, in his forties. Liu Ji gave him a nickname, called him Old Six.

Facing the landlord, tenant Mr. Ding Liu had little to say. Every time he met Liu Ji and heard him unceremoniously call out "Hey, Old Six, come over here," he would bend his waist and respond with a smiling face.

The shout just now was from Ding Liu.

Seeing Ah Wang drive into the Ding Family Manor, Ding Liu approached and asked, "Master, now that you and Brother Ah Wang are here, I need to prepare the rent too. Should I leave you with the keys to the courtyard?"

Liu Ji nodded, took the key, and first inspected the communal dormitory for rent. The furnishings inside were very basic, just shy of being called shabby.

But the beds were cheap, and the tenants never complained.

Seeing two beds empty, Liu Ji asked, "Old Six, why are these two beds empty?"

Last month he had Ah Wang check, and it was still fully rented.

Ding Liu bitterly explained, "As the school was on holiday, the students left to save some coins, and they only re-rented when it reopened. They’re not fully rented yet."

Liu Ji wasn’t satisfied with this answer, putting on airs and questioning, "Didn’t you think to promote it at the school gate when you saw the beds empty?"

"A bed costs fifteen cents a month; two beds make thirty cents. This is all my money!"

The communal beds total twenty-five, bringing in a monthly income of 375 coins.

Having been empty for two months in the previous December and this January, it already lost out on two months of rent.

Initially hoping to collect the February 375 coins with the field rent this time, well now, it’s short by thirty whole coins!

Liu Ji’s face turned grim, his demeanor hard to adapt to for the Da Lang siblings.

Seeing Ding Liu’s submissive apologies, the siblings felt overwhelming guilt.

Si Niang stepped forward hoping to say something, but was stopped by Second Lang.

Si Niang glared at her brother, confused; didn’t he see Father bullying honest people?

Second Lang simply shook his head, signaling her not to speak rashly.

They were on the same side with Father now, and shouldn’t oppose him in front of outsiders, letting others know they held differing opinions.

Si Niang frowned, looking at Ding Liu’s head almost buried in his chest. Remembering how she used to follow her big brother, begging at others’ houses, she felt uneasy.

Liu Ji, sensing his daughter’s emotions, turned back and noticed—well, the little girl saw him as a villain, glaring at him angrily!

Liu Ji sighed internally; his displeasure was displayed perfectly on his face, and with intentional generosity, he waved off to Ding Liu, saying:

"Forget it, forget it, it’s no big deal. These missing rents will be deducted from your custodial wages. This will be the only time; hurry back and prepare. We’ll first collect rent at your house later."

Seeing Ding Liu docked thirty coins yet still expressing gratitude to Father, Si Niang’s eyes widened.

Watching Ding Liu leave, Liu Ji turned around, spreading his arms, and with a sly laugh, he proudly announced to his four beloved children:

"Thirty coins, Ah Wang doesn’t know! We’ll split among the five of us, each of you two cents, and the rest goes to me!"

The siblings: "..."

"Speechless, huh? There’s more to come, let’s go, gather your gear, and we’ll go find Ah Wang. Father will take you to earn some pocket money!"

Liu Ji patted each of their heads, swung the room key, locked the door, and signaled the four siblings to get on the cart. They drove towards Ding Family Manor.

Si Niang grumbled in dissatisfaction, "I’ll tell Mother."

For mere two cents, she wouldn’t be bought by Father!

Second Lang laughed, "Don’t be silly. Without Mother’s permission, do you think Father would dare be so brazen?"

With Mother, as long as the final number Father turns in matches, the task is completed.

As for the excess, that’s up to individual skill. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Si Niang learned another real-world lesson, sighed helplessly, "The adult world is so complicated."

Sanlang, counting on his fingers, said, "The biggest sugar-coated hawthorn is five cents a skewer, and I need a bit more than two cents to buy one. If Father gives me one more half a tael, I can buy the biggest sugar-coated hawthorn!"

Da Lang watched his naive younger brother, shook his head with a helpless laugh; it was the age of easy satisfaction indeed.

These murmurings within the carriage did not escape Liu Ji’s ears, and he smiled in satisfaction.

These four kids took after him—smart and adaptable, all good seedlings.

The carriage stopped at Ding Liu’s house, Ah Wang had already arrived first.

He had just informed all of the Ding Family Manor’s tenants that Liu Ji and his four children would come by each household for rent collection shortly.