After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 243 A Little Joy from a Hard Work
Xiao Xi shook her head frantically, "Mrs. Shen, I don't want it. I promised to help you, and I can't accept money."

Xiao Xi ran away.

Su Tai shook her head helplessly, carried the box into the house, and then took it to the Time Gate Transfer Station. Using the automated trading cabinet, she quickly found out the amount of silver.

"Three thousand five hundred and thirty-two taels and seven hundred and fifty coins! That's quite a lot!" Su Tai murmured.

She took out three hundred taels from it, leaving the rest at the Time-Space Gate transfer station.

Ke Yunyun placed three hundred taels in front of Xiaoxi.

Xiao Xi's eyes widened in fright. "Miss, what are you doing?"

"Take it!" Ke Yunyun smiled reproachfully and stuffed the money into Xiao Xi's arms. "This is what my cousin asked me to give to you. She knows you don't accept it, so she asked me to say it."

Xiaoxi, I know you genuinely wanted to help and didn't even think about getting paid, but my cousin doesn't see it that way! In her eyes, you're not related to her, so how can you do things for her without getting paid? She herself doesn't feel at ease.

Just look at Aunt Huang and the others. They're all from the same village. Aunt Huang's daughter is even my cousin's sister-in-law. They'd have to settle accounts clearly over there, wouldn't they? Why is it different for you?
"Take this quickly, it'll put my mind at ease. Keep this money safe, you can use it however you want in the future. If you've thought it through and want to be free, that's fine too, I'll agree to that."

"Girl." Xiao Xi was deeply moved and obediently accepted the money.

He turned back to thank Su Tai.

When the autumn harvest came, another list of those who died in battle arrived from the county government. Calculating the time, it was exactly three months.

At this time of year, everyone is busy with the autumn harvest, and there are quite a few families experiencing semi-funerals. After it happened so many times, the villagers have become numb to it.

Nobody knows if their family will be next.

In this somber atmosphere, the county government suddenly issued an order that taxes would increase by 10% this year.

This was a matter of life and death for the people who toiled in the fields.

For families with little land, food was already scarce, and this was like the sky falling down.

Those with a lot of land are also anxious. If the price increases by 10% this year, what about next year or the year after?
Su Tai was glad that she had acquired an extra two hundred acres of wasteland. When she received the government order, she asked Shen Liang and Shen Wen to row a boat and take her to the outskirts of Dahe Town.

When the tenant farmers working on the farm saw Su Tai, they all gathered around her.

"Madam Shen, I heard that taxes will be increased by 10% this year, is that true?" The tenant farmer looked at Su Tai expectantly.

Su Tai sighed and nodded.

Everyone's last bit of wishful thinking vanished.

Fang Wei said, "Fortunately, we reclaimed an additional 200 mu of land this year. The land we reclaimed before is still within the tax exemption period, so we can avoid it this year."

"Manager Fang is right. On average, each of you cultivated more than six mu of land. After deducting the grain you handed over to me, you still received more than five thousand jin of grain. I know you were planning to sell the surplus grain before, which is why I made a special trip to talk to you about it."

"The Langya Kingdom is at war, and we don't know when it will end. Grain prices have increased by 10% this year, but they might increase by more than 10% next year or the year after. Also, farming depends on the weather. The good weather these past few years doesn't mean it will be every year. If you have any surplus grain, you should keep it safe so that you won't be caught unprepared for any future problems." Su Tai's expression was very serious.

The tenant farmers panicked even more. They believed that their master was capable and had many connections, and now that the master had come to warn them personally, it was clear that the matter was indeed very serious.

Yan Yongxing stepped forward timidly and asked, "Madam Shen, I've done the math myself. Twenty catties of grain a month is definitely enough for us, which is two hundred and forty catties a year. If we keep two thousand four hundred catties, can we sell the rest?" The tenant farmer next to him chimed in, "We've never had much money. We rely on going into the mountains and rivers during the off-season, but the harvest is limited."

Su Tai understood their unspoken message. After thinking for a moment, she said, "If you plan to get married in the next two years, I advise you to save up more grain. If you want to sell it, sell no more than two thousand catties."

Now that taxes have increased and grain prices have risen, a pound of grain should sell for thirty-five coins. With the money, I should hurry and make arrangements for my marriage.

Fang Wei looked nervous. "Madam Shen, is there something you need to say?"

Su Tai sighed and looked into the distance with a deep gaze. “War always requires people. The dead and wounded soldiers need to be replaced. The previous conscription order was considered lenient. Next, I’m afraid all the men who can support the family will have to go. You may not be able to escape it. If you can get married as soon as possible and have a son or daughter, that would be good.”

At least they can live a peaceful life on my estate, without worrying about being bullied or oppressed.

Some tenant farmers couldn't bear it and broke down in tears.

Su Tai finished giving her instructions and then left.

She left.

Fang immediately gathered all the tenant farmers together to discuss the matter. They unanimously decided to sell half of their grain and use all the money to marry off their wives.

After selling the grain, everyone could save up eighty-odd taels of silver. They could spend ten taels to marry a wife, and then keep the rest of the silver safe.

Once Fang had made up his mind, he went out to find a matchmaker.

Yan Yongxing happened to come over and accompanied him. "Brother Fang, have you decided which girl you want to marry?"

Fang shook his head. "Given my situation, I'm afraid there aren't many girls willing to marry me. I can't look for girls from good families, and I don't know which matchmaker is reliable."

Yan Yongxing curled his lip in disgust, "Come on! Matchmakers are deceitful. They praise the girl to your face like she's a fairy descended from heaven, but when you meet her, she's not even as good as the old lady in the village. Only a fool would believe a matchmaker! If you ask me, let's go ask Madam Shen!"
Her character is truly impeccable. If she agrees to be our matchmaker, I'd accept it even if the woman she introduces is a complete slut!

"Is this really okay?" Fang Wei was somewhat tempted, but more than that, he was apprehensive.

After hesitating for two days, the two finally decided to give it a try.

When the two men appeared before Su Tai and explained their purpose, Su Tai was completely flustered. "You want me to be your matchmaker? Steward Fang, first of all, we thank you for your trust in me. Secondly, I want to say that I rarely go out and really don't know the character of each girl."

"Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling," a copper bell rang out, interrupting Su Tai's words.

The three of them looked over and saw a large herd of cattle and sheep running towards them.

Fang and Yan Yongxing were both stunned. "My God! Who raises so many cattle and sheep?"

Su Tai was overjoyed and hurriedly stepped forward, calling out, "Uncle, cousin!"

"Hey!" Ke Dasong shouted back to Su Tai as he herded the cattle and sheep.

Soon, the group of them walked up to the three people.

Ke Dasong's travel-worn face was full of a simple smile. "Xiaotai, your uncle has brought you cattle and sheep. How many do you plan to take this year?"

Su Tai said happily, "Just like last year, we want beef cattle too!"