The Immortal Clan was established starting with the entry on the Dao of the Gou.

Late June.

After completing a series of farm tasks such as irrigation, plowing, and fertilizing.

We've finally entered the rice transplanting stage.

Jiang Yun leaves early and returns late every day.

0.8 mu of rice seedlings were transplanted in one day.

Although the working hours seem long, most of the time is actually spent resting.

During his breaks, Jiang Yun always thought about ways to make money and escape his tenant farmer status.

However, he rejected many methods that seemed feasible.

Nobody here talks to you about fairness or the law.

Without the ability to protect oneself, many ways of making money will not work.

"We've weathered so many years, there's no rush."

After resting for a while, Jiang Yun went down into the paddy field to transplant rice seedlings.

As long as we can make ends meet and support our families without starving, there will always be a day when we can turn our lives around.

time flies.

It's already mid-October.

Harvest season has arrived.

However, for tenant farmers, the harvest was often accompanied by exploitation by the landlord.

The landlord's family has started another round of rent collection and rice harvesting.

The oxcarts entered the village and took away the rice, leaving the tenant farmers sighing in despair.

After a year of hard work, half of the harvest is given as rent to the landlord.

The landlord forcibly took away the remaining half at a low price, and then had to buy grain for himself.

In any case, tenant farming seems like a joke.

Just like last time, Jiang Yun and Ling'er stood at their doorstep, waiting for the landlord to come and collect the rent.

Ling'er is now four months pregnant, and her belly is noticeably protruding.

She whispered, "My lord, our late rice harvest looks pretty good. I estimate it will be around 28 shi (a unit of dry measure)."

"That should be about right. With this rice and the cotton from the two acres of land, we should be able to sell it for some money."

Jiang Yun's two mu of cotton fields have been harvested.

He picked them with the shells on, took them home, and picked them with Ling'er whenever he had free time.

The picked cotton was dried and packed into burlap sacks.

The accumulated cotton husks can be used for cooking.

Two mu of cotton fields yielded a total of about 60 jin of cotton, worth approximately 3 taels of silver.

After paying the rent, the income was one and a half taels.

This price has remained the same for the past few years.

As they were talking, Zhao Xiao and Xu Feng led the way, followed by a oxcart used for collecting rent.

"The robbers are here."

Ling'er lowered her voice, regarding these people as robbers.

Then she and Jiang Yun stood aside and moved aside so that the searchers could enter the house to check if they had secretly hidden rice.

Next, they watched as the landlord's servants used a large measuring cup to weigh the rice.

"27 shi of rice and 62 jin of cotton."

Zhao Xiao seemed to be in a bad mood today and didn't want to say anything unnecessary.

Jiang Yun also stopped bothering with his empty pleasantries.

He saw that Xu Feng, the accountant, started calculating after hearing the weight results.

After a period of waiting.

Xu Feng instructed his henchman to hand the money over to Jiang Yun.

"Take it, 12 taels, 9 mace, and 75 cash."

27 shi of rice and over 60 jin of cotton.

After paying half of the rent.

Jiang Yun's family had ten mu of late-season rice and two mu of cotton, but their income was less than thirteen taels of silver.

Including the early rice harvest, the annual income was barely 23 taels.

23 taels of silver was only enough for Jiang Yun and Ling'er to make ends meet.

The baby in Ling'er's belly will be born next year, and this amount of money is not enough.

We need to earn more money.

Jiang Yun thought to herself.

He held the silver coins and handed them to Ling'er.

After Zhao Xiao and the others left, he went into the house, moved the water vat, and asked Ling'er to hide the silver.

Ling'er counted all the silver, both large and small coins, to make sure she had a clear idea of ​​the amount.

"How much?" Jiang Yun asked.

"16 taels, 5 mace, and 40 cash." Ling'er said with heartache, "These past few months, you've spent an extra two taels of silver to nourish my body."

She remembered clearly how good Jiang Yun had been to Ling'er.

She knew exactly how much money she would spend on nourishing her body.

Jiang Yun moved the water vat back to its original position.

Hiding the silver under the water vat like this is a bit of a hassle, as you have to move the vat every time you want to retrieve it.

But at least it gives me some sense of security.

"Winter will arrive in another month. I'll go with you to prepare food for the winter another day."

The landlord took all the rice.

Jiang Yun had no choice but to spend more money to buy grain.

The grain was so heavy that Ling'er, who was pregnant, couldn't carry it, so Jiang Yun had to help her move it.

Ling'er nodded gently.

She opened her mouth as if to say something.

Jiang Yun said, "Next, I will go up the mountain to gather firewood and exchange it for some silver. I won't have to think about how much money I've spent on nourishing my body all day."

Ling'er swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Then a few tears fell from her eyes, "My husband, it's so good that Ling'er married you."

"Why are you crying?" Jiang Yun stepped forward and helped Ling'er up. "A pregnant woman needs to be in a good mood every day so that the baby she gives birth to will be healthy."

"Baby?"

Upon hearing this, Ling'er blinked.

She was completely baffled when she first heard this title.

"Um... it means baby."

Jiang Yun smiled and touched Ling'er's protruding belly.

I'm thinking that I'll be a father in five months.

He felt somewhat uneasy.

Although he has lived two lives, he did not marry or have children in his previous life.

"I won't cry."

Ling'er was very obedient; she immediately wiped away her tears and smiled at Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun pecked Ling'er on the cheek.

This made her blush with embarrassment.

Although life was difficult for the couple, they had a warm and harmonious relationship.

a few days later.

Jiang Yun accompanied Ling'er to prepare food for the winter.

In addition to brown rice and other grains, Jiang Yun bought two bushels of refined rice.

Two shi of fine rice, totaling two liang and four qian of silver, was quite an extravagant purchase.

This fine rice is naturally for Ling'er to eat.

Jiang Yun, on the other hand, eats brown rice.

Ling'er felt both helpless and happy about this.

She felt she was the luckiest woman in the whole village.

Throughout Qingshan Village, and several nearby villages.

She had never heard of a husband treating his wife so well.

It was evening, and it was not yet dark.

Ling'er's younger brother, Fang Yu, came to Jiang Yun's house.

He brought over a bowl of steaming dumplings.

"Brother-in-law, sister! Mother cooked some dumplings for me and asked me to bring some over; they're meat-filled."

Fang Yu is 17 years old this year, only one year younger than Ling'er.

Having worked in the fields year-round, his skin was dark and his body had grown up.

"What day is it today?"

Jiang Yun saw Fang Yu bring over a bowl of dumplings, which were meat-filled.

He couldn't help but swallow hard.

Meat-filled dumplings are only available during the Lunar New Year.

For tenant farmers, eating dumplings during normal times is a luxury.

Fang Yu placed the dumplings on the table. "Brother-in-law, have you forgotten? Today is my seventeenth birthday."

"I was so busy that I forgot."

Jiang Yun suddenly realized.

No wonder there are dumplings to eat; it turns out it's Fang Yu's birthday today.

"It's getting dark, you should go back now."

Ling'er found an empty bowl, poured the dumplings into it, and then returned the bowl that Fang Yu had brought to him.

"Mother said there are eight dumplings, my sister will eat six, and my brother-in-law will eat two."

Fang Yu took back the bowl, said those words, and immediately jogged away.

"That kid!"

Jiang Yun and Ling'er exchanged a glance, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

They knew that Meng Chunmei would never say such a thing.

When you send over a bowl of dumplings, who has the mind to distinguish them so clearly?

Fang Yu simply wanted his sister to eat more.

"Husband, please eat."

Ling'er pushed the bowl full of dumplings in front of Jiang Yun.

She hasn't eaten a single bite yet.

"I'll just eat one."

Jiang Yun hadn't tasted dumplings in a long time.

He picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

Then push the rest in front of Ling'er.

"Have one more."

Ling'er pushed it back again.

One is enough.

Jiang Yun shook her head.

The two kept pushing a bowl of dumplings back and forth, each wanting the other to eat more.

In the end, Jiang Yun couldn't resist Ling'er's insistence and ate three, while Ling'er ate five.

The next day.

Jiang Yun got up very early.

He picked up a carrying pole, a rope, and a machete, and headed towards Qingshanling.

Qingshanling is a collective name for dozens of mountains in the vicinity.

The mountains surrounding the village all belonged to the landlords.

If the woodcutters wanted to gather firewood, they had to cross two mountains to cut wood in the unclaimed mountains.

Although it is unclaimed, the mountains, rivers, lakes and seas all belong to Dayu.

Dayu established a special Forestry Bureau and Patrol Office to collect taxes on crossing mountains.

Whether you go into the mountains to cut firewood or hunt, you have to pay taxes.

Local government offices set up checkpoints to collect taxes on the only route into the mountains.

When a woodcutter gathers firewood, no matter how much he gathers, the relevant government office will take three coins from him each time.

Some say that Yongning County collects as much as 500 taels of firewood tax in a year alone.

Hunting incurs higher taxes, roughly 20% of the value of the prey itself.

However, the imperial court stipulated that only hunters were allowed to hunt.

Anyone caught will be severely punished.

Jiang Yun was a tenant farmer who had only gone into the mountains to gather firewood.

He carried a carrying pole and soon arrived at the tax collection checkpoint set up by the patrol office.

The guards at the checkpoint were still asleep.

At this time, there are just many people going into the mountains.

The guards collected taxes on the woodcutter's return journey.

There are only a few roads leading into and out of the mountains, and back to the village.

Just like entering a city, there are four city gates: east, south, west, and north.

Once inside, the only way to get out is through these few paths.

Therefore, the inspectors at the checkpoints who collect taxes are not worried about anyone evading taxes.

Jiang Yun went straight into the mountains.

The two mountains in front belonged to the landlord.

No one would gather firewood or hunt on these two mountains.

Unless with the landowner's consent.

In early November, the weather gradually turned cold.

A cold wind blew, and the mountains and forests were silent and cold.

However, Jiang Yun possessed immortal bones, so this bit of cold was nothing to him.

He easily crossed the two mountains in front of him.

Enter the forest where you can cut firewood.

"The strong young men in the village can chop about 100 to 120 jin of firewood at a time."

Traveling between the deep mountains and the village three to four times a day is extremely physically demanding.

Although I possess the bones of an immortal, I cannot chop too much firewood at once.

As Jiang Yun chopped firewood with a machete, he carefully considered his options.

"If you hit about 150 kilograms at a time, it won't arouse suspicion."

150 catties of firewood, if sold at a good price, can fetch around 80 coins.

He could earn 320 coins by going into the mountains to collect firewood four times a day.

In Yongning County, the price of 100 jin (50 kg) of dry firewood is usually around 40 to 60 wen (0.5-30 yuan) due to weather conditions.

Jiang Yun quickly calculated the income from chopping firewood and was instantly motivated.

The immortal bones endowed it with boundless power.

This has finally come in handy.

If it weren't for the fear of arousing suspicion.

He could chop at least 300 jin of firewood at a time, making seven or eight round trips a day.

In this way, the income from gathering firewood would be much higher.

"It's best to be careful."

Jiang Yun was not blinded by the high income.

He could collect over 150 jin of firewood in one trip into the mountains, and he did this four times a day, earning more than the other woodcutters.

That's enough.

If you say any more, it will arouse suspicion and jealousy from others.

Jiang Yun spent some time chopping firewood, and then stopped immediately after chopping about 150 jin (75 catties).

After he finished cutting down the trees, he deliberately stayed in the mountains for a long time.

Because the immortal bone works so fast.

If we go down the mountain at this time, even the guards of the patrol office will be surprised.

When it's almost time...

Jiang Yun then carried the firewood down the mountain.

As he passed through the checkpoint, the guards from the inspection office responsible for collecting taxes stopped him.

"Three coins."

Jiang Yun put down the firewood.

He obediently took out three coins from his pocket and handed them over.

After paying three coins, the guards let them pass.

Jiang Yun carried the firewood home and put it in the woodshed.

After drinking some water, they went up the mountain again.

Repeat this process four times.

They gathered over 600 jin of firewood in a single day.

600 catties of firewood can be sold for about 320 coins.

After deducting the 12 coins for firewood tax from the four trips up the mountain, the daily income is still 308 coins.

If you chop firewood for ten consecutive days, you can earn more than three taels of silver.

This is much more profitable than growing rice for a landlord!

After all, the firewood they gathered only required taxes; they didn't have to share half with the landlord.

"Only someone with divine bones could do this."

"The woodcutters in the village have to cross mountains and valleys to collect firewood every day. They need to rest every few days, otherwise their bodies can't take it."

"Those martial arts masters might be able to do it too, but with their skills, who would want to chop wood?"

late at night.

Jiang Yun lay in bed thinking—

How to make money by chopping firewood without arousing suspicion?

So he decided to chop firewood one day and rest the next.

So, if you chop firewood for fifteen days a month, you can earn 4.5 taels of silver.

That's just right; it won't attract attention.

If you save the money you earn, it will definitely be a considerable sum.

After all, after working hard to grow two seasons of rice and paying half of the rent, one only had a little over 20 taels of silver.

"There are no cultivation methods for now, but perhaps I can save up the money I earn from chopping wood to learn martial arts."

"Martial arts practitioners are strong and have great stamina, which can help them avoid being seen, so I can go up the mountain to collect firewood more often."

"In this way, we can earn even more silver."

Jiang Yun finally found a way to solve the problem that was troubling him.

Start by quietly gathering firewood, and once you've learned martial arts, you can be more high-profile and continue gathering firewood to earn more silver.

This method may be clumsy, but it's safe.

Moreover, it is highly feasible.

Even without practicing martial arts, having the bones of an immortal can make life more comfortable.

As long as you are always careful and vigilant, and avoid arousing suspicion, you will be fine.

Jiang Yun is not seeking great wealth and status for the time being.

He only wanted to earn money to support his wife and children, have more children, and steadily develop his family.

As you unlock more achievements in the future, you'll receive more entries and rewards.

Perhaps one reward will allow him to take off immediately.

Thinking this, Jiang Yun gradually drifted off to sleep.

On the day of rest, they would do some farm work, and the next day they would start gathering firewood again.

Two months have passed.

Jiang Yun earned 9 taels of silver by chopping firewood.

Late December.

The weather was already quite cold.

The price of firewood has increased slightly.

Jiang Yun could have earned several hundred more coins.

However, they also need firewood for cooking, so they can't sell it all.

So he earned 9 taels.

That day, he carried about 200 jin (100 catties) of firewood to the market to sell.

After selling the firewood, he received 110 coins.

Unexpectedly, I achieved the intermediate level of "hard work leads to wealth".

Lines of golden text suddenly appeared before his eyes—

[Congratulations, host, on completing the intermediate level achievement "Hard Work Leads to Wealth"]

[After months of hard work gathering firewood, he has saved up nearly ten taels of silver.]

[Gain 30 achievement points]

Name: Jiang Yun

Age: 21

[Talent: Immortal Bones]

[Entry: Perennial Sixth Place]

[Achievement: 70/100]