Chapter 75: A Broken House Worth Ten Thousand Coins

Though it was just after the first frost, it wasn't cold enough yet to necessitate cotton-padded coats. Sang Luo measured the children for clothes; Shen An already had a pair of trousers, so she only needed a top. Shen Ning required a full set.

She spent two days making the first set. By September 12, both siblings were dressed in brand-new clothes. The fabric was much thicker than their worn and faded summer clothes, and most importantly, it covered their ankles properly.

If one could overlook the patched shoes with the toes showing, they looked remarkably smart.

Of course, no one paid much attention to the siblings' patched shoes. Even if patched, they were still decent footwear compared to many village children who wore torn shoes exposing their toes, or even went barefoot.

It wasn't just the children; people like Sang Luo and Qin Fang Niang, who trekked twenty li through the mountains every day, also wore shoes that were practically layers upon layers of patches. They just used similarly colored fabric to make it less noticeable unless looked at closely.

With new clothes, even Shen An, who usually tried to act mature, couldn't resist showing off a little. Taking advantage of his sister being home, he and Shen Ning took three rounds around the village.

It had been many years since they wore new clothes, and now they wanted everyone to see them.

It was also a way to show everyone how much their sister cared for them.

This subtle pride was unknown to others, but the siblings' appearance indeed sparked envy among the village children, especially since it was just getting cold and Shen An and Shen Ning were already wearing their new outfits.

Before, Shen An and Shen Ning might have been considered the most pitiable children in the village, but now they were the envy of all the other kids.

Satisfied with their stroll, Shen An and Shen Ning happily returned home.

Amused, Sang Luo instructed them, "With these clothes, you should be warm enough for now. If it gets colder, wear the old clothes underneath and the new ones on top. Wearing two layers like that should keep you warm."

Shen Ning noted, "By wearing the old clothes on the outside, the new ones won't wear out as quickly."

Shen Ning was secretly pleased, knowing everyone had seen their new clothes today, including their aunt, who had watched them intently.

Shen Ning felt content inside.

"Quite thoughtful," Sang Luo said with a smile. "Do as you like, whatever makes you happy."

In between picking sour dates and digging devil's tongue, Sang Luo began making her own autumn clothes. In the late afternoon, she returned from the mountains. Old Chen and Chen You Tian arrived with a wooden measure borrowed from Zhou Cun Zheng's house.

"Let's measure out your grain for the autumn tax now. It's better to pay it tomorrow to avoid the long lines on the 15th. We recently noticed in the county that some families are struggling to stock enough grain due to purchase limits at several grain shops. They are panicking, with entire families queuing to buy grain. Even then, they might have to wait until the last two days to gather enough."

So, the county government office will be extremely crowded on the 14th and 15th.

Sang Luo hurriedly invited the two men into the courtyard and carried the baskets into the kitchen, asking them to help move the grain from the main house.

Measuring out four stones and four dou of grain, unbagging and passing it through the measure before rebagging it, took quite some time.

In the end, Old Chen suggested Sang Luo prepare an additional bag with two dou of grain as a backup. "Bring a few coins for tipping the grain clerks, so you hopefully won't need to use this backup grain."

Otherwise, if they kick the measuring bucket a few times or shake it, it really could mean swallowing your own blood in silence.

Sang Luo nodded, planning to bring a dozen or so coins for tipping – an amount that could buy nearly two sheng of rice. Though she didn't want to spend this money, it was necessary, as two sheng could make a big difference.

Once the grain was measured, Sang Luo went to the Lu family to inform them that she needed to borrow their cart early the next morning to take the grain to the county for payment.

Sang Luo's home was up in the mountains, and the cart couldn't be pulled up there, so Lu Da Lang said he would bring the cart to the mountain's base early the next day and help transport the grain down.

Before dawn the next day, as Qin Fang Niang and the others came to pick up tofu, Lu Da Lang, Shi Er Lang, and Chen You Tian, who were also heading to the county, came to help move the grain.

A lamp was lit in the main house, and Shen An and Shen Ning watched nearly half of the grain they had accumulated over days disappear.

The sight deeply saddened the two young children.

While the village was still asleep, two carts quietly left the village.

Zhou Cun Zheng and his son, seeing the cart full of grain pulled by Lu Da Lang, realized it was Sang Luo heading to pay her taxes.

Zhou Cun Zheng didn't ask how Sang Luo managed to gather enough grain but simply asked, "Did you bring all the household registration documents?"

Sang Luo simply nodded, acknowledging their observations.

Zhou Village Chief didn’t add anything more and followed them towards the county.

When the group arrived, the city gates were still closed, yet a line had already formed outside. Every so often, someone holding a torch would appear, illuminating others in the queue who, like Sang Luo, had brought carts of grain – there were more than a dozen.

A common characteristic marked these individuals: poverty, stark and evident!

Just after the autumn harvest, in the countryside where normal farming takes place, it's rare for someone to be unable to pay the autumn tax at this time. Those struggling are likely those who already live meagerly or those who don't own their land and rely on tenant farming. Especially if the land quality is poor, paying taxes can indeed be difficult.

In villages like Shili, such cases are uncommon. Even the poorest household, Zhou Laizi's family, managed to pay their taxes a few days ago. Their challenge lies in their grain supply not lasting until next year's autumn harvest.

Sang Luo glanced briefly, then chose not to dwell on it. Everyone has their own struggles and difficulties. Had she not crossed over to this era, her original self would have been dead, and Shen An and Shen Ning's fates would be unknown.

In these times, just taking care of oneself is hard enough.

As dawn broke, more people arrived, not to pay taxes or set up stalls, but mostly holding grain bags – they were here to buy grain in the city.

Sang Luo realized that compared to her previous visits to the county, the number of people coming to buy grain had increased slightly.

This anxiety, coupled with rumors of disasters in various states, seemed to have spread to the villages. Families in better conditions were prudently starting to prepare.

The city gates opened later than usual today. As soon as they opened, the crowd surged. Sang Luo and her group, arriving early, were among the first to enter the city. Since Lu Dalong was joining the queue to buy grain, Sang Luo decided not to trouble him and pulled her cart alone.

However, Feng Liuniang and Gan Shi assisted, pushing the cart and accompanying Sang Luo to the county government office where she would pay the tax.

Passing by the grain shop en route to the county office, they quickly noticed the long line already formed outside. Judging by their attire and the timing of the city gate's opening, they were all residents of the county.

At that moment, Sang Luo felt a pang of concern – would Chen You Tian and his group be able to buy grain today?

She couldn't dwell on it and continued towards the county office. Arriving there, there was no need to ask for directions to the grain storehouse; it was evident from the long queue already formed in the alley next to a separate courtyard not far east of the yamen. The residents who had enough grain had been gradually paying their taxes over the past few days.

Sang Luo, pulling her cart, queued in line and let Feng Liu Niang and Gan Shi attend to their own matters, waiting for the yamen clerks to start their work.

Indeed, apart from the city gate guards, other clerks in the yamen didn't arrive so early. People came early merely to secure a spot in the queue. Being first in line still meant waiting.

As daylight brightened, after waiting another two to three quarters of an hour, the gates of the eastern courtyard of the yamen finally showed signs of activity.

The queue instantly became restless.

Sang Luo, standing on tiptoes, tried to see what was happening at the front. She saw the two men first in line beginning to unload grain bags from their cart into the courtyard, silently counting how many carts were ahead of her turn.

In front was a woman with a young man around twenty, the woman whispering, "Have you prepared the money for the clerk?"

The young man patted his narrow sleeve and nodded.

The woman then breathed a sigh of relief, which seemed to carry a tinge of resignation.

The process of receiving grain wasn’t quick; each bag had to be opened and measured. It took nearly half an hour before it was Sang Luo's turn. Only then did she realize the challenge of carrying each bag of grain by herself, a daunting task.

And it wasn’t just one bag, but a whole cartload.

The yamen clerk inside the courtyard was urging them on. Sang Luo glanced at the cart behind her, next to which stood two burly men in their twenties or thirties.

Knowing when to ask for help, Sang Luo politely requested, “Excuse me, brothers, these grain bags are too heavy for me to lift. Could you lend me a hand?”

Such requests were common during grain delivery. Seeing Sang Luo, a delicate young woman clearly struggling, the two men realized she genuinely needed assistance.

One of them asked, “Why did your family send such a little lady to deliver grain?”

It was merely a rhetorical question. Sang Luo just smiled in response. Without waiting for her to lift a finger, the two men, working in tandem, each shouldered a bag and carried it into the courtyard.

Not wanting to stand idle, Sang Luo attempted to carry a bag herself, but it was more of a struggle than a lift.

The man who had just returned from delivering a bag clucked his tongue and said, “This task isn't suited for you, miss. Stand aside, we'll take care of it for you.”

Saying so, he effortlessly hoisted the bag Sang Luo was struggling with and carried it inside.

Sang Luo thought to herself that she had encountered kind souls.

The two men efficiently transported half a cartload of grain, with Sang Luo expressing her gratitude repeatedly. They dismissed her thanks with a wave of the hand: “No need for thanks, just go ahead inside.”

Once inside, Sang Luo noticed that the granary of the yamen was a separate compound, surrounded by high walls on three sides, with only a doorway and no windows.

The grain collection was conducted in the outer courtyard. Sang Luo couldn't see what was inside and had no time to look. She approached quickly, offering a smile to the clerks responsible for collecting the grain.

The officials were all business, asking, “Please show your household registration.”

Sang Luo handed over the household registry she had prepared that morning, discreetly slipping eight copper coins into the clerk's hand under the cover of the document: “Thank you for your hard work.”

The clerk raised an eyebrow, a smile appearing on his face as he accepted the money and registry, beginning to check against the tax list.

Sang Luo also didn't forget the other clerk, subtly passing eight copper coins to him while shifting the grain bags with her back turned to the crowd: “Thank you for your efforts.”

“Of course,” the clerk replied, adeptly accepting the money. He weighed it in his hand before slipping it into a hidden pocket in his belt, then turned to his colleague, asking, “Did you find it? How much is she to pay?”

The other clerk quickly scanned the document and stated, “Four dan, four dou.”

“Alright then.”

The other clerk efficiently began working, untying and pouring out the grain bags. With the bribe adequately given, there were no extra shenanigans. Sang Luo's tax was smoothly paid. After receiving the proof of tax payment and carefully folding it away, she collected her empty grain bags, the two jars, and the extra two dou of grain left in the cart before leaving.

Her first stop was naturally Yongfeng Zhai. This time, she brought over 360 pieces of crystal candy, urgently needing the money.

Upon leaving Yongfeng Zhai, she received a payment of 365 coins from Manager Yan, which, added to her existing 700 coins, meant she now had over 1,000 coins on her.

With that, she headed straight to the cloth shop, pulling her cart behind her.

Sang Luo recalled from her original memories, she had once picked out fabrics with her mother at a cloth shop. However, they always chose fine fabrics, and she never handled the payments, thus she was unaware of the cost of cotton.

Upon inquiring at a fabric store, she gasped in shock.

At that time, the store offered two types of stuffing for cotton jackets or quilts: expensive silk or silk cotton, which Sang Luo didn't even consider asking the price of, as it was beyond her means.

The cheaper option was cotton, known in modern times as kapok, derived from a tall flowering tree. In this era, it was simply referred to as cotton.

Regarding the price, a liang (tael) of cotton cost 100 wen (coins).

Sang Luo finally understood why poorer families would stuff their quilts and jackets with willow catkins or bulrush fluff; genuine cotton was simply unaffordable.

It was too expensive.

For children like Shen An and Shen Ning, a jacket and trousers would require at least a jin (500 grams) of cotton, costing a whole guan (unit of currency).

For two children, that would be two guan, and for an adult of her height, at least one and a half jin was needed.

Just for the three of them to have a set of cotton-lined garments would cost 3,500 coins.

And that didn't even cover the more significant expense: quilts.

Even in the south, during late autumn and early winter, a quilt might need four to six jin of cotton. Aiming to be thrifty, a quilt would require at least four jin of cotton filling.

To endure the winter, eight jin? Even if she planned to use thinner quilts with jackets laid on top, she would still need about six jin of cotton.

Sang Luo, upon pondering, truly realized the difficulty of the situation and understood the phrase "it costs a fortune to break a family."

Many families’ fortunes were built just like hers now, from nothing, accumulated bit by bit.

Keep saving then.

She took out ten strings of coins and requested, "Please, could you weigh out a jin (500 grams) for me?"