Chapter 130: Delivering the Grain Tax

Delivering the grain tax involved the entire brigade’s workforce.

Well-off brigades typically led with tractors carrying fine grains like rice and wheat.  What the tractors couldn’t carry was transported by donkey carts, wheelbarrows, or carried on shoulders.

The grain tax included rice, wheat, corn, sweet potatoes, and peanuts, all based on a certain percentage of the brigade’s total yield.

Each brigade also had to deliver a quota of pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese.

Ci Hang Village had a good harvest this year.  Although they lacked tractors, a donkey cart led the way, followed by men pushing wheelbarrows laden with grain.  Men carried corn and sweet potatoes, mostly sweet potatoes, followed by three large pigs from the brigade’s pigsty.

The pigs were sizable, each weighing around 140-150 jin.  Eight sheep followed, then women carrying poultry.

Zhou Yubai, taking Shen Chuning to the commune, encountered the brigade’s grain delivery team.

Villagers were cheerful, greeting them, “Zhou Yubai, Accountant Shen, you’re up early!”

“Accountant Shen, remember to keep accurate records for our brigade’s grain tax!” someone shouted.

Shen Chuning joked, “Don’t worry, I will.  Besides, with Uncle He, the experienced accountant, supervising, I wouldn’t dare make mistakes!”

She and Zhou Yubai were near He Guoqiang, subtly flattering him.

He Guoqiang straightened his back, even finding his prospective son-in-law, Shen Zhengxu, more likeable.  Shen Zhengxu was pushing a wheelbarrow full of corn.

He was surprised to see Shen Chuning.  He’d told his father he’d deliver the grain with the brigade and then pick up his sister for work.  She had left much earlier.  Seeing Zhou Yubai with her, he felt relieved.

Even after Zhou Yubai had ridden some distance, Shen Chuning could still see her brigade’s procession.

She used to be lazy and couldn’t wake up this early.  This was her first time witnessing the grand spectacle of the grain delivery.

Although not participating, she felt the villagers’ joy and her mood lifted.

“Wife, I’ll pick you up after work,” Zhou Yubai said at the commune entrance.

“Aren’t you busy?” Shen Chuning asked.

Although oil extraction hadn’t started, preparations were underway.  After the grain delivery, villagers would help build roads.  Work points would be awarded, and the commune would provide grain and money based on the total work points.

Everyone was thrilled at the prospect of earning extra grain and money through labor.

“Not too busy. I have time to pick up my wife,” Zhou Yubai said softly, his eyes tender.

Shen Chuning felt embarrassed under his gaze, “Alright, I’ll wait for you.  Go!”

She couldn’t imagine the stern man showing such tenderness.  As he spent more time at home, she realized he had two sides cold and distant in public, but clingy and affectionate at home.

Shen Chuning didn’t notice Zhou Yubai glancing towards the commune’s staff dormitory.

Yin Linjiang, leaving the dormitory for work, saw Zhou Yubai and Shen Chuning at the gate, affectionately bidding farewell.

Although he’d tried to suppress his feelings for Shen Chuning, he felt a pang of jealousy.

He quickly recovered his composure, greeting Shen Chuning politely, “Comrade Shen, you’re up early.”

Shen Chuning smiled, “Yes, I want to double-check the grain quantities from each brigade to avoid mistakes later.”

Each brigade’s accountant, head, and secretary verified their harvest and reported it to the commune, which calculated the grain tax based on the harvest.  The tax wasn’t calculated in kilograms but in money.  The grain station determined the price based on the type and quality of grain.  The process was complex, and the accountant played a crucial role.

Before the grain delivery teams arrived, Shen Chuning used an abacus to verify the grain quantities from several brigades.

Suddenly, she felt someone standing before her.  It was Peng Kaiyuan!

“Teacher!” Shen Chuning exclaimed, “Why are you here?”

Peng Kaiyuan was the accountant for Xiahe Village brigade, but their turn was later.

Peng Kaiyuan smiled, “Our brigade’s accounts are clear.  I’m not worried, but I wanted to see you handle this.”

“But it seems my worries were unnecessary. Your accounting is far better than mine,” Peng Kaiyuan chuckled.

Shen Chuning smiled, “My accounting skills are thanks to your excellent teaching, Teacher.”

Peng Kaiyuan was pleased, his face beaming.

At 8 am, the annual grain tax delivery began.