The Bell Family worked while chatting with Henry Carter about family matters. Besides the farm work in the fields, there were also issues about the autumn grain tax. Perhaps she felt her son had grown up and could help share her worries, so she spoke more than usual.

The summer tax had already been paid, and the collection of the autumn grain tax would soon begin. However, last month the Tartars had come to plunder, causing great suffering throughout Bao'an. Many households were left empty, hoping the authorities would reduce or exempt the autumn grain tax; otherwise, no one knew how they would manage next year.

In the late Ming, land taxes were collected in two seasons: summer and autumn, called the summer tax and autumn grain tax. The summer tax was to be paid no later than August, mainly in wheat; the autumn grain tax no later than the following February, mainly in rice. After the implementation of the “Single Whip Law,” both taxes were mostly collected in silver.

The The Carter Family now had only a little over twenty mu of land left. Since it wasn’t fertile land near the river and droughts were frequent, the current wheat yield was less than one shi per mu, with an annual income of about twenty shi. Since the Liao tribute in the Wanli era up to the current seventh year of Chongzhen, the Ming dynasty had increased land taxes several times. The base tax wasn’t much, but the real burden was the countless surcharges imposed locally. Local officials and gentry often shifted their own tax obligations onto smallholders like the The Carter Family, making the burden heavier and heavier.

Because taxes were collected in silver, they had to exchange their wheat and rice for silver, enduring another round of exploitation by merchants. After paying taxes, more than half of their earnings were gone, not even counting expenses like seeds, tools, and interest on debts. What remained was for the family’s food. For a family of three, eating one sheng and five ge per day, the leftover grain would only last a few months. There would be several months of shortage before the next harvest—this was the so-called “lean season.”

In good years, the The Carter Family could be self-sufficient, or make up the difference with income from weaving and silkworms. But in years of disaster like this, things became difficult. If the family had no savings, or no way to get through the lean months, most people had no choice but to sell their wives and children or take out high-interest loans.

But borrowing at high interest was no different from drinking poison to quench thirst. As in other parts of Bao'an, high-interest lending here was controlled by the local gentry. These gentry, outwardly well-read, were ruthless behind the scenes. One high-interest loan would only lead to deeper poverty and eventual ruin.

Take the The Thompson Family in Xin Village, for example—they were a famous lending family in Bao'an. Henry Carter was sure that if his family borrowed from the The Thompson Family even once, in a few years not only would their remaining land be gone, but even their ancestral home might not be safe.

The Bell Family explained all this, speaking lightly and expressing confidence that the The Carter Family could get through any hardship, as they always had. But Henry Carter could feel the weight and hardship behind her words.

His heart felt heavy. Survival—this was a serious problem.

……

Chapter 005: Pi Gua Fist, Pear Blossom Spear

There were a few small dishes on the table, and a bowl of scrambled eggs giving off a tempting aroma.

In front of Henry Carter was a big steaming bowl of white wheat noodles, sprinkled with fresh green scallions, the fragrance truly mouthwatering. This was the most sumptuous meal the The Carter Family had had in some time.

But looking at the white noodles in front of him, and then at The Bell Family and Grace Bennett, who were eating black steamed bread with the side dishes, both of them looking calm, as if it was only natural for Henry Carter to eat better.

Henry Carter stood up and said, “I ate plenty when I came back, Mom, how can I finish such a big bowl of noodles? Help me eat some.”

He took two bowls, picked up a large portion of noodles with his chopsticks, and divided them into the two bowls, handing them to The Bell Family and Grace Bennett.

Grace Bennett was very happy, taking the bowl and saying softly, “Thank you, brother.”

The Bell Family smiled, said nothing, and accepted the bowl.

The family happily ate the eggs and vegetables together.

The Bell Family remembered something and said to Grace Bennett, “Xiu’er, I heard your mother-in-law has had a hard time lately. In a few days, take a few sheng of white flour and a bolt of cloth back home. We’re all family—help if you can.”

Grace Bennett replied happily, “Thank you, Mom.”

Although the The Carter Family was already very poor, Grace Bennett’s family was even poorer. Her parents had eight children in total, but two younger brothers had starved to death a few years ago, and one older brother and two older sisters had been given away. Now, her family survived on wild vegetables and coarse grains. Compared to them, the The Carter Family was like a wealthy household—at least they could still eat white flour.

Grace Bennett could imagine the scene when she returned to her parents’ home. In Bao'an, if you visited relatives with a bamboo basket of white flour, some sweets, and a bolt of cloth, it was already a very expensive gift, enough to make others envious.

And The Bell Family was a proud person. Even though her own family was struggling, she still thought of helping others. At home, she and Grace Bennett wore patched clothes, but when they went out, they would change into their best garments, just so others wouldn’t look down on the The Carter Family.

The three of them chatted, though Henry Carter mostly listened. The Bell Family sighed, “A few days ago when I went to the county town, the price of grain had gone up again. Millet costs eight qian per dou, even rice husks are one qian per dou. I saw many families who couldn’t afford grain, and some men and women starved to death by the roadside.”

Grace Bennett added, “Yes, now in our village pork costs over two hundred wen per jin, and even a duck egg costs twenty wen.”