Time passed quickly, and a week blinked by. After paying the tax on the family's grain, half of what was left was sold.
In ancient times, the yield of grain was too low. Even someone like Zhulan, who did not know about farming, was aware of the modern grain yields. In ancient times, with favorable winds and rain, a mu of rice paddy, carefully tended and fertile like Zhulan's family land, could only yield 320 jin, and the maize yield, though slightly higher, was less than 550 jin.
Zhulan's family sold half of their grain, earning just over seven taels, and after deducting expenses such as seeds, they made just over six taels for the year. This was not nearly enough to cover a year's expenses. The family had a scholar, and just the annual cost of his stipend was one tael and four silver coins, not to mention the costs of paper and ink. The two sons were like money pits, and this was just for their education, before even participating in the imperial examinations.
