Old Pei took advantage of the situation to win people's hearts, registering the villagers' land under Pei Zongli's name so it could be exempt from grain taxes.
Many people feared that their fields would be taken for good, so they didn't trust the arrangement and were reluctant to register.
There were a few households close to Old Pei's House, and after some persuasion, they agreed. Pei Zongli was now an official, after all, and when he got promoted and made his fortune, silver would be no object—why would he covet their few acres of land? Although they had sweet potatoes to stave off hunger, they could only eat coarse grains; they dared not touch the fine wheat flour, which was all turned over as tax. But by registering under Pei Zongli's name, they wouldn't need to pay the grain tax annually, saving so much grain! They could finally enjoy bread and noodles made from white flour!
Some people were active; others were hesitant.
