Talking about the exploitation of farmers by big landlords in the past.

My ancestors were landlords, but they were not big landlords, and landlords were not necessarily exploiting classes. I am Manchu, and my ancestors were only a poor Eight Banners soldier at the earliest. It was only in a war in the Qing Dynasty that I made a meritorious military service. (It is said that the war was so fierce that the whole army was wiped out. Those who were still alive after the war were sealed (small officials) and divided the land. When it came to my great-grandfather in the late Qing Dynasty, there was only about 100 mu of land. This land has been contracted to a tenant for a long time. My great-grandfather has never seen this land. In autumn, tenants drive ox carts to deliver meals and chop wood (chopping wood to make a fire is also a top rent) to pay the rent. Several times, the tenant casually said that the harvest was not good, and my great-grandfather just begged him to send my family a year's rations (coarse grains). My grandmother is still alive, and her old lady's family is also a landlord. Grandma said she would fetch water and cook for the whole family the next day. My mother's family is also a landlord, and her family business is relatively large in her hometown. My mother said that when she was very young, my grandfather's little wife gave her a piece of Chinese cabbage to coax her. My grandfather said that the landlord's family is usually worse than the poor peasants in food and clothing, and she can save money to buy land. Later, when fighting the landlord, he was beaten a lot. My grandfather couldn't stand being beaten, so he went to the city where my family lives now to do odd jobs. After a little stability, he took my grandmother and mother over. My grandfather was often satisfied when he was alive, saying that he was better than the landlord's life. Most landlords in China are industrious and thrifty people, accumulating little by little, passing it on from generation to generation, and finally accumulating a family business for future generations. Many poor farmers will never be able to make a living. They always want to eat and drink, and spend as much as they want. Just like the moonlight clan now, once there is any major change at home, there is no money at all, so they can only borrow money and rob Peter to pay Paul, which may never turn over in the end. According to my father, there was a relative in my ancestors who didn't have five clothes. When they separated, they got most of the property, and then they ate, gambled and squandered. After liberation, they became poor peasants.