latelenovela Chapter 46 Tax Collection
Chapter 46 Tax Collection
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A few days later, in Liu Family Village, Liang Xiaoming laughed until his stomach hurt after hearing about his master's operation: "Your trick was really cunning. You sneaked in but didn't kill him, leaving behind an account book to keep him in suspense, and even threatened to swallow up his bank. In the end, you just swaggered away right under his nose. This is going to make him lose his appetite and sleep in peace from now on!"
“I originally intended to kill him, but after obtaining the account book, I felt it would be a waste to kill him. The Gao family has collapsed, what benefit would I gain? Wouldn’t it just benefit his father-in-law to seize the family property? He himself doesn’t have any relatives in Guangzhou.”
Liang Xiaoming asked, "You don't really want to rob his bank, do you? How would you do that? Didn't you say his bank has branches in Guangdong and Guangxi? It's such a huge business, not just an object that you can just steal."
Liu Ye said arrogantly, "Have you forgotten my original identity? In the original timeline, as long as you have enough economic strength, merging with a listed company is not difficult, let alone swallowing a money exchange with a questionable background in this timeline. Many methods that were not feasible in the old timeline can be used here. This timeline has no commercial law, or even a complete criminal law. Do you understand now?"
Liang Xiaoming nodded. He had almost forgotten that Liu Ye in his previous life was a prodigy who could start a business in college and become a CEO right after graduation. After transmigrating, the virtually unrestricted environment here, compared to the well-established legal system of his previous life, allowed Liu Ye to thrive even more. He used both legal and illegal methods, money and power, and even managed to put the county magistrate under house arrest. Dealing with a businessman seemed like a piece of cake for him.
He thought for a moment and asked, "What plan are you implementing by taking over his bank? Why wouldn't someone with his limited understanding understand it?"
Liu Ye smiled mysteriously: "Let me keep you in suspense for now, I'll tell you when the time is right."
"Tch, fine, don't tell me then, all this mystery." Liang Xiaoming was too lazy to ask any more questions.
After their trip to Hangzhou, the Gao family ceased all actions against Wan Hua Lou, as if the incident had never occurred. Although Su Wen didn't know exactly what her master had done, the outcome was favorable to her, and since Liu Ye wouldn't elaborate, she wisely refrained from asking. Wan Hua Lou's business stabilized, continuing to generate profits for Lingao, and everything seemed to be back on track.
Since Gou Dafu was killed and the land under his name changed hands, the villagers of Hefeng Village feel that this year is very different from previous years.
It was summer tax season. In previous years, at this time, not only would Gou Dafu pressure them, but the county clerks and their cronies would also come in waves to collect taxes. If they couldn't pay, they would be beaten with sticks and whips, and any valuables in their homes would be confiscated. Together with the autumn grain tax in the second half of the year, these were the two darkest periods for the villagers. But this year, the summer tax season was almost over, and apart from the dead Gou Dafu, none of those vicious clerks and cronies had shown up.
"Perhaps it was because the Bodhisattva saw how hard our lives were that he manifested his power!" Old Su concluded.
Su Tuigu disagreed: "I think it's because the new owner has taken over the tax collection. The government is directly demanding grain from the owner, so naturally they won't bother us poor folks."
"Whatever the reason, we've had a better year. We harvested grain and have some extra money. I can go back to school next year," Su Erdi said with anticipation.
This year, they rented fifteen mu of land. The father and his two sons worked from dawn till dusk, exhausted every day. But the hard work was worth it. The early rice harvest was just around the corner, and they estimated that the fifteen mu of land would yield twenty or thirty shi of unpolished rice. Even after paying the rent, there would still be a little left over, meaning all the future harvest would be theirs.
Old Su had never experienced such a good thing before. He enshrined a statue of Guanyin at home and offered incense and kowtowed every day, fearing that it was just a dream and would be gone when he woke up.
Families who were originally tenant farmers and had become wealthy all shared a similar mindset. With hope for the future, they worked tirelessly in the fields. Although it was tiring, they were happy, yet also anxious and fearful of any unforeseen changes.
Days passed by, and the rice in each family's fields was ripe. The whole family, young and old, worked together to harvest the rice. Just as everyone was working hard, a few people strolled leisurely into the village.
The sharp-eyed Su Erdi was the first to spot the group. He trembled all over and said to Su Laoguan, "Zhang Mazi and the others are here!"
Old Su turned around and saw that his face had turned pale. He stopped what he was doing.
More villagers also saw the group of people and stopped what they were doing, watching them silently.
Zhang Mazi was a hanger-on in the county government's household registration office. He gathered a few hooligans and helped them collect grain in the countryside every year. While the household registration office clerks ate meat, they also got to drink soup.
This year, as the summer tax season arrived, the county government hadn't made any moves. Zhang Mazi, having exhausted his savings, thought he should do the work himself before waiting for instructions from above, and then report back to the county government later. He could also bully the villagers and squeeze some extra money out of them.
In the past, relying on the government's influence, they acted without restraint in various villages. Besides urging grain and taxes, it was common for them to steal a sheep or a chicken. If they encountered an honest and law-abiding family, it was not a big deal for them to bully a young woman. If they dared to make a sound, they would be whipped a few times in the name of urging grain and they would behave.
Although the Su family did not pay taxes directly to the county government but to Gou Dafu, they were not paid rent on time. In addition to being beaten by Gou Dafu, they were also whipped by Zhang Mazi many times. Gou Dafu deceived his superiors and did not have to pay much tax. He was concerned about his own income and often colluded with Zhang Mazi to help collect rent in the name of the government. They would also give them some benefits after the rent was collected. So much so that Su Erdi would reflexively think of whips whenever he saw Zhang Mazi.
Zhang Mazi walked to a field, glanced at the people working there, and said in a sarcastic tone, "Lin the Cripple, today we'll start with you. If you know what's good for you, hurry up and pay this year's taxes. If you delay my work, I'll whip you!"
The man known as Lin the Cripple was one of the few in the village who didn't rent land from the Gou family. Their few acres of land were in poor condition and difficult to irrigate, so Gou Dafu hadn't considered it. He quickly came up from the field and pleaded, "Uncle Zhang, please grant me a few more days, until this harvest..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Mazi lashed him with a whip: "You've been owing money since the year before last. Even if you harvest all the rice in the fields this year, it won't be enough. Go home and bring out all your valuables!"
Seeing Lin the Cripple howling in pain from the whip, rolling around in the field covered in mud, the villagers felt the same way, but dared not speak out. Su Erdi, trembling, asked Su Laoguan, "Father, the landlord promised our family we wouldn't have to pay grain or taxes, so they shouldn't come after us, right?"
Old Su's face turned ashen, and it took him a long time to say, "Judging from this situation, it's hard to say."
After teaching Lin the Cripple a lesson, Zhang the Pockmarked went to a neighboring field. Before he could even speak, the family there said, "Master Zhang, we are tenants of Master Gou's family. Now that Master Gou has been robbed, the land has been transferred to someone else. The new landlord made it clear that we only need to pay rent, not taxes..."
Zhang Mazi lived near the county town and wasn't very clear about these things. Hearing this, he laughed loudly, "You've been blinded by greed! When we no longer have to pay taxes, it doesn't matter who's the master. Trying to cheat and shirk responsibility, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your master!" The whip cracked loudly, and the men cried out in pain.
Seeing that things were not going well, Su Da Tui said to Su Lao Guan, "This is not right. I have to go find the new boss and ask him to find out if what he said was just bullshit." Before Su Lao Guan could figure out whether to support or stop him, he ran off in a flash.