Chapter 204: Insidious and Shameless

The big red envelopes are given to the village head and the two clan leaders, and the small red envelopes are given to the clan elders and people who have a say in the village.

Steward Mao was in high spirits and accepted the task with a pat on his chest.

And he secretly decided to take this opportunity to save face and vent his anger.

This is fifty taels of silver!

He didn't think the people of Zaihu Village would refuse.

Those peasants probably have never seen such a huge sum of money in their lives, and they must be so happy.

Besides, it’s just to stop them from helping the Zhao family. Once the sugarcane plantation is in the hands of the young master, it won’t hinder them from working and making money.

It's like getting a huge sum of money for free.

Butler Mao never expected that not only the head of the village, but also the two clan leaders would not buy it at all and drove him away without hesitation.

"This silver is hot, take it and get out!"

"We don't want it!"

Steward Mao was in a state of embarrassment and left Zaihu Village in shame.

Steward Mao went back to report, and as expected, he was kicked and scolded.

It was not until this time that Mao Dexing finally faced up to the matter.

If he fails to do this, he will lose all face.

At first, he didn't take it seriously at all, thinking that with just one word from him, how could a family of exiles like the Zhao family dare to say no? Wouldn't they have to obediently submit?

But he never expected that he would encounter the first trouble in his life.

He didn't make a random appointment to meet Zhao Liya at Wangchun Restaurant that day, but he instinctively thought that young girls were more easily threatened and intimidated.

He had never seriously tried to understand what kind of person Zhao Liya was. He disdained it and felt it was unnecessary. How could a little girl be so powerful?

Even if she had contributed to the Zhao family's business, it was only because the Zhao family had no one else to use, forcing her, a little girl, to do it herself.

He didn't expect that once she came out, he would be in bad luck.

This damn girl can't handle it.

Later, there were a series of mistakes, too many of them, and I suffered both hidden and obvious losses. I felt so frustrated!

He thought this matter was easy to accomplish, so he did not conceal it. Although he did not exaggerate it, people in Gaolian County basically knew everything they needed to know.

I wonder how many pairs of eyes are looking at him right now!

If he succeeds in taking over the sugarcane plantation, he will not only have a large income, but will also be able to make contact with the big boss behind it, which will be of great benefit.

It's just right, it also allows him to show off his abilities in the circle.

Imagining the admiring gazes of the merchants, gentry, and playboys, Mao Dexing felt like he was floating in the air.

But he never expected that he would suffer losses one after another.

He suffered losses one after another, and everyone saw it!

This is fucked up!

Uncle can't stand it!

Mao Dexing didn't dare to go to his brother-in-law, firstly because he felt ashamed, and secondly because he was afraid of being scolded.

Since my brother-in-law said that he would not use the name of the government to deal with the Zhao family, he definitely won't do that.

But he can borrow the name of his brother-in-law.

The people should not fight against the officials. This is an eternal truth.

If the Zhao family dares to do so, it would be tantamount to rebellion, and each of them will be thrown into jail.

Mao Dexing cursed fiercely and called two officers over, ordering them to take a few people to Yan Village.

"Twenty hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum plants? Within ten days? Are you kidding me, sir?"

Zhao Xiang is usually a very good-tempered person, but he couldn't help but get angry.

As soon as this request came out, everyone knew it: it must be the work of that bastard Mao Dexing again.

The officer, having accepted Mao Dexing's bribes, was happy to work tirelessly for the county magistrate's brother-in-law. He rolled his eyes and snorted arrogantly, "How dare you! Just do whatever I tell you to do! Who's kidding? Look carefully! If you don't hand it in within ten days, hmph, you'll be beaten with a stick in the yamen! You'll be charged with contempt of the imperial court!"

Zhao Liya: "Is this really the tribute the government wants?"

"How dare you! And you still dare to ask!"

"Sir, please calm down. How can we do anything without asking for clarification? Since this is a request from the government, how about you please show us the document?"

"What do you mean?" The officer sneered, his eyes stern. "If you don't want to look for it, then don't go! There's no official document!"

Zhao Liya smiled faintly. "How could there be no official documents for such an important matter? Sir, please be flexible. I'm sorry, we've been deceived more than once or twice. Since there is no official document, how dare we listen? What if the request is not for twenty plants but for thirty or forty? What if there is a mistake? We are all here to complete the task and contribute to the court, right? Please let us take a look and we can all rest assured."

Where would the officer get the official document? It's impossible for him to produce it.

However, I will never admit that it doesn't exist.

Some are just bluffing and stern.

"What's the matter? Can I still deceive you? Anyway, I've made a promise today. Come back in ten days. If you can't produce it by then, you can go to jail! Remember, not a single one of the twenty plants can be missing! Not even a single year less in a hundred years!"

Everyone was angry but dared not speak.

Twenty plants is already excessive, but can't we take one year less?

This kind of thing is originally an estimate. Who can accurately calculate how many years it will take?

Mao Dexing's character would definitely make the doctor who examined him insist that he was of poor age.

In short, this is a trap. Whether they jump into it or not, they are doomed to be trapped.

Seeing that they had nothing to say, the officer sneered and left with his men.

"Godfather, they're coming for us! I really want to blow their heads off!"

Zhao Liya said, "Dad, let's go find Magistrate Yin. It would be better to talk it out."

It's not that they don't want to give face to Mao Dexing or County Magistrate Yin. Mao Dexing has become so unscrupulous and lawless that they can't retreat anymore.

Unless you obediently allow Mao Dexing to drink blood and eat flesh.

But how is this possible?

This is the family business they earned themselves, and no one can take it away easily!

Zhao Xiang nodded: "Aya is right. In that case, let's go to the county government office together."

The Zhao family did not involve the villagers. Uncle Luo and Uncle Lin came to their house and said they could go to the county government together.

The officer brought up the tribute issue, which made Uncle Luo and the others feel uneasy.

If they can find the Zhao family like this, they will be able to find other families sooner or later.

We are all grasshoppers on the same vine. Helping the Zhao family today is actually equivalent to helping ourselves.

Zhao Xiang politely declined.

Not yet.

The Zhao family's going was both a way of reasoning and a sign of weakness, at least giving Magistrate Yin some face. If they took the villagers with them, it would be coercion, and might even anger Magistrate Yin.

By then, the situation will become increasingly tense and impossible to resolve, and we will have no choice but to invite Zhong Jing.

(End of this chapter)