Why don't you just rob it?
Chen Mo, who had been hiding behind Jing Zhe, could no longer hold back and stepped forward, furious.
"We are government officials, not bandits or brigands, why would you rob us?"
"I think you're worse than mountain bandits and brigands! Government officials? Bah! You're a disgrace to the court! People like you should all be dragged out and beheaded—mmm…"
Before Chen Mo could finish speaking, Jing Zhe quickly covered her mouth.
The lips are soft and moist, and feel nice to the touch…
Breaking free from his grasp, Chen Mo blushed and glared at Jing Zhe. Realizing she had misspoke, she obediently hid behind him and remained silent.
"I am foolish and do not know how you calculated this amount of 1,200 taels, sir?"
Jing Zhe asked.
"Of course we calculated it according to the tax rate calculation method stipulated by the imperial law. Would the imperial court cheat you?"
The imperial court might not, but you certainly will.
Seeing Jing Zhe staring at him without saying a word, the lean constable said somewhat irritably, "What, do you want me to do the calculation for you again?"
"Then I am all ears!"
"All right!"
The lean constable shook his head and said, "The last time I came to your shop to collect taxes, you made over two hundred taels, didn't you?"
Jing Zhe nodded, "That's true."
"So you should thank me!"
"Oh, really?"
Jing Zhe glanced at him, "Although I don't know what I should thank you for, since you've brought it up, I'll thank your whole family first!"
"..."
The more I hear this, the more uncomfortable I feel.
Never mind, thanking him is fine anyway.
"I've heard that two hundred taels a day wasn't the most you ever earned. You've earned three or four hundred taels a day before!"
“But I’m a rather kind person, so I’ll just tax you based on your daily income of two hundred taels. As for any extra income, I won’t take it. Tell me, shouldn’t you thank me?”
"Yes, I've already thanked your whole family."
"..."
"There are more than 360 days in a year. If we calculate it based on 360 days, you can earn 72,000 taels of silver a year!"
When the number was announced, even the lean constable himself was taken aback: "Wow, that many?"
The onlookers remained silent, all feeling that his algorithm sounded flawed, and they were still racking their brains trying to figure out what went wrong.
Jing Zhe was so angry he laughed.
That's a whopping 72,000 taels of silver!
If such a small store can earn that much in a year, Anguo's national treasury must be overflowing with taxes alone.
"Sir...I have a question."
Seeing Jing Zhe's politeness, the lean constable said straightforwardly:
"explain!"
"Can our popsicles even sell in winter?"
"It's freezing cold in winter, who would be crazy enough to eat popsicles? Besides, even if someone wanted to, just leave some mung bean soup outside overnight and it would freeze. Only a fool would buy it!"
The lean constable analyzed dismissively.
Jing Zhe nodded solemnly: "That's right, that's what I was thinking too, but there are always fools who think that we can sell this many popsicles all year round!"
"..."
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
Just moments ago, everyone was wondering what was wrong, but after Jing Zhe pointed it out, they immediately understood.
Popsicles are selling well now, firstly because of the hot weather, and secondly because they've heard that many people are just pretending to love farts, essentially leaving their money in the store without actually spending it. Otherwise, even if they sold a thousand popsicles a day, they'd only get a hundred taels of silver.
If we wait a few more days, once the start of autumn is over, there will be far fewer people buying popsicles, not to mention in winter.
The lean constable, however, was paid 200 taels a day, a shamelessness that was truly appalling.
Are you calling me an idiot?
Jing Zhe shook his head. "It wasn't me, it was you who cursed. Only a brainless idiot would buy popsicles in winter."
"..."
The lean constable narrowed his eyes.
The algorithm does indeed have a lot of flaws, which he himself discovered, but he couldn't change the words because Lin Wenyao taught him all of this. He was just a tool, so how could he have the right to change the lines?
He then said fiercely, "Why didn't you mention when you earned more than two hundred taels a day? Don't just think about taking advantage! This calculation is based on the imperial law, and what you say is useless!"
"..."
You can never change someone who's trying to mess with you.
Jing Zhe thought for a moment, then continued to ask, "Okay, according to your calculation, we should pay 1,440 taels a year, right? How did you arrive at 1,200 taels?"
The lean constable grinned. "So you should thank me! I only counted three hundred days for you this year, and the remaining sixty-odd days are considered exempted for you, so the tax is naturally more than two hundred taels less! Hehe, shouldn't you thank me?"
"Well, I thanked your whole family just now, now I should thank your ancestors for eighteen generations!"
The lean and wiry constable: "..."
Chen Mo: "..."
"Enough with the nonsense, just hand over the money!"
The lean constable said impatiently.
"Wait a minute, sir, you just said that this calculation method is stipulated by the imperial law. I am ignorant and have never heard of such a law before. Why don't you show it to me and everyone else so that we can all see it and be convinced that we are paying taxes in a fair way!"
The lean constable was somewhat embarrassed after hearing this. He was just a messenger and had no idea what laws or regulations he was talking about.
Just as I was hesitating about what to say, I suddenly saw Lin Wenyao walking towards me from the other side!
"Want the law? Heh, I've got it!"
Hearing Lin Wenyao's calm voice, the lean constable finally breathed a sigh of relief, his mission successfully completed.
Lin Wenyao walked closer, stared greedily at Chen Mo a few more times, and then said to the crowd with dissatisfaction, "I'll just talk to him alone, what are you all doing here?"
After saying this, he gave the constables a wink, and they understood and immediately dispersed the crowd.
When only Jing Zhe, Chen Mo, and the others remained at the scene, Lin Wenyao sneered: "Want the law? Let me tell you, in Yongzhou City, my father is the heavens, and I am the law!"
"You said you'd pay me 1,200 taels, right? Now I've changed my mind. It'll be 1,440 taels, not a penny less! If you can't pay by tomorrow morning, you can expect to be shut down!"
Then, glancing at Chen Mo with a sly smile, he said, "If this young lady could come back to my residence with me, we could discuss this matter, and perhaps there would be a turning point."
"..."
————
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
