amaotonovel Chapter 500 The Shui Family’s Money Is His
Chapter 500 The Shui Family’s Money Is His
That afternoon, Chen Fengzhi returned to Chenshui Village in a triumphant manner with a group of officials.
Humph, he just didn't believe that he couldn't deal with this bunch of mud-legged people.
When the villagers saw Chen Fengzhi bringing the officials, they were scared.
Since ancient times, the people have never fought against the officials. They are just ordinary people, few of whom can read. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are ignorant of the law. When they see the officials, they instinctively feel a fear.
Village Chief Chen is the village chief after all. He is knowledgeable and has a calm demeanor.
"Mr. Chen, what do you mean?"
According to seniority, Village Chief Chen is Chen Fengzhi's distant uncle.
But now, he doesn't even call Chen Fengzhi's name.
Chen Fengzhi looked like a villain who had achieved success:
"According to the order of the county magistrate, come to Chenshui Village to collect taxes!"
At the beginning, he actually deceived the county magistrate and arrested all the people in Chenshui Village.
But the county magistrate didn't dare to do so. After all, there was a county magistrate above him, and he couldn't cover up everything.
The county magistrate was recently very happy because the locust plague in the county had been eradicated, which was a great political achievement for him.
You know, many people in other counties have already started to flee famine, but their county is very stable.
Although the harvest will certainly be reduced due to the drought, it is still better than having no harvest at all in other counties.
The county magistrate, who was bent on climbing the career ladder, didn't dare to cause trouble at this time.
Therefore, the county magistrate only agreed to let Chen Fengzhi bring people to collect taxes. After the taxes were collected, the county magistrate would naturally have to take a share.
And they can also get some.
Before Chen Fengzhi left, the county magistrate repeatedly told him:
"Stop charging an amount that the villagers can accept. Don't go too far. Otherwise, if we anger the county magistrate, we will suffer the consequences."
After all, if the county magistrate was promoted, and he spoke a few good words for him, there was a high chance that he would take over as county magistrate.
But Chen Fengzhi couldn't care less.
He wanted to avenge the humiliation he suffered in the morning.
Besides, how much trouble could this bunch of peasants cause?
He knew these people too well. They only bullied the weak and feared the strong. As long as he used some means to scare them, he would definitely make them hand over the money obediently!
Village Chief Chen said:
"Since you are here to collect taxes, have you brought the documents?"
Chen Fengzhi was well prepared. He took out the document and almost slammed it in the face of Village Chief Chen.
"Here is the document! Do you see this big red seal? Hurry up and pay the money. Pay per person, thirty taels per person!"
Village Chief Chen was about to read the document carefully, but Chen Fengzhi put it away all of a sudden and said proudly:
"Village Chief Chen, pay your taxes now!"
Village Chief Chen glared at Chen Fengzhi and said:
"Everyone in our village got 25 taels of money from selling the elixir. How can we possibly pay 30 taels of tax? Bring me the document!"
Chen Fengzhi refused to take it and said:
"How can a document with the county magistrate's personal seal be fake? Will you hand it in? If not, I will arrest you for tax evasion!"
Having said that, he ordered the commander to arrest Village Chief Chen.
Gu Xi shouted:
"stop!"
For no reason, Chen Fengzhi was frightened by the angry shout and his legs began to tremble, and he almost fell to his knees.
When he saw that the person coming was Shui Miaomiao, he was furious.
How could he be scared by this little girl?
By the way, why did he feel that this girl was so powerful and even more majestic than the county magistrate?
Gu Xi said to the two officers who were holding Village Chief Chen:
"Did the county magistrate say that he would charge thirty taels per person? If he falsely passes on the county magistrate's order and deliberately oppresses the innocent people, and you help him to do evil, I'm afraid you will all suffer the consequences!"
When the officers heard this, they hesitated and then let go of their hands.
To put it bluntly, Chen Fengzhi was just a clerk, his rank was similar to theirs, and he was not an official. What right did he have to order them to do whatever they wanted?
The county magistrate did let them collect taxes, but thirty taels of tax per person was something they had never heard of.
An officer said:
"Chen Shuwen, take out the county magistrate's document and read it to everyone."
The normal procedure, when collecting taxes, is to read the document once.
Chen Fengzhi's face turned gloomy, but seeing that the officers no longer listened to his orders, he had no choice but to take out the documents.
The village chief came closer to take a look and said coldly:
"It's clearly written on the document that you want us to pay 30 taels? Mr. Chen, are you illiterate?"
Gu Xi said leisurely:
"It's ridiculous that a scholar can't read. I think he wants to enrich himself. If it's 30%, then each person is 75 cents. He took 30 cents. He wants to put the extra money into his own pocket, right?"
All the officials glared at Chen Fengzhi angrily.
This guy didn't tell them to do this on the way. Could it be that he wanted to have the best deal and make them take the blame as well?
Chen Fengzhi was so angry that his face turned blue, and he explained through gritted teeth:
"I was in a hurry and didn't see clearly. I mistook 30% for 30 taels!"
Thirty percent is quite a lot. I have to say that the county magistrate is quite corrupt.
The villagers felt very distressed.
But they thought that these were all gifts from the mountain god and they didn't contribute much, so they just had to hand it over.
Chen Fengzhi was so angry that his teeth ached.
Why do I feel like these peasants have become smarter?
And that Shui Miaomiao, whose IQ was zero in front of him before, why is she so sharp-tongued now?
Could it be that the blow I hit her on the back of the head actually made her enlightened?
The officials asked the village chief Chen to lead them to collect taxes from every household.
Gu Xi ran back home and said to Shui Pingfang:
"Brother, we can't let Chen Fengzhi get away with it!"
Shui Pingfang also said angrily:
"It's this scum. If he hadn't gone to complain, the county wouldn't have been able to collect taxes from our village! Sister, what do you think we should do? How about we find a chance to beat him up!"
Gu Xi said:
"No need to look for an opportunity, today is a good opportunity. We will take action after they collect the tax silver."
Horizontal Square Road:
"He has so many officials with him. We are no match for him."
Gu Xi rolled his eyes: "I have a way."
Village chief Chen brought officials to the Shui family to collect taxes.
There are five people in the Shui family, and they were given a total of 125 taels of silver, of which 30% had to pay 37 taels and 5 cents.
After paying the tax, both parties signed and sealed the agreement, and Chen Fengzhi also issued a receipt for the tax payment to the Shui family. This was what Gu Xi had told Village Chief Chen before, and he must issue the receipt.
Village chief Chen also felt that a despicable person like Chen Fengzhi might really do something like accepting the money and then turning around and accusing it of confiscation, so he also agreed with Gu Xi's proposal.
After the Shui family's tax was paid, Chen Fengzhi glared at Gu Xi, then said:
"Next one!"
The Shui family made 150 taels of silver from selling the blind bear before, and now the village has distributed so much more, which adds up to more than 200 taels of silver.
He must get the money.
Although the county magistrate would give him a reward after collecting this batch of tax silver, it was only a hundred or eighty taels at most, and it was all used to buy a house.
I will take the imperial examination next year, and there will definitely be a lot of relationships to manage.
In his eyes, the Shui family's money belongs to him.