Chapter 109: Shall I Use My Allure?
Translator: Fan Translation Studio
She would surely continue to keep her business open but the only thing was that she was not willing to give up her hard-earned profits to these people. She had not really resigned herself to the consequences, so that was why she did not agree with Fang Shanding to pay off the taxes.
Would she suffer for it?
She would certainly suffer losses. She would still have to work hard but would make less money in the future. What was more, this ti they had charged her for tax evasion but she didn’t know what would be next. She had not seen through all of the string-pulling in these ancient tis.
While her mind was entangled and puzzled an attendant of the governnt suddenly ca to her and told her that she was free to go.
That quickly?
“Lord Liu has co. Just go out and et them yourself!” said the attendant.
Ye Xiaoxian went out, not seeing Lord Liu but finding Li Hongi waiting for her.
“Little Ye, are you alright? Oh, I was so worried. Luckily Miss Qianqin is so kind and asked Lord Liu to help us, otherwise...I wouldn’t know what to do. I was worried that you’d be beaten in there or be bullied by them.”
Li Hongi had been really scared and her legs had been weak until now.
“Ma, I’m alright, they didn’t pick up on . They just asked so questions.” Ye Xiaoxian comforted Li Hongi and then asked, “Where is Lord Liu?”
“He’s still discussing things with that tax official. I wonder how it’ll turn out. Shall we wait for him to co out and see what the result will be?” Li Hongi had finally managed to stop shaking while talking but her heart still fluttered.
The two of them then waited outside the governnt office. After another hour Lord Liu finally ca out.
“Why are you here? Hurry up and get in my carriage!” Lord Liu said. “Let’s talk while riding.”
The carriage was big enough to accommodate the three of them.
“Lord Liu, it’s all thanks to you this ti or our Little Ye would...thank you so much.” As soon as Li Hongi climbed into the carriage she started to thank Lord Liu again and again.
“Don’t ntion it. I didn’t really do much but just asked them to let Little Ye go, but about the taxes...” Lord Liu frowned. “I’m afraid they insist on full paynt. You know, the tax paynts now are classified into three tiers which are third, sixth and ninth levels. I’m afraid soone like you who doesn’t know the tricks of the trade will have to pay the sixth or ninth tier.”
“What are the tricks of the trade?” asked Li Hongi.
Lord Liu said, “It’s not a written law but an unspoken rule of the governnt themselves. If you offer them so benefit you can pay the third tier, but once they have sothing on you, you have to pay the sixth or even ninth.”
Lord Liu turned to Ye Xiaoxian. “Actually, I’ve figured out what happened in your case. The reason it happened in the first place is that you’re not sophisticated enough. Living in this society, one is not always supposed to be too straight. You’d better try your best not to provoke so people.”
Ye Xiaoxian said, “I just don’t want to pamper those lazybones who just mope around and sponge off us.”
“Sotis you have to pamper them, especially when you haven’t been able to handle it. Little Ye, think about what I said. If you find it useful you may listen to . If you don’t, then stick with your own way, but you will have to suffer a bit.”
As they were talking they arrived at the restaurant. Li Hongi and Ye Xiaoxian got out of the carriage and Lord Liu went back ho.
Xiao Baozhu, Xian, Little Five and Little Six saw Ye Xiaoxian returning ho soundly and then breathed a sigh of relive. The whole group had been scared to death just now and dared not even open the gate of the restaurant. So diners ca and then left in disappointnt and so even asked if they would still open tomorrow.
Li Hongi asked Ye Xiaoxian, “Little Ye, what shall we do now? Are we going to open up as usual?”
“Yes, just as usual. Let’s just do what we usually do.”
However, while speaking, a complicated look flashed across Ye Xiaoxian’s eyes.
Being sophisticated, eh? Surely she could handle that!
The following day, Liu Qianqian ca to eat and also asked Ye Xiaoxian to co over as she wanted to have a word with Ye Xiaoxian.
Ye Xiaoxian then asked Li Hongi to co over and cook the next several dishes.
Li Hongi watched Ye Xiaoxian cook all day long and she already knew how to cook most of the dishes in the restaurant. It was a rare chance for her to put the theory into practice, so she agreed to it imdiately. Li Hongi also found that little Ye had been worked too hard in the kitchen day after day and wished she could find soone to replace her, otherwise she would sooner or later beco a haggard housewife, polluted by all the cooking grease and smoke all day long.
Besides, Little Ye did not have the chance to spend so quality ti with Baoshan. Li Hongi had always been hoping that Little Ye could go to the dock to call on Baoshan, as it could improve their relationship and they also would not need to go up to the roof to chat.
That was right. Li Hongi knew that they were chatting on the roof. She was getting old and was easily woken up by slightest stir.
Ye Xiaoxian went to Liu Qianqian’s reserved room with a bowl of sour and sweet plum soup. Seeing Liu Qianqian, Ye Xiaoxian paused in a daze. She had not seen Liu Qianqian for a while and she had beco more plump. If she gained any more then she would end up overweight.
“Miss Qianqian, how co you’ve beco so chubby? Is it that you don’t go out at all and only stay in and eat?” asked Ye Xiaoxian.
“It’s all your fault!” said Liu Qianqian.
“Why are you accusing ?” Ye Xiaoxian sat down in front of Liu Qianqian and took so roasted lon seeds to eat. “You haven’t been to my place lately.”
Liu Qianqian also ate roasted lon seeds while talking. “You have been to my house to cook for before, haven’t you? Our cook was not pleased as I only ate what you cooked but not his dishes, so every ti you ca to cook he wrote down the ingredients you used and your cooking process. After practicing it over and over, oh my god, he had actually cooked sothing which tasted the sa as yours. Tell , how creepy is that?”
“Gosh!” Ye Xiaoxian joked. “Luckily he hasn’t opened up a restaurant to compete with mine. If he does, you let know first and I’ll knock him down with a rod!”
Liu Qianqian smiled. “Sure, if he dared to undercut your business I’d be the first one to teach him a lesson. By the way you don’t sound too happy today. Is it because you were taken away and held for half a day yesterday?”
“Of course. I was tricked by others. The taxes I used to pay were two taels a month and I may have to pay six taels from now on. You be the judge, it’s not easy to make money with my humble restaurant, is it? At six taels we’ll earn nothing after paying the taxes.”
Liu Qianqian asked, “So what are you going to do?”
Ye Xiaoxian though about Fang Shanding and then said, “As far as I can see, although there are tax rules they are not strict. As for how much money I should pay, only the tax official’s opinion matters. I have to find a chance to get to know this man and curry his favor.”
Liu Qianqian could not help but ask, “Are you trying to use your allure to curry his favor? Aren’t you afraid that your man, the large Xiao Baoshan, will be jealous?”
“Miss Qianqian, you’ve mistaken . Although I do have so allure, which may not be a ten but at least a nine, I won’t use it unless I have no alternative,” said Ye Xiaoxian.
Liu Qianqian then laughed. “You are too much. You’re just a haggard housewife cooking in the kitchen, yet you think you have allure. You’ll make yourself a laughingstock if anyone else hears that.”
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