HCB Chapter 138 Pearl Tax
Chapter 138 Pearl Tax
"Why did you come all this way? Did you see the whale just pass by? It was a huge whale. I estimate it would be as tall as the patrol boat if it stood up."
Lin Ke got off the boat and sat on Xu Yiyi's small boat with his legs curled up.
He handed over a clean towel.
His tone was a little excited. He was from the north and was not good at water.
Even though I've been here for two years, I still find everything strange.
Xu Yi wiped it while explaining his purpose.
"Master Fang was poisoned yesterday. The poison is called Dream Poison. I heard from the old doctor that those who are poisoned by this poison will be trapped in a dream world. If the poison is not cured in time, they may not be able to distinguish between reality and illusion, and eventually collapse and die in this environment."
As Xu Yiyi spoke, she looked at Lin Ke with some curiosity, wondering how such a strange poison could exist.
Lin Ke frowned, as if thinking about something.
Fang Zhiyi is a kind-hearted person who can talk to anyone.
Someone who won't offend others easily.
He was unexpectedly poisoned. No one knew whether he was poisoned by someone or he was just unlucky.
"Have you found the medicine?"
Xu Yiyi nodded. "I originally wanted to use your connections to go to the government's pearl farm to collect pearls, but when I went to Zhechong Mansion to look for you, the attendant said you were not there. I was afraid I would be too late, so I went to an uncontrolled area to collect pearls."
She took out the beads from her pocket and showed them to Lin Ke.
There are thirteen beads the size of rice grains, and only one is big enough.
Four round beads about an inch in size.
"I've inquired about it. That seabed is not under government control, nor is it privately owned. Do I have to pay a pearl tax if I go there to fish for pearls?"
Xu Yiyi actually doesn't know much about this aspect.
All I know is that the pearl tax rate for pearl fishing is 40% for the government and 60% for the people. That is, private individuals who go to the pearl pond to collect pearls need to hand over 40% to the government as pearl tax, and they can keep 60%.
As for pearl hunting in private pearl ponds, the requirements are more stringent.
The merchant takes 60% and can only keep 40% for himself.
If she had to pay the pearl tax, she would lose all the big pearls she had worked so hard to collect.
Lin Ke helped put the bag containing the pearls back into Xu Yiyi's hand.
"The seabed you mentioned barely produces pearls anymore, so there's no government control over it. Pearl merchants don't value it either. In unregulated territory, the pearls you find are yours."
Xu understood everything.
I thought that what the manager said just now was probably fabricated.
……
The boat docked, and the things in Xu Yiyi's fish basket were very eye-catching.
Suddenly a large group of people came up.
"Will you sell your catch? I'll pay a high price for it."
A man was waving a fan in his hand and looking at Xu Yiyi's fish basket with great curiosity.
The fan was blowing air, and Xu Yiyi was standing beside him. Even though his nose was not very sensitive, he could smell the aroma of various foods on this person.
Why does it smell a bit intoxicating when mixed together?
It's obvious that this is a restaurant.
"No, no, I'm going to give it away."
Xu Yiyi waved her hand and said she would go to Qingshan's house for dinner tonight.
Of course, it's not good to go empty-handed. Aren't you going out to sea to hunt for pearls? Why not go down to the sea and catch some seafood?
"Hey, that guy must have a good relationship with you, since he has so many valuable fish."
The man couldn't help but say something more. Looking at the clothes Xu Yiyi was wearing, she didn't look like a rich person.
The money from selling the fish is enough to buy dozens of sets of coarse linen clothes.
Lin Ke came over from the inspector's side and was a little surprised to hear this.
"Give it to me?"
Pointing his long finger at himself, Lin Ke looked at the fish on the ground and seemed to be thinking about how to eat it.
Xu Yiyi hurriedly explained.
"I'm sending it to Uncle Qingshan. I've been to the city several times, but I haven't visited Auntie yet. I'm going over for dinner tonight."
Xu Yiyi poured out the catch and rubbed the dirtier parts with seaweed.
The sun in the sky was shifting, and the sea breeze made Xu Yiyi's hair as dry as dead grass.
"Where are you staying tonight? Or at the government office?"
Lin Ke bent down to help her lift the fish basket.
The water from above dripped down, and the clothes that had been dry like pickled vegetables were stained with moisture again.
"Go to the government office to take care of it. You always have to leave a good impression when you visit people."
Xu Yiyi's appearance at this moment looked like someone who had just returned from a fight.
She was about to nod when Qingshan appeared out of nowhere.
His sturdy figure stood in front of the two men, looking a little intimidating.
"You ran so fast, I was thinking of inviting you home for lunch."
Qingshan looked at the two people struggling to carry the fish basket, and without any disgust, he carried it directly on his shoulders.
"Then I'll go with Uncle Qingshan first..."
Xu Yiyi said something to Lin Ke, then happily followed Qingshan to the shore.
……
Not far away, there are fishing boats docked.
Zhu Nu and her group stood there staring.
"If I'm not mistaken, that person is Lin Duwei from Zhechoufu, and the one helping the Xu family's eldest lady carry her things is the young master of the Song family's trading company."
The manager stroked his beard and spoke lightly.
"I hope you guys really didn't provoke the Xu family's eldest lady as you said before. Otherwise, if she really comes to the rescue, the master won't care about you!"
The manager said something in a sly tone and went ashore with his fat waist twisted.
His master still relies on the Song Company for his livelihood. If he knew that these beauties under his control had offended someone, and that the person they offended was someone who was on good terms with an important figure, he would probably be heartbroken.
The remaining pearl girls looked at each other in confusion.
"We're not going to get hurt, are we? Who knew she was so powerful?"
……
"She doesn't look like someone who would complain, does she?"
After she said this, the others looked at her as if she were an idiot.
……
"Never mind her. We didn't accomplish anything, and we each got beaten up."
Several pearl girls felt that if they really counted the money, they were the ones who lost.
Xu Yiyi followed Qingshan through an alley and stopped in front of the grain store.
The next moment, someone pushed a cart out of the shop, and Qingshan piled the fish basket on it.
"I was wondering why you were so careful when you were carrying it. It was all wet."
Qingshan wiped it off, pushed the cart and took Xu Yiyi through several alleys to a big house.
"I can't believe you're so rich, Uncle Qingshan."
The so-called quietness in the midst of noise, this place is close to the port, so you can enjoy the convenience brought by trade while avoiding the hustle and bustle of the dock.
Qingshan laughed heartily.
"I'm not rich, but my ancestors earned it through their hard work and I'm just trying to keep it."
Qingshan knocked on the nanmu door with the door knocker inlaid with exquisite copper ornaments. The steps were paved with marble, and each step was polished smooth and flat. On the street in front of the door, the bluestone road meandered forward.
Before he even went in, Xu Yiyi felt that Qingshan was worthy of his title as a wealthy businessman.
"The door is unlocked, why are you knocking?"
Before I saw the person, I heard his voice first.
A very cheerful voice was heard, and Xu Yiyi looked at Qingshan curiously.
"Your aunt is not used to having servants in the house."
Qingshan shrugged his shoulders, and the door opened in an instant.