"Are you Wang Xuan?"
The man watched Wang Xuan open the door, gave him a once-over, then asked coldly.
Wang Xuan nodded.
"That's me."
"My name is Sun Fu. I'm in charge of this year's tax collection!"
"Your household owes a total of ten taels of silver in taxes. Hand over the money!"
Sun Fu did not bother with pleasantries and went straight to the matter of taxes.
"What? Ten taels of silver?!"
Lu Yao emerged from the inner room just then. Upon hearing that they had to pay ten taels, her face changed sharply.
"Sir, wasn't this year's head tax one tael of silver per person? Why has it changed?"
Lu Yao asked anxiously.
Wang Xuan had given her fifteen taels of silver yesterday, but the family had debts from before. After paying the taxes, there would not even be enough left to repay them.
Sun Fu said coldly, "There has been a temporary policy change this year. For hunting households like yours, the tax silver has doubled."
"You usually go into the mountains to hunt often enough. Don't tell me you can't even come up with this little bit of money?"
He stared coldly at the two of them, speaking without the slightest courtesy.
Among the villagers watching from behind, the hunters' faces instantly turned as bitter as gourds!
The hunting tax had doubled!
Were they supposed to just die, then?!
Wang Xuan frowned involuntarily upon hearing this, instinctively sensing that something was wrong. At that moment, his gaze suddenly shifted outside.
Some villagers had followed the tax officer over to watch the excitement, but among them, he spotted several familiar figures.
They were none other than Shi Qian, Liu San, and the others!
The former stood with his arms folded, looking at him with a half-smile.
Wang Xuan understood immediately!
This bastard is behind this!
Yesterday, when Shi Qian had come to ask about Shi Yong's death, Wang Xuan had pretended not to know anything and muddled through it.
But he knew full well that Shi Qian still suspected him and would definitely find another way to cause him trouble!
He just had not expected Shi Qian to join forces with the tax officer to deal with him!
That damned bastard!
Wang Xuan could not help clenching his fists.
"Sir, as far as I remember, this year's taxes haven't changed. Shouldn't it be three taels of silver?"
Wang Xuan did not explode. Instead, he asked rationally.
When he met Chen Feng yesterday, they had also discussed taxes. This year's hunting tax should have been three taels!
Sun Fu said impatiently, "The policy was changed today. Is that not allowed?"
"Whatever I say it is, that's what it is. Stop wasting my time!"
"Hurry up and hand over the money!"
"If you can't pay, don't blame us for getting rough!"
As he spoke, he looked ready to make a move.
According to the laws of the Great Yuan Dynasty, if taxes could not be paid, men would be conscripted for corvée labor, while women would be made into prostitutes.
From afar, a smile appeared on Shi Qian's face at the sight!
Now that he had become a martial artist and an official disciple of the martial hall, the tax officers would give him some measure of respect!
So after returning yesterday, he had gone to find the tax officer and asked them for help.
If Wang Xuan resisted, they could test the depths of his strength. If he did not, then since the two families already had a grudge, they could settle him while they were at it.
Lu Yao's expression immediately turned anxious. She hurriedly said, "But sir, the hunting tax in past years was always one tael of silver. It has suddenly risen to six taels this year. Isn't that too much?"
Sun Fu's face darkened at once. He snorted coldly. "I already said it was a policy changed today!"
"Are you accusing me of lying?"
His tone grew heavier, and the pressure of a martial artist unconsciously spilled out!
Lu Yao's face went pale, and she could not help taking a step back.
Seeing this, Wang Xuan quickly stepped in front of Lu Yao. "Please don't be angry, sir. We were only asking."
"Ten taels of silver, right? I'll give it to you immediately."
Wang Xuan had no intention of tangling with these two any further.
Although Sun Fu was only an Ox Hide-tier martial artist, he was still a tax officer. If a conflict broke out, they would be the only ones to suffer.
Wang Xuan immediately went inside, then took out ten taels of silver and placed them before the two men.
"Sir, here are ten taels of silver!"
"Please inspect them!"
Sun Fu's expression shifted slightly upon hearing that.
"I remembered something else. This year's head tax has also increased to three taels of silver per person!"
"So the total is eighteen taels of silver!"
Hah!
As soon as those words fell, the faces of many onlooking villagers changed drastically!
Three taels for the head tax!
Most people in the village did not make a living by hunting, so the hunting tax did not put much pressure on them.
But!
Almost every household had four or five people!
Three taels of silver per head!
This was simply fatal!
For a moment, the villagers around them turned deathly pale, all of them wanting to flee!
Wang Xuan's face darkened sharply upon hearing this!
"Sir, are you playing me for a fool?"
He had already given the other side plenty of face, yet they still refused to let up!
This was no longer a matter of whether he paid or not. Even if he brought out eighteen taels of silver now, they would immediately raise the taxes again.
Upon hearing eighteen taels of silver, Lu Yao nearly collapsed to the ground.
Seeing Wang Xuan's attitude, cold light surged in Sun Fu's eyes. "What, are you planning to make a move?!"
Wang Xuan narrowed his eyes, killing intent surging wildly in his heart!
"Please wait, you two sirs."
"This woman now belongs to my master. I ask you two to show mercy and hand this woman over to me!"
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone turned to look.
They saw a lecherous-looking middle-aged man with a mustache, leading seven or eight servants toward them.
"Manager Qian!"
Wang Xuan's gaze sharpened.
The newcomer was Zhou Bapi's steward.
Qian Tong!
"Manager Qian."
When Sun Fu saw him, a trace of respect appeared on his face.
Behind Qian Tong stood the Zhou residence.
And Zhou Bapi was the richest man in town, so naturally they had to give him face.
Qian Tong came to the doorway and said, "Sir, their family owes my master money. If they cannot repay it, this woman must become my master's concubine."
"So..."
Sun Fu nodded. "Manager Qian, do as you please."
Qian Tong's gaze fell upon Wang Xuan and Lu Yao. Smiling, he said, "Young Madam of the Wang Family, you haven't forgotten the money you borrowed from my master a few days ago, have you?"
"I came today to collect the debt."
"A total of three taels and six qian of silver. If you cannot repay it, you must come with me!"
He wore a smile on his face, yet it sent chills down people's spines!
The surrounding villagers could not help sighing repeatedly upon hearing this.
It was troublesome enough to provoke the tax officer. Now they had also offended Zhou Bapi. This was truly a dead end!
Chen Shan stood amid the crowd with his brows tightly furrowed. Even if he wanted to help, there was nothing he could do.
Wang Xuan's eyes suddenly turned cold!
"Here's your money!"
He picked up four taels of silver and threw them to Qian Tong. However, Qian Tong shook his head.
"Boy of the Wang Family, that's money for paying taxes, not money for my master."
"Pay your taxes first, then repay the debt."
Sun Fu quickly nodded.
"Exactly."
"You haven't paid all your taxes yet. What are you trying to do?"
"If you have no money left, then come with us!"
As soon as Sun Fu finished speaking, the four bailiffs behind him immediately stepped forward, glaring at Wang Xuan with hostile expressions.
Wang Xuan shielded Lu Yao and took a step back.
"So you're determined to make things difficult for me today, is that it?"
Wang Xuan said coldly.
Sun Fu sneered.
"What do you mean, make things difficult for you!"
"You can't pay your taxes, and you still think you're in the right?!"
Sun Fu shouted coldly and reached out to grab Wang Xuan!
Seeing this, Wang Xuan clenched his right hand into a fist and was about to strike back!
"Stop!!!"
"By order of the Centurion, Wang Xuan is summoned to the camp!"
Before you continue