Giant Cat Lords could levy taxes on transactions within their territories. This was also how Giant Cat Lords in prosperous regions amassed vast wealth. They paid wages in the name of Giant Cat Banks, collected income tax from Cat Lamps, then had them purchase goods and pay trade tax, before finally buying goods themselves to acquire raw materials. Even without conducting any business or investments, as long as enough transactions changed hands, they could still rake in handsome profits.
Jiang Han saw this clearly, and she also knew that the primary purpose behind investing in Giant Cat trade was not profit.
"Trade brings prosperity. Prosperity draws in more Giant Cats and Cat Lamps. A primitive gathering place for Cat Lamps evolves into a Cat Lamp community, then into a Cat Lamp town. Once you reach that point, extraordinary wealth is no longer the main goal—it becomes a byproduct within easy reach," Jiang Han said.
She reached out and stroked Du Lingxuan's face. As expected, it was smooth and tender, with the same feel as before.
"No need to ask about someone else's skincare products, right?"
Du Lingxuan showed no sign of feeling rubbed the wrong way. In that respect, she was rather like a big cat—rather like a Cat Lamp. Instead, she grew smug, wearing the sort of triumphant expression one had after piecing together coupons and buying a takeout meal worth over fifty yuan for less than ten. She said craftily, "Asking isn't for the answer."
"Just for the means?" Jiang Han asked.
"It's for confirmation. Say you ask the top student in a class for study tips. She might only tell you, 'Read more, practice more.' But flatter her with a line like, 'At the top of a hundred-foot pole, take one step further,' and she'll smugly reveal