Tax collection

"Ooh!"

The crowd could not hold back their cries of surprise.

Previously, they had thought Zhang Lingfeng's potential was no less than Ye Fan's, but that had only been speculation, largely based on how much importance Guo Wei placed on Zhang Lingfeng.

But over the past month or so, Guo Wei had clearly shown Ye Fan more care than Zhang Lingfeng, and doubts had arisen in their hearts again.

Now that they had seen Zhang Lingfeng actually defeat Ye Fan with their own eyes, they all realized that Guo Wei would probably focus all his attention on Zhang Lingfeng alone from now on, while Ye Fan would gradually be sidelined.

"Well done, lad."

"To think the Qi and Blood Pill helped you so much!"

Guo Wei could only marvel at him as though he were a celestial being.

As Guo Wei saw it, Ye Fan had also taken a Qi and Blood Pill and had begun attempting to break through to Dark Force earlier than Zhang Lingfeng. He ought to have had the upper hand, yet he had actually lost to Zhang Lingfeng.

It seemed his deduction had been correct.

Zhang Lingfeng truly had an exceptional constitution. Although his bone structure had closed, he absorbed the effects of the Qi and Blood Pill far better than Ye Fan did. Just one pill had taken his Dark Force from beginner to proficient.

His command of his fist technique had also become more practiced.

With a few more Qi and Blood Pills in the future, combined with diligent cultivation, he should be able to attempt the breakthrough to Transforming Jin before Ye Fan.

"Thank you, Master. I never expected the Qi and Blood Pill to help me so much either."

Zhang Lingfeng's face was full of gratitude.

"I misjudged you before. Although your bone structure has closed, your constitution is exceptional. You have great prospects."

Guo Wei praised him.

He wanted to take Zhang Lingfeng as a personal disciple outright, but ultimately held back, planning to observe him for a few more months.

"I'll definitely cultivate hard and won't disappoint you, Master."

Zhang Lingfeng made his solemn promise.

"Good."

The more Guo Wei looked at Zhang Lingfeng, the more satisfied he became.

Not only was Zhang Lingfeng sensible, but he also handled social dealings better than Ye Fan, had greater potential, and cultivated more diligently. Now that even his strength had surpassed Ye Fan's, Guo Wei could hardly help liking him.

Ye Fan sat on the ground, looking dejected.

He looked as though he had lost his soul.

At the crucial moment, he too had used all his strength, wanting to defeat Zhang Lingfeng and prove to everyone that he was Guo Wei's most outstanding disciple.

But the more he did so, the more easily he lost his composure and fell under Zhang Lingfeng's control. He soon exposed an opening and suffered two heavy punches from Zhang Lingfeng.

Now those strange looks from all around washed over him again. Ye Fan's state of mind sank to rock bottom, and he began doubting himself. Could I really be trash?

"Hmph! Let shame spur you to courage. Get up and cultivate!"

Seeing Ye Fan like this filled Guo Wei with anger.

He had poured his heart out to Ye Fan and invested so much effort in him, only for the fellow to perform so poorly. Fortunately, Zhang Lingfeng could take Ye Fan's place, or he would have suffered a huge loss.

Only then did Guo Wei feel somewhat better.

"I know I was wrong."

Ye Fan quickly stood up.

Guo Wei returned to his room, leaving Ye Fan alone and ignoring him.

"You're amazing, Senior Brother Zhang. Even Junior Brother Ye is no match for you."

"You're Master's favorite now, Senior Brother Zhang. Please look after us in the future."

"Junior Brother Zhang has an exceptional constitution. His future prospects are boundless."

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhang. With Master supporting you with resources from now on, perhaps it won't be long before you can attempt the breakthrough to Transforming Jin."

Everyone gathered around him.

They were unstinting in their praise.

Wu Yun, Liu Rushuang, Ma Fei, and Yang Tao all understood without needing to say anything. They realized that the martial hall would revolve around Zhang Lingfeng from now on.

All four were glad they had not offended Zhang Lingfeng before.

Otherwise, once Zhang Lingfeng inherited Guo Wei's mantle and attempted the breakthrough to Transforming Jin, they would all suffer for it.

"Hahaha, not at all. You all flatter me, senior brothers, senior sisters, and junior brothers. Let's learn from one another in the future."

Faced with everyone's support, Zhang Lingfeng remained modest throughout.

Seeing everyone crowd around Zhang Lingfeng, with even the outer courtyard apprentices having eyes for him alone, Ye Fan felt darkness shroud his vision. His former glory vanished into nothing at that moment.

Right then, he only wanted to return to Wei Hong's embrace. He felt that only Wei Hong could bring him comfort.

Time flew.

A month later.

[Twelve-Routine Iron Mountain Fist, Lower Part: (150/600)]

The progress bar had advanced through another month.

Zhang Lingfeng had brought Hei Hu back to Zhang Family Gully and was now making the rounds of Little Moon Mountain with Chen Qing.

The fragrance of rice filled a sea of blossoms.

It was now time to harvest the rice.

Across the Zhang Clan's nearly two thousand mu of land, laborers could be seen working everywhere.

There was only a month between harvesting and plowing and sowing. Harvesting two thousand mu was no small matter. Grain was the foundation, and neither Zhang Laochong nor Zhang Da dared be careless.

Zhang Lingfeng had not returned for some time.

Learning that rice was being harvested on the thousand mu of land on Little Moon Mountain, he had come back to take a look.

"Senior Brother Zhang, they're here."

Chen Qing pointed toward a field that did not belong to the Zhang Clan.

It was the Li Clan's land and did not need water from Little Moon Mountain. At that moment, Master Li had brought several clerks there, and they were measuring the fields.

The clerks were county yamen personnel responsible for calculating acreage, compiling registers, and collecting taxes. They often used the opportunity to extort money.

Patrol inspectors accompanied them.

Whenever quarterly taxes were collected, a portion of the silver went into their own pockets. Their earnings far exceeded even those of the gangs.

Before he had risen to prominence, whenever the clerks brought patrol inspectors to collect taxes each year, the Zhang household had to lose a chunk of flesh.

Today was the day the clerks came to collect taxes.

Zhang Lingfeng had come specifically to take a look.

He had spoken to Huang Jiefu beforehand.

Unfortunately, although the clerks and patrol personnel also belonged to the yamen, their immediate superior was the county yamen's private secretary, and a large portion of the taxes collected went straight into the county magistrate's hands.

As a mere constable captain, Huang Jiefu could not help him at all.

Of course, Zhang Lingfeng had not returned this time to oppose the yamen. Instead, he wanted to find out which clans and local gentry these clerks and patrol inspectors came from.

Why could members of their Zhang household not serve among them?

"They're coming our way."

Chen Qing reminded him.

"Let's take a look."

Zhang Lingfeng walked down the mountain.

From a distance, he saw Zhang Laochong and Zhang Da attending to the group, slipping some silver into their hands. This year, the Zhang Clan's holdings had increased by over a thousand mu.

These clerks and patrol personnel could make a great deal of that.

Zhang Laochong had to cultivate good relations with them to ensure that no problems arose.

Zhang Lingfeng merely stood at a distance without approaching too closely. His gaze turned toward Li Mingtian.

The Li Clan still owned over four thousand mu of farmland. Among the landowners outside the city, the Li Clan held a much higher standing than Zhang Laochong.

Sensing Zhang Lingfeng's gaze, Li Mingtian smiled and nodded at him.

Although the laws were strict and the Zhang Clan did not dare seize farmland openly, Zhang Lingfeng was now a Dark Force martial artist. If he sneaked into the Li Clan's residence and twisted his head off, even if someone reported it to the authorities, that would be after his death. Thus, Li Mingtian did not want to continue opposing the Zhang Clan.

After a while, the clerks finished measuring the fields and calculating the yield per mu, then left with Li Mingtian.

Zhang Laochong and Zhang Da also came over to Zhang Lingfeng.

"Grandfather."

"Father."

"How much did they demand?"

Zhang Lingfeng asked.

"With you here, they didn't dare go too far, but our Zhang Clan should take the lead in the next collection."

Zhang Laochong said.

Zhang Lingfeng knew what Zhang Laochong meant.

When clerks and patrol inspectors went into the countryside to collect taxes, designated people received them. The Li Clan was a major household and paid far more in taxes than the Zhang Clan and the Wang Family. Li Mingtian had always arranged the reception for the clerks, and every year he managed to pocket some benefits from it.

If the Zhang Clan wanted to reap benefits from this, first, their Zhang Clan had to be the ones receiving them. There also had to be members of their Zhang Clan among the clerks and patrol inspectors.

"Don't worry. No one can snatch a single grain of rice from our Zhang Clan's hands."

Zhang Lingfeng said.

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