From Now On, You Must Pay Double Tribute!

Zhou Wanwan really wanted to say, what's so great about being a second or third rank official?

Her court had many officials of the first rank, Principal First Rank several of them.

Unfortunately, she didn't dare to say it; even if she did, no one would believe her.

Zhou Wanwan went home; now she no longer needs to go to the Nie Family.

As soon as I got home, I saw the Zhou Family sitting in the main hall. Old Madam Zhou frowned and said, "Why isn't Zhou Wanwan back yet? We've been waiting for her here for half an hour."

Liu Su'e sighed and said:

"Wanwan's whereabouts are unpredictable; she might not be coming back today."

If there's anything you need to say, let's talk about it when she gets back!

Old Madam Zhou looked very anxious:

"I wouldn't have come if I didn't need to see her!"

"I'm starving! Don't you even have a snack or a drop of water?"

The servants in the house kept their eyes down, seemingly oblivious to everything else, and no one paid them any attention.

Old Madam Zhou looked at Zhou Fusheng and said:

"Fusheng! Look at the servants in your household, they have no manners whatsoever."

How much do they get in monthly allowance?

Zhou Fusheng thought for a moment and said, "They... I think it's one tael of silver a month!"

Old Madam Zhou shouted, "What? Are you crazy! If one servant costs one tael of silver a month, then dozens of servants would cost dozens of taels!"

Qian Huihui smiled and said, "Your family is really wealthy. Is this house rented or bought?"

Liu Su'e said calmly, "We don't know either. These are all Wanwan's houses."

Qian Huihui scoffed and said, "We're all family. Even if this house really belongs to your family, we won't take it."

Zhou Wanwan walked in from outside and said, "That's the best. What do you need me for?"

Old Madam Zhou looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"Something has indeed happened. I heard you made those bandits pay you protection money?"

Zhou Wanwan, is what you did appropriate?

Zhou Wanwan quickly nodded and said, "It suits me perfectly, I think it suits me very well."

Old Madam Zhou coughed and said:

"Paying protection money is against the laws of the imperial court, do you know that?"

You need to tell them to stop paying right away, or I'll have a serious talk with the county magistrate."

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said, "What's it to you? If you want to say something, go ahead and say it!"

Old Madam Zhou choked for a moment, and after a long while, she finally said, "Some of the bandits know me, and they've come to me with their complaints. I can't just ignore them!"

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said, "I'm quite curious, which bandits complained to you? It's okay, just tell me."

Old Madam Zhou looked at her and said, "You're not thinking of getting revenge on them, are you?"

Zhou Wanwan sighed and said:

Revenge? Why would I want revenge?

"That's not true, didn't you say so? Those bandits complained to you, I need to know which ones they were, right?"

Old Madam Zhou named three bandit strongholds. "They are Jumbled Stone Stronghold, Tiger Claw Stronghold, and Yellow Earth Slope."

Zhou Wanwan nodded and readily agreed, "Okay, I've got it. You can all go out now."

Old Madam Zhou was taken aback for a moment, then looked at her and asked, "You mean they won't have to pay offerings anymore?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said, "Why shouldn't they have to pay? Go tell them that from now on they must pay double the tribute!"

Old Madam Zhou was furious:

"Zhou Wanwan, you've gone too far! Why should you pay double? Who do you think you are?"

You really think you're so great, huh?

Let me tell you, those mountain strongholds are all planning to join forces and attack your Black Wind Stronghold. Your Black Wind Stronghold is about to be destroyed!

I've heard that your Black Wind Stronghold is very wealthy. Since you're from the Zhou Family family, you have to pay us money. Hand it over now!

This is outright robbery!

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said, "If I remember correctly, our two families have severed ties. Don't try to claim kinship with us."

Old Man Zhou looked at Zhou Fusheng and said:

"Fusheng! This child is outrageous!"

You really need to keep an eye on things! Aren't our two families doing just fine now?

We've been thinking about you all this time! We've even built you a house.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "Nonsense, didn't the house that was supposed to be given to us go to Zhou Qingzhou?"

Zhou Qingzhou explained, "I was getting married at that time, so I just borrowed the house for a while. It's not like I'm not going to return it to you."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Then why don't you pay it back?"

Zhou Qingzhou coughed and said:

"When are you going back? Stay whenever you want! We're family, what's there to be in debt?"

"But the place you're staying is quite nice. Your house must be really expensive!"

Zhou Qingzhou claimed to be studying at the academy every day, but in reality, he spent all his time hanging out with his cronies.

Over time, they developed some bad habits.

Others might not know, but Zhou Wanwan knew perfectly well that Zhou Qingzhou had lost a lot of money at the gambling den, at least five thousand taels.

It just hasn't been exposed yet. Once it is, let's see how this family will handle it.

Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said, "What do you mean by that? Do you have your eye on my house?"

Zhou Qingzhou coughed and said:

What do you mean by "taking a fancy to your house"?

Your house is indeed very nice. We live in the countryside, and it's inconvenient for us to go to the city.

We're all one family, let's live here from now on!

Anyway, there are so many rooms here, there's enough room.

This Zhou Qingzhou is shameless; he actually wants to stay.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "That won't do. This is my home. Why should you stay here?"

Old Madam Zhou looked at Zhou Fusheng and said:

"Fusheng! You can't be so cruel. Every time you come back, we treat you well."

Now that we're here, you can't just kick us out!

Old Man Zhou looked at the house and said:

"I've never lived in such a nice house before!"

Fusheng! Let your father stay for a few days, we'll go back home after a few days."

Zhou Fusheng quickly waved his hand and said, "This house doesn't belong to me. It belongs to Wanwan. We're just staying here temporarily."

Qian Huihui sighed and said:

Fourth brother, isn't Wanwan's yours? Why are you two being so different?

Do you think having us living here is too much of a nuisance?

We'll just stay in that side courtyard; it won't bother you. We'll only stay for a few days.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "Are you sure you want to stay here? Then don't go back on your word!"

Qian Huihui quickly nodded and said, "Yes, yes, I won't go back on my word! Oh my! I've never lived in such a big house before!"

Zhou Fuyu walked in from a short distance away and said, "This house is really beautiful! The maids in this courtyard are all so pretty. It's really worth staying here for a few days."

Old Man Zhou, Zhou Fuyu, Zhou Qingyuan, and Zhou Qingzhou had previously contracted venereal disease.

Later, Old Madam Zhou found a miracle doctor who cured them by spending 2,000 taels of silver.

These men's eyes were filled with greed. The butler led them directly into the courtyard and said:

"These people started yelling and demanding this and that as soon as they entered the courtyard."

"Miss, they're staying with us, will they cause any trouble?"