Thick cumulus clouds floated slowly in the sky like a big cotton ball. The water in the ditch was so clear that the bottom could be seen.
Schools of small fish less than an inch long swam around in the water. The children who were on holiday were barefoot and holding the fish with their hands closed.
Zhao Guan, who specialized in the wholesale and retail of dried broad beans in Chang 'an East City, sat at the door and basked in the sun while watching his grandchildren play with the other children.
"Don't put your wet hands in your mouth. It's dirty and you'll have a stomachache."
Zhao Guan reminded them repeatedly. If any child wanted to bite their fingers, he would definitely tell them.
The weather was good. The shop assistants carried the broad beans to the small courtyard in the back and spread them out to dry to prevent them from rotting.
Because of the tax, Zhao Guan's two sons took the imperial examination last year and passed the third degree in mathematics.
Now, they were working as minor officials in the Wannian County yamen and were mainly in charge of the tax.
He was very proud. He taught his sons from a young age and couldn't take the imperial examination. After paying the tax, he was given a place.
In two years, his third son would also take the imperial examination and try to pass the Jinshi exam.
He drank tea and felt that this was a blessing.
"Ah!" "Hahaha ~ ~" A child slipped and fell into the water. The laughter of the other children came from the surroundings.
Zhao Guan put down his teacup and rushed over. He picked up the child and said to the child who was about to cry, "Don't be afraid. There's a popcorn stick to eat."
"Uh!" When the child heard that there was delicious food, his face changed instantly and he looked at Zhao Guan.
"Stand still. Take off your clothes and wear your pants. Don't show your breasts. Wash your hands and eat the popcorn stick. "
Zhao Guan said and went in to get a basin of water.
The children gathered together to wash their hands and wait for the popcorn stick to eat.
Zhao Guan went into the house and took out seven popcorn sticks. He gave one to each child.
His family had some money and exchanged it for many popcorn sticks. Anyone who brought their children to buy broad beans would get one stick.
He didn't dare to sell them. The Li Family Zhuangzi restricted him. If someone reported him, he was afraid that it would affect his son's career.
"Father, Uncle." While eating the popcorn stick, Zhao Guan's grandson and granddaughter shouted in one direction.
A group of people came over. From time to time, people entered the shop next door.
It was Zhao Guan's second son, Zhao Zihe. Zhao Guan was surprised. Why did his second son come back early today?
"Little Bean, why aren't you working in the yamen?" Zhao Quan asked his son, Zhao Zihe. Little Bean was Zhao Zihe's nickname.
"Shopkeeper Zhao, we are from the tax department of the Ministry of Revenue. Did your shop pay five hundred and ten qian of tax from the beginning of the year to the end of last month? There are four employees? "
Zhao Wan's son said to Zhao Wan.
"Little Bean, don't you know what's in the house? Why are you calling me that? "Zhao Guan was a little confused.
"Shopkeeper Zhao, it's like this. The imperial court is grateful for the suffering of those who pay taxes. Therefore, based on the number of employees, the tax refund will not exceed 30% of the total tax amount.
It's just that it's not easy to do business. If you hire a worker, you'll have to pay a portion of the tax back. It can't be more than 30% of the tax. "
Zhao Zihe winked. According to the government's requirements, they had to be kind to the commoners.
"You can still get some of the money back? How much? It's not easy for the imperial court to cough up money! "This time, Zhao Guan understood.
At the same time, he understood that his son represented the government, and it was not good for him to be too close to him.
Aiya! His son was a high-ranking official, so he spoke differently.
"Father, here's a popcorn stick for you." Zhao Zihe's daughter broke off a piece of popcorn and gave it to her father.
"Uncle, here's mine." The little boy also gave it to his father.
"Good, good, good! However, I have official duties and can't accept gifts from the commoners, especially from children. Eat it yourself. Here, take it back. You can eat it at noon. "
Zhao Zihe was happy. He took out something wrapped in a lotus leaf from his pocket.
The little boy handed the popcorn stick to his sister and took the bag. His little hands were very fast. He opened it directly. There was a big braised chicken drumstick inside.
"Where did the drumstick come from?" Zhao Guan was worried that his son would not make a mistake.
"I gave tax refund to each family. I can't go back to the yamen to eat at noon. The yamen asked me to bring it out. I can still eat it when I go back in the afternoon."
Zhao Zihe smiled and told his father that there was no problem.
"What did you give the child?" Zhao Guan was not worried about making a mistake. He was more concerned about his son.
"I ate a lot in the morning and will go back in the afternoon. I won't be hungry." Zhao Zihe smiled.
"It's almost noon. We've already prepared rice. Come in quickly. Everyone, come in. Everyone, have a bowl of rice. Eat it before you leave. Hurry, it'll be in your stomachs soon. Don't delay."
Zhao Guan wanted to pull a few people in. They were his son's colleagues.
"Zihe, we'll go to the front. You can take care of the neighboring shops."
The person next to him said to Zhao Zihe and nodded to Zhao Guan. They gave up some time.
"Thank you!" Zhao Zihe thanked him. His courtesy name was the same as his name, Zihe. The person who took the courtesy name said, "Zi and the character are the same."
"Come in and eat. Don't stand outside."
He called the children. They were playing in front of his house. How could he not afford a meal?
As he spoke, he brought the children who wanted to refuse into the house. He had asked them to cook more when he was cooking just now.
"Dalang, you're back? Come, follow me. "Zhao Guan's wife was inside. She had been standing at the counter and looking outside.
She took the children to eat first. She didn't need to take care of her son. They met every day.
The three sons all married and lived next to each other.
The third son studied at home. There was also a school, but it was not the children's class.
The second daughter-in-law and the third daughter-in-law worked in the Yi League. The eldest daughter-in-law helped in the shop and cooked.
"Father, here are two hundred and seventy one bathing tickets. One ticket is one bathing coin. It can only be used in a fixed bath.
One percent of the tax will be refunded for each employee. We have four employees, but I've also applied for Xiaoyu. She works at home.
Father, you and Mother don't count. So there are five people. Five hundred and ten bathing coins in tax. Five percent of the tax will be refunded. Two hundred and seventy bathing coins and five cents.
As long as there's a change at the end, it will automatically enter. It's exactly two hundred and seventy one bathing tickets. "
Zhao Zihe took out a large stack of bathing tickets and showed them to his father. The bathing tickets were square. The front was black and red, and there was a blank picture. At the back was the seal of the Ministry of Revenue and Tax.
It was easy to fake. It could be printed by engraving and overprinting. As for the seal at the back, it could be carved with mud or radish.
After the seal was engraved, the crime …
"How many baths do they have to take? For them to use? "Zhao Fan frowned. Who would take baths in the summer?
"It can be sold. Not only can they take baths, but they can also buy soap from the baths. If they don't take baths, they can buy soap to use.
But in that case, other people have it, but our family doesn't. It's not easy to find an experienced worker in the capital. "
Zhao Zihe didn't make the decision for his father. He said that under the circumstances, they should save the money and use it themselves. The workers would be disheartened.
If the workers quit and the news spread, they wouldn't come to your house even if you wanted to find an experienced worker.
The size and appearance of the broad beans required workers who were familiar with handling, sorting, and storing them.
"So, it's not for our family." Zhao Fan understood.
"It's for the people of Chang 'an by Li Dongzhu. It's to get rid of lice and pests. It's mainly used to buy soap. When you're tired from work, you can take a hot bath. It's quite comfortable."
Zhao Zihe made it clear. If you don't give it to the workers, it's yours. You can use it to change a pile of soap. It's also fine to give the workers soap.
"Why don't you just change the soap directly? Why must it be a bathing ticket? "Zhao Fan didn't understand.
"Only the Li Family Zhuangzi sells the soap. Does the imperial court give benefits to the Li Family Zhuangzi?" Zhao Zihe gave the answer.
"Why can't the imperial court give benefits to the Li Family Zhuangzi? What kind of person is Li Dongzhu? "Zhao Fan felt there was no problem.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
