The Female Assistant of Wei Yuyan Shuangfei

In the study room outside the county government office, Xie Tingwen couldn't bear to scold his daughter. After all, in addition to being talented, Xie Shuting was also a person with a broad perspective.

The father and daughter chatted for a while before Xie Shuting told them the truth about what happened last night, but she did not dare to reveal Zhao Zhen's true identity.

Not to mention that Xie Tingwen was an old-fashioned scholar, even the etiquette of respecting the emperor and his subjects was unbearable for her.

Adhering to the idea that less trouble is worse than more, Xie Shuting said directly that Yan Shuang was suffering from an old illness and was temporarily staying in the government office with a group of servants.

Xie Tingwen just nodded and said nothing more. Although Yan Shuang was known as the eldest son of Marquis Ding'an, the other party was not an official after all, so it was naturally impossible for him to lower himself to visit him.

Xie Shuting naturally knew her father's character. If it were an ordinary county magistrate, he would have already come to his house with a flattering face to curry favor with him.

But Xie Tingwen is an exception. According to what the ancients said in books, he is definitely a person who "how can I bow my head and serve the powerful and wealthy, so that I cannot be happy".

Xie Tingwen picked up the white jade cup, took a sip of the rock tea that Xie Shuting had prepared, and said, "Yan Shuang can stay if she wants. It's rare for the government office to entertain her."

Xie Shuting was stunned for a moment when she heard this, and looked at Xie Tingwen with a hint of surprise between her brows. She always felt that her father's personality seemed to have changed a lot.

Xie Tingwen naturally noticed Xie Shuting's puzzled look, and gently put down the teacup and said, "I have already sent out the notice for the private school to recruit students. According to your request, only children aged four to eight will be recruited. Where will you arrange your private school?"

"That depends on what position the father chooses for his daughter?" Xie Shuting took a sip of tea and said with a smile.

"You! If it weren't for your kindness to Laigu County, I would never issue such a decree to 'line one's own pockets'."

"But didn't father publish it anyway?"

Xie Shuting responded in a slightly obedient manner, and then added more tea to the two people's cups. She pondered for a moment and said, "Brother Cao Zhen will take up his post at the county government within three days. Does father intend to give him the status of a constable?"

"Hey!~"

Xie Tingwen sighed, fiddling with the white jade cup in his hand and said, "Shuting! If we follow your method, the tax revenue in Laigu County will definitely increase. Your father will have to add more staff to prevent any accidents."

"Oh! It seems that father has made a decision. I am relieved now."

As Xie Shuting spoke, she raised her eyes and looked at Xie Tingwen, whose expression remained unchanged. She stroked the cup and said, "Father! The autumn tax collection is coming soon. The policy proposal I provided should be submitted sooner rather than later. Father, please do not neglect it."

"Father knows." Xie Tingwen responded calmly.

He knew that he would have to levy an autumn tax, but because there had been no county magistrate in Laigu County for three years, he was afraid that the tax would have to be levied for three years at once.

Three years of tax revenue is a considerable expense for the three townships and seven villages with a population of more than 12,000 people under Laigu County.

Thinking of this, Xie Shuting said slowly, "Father! You can report to the government office and the Ministry of Revenue to make up for this year first, and report to the court in batches for the previous two years. If you distribute them according to the echelons, I think the court will definitely agree."

"What's the tiered allocation method?" Xie Tingwen asked with a puzzled look on his face.

Xie Shuting didn't say anything, but stretched out her green onion-like hands to ask for it from Xie Tingwen. The latter naturally understood, sighed helplessly, and handed over the document beside him.

"Laigu County owed 17,300 strings of silver in the summer and autumn taxes in the 25th year of Jingyun, and 16,100 strings of silver in the summer and autumn taxes in the 26th year of Jingyun. This year, it needs to pay 13,800 strings of silver in summer and autumn taxes, a total of 47,200 strings of silver. If this tax is delegated to the three townships and seven villages, I'm afraid there will be a lot of fluctuations."

"Father is right," Xie Shuting agreed.

"So what do you mean by the tiered distribution you just mentioned?"

Xie Shuting slowly closed the document, pondered for a moment, and said softly: "Father can submit the document to the Ministry of Revenue. This year, Gu County reported 20,000 strings of tax silver, and the remaining 27,200 strings will be returned to the treasury in the form of private loans."

"Loan?"

Xie Tingwen's eyes widened, and he looked at Xie Shuting in disbelief. Although he was familiar with the term, it was the first time he heard of the county government borrowing money from the national treasury.

"Father! What's so strange about this? Logically speaking, you shouldn't be responsible for the taxes in the past two years. You can just push this matter to the government office. Now if you submit a memorial as your daughter said, the government office will definitely speak for you without you having to come forward. No one is willing to take on this hot potato."

Xie Tingwen pondered for a moment, still a little worried, "If it is a private loan, the remaining money will have to be returned to the national treasury at least 30,000 strings of cash. This money..."

Seeing Xie Tingwen so hesitant, Xie Shuting knew in her heart that this was not a trivial matter. Moreover, the commercial tax was increased from 1% of the previous tax rate to 4% of the tax rate. Most people would not dare to try this.

In order to dispel Xie Tingwen's concerns, Xie Shuting shouted to the outside of the door: "Lian Xi! Go and get the account book of Yuelai Inn."

"Yes, Miss." Lian Xi responded through the door and quickly went to the backyard.

Xie Tingwen didn't know what Xie Shuting meant. The father and daughter drank tea and enjoyed the rare silence. Not long after, Lian Xi took out the account book, handed it to Xie Shuting, and then left the study.

Xie Shuting unfolded the account book, turned to the last page of the summary account, pointed and said, "Father, please take a look. In the 25th year of Jingyun, Yuelai Inn had a net income of 3,800 guan. According to the latest plan, he has to pay the government more than 1,000 guan, which has already completed one twentieth of this year's tax revenue."

Xie Tingwen was shocked. He quickly took the account book and began to look through it. He not only looked at the taxes for the previous two years, but even glanced at the taxes for the last two years.

If the latest plan is followed, the contribution of Yuelai Inn alone in three years will be more than 4,000 strings of cash, which made him feel a long-lost excitement.

In a flash! This excitement was shattered by the current situation. The Song Dynasty was founded on military power, and the division between scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans was extremely strict. If the convention was broken, it would inevitably be criticized.

As if sensing Xie Tingwen's hesitation, Xie Shuting heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Father! Being an official is not only about ruling for the people, but also about finding opportunities for them. If this law is not followed, the farmers who work hard and rely on God for their livelihood will suffer."

"Hey!~"

Xie Tingwen sighed, closed the account gently and said, "How could your father not know about this matter? But how could they be willing to pay so much money for nothing?"

"Father forgot."

Xie Shuting smiled and pointed to the policy paper beside her, saying, "My daughter has already explained in the policy paper that if we give merchants enough respect and give them enough profit margins, they will definitely be willing to do so."

Upon hearing this, Xie Tingwen quickly picked up the strategy paper and flipped through it. After taking a look at Xie Shuting's strategy, he couldn't help laughing and said, "You! You are only seventeen years old, how come you understand human nature so clearly?"

"Human nature is greedy. No one can stop someone if they are promised huge profits." Xie Shuting smiled and took a sip of tea.