Cheung Chau County.

Taian City.

Prefect Xu Santong was sitting in the study room of the mansion.

On the desk, there is a document placed in a mess.

Xu Santong closed his eyes, his temples twitching so hard that the veins on his forehead could not help but emerge.

"That's too much!"

He slammed his fist on the desk and gritted his teeth.

"My lord, please calm down."

Master Li, who was standing at the bottom, advised.

"I just can't swallow this tone. Aren't these people citizens of Daqi? As long as they are citizens of Daqi, they are all responsible for paying taxes. Why did they deceive me like this?" Xu Santong shouted.

"Sir, they...this method is not unique to these families. They hide their income and claim that they have suffered a disaster or were robbed by thieves to avoid taxes. This is a common thing. However, these families

It is indeed a bit too much." Master Li sighed with a wry smile.

The so-called sedan chair people carry people. In other places, wealthy and aristocratic families will give some face to the government offices, so that the government can complete basic tax tasks. In this way, you are good to me and everyone is good!

But the wealthy families in Taian City are different. They are greedy and shameless to the extreme, and they do not give the court any face.

"It's simply shameless. This dignified Qian family, a scholarly family that has produced Confucian masters, has properties all over the city, and even the Qian family's properties in the capital, actually pay a tax of 500 taels. Is this an insult to me?"

Xu Santong didn't stop breathing.

You know, he was also a land official in Da Qi and a high official in the border areas.

Daqi's system is a system of counties and counties. The head of a county is called the prefect or county governor. As a prefect, a fourth-rank official, he is considered a high-ranking official in Daqi. How can he be manipulated by a few aristocratic families?

"I will punish them!" Xu Santong said coldly.

"Sir, please don't. These local aristocratic families are intertwined and have connections with the imperial court. A single move can affect the whole body." Master Li dissuaded him.

Xu Santong took a few deep breaths before slowly suppressing his anger.

Needless to say, Master Li didn't know that those aristocratic families couldn't do anything.

Nowadays, the power of the prefect is limited. He cannot mobilize the army, but can only mobilize the government officials. Many of these hundreds of government officials are from wealthy families.

Not to mention that it is difficult for him to be mobilized. Even if he can be mobilized, what crime would he be charged with?

Without a crime, he may not be able to bear the consequences of his reckless actions.

"As long as the real charges are found, your Excellency can petition the court to deal with them." Master Li continued.

"How difficult it is!"

If evidence of the crime could be found, why would Xu Santong be so angry?

It has been two years since he came to Cheung Chau County, but he has never opened up the situation. He feels guilty and unworthy of the emperor's trust.

As before, I could only sigh in the end and bear it all alone.

…

"This is Tai'an City, Cheung Chau County?"

When Luo Xingchen entered the city, he wandered on the streets and felt the customs and customs that were very different from those in the capital and the south.

"Delicious beef ramen, come and eat."

There was another noodle shop in front, and the waiter stood at the door and shouted.

"How about we go in and eat noodles?" Luo Xingchen looked at Zi Yan and Bi Snake beside him.

"Okay, let's go eat noodles." Zi Yan was also a little hungry.

The three people who entered the city together were Zi Yan, Bi She and Luo Xingchen. Bei Liyuan insisted that the Golden Snake Guards should be stationed outside the city together and did not follow them.

"Look at the difference between the noodles in Tai'an City and the noodles in Qianji City." Bi She stayed in Qianji City for a long time. At that time, she often went to eat noodles and loved them very much.

After the three of them entered the store, they ordered the store's specialty beef noodles.

Luo Xingchen heard the people next to him talking.

"The third son of the Wei family is really capable. He kidnapped his aunt and escaped. No wonder the head of the Wei family was so angry."

"Can we blame the third son of the Wei family for this? We can only blame the head of the Wei family for being shameless and stealing his own son's unmarried daughter-in-law. What is this called?"

"Oh, my brother is well-informed, please tell me quickly."

"Not many people know about this. I told you not to spread the word."

"Don't worry, none of us are people with tight mouths. What we listen to is rotten in our stomachs."

"Having said that, the Wei family is so powerful that I dare not say more..."

"Didn't you just say something? What are you afraid of?"

"That's the wrong thing to say. Don't dare to say more."

Hearing this, Luo Xingchen subconsciously glanced sideways.

The speaker was a frail scholar in his twenties, but his eyes were very clever.

"Brother, the Wei family you are talking about is the Wei family in Tai'an City that has produced great scholars?" Luo Xingchen stepped forward, cupped his hands and saluted.

"Are you a foreigner?" the young scholar asked in return.

"Yes, my two sisters and I are from the capital city. We came to Taian City for leisure time. I heard that there is a very powerful Wei family in Taian City. Why don't you tell me in detail?"

"Waiter, give this brother a bowl of noodles and add more beef."

After saying that, Luo Xingchen took out a small piece of broken silver from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"This...this is no reward for no merit." The young scholar swallowed.

"It's a trivial matter, brother, don't be polite, let's talk while eating, we just want to have some fun." Luo Xingchen smiled slightly.

"Yes, you see how polite this young master is, so you agreed and talked about it properly."

"We are all ordinary people, just talking, there is nothing to be afraid of."

The diners nearby started making noises.

"Well, then, I'll tell you." The young scholar was obviously a little unnatural and ashamed.

Luo Xingchen knew that he would definitely agree.

He noticed that the young scholar's green shirt had been washed and turned white, and the cuffs and other places were patched. This showed that the young scholar's family background was very poor.

In this way, he could get him to talk by simply asking him to eat something.

A bowl of fresh and hot beef noodles was placed in front of the young scholar.

He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite into his mouth. The aroma of beef instantly filled his taste buds, and he felt the urge to burst into tears.

How long has it been since I had beef?

Ever since I was framed by the Wei family, my life has been getting worse day by day over the past few years, and I have become increasingly hopeless.

Thinking of this, he felt that there was nothing to fear.

After swallowing a thin piece of beef, he said loudly: "Wei Dewang, the head of the Wei family, everyone knows that this man has a hobby, that is, he likes beautiful women. He started marrying wives and concubines when he was ten years old. In the past few decades,

Before and after, I have had at least hundreds of concubines, they can be described as evil spirits in lust!"

"Originally, Wei Dewang used the bride price to marry off other people's daughters, which can be considered a fair transaction, but he has a quirk, that is, he likes married women, and many families have been harmed by this."

"This time, he actually harmed his own son. It can be said to be a true immoral act."
Chapter completed!