During Zhang Fei’s corvee service, Xu Zhiqian was actually busier than he was, because Zhang Fei had entrusted her with the task of investigating the residential districts.
This was quite tedious work indeed.
Of course, Xu Zhiqian was only responsible for planning and coordination. The actual in-depth investigations were carried out by people from the law firm and Cao Dongdong’s servants.
Compared to being a female lawyer arguing cases in court, Zhang Fei believed that Xu Zhiqian was actually better suited for charity work, with practicing law as a side job.
This was because in Xu Zhiqian’s heart, emotion still dominated her thinking, but a lawyer had to be rational, even sowhat cold-blooded.
Xu Zhiqian could beco a decent legal aid attorney, but she would never beco a great lawyer.
Therefore, Zhang Fei planned to entrust the charitable work of the charity organization to Xu Zhiqian to manage, which was precisely what he was not good at. Helping others actually required a great deal of experience – knowing how to use money where it would be most effective.
Xu Zhiqian was very interested in this as well.
“Brother San, you’ve finally returned!”
As soon as he entered the house, he heard Xiaotao’s excited voice.
Zhang Fei smiled cheerfully and said, “Xiaotao, while I was away, did my wife miss ?”
“Yes, she did!”
As she spoke, Xiaotao paused and blinked, “Brother San, you’re asking about the madam?”
Zhang Fei nodded.
Xiaotao said proudly, “The madam is right here. Why don’t you ask her directly?”
“You’re right!”
So Zhang Fei turned to look at Gao Wenyin.
Gao Wenyin gave him a charming glance, “You co back and imdiately start with your glib talk.”
Xu Zhiqian smiled mischievously, “Sister Gao is acting more and more like a wife.”
Gao Wenyin said reproachfully, “Miss Xu, he is your husband.”
Zhang Fei laughed heartily, “Hey! Why be so modest? Everyone is, everyone is. Hehe.”
If there was one thing that brought Zhang Fei the greatest comfort since arriving in the Northern Song, it was undoubtedly these two won.
Xu Zhiqian quietly reached out and pinched the flesh at Zhang Fei’s waist, giving it a gentle twist.
Zhang Fei sucked in a sharp breath.
“What’s wrong?” Gao Wenyin asked.
“I’m hungry!”
Zhang Fei said with tears in his eyes.
“Oh, the food is already prepared. Rest for a mont, and you’ll be able to eat soon.”
With that, Gao Wenyin hurriedly led Xiaotao to the kitchen to prepare.
Zhang Fei rubbed his waist and looked at Xu Zhiqian with annoyance, “How old are you, still playing this trick?”
Xu Zhiqian snorted softly, then suddenly saw an elderly man walking leisurely from the back door and quickly called out, “Father!”
The two imdiately went to greet him.
“You’re back!”
Xu Zun smiled, then said to Zhang Fei, “You’ve achieved success and retired with honor!”
He naturally knew about this matter from his official position.
Zhang Fei said self-deprecatingly, “I should say I was swept out the door.”
Xu Zun laughed heartily and continued, “Whether it’s retiring with honor or being swept out the door, what you accomplished was truly magnificent. I am proud of you.”
Zhang Fei was flattered and said, “To receive such praise from my father-in-law is worth everything.”
Although Xu Zun often praised Zhang Fei, none compared to this ti in terms of directness and certainty.
From this matter, the potential that Zhang Fei had demonstrated was truly surprising. Xu Zun was very happy and very proud, containing the double joy of both a father-in-law and a ntor.
Xu Zhiqian said coquettishly, “Father, your daughter also contributed. Why don’t you praise too?”
Xu Zun chuckled, “You don’t know your own limits. If I praise you a few words, I’m afraid you’ll go overboard!”
Truly, no one knows a daughter like her father!
Xu Zhiqian pouted slightly, “Whether you praise or not doesn’t matter now – your daughter is also out of work.”
“Out of work?”
Xu Zun asked in confusion.
Zhang Fei explained with a smile, “Now that I’ve completed my service, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Zhiqian to continue getting involved.”
“I see.” Xu Zun nodded. “This is only natural. Everything must be done according to the rules.”
Zhang Fei asked again, “I haven’t caused any trouble for you, have I, father-in-law?”
Xu Zun paused for a mont, then quickly waved his hands, “You absolutely don’t need to worry about . Actually, I’m not well-liked at court anyway – I only have a few close friends. In fact, the better you perform, the more they fear .”
Zhang Fei smiled, “Then I can rest easy.”
Xu Zun asked again, “So what are your plans going forward?”
Zhang Fei said, “I’ll return to the law firm to handle the backlogged cases.”
Xu Zun stroked his beard. “You still don’t want to enter governnt service?”
Given the current social climate, scholar-officials still pursued the ideal of “cultivating oneself when poor, benefiting the world when successful.”
Now that Zhang Fei had deeply won the emperor’s favor, he naturally hoped Zhang Fei would enter governnt service as an official.
Zhang Fei hesitated for a mont. “The timing isn’t right yet, but I estimate it will be soon.”
Xu Zhiqian asked curiously, “What timing?”
Zhang Fei smiled.
Xu Zhiqian pouted. “So mysterious.”
Xu Zun didn’t mind, nodding with a smile. “It’s good that you have a plan.”
While they were still chatting, Gao Wenyin, Xiaotao, and Li Si had already brought the food and wine to the table. Zhang Fei, who hadn’t been ho for several days, quite missed Gao Wenyin and Xiaotao’s cooking.
He didn’t drink much wine, but he did finish two large bowls of rice.
After the al, Xu Zun and Xu Zhiqian returned ho. Both Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian were extrely exhausted.
After seeing off the father and daughter, Zhang Fei went straight to the bathhouse and soaked in a bath. Though he wasn’t obsessive about cleanliness, after not coming ho for so many days, he still felt dirty all over. He even had the impulse to burn those clothes.
In the bedroom.
Zhang Fei lay sprawled on the bed with his arms out, face down.
Gao Wenyin sat on the edge of the bed, gently massaging his shoulders.
The comfort made Zhang Fei moan with pleasure. “Ah, this is so relaxing, my lady. Do you know? Ever since I left the Kaifeng Prefecture today, I’ve been thinking about this mont – taking a bath, lying on the bed, having my lady massage . It’s even better than I imagined.”
Gao Wenyin smiled softly, then said, “You must have suffered quite a bit while away, right?”
“What makes my lady say that?”
“I feel like you have lost quite a bit of weight.”
“It’s not that I’ve gotten thinner!”
Zhang Fei suddenly turned over and roughly pulled open his sleeping robe.
“What are you doing?”
Gao Wenyin was startled.
“My lady, where is your mind going? Be proper now.”
Zhang Fei patted his abdon. “Look here, real abdominal muscles, not painted on.”
Gao Wenyin stole a glance and couldn’t help but blush. “I’ve seen them! Quickly turn back around.”
Zhang Fei lay back down face first, then said, “My lady, do you still rember my first day as a patrol officer, when I got several large blisters on my feet?”
Gao Wenyin nodded. “Of course I rember.”
Zhang Fei said, “At that ti I made up my mind to properly train my body. We’re so young – if we can’t compare to Long Wu and Da Niu, well, we’ll accept that. But we can’t be worse than even Old Tao.
So these past days at the police station, whenever I had free ti, I exercised with them. Now if you made shovel manure again, I’d definitely be the best at it. Old Tao wouldn’t be a match for anymore.”
Gao Wenyin laughed softly. “You really have such a positive attitude.”
“This is such a small matter, what’s there to be negative about?”
After a pause, Zhang Fei sighed again. “I won’t hide it from my lady – actually, my personality wasn’t originally this good. This is an insight I gained after coming here. Now even the greatest difficulties don’t amount to much in my eyes.”
“By ‘here’ do you an Bianjing?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Gao Wenyin was about to ask more when she suddenly heard light snoring. Her beautiful eyes couldn’t help but flash with sympathy. She gently helped Zhang Fei turn over, covered him with the quilt, extinguished the lamp, and quietly left.
Knock knock knock!
Zhang Fei was awakened by knocking at the door.
“What is it?” Zhang Fei clutched the silk quilt tightly, as if making a final resistance.
“Academician Wang is here.”
“Academician Wang?”
Zhang Fei opened his eyes. “What ti is it?”
Gao Wenyin said, “It’s already the 10am.”
“Ah, is it that late already?”
Zhang Fei spread his arms and lay on his back. “I don’t want to move. My lady, co in and help move.”
A quarter-hour later, Zhang Fei erged yawning, walking slowly toward the front courtyard. But when he reached the front courtyard, he suddenly quickened his pace, stumbling into the main hall, breathing heavily as he said, “Oh my! I’m truly sorry, truly sorry for keeping Academician Wang waiting so long.”
Wang Anshi waved his hand and said, “No matter! No matter! You’ve indeed been exhausted these past few days. Haha! Have you eaten breakfast? If not, eat first. I have ti today and am in no hurry.”
“I just ate a little sothing earlier.”
Zhang Fei asked again, “I wonder what brings Academician Wang here today? What instructions do you have?”
Wang Anshi was not one to beat around the bush, so he said directly, “I hope you can join the Reform Planning Commission to help .”
Zhang Fei had already guessed this, so he feigned surprise. After a mont, he suddenly cupped his hands and said, “I am deeply grateful that Academician Wang thinks so highly of , and I am truly moved to tears. I am also willing to share Academician Wang’s burdens, but… but I don’t want to join the Reform Planning Commission.”
Wang Anshi asked, “Why?”
Zhang Fei smiled sheepishly and said, “Because I don’t want to invite trouble.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Anshi burst into laughter.
Zhang Fei asked curiously, “Why does Academician Wang laugh?”
Wang Anshi said with both annoyance and amusent, “Stop being so modest. Are you soone who fears trouble? Your ability to stir up trouble is far greater than mine.”
“Thank you for the complint, Academician Wang!” Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, then suddenly asked, “But do you know why I’m always able to turn danger into safety?”
Wang Anshi pondered briefly and asked, “Why?”
Zhang Fei said, “It’s because I’m just a pen-in-cap. They don’t consider it worth fighting to the death. But if I join the Reform Planning Commission, the situation might be different—it could beco a matter of life and death. Moreover, I must also consider my father-in-law.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Anshi couldn’t help but frown. How could he not know how dangerous the reforms were? He said, “But if successful, at your age you would have limitless prospects.”
The reason Emperor Zhao Xu wavered—Zhang Fei’s age was a key factor. Whether it was Zhao Xu, Wang Anshi, or Sima Guang, they all valued Zhang Fei’s potential.
Zhang Fei smiled honestly and said, “Shouldn’t I already be considered to have limitless prospects now?”
Wang Anshi blinked.
Indeed!
For Zhang Fei to beco an official would be all too easy.
Zhang Fei continued, “Actually, you wish to recruit into the Reform Planning Commission because you hope I can help you with strategies and plans. But I can equally help you from the law firm. There’s no difference between the two, yet the risks I would bear would be far greater than staying at the firm.”
Wang Anshi thought for a mont and said, “Then are you willing to help ?”
Though he said this, the difference was that if Zhang Fei didn’t join the Reform Planning Commission, they wouldn’t be in the sa boat, and Zhang Fei could change sides. That’s why Lu Huiqing always harbored suspicions about Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei said firmly, “As long as you needsit, I will do my utmost, just as I helped you with litigation before. If you don’t trust , I can sign a contract with you.”
Wang Anshi was startled and laughed, “That won’t be necessary. If we sign a contract, I’ll have to pay.”
“Ah?” Zhang Fei was stunned, then suddenly had an idea. “Talking about money truly hurts feelings. Actually, you could compensate in other ways.”
Wang Anshi asked curiously, “What ways?”
Zhang Fei said, “The autumn tax collection is imminent. If you could keep a closer eye on this matter, that would suffice.”
Wang Anshi was completely puzzled. “What do you an by this?”
Zhang Fei chuckled, “As long as you watch a little more closely, those powerful nobles will surely beco suspicious, thinking that you might target tax collection for reform. If at that ti soone provides them with a legal thod of tax avoidance, they will certainly try it.”
Wang Anshi said, “Legal tax avoidance?”
“Exactly!”
Zhang Fei nodded. “For example, donating land to my charitable organization. Doing charity work is tax-exempt.”
Wang Anshi suddenly stood up. “So your charitable organization is used to provide them with tax avoidance?”
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded.
“Scoundrel!”
Wang Anshi angrily scolded, “I truly misjudged you. I never thought you were no different from those greedy scoundrels.”
Zhang Fei smiled and said, “Please calm your anger, Academician Wang!”
“Say no more. I tell you, I will never let you succeed.” Wang Anshi declared, flicking his sleeves.
Zhang Fei said, “But taxes weren’t being paid on those land anyway. Why not think of a way to get them to contribute so money for charitable causes?”
Wang Anshi said, “The reason I ca to find you was to have you help think of ways to collect those taxes, not to help them avoid paying taxes.”
Zhang Fei spread his hands. “This is my solution!”
Wang Anshi said, “You’re aiding and abetting evil.”
Zhang Fei said, “It’s the sa money going to the governnt—what’s wrong with using donations instead?”
Wang Anshi said, “Who would willingly donate money?”
Zhang Fei said, “I’ve already donated a sum of money to the governnt. Wasn’t that voluntary?”
Wang Anshi was stunned for a mont. This truly was a case of being soft-spoken after eating soone’s food and soft-handed after taking soone’s gifts. With sowhat diminished confidence, he said, “But can you guarantee that the amount of land donated will equal to the amount of tax owed?”
Zhang Fei countered, “Can Academician Wang guarantee that every inch of land will have taxes paid on them?”
Wang Anshi said, “I admit I cannot do that, but neither can you.”
Zhang Fei chuckled. “I actually can do it, and not just et the amount, but exceed it.”
Wang Anshi couldn’t help but eye Zhang Fei with suspicion.
Zhang Fei said, “Academician Wang, let’s discuss the facts. They have many ways to avoid taxes. No matter how much reform is implented, many people can still use various ans to evade tax paynts—they simply will not pay taxes. Since that’s the case, why don’t we provide them with a legal tax avoidance channel that’s at least under our control?”
Wang Anshi asked, “What makes you think you can get them to willingly donate their money?”
Zhang Fei said, “Because I can help them earn back that tax money, and they can also gain a good reputation—it’s a win-win situation for both fa and profit. How could they refuse? It’s just that in the beginning, we’ll need Academician Wang to apply so pressure on them.”
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