Chapter 1735: Giving In Chapter 1735: Giving In Editor: Henyee Translations At the Mei Family, the season brought warmer weather, making it an opportune time for venturing into the mountains for woodcutting.
Specializing in the wood business, the Mei Family operated a sizable furniture workshop and engaged in log trading.
In Anze Province, vast mountains and towering forests extended as far as the eye could see, making it impossible to reach the outskirts even after several days of walking.
However, being in the wood business didn’t mean having the freedom to cut down trees at will.
While moners were permitted to ascend the mountains to cut a few trees for personal use, engaging in the wood business required government registration.
Upon approval, they could then enter the mountains for tree-cutting activities.
Moreover, there were strict guidelines for tree-cutting.
Loggers were required to make every effort to avoid harming young trees, and trees that had stood for centuries were off-limits.
In fact, loggers refrained from cutting down ancient trees, as they were unconsciously revered as sacred beings protected by the mountain god.
Disturbing these venerable trees might incur the wrath of the mountain god, potentially causing a calamity.
It was a risk they were not willing to take.
The government’s approval wasn’t granted freely.
For each tree felled, taxes had to be paid.
Despite the Mei Family cutting down a substantial number of trees annually, the taxes they paid were a mere fraction of what was rightfully owed.
Even so, the Mei Family harbored grievances and dissatisfaction with the government.
However, each Prefect Lord remained submissive and refrained from voicing objections.
Whenever the Mei Family sought conveniences, the government readily acquiesced without protest.
This treatment extended to the other two family clans.
As for the various other large and small family clans, as long as they aligned themselves with the three leading families and followed in their wake, they were assured a share of the benefits.
Without this arrangement, the government of Anze Province wouldn’t have incurred such significant losses, leaving them with less than a hundred taels of silver.
They often found themselves borrowing money from the three major families to cover salary distributions.
This loan wasn’t granted without conditions.
It required them to offer something in exchange, such as government-approved documents.
As the Mei Family planned to enter the mountains for tree-cutting that year, obtaining the necessary document from the authorities was imperative.
Without it, foreign merchants would refuse to take goods from them to avoid potential plications.
If discovered by the government without the required document, not only would their goods be confiscated, but hefty fines would also be imposed.
No one was willing to take such risks without proper documentation.
Despite the Mei Family looking down on the Anze Province state government, it remained an irreplaceable entity for any family clan, regardless of their power.
Two madames from the Mei Family visited Qiao Xuan with gifts.
Anyone seeking to navigate the plexities of governance would first pay a visit to Qiao Xuan, the wife of the Prefect.
The Mei Family, somewhat apprehensive of Shao Yunduan, prepared an exceptionally generous gift, surpassing what they had presented to other Prefect Lords.
However, both Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan declined the offering, making First Mrs.
Mei’s visit fruitless.
Qiao Xuan firmly rejected the gift, prompting First Mrs.
Mei to attempt changing the subject.
Faced with Qiao Xuan’s insistence, she had no choice but to take the gift back.
It marked the first time someone had returned a gift from the Mei Family, leaving First Mrs.
Mei feeling disgruntled.
Qiao Xuan shared the encounter with Shao Yunduan, jesting, “The Mei Family is making their move.
Hubby, keep an eye out.
Much depends on this.” Shao Yunduan smiled.
“Let them try to pete with those mountain bandits from the Tiger Head Tribe!”
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