Chapter 357: He is Disrespectful to the General!
Translator: 549690339 |
The horses were robust and shiny, eliciting envy.
The large dogs looked vicious, their fangs intimidating, demanded respect.
“Salutations, General Cen.” Tong Sanlang, Tong Tiehu, and a few of the bailiffs greeted him.
Qiao Xiaomai also paid his respects.
Seeing this, the villagers on site started to sporadically echo, “Salutations, General Cen.”
Cen Hong sat atop his horse, one hand wrapped around the whip, the other grasping the leash of the dog. His sharp gaze fell upon Qiao Xiaomai, lingering for quite some time before he barely glanced at the few bailiffs from the corner of his eye and spoke, “I am here to inspect the local tax collection.”
Taxes in Daqi were collected level by level, moving upwards.
From the village to the county town, the county town retaining enough for their reserves before transferring to the prefecture city, the prefecture city holding enough before finally sending to the capital city.
This was a time-consuming and complicated process, often escorted by the military personnel to ensure a smooth transfer.
However, it was somewhat intriguing that Cen Hong, the General who guards Changyi Prefecture, personally came for this matter.
Moreover, he specifically came to a small place like Anping Village. His purpose was clear for those with sight and common sense.
Qiao Xiaomai locked gaze with Cen Hong with indifferent eyes, no emotion on her face.
In Bailu Town, as long as she was in the right, Cen Hong would not dare cause trouble.
As for Sun Junyan, huh.
Just like these four large dogs, he’s merely one of the dogs at Cen Hong’s side. She didn’t even bother sparing him the corner of her eyes.
Sun Junyan felt the contempt of Qiao Xiaomai. His eyes immediately turned gloomy, and he couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the reins, veins popping on his hands.
Damn, that insolent girl!
He would make this wretched woman pay for her ignorance and arrogance today! Find the newest release on novᴇlfire.net
Just then, the Sun matron let out a sharp wail, taking a few quick steps before she fell to her knees before Cen Hong, “Sir, I beg of you to take pity on this poor woman!”
Upon hearing this, Sun Junyan’s gaze fell on his mother. Cen Hong’s sharply moved to her as well, “What’s the matter?!”
The Sun matron discarded the shoes in her hand, daintily wiped at non-existent tears and began her tale of woe.
She was happily clutching silver to pay the spring tax, because the journey was long, it wasn’t easy for her as an old woman to walk under the scorching sun. She wanted to cut in line and pay early.
But Tong Tiehu was not considerate of her predicament at all, insisting that she keep in line.
“So this poor woman mentioned your name, General Cen, hoping to get this done quickly. But Tong, the village chief, commanded his servants to drag me away, even ordered his grandson to hit me.”
“General Cen, this poor woman has suffered great injustice, I have not committed murder or arson, I merely came to pay my spring tax. How much of everyone else’s time would that have taken? Does the village chief really need to be so harsh?”
This is a world that values human relationships, and she had General Cen as a backer. It’s only natural to skip the line on the account of General Cen’s reputation.
Therefore, making a fuss about such a trivial matter is a direct disrespect to Cen Hong, provoking him deliberately!
Cen Hong, after listening to the complaint of the Sun matron, turned to Tong Tiehu with a stern gaze. He asked in a cold voice, “Village Chief Tong, is what the Sun matron said true?”
Tong Tiehu respectfully answered, neither too humble nor too proud, “Sir, she just arrived and was already trying to cut in line. All the villagers are waiting, and she has no authority, hence I did not allow her.”
“Then she mentioned your name, Sir. But how could a humble country woman have connections with you? I naturally did not believe her and ordered her to be expelled.”