Chapter 144: An Eye for an Eye
Zhang Fei finally left the inner premises after a busy day and entered the shop.
At this time, only a few old servants were cleaning, and the sound of abacus beads clicking came from behind the counter.
Fan Li stood alone behind the counter, deeply immersed in examining the account books and moving the abacus beads, completely unaware of Zhang Fei’s presence.
Only after finishing a page of accounts did he look up, roll his neck, and then jump with a startled cry upon seeing someone standing before him.
The cleaning servants lowered their heads to hide their laughter.
“Oh my! Brother San, why do you walk so quietly!” Fan Li complained embarrassedly.
“You were too absorbed in your calculations.”
Zhang Fei smiled and asked, “Since when did you become an accountant?”
Fan Li smiled sheepishly, “We had important guests today. I was worried the staff might lack discretion, so I stood here to greet them and helped with the calculations since we’re short on accounting staff.”
Zhang Fei asked, “So how much did we earn today?” “Almost done counting, but we’ve already reached 4,000 strings, likely to hit 5,000.” Fan Li could barely contain his grin by the end.
He never imagined being a notary could be so profitable.
With government support, it could be even more lucrative than being a broker.
Because everyone had to pay taxes.
While tax calculation services existed before, they were in name only. Li Guozhong and others merely provided office space for the City Tax Bureau to collect taxes. Coming to the Bianjing Law Firm meant receiving legal services, though not cheaply.
However, it was still less expensive than trying to navigate government offices alone.
Therefore, Zhang Fei offered two types of services: tax calculation for small and medium merchants, and comprehensive legal services for wealthy merchants.
He understood wealthy merchants played by different rules. They would still make unofficial payments even after using their tax services, as they sought additional benefits.
The wealthy wanted certainty, not just tax assistance.
There was also copyright taxation.
The law firm’s costs were services to be rendered in the future, making most of the money earned now pure profit.
Today’s high earnings came from Zhang Fei securing several wealthy clients who each paid 300-500 strings. Revenue would drop later but would steadily grow as client numbers increased.
Zhang Fei smiled, “Don’t get too excited, this is just the beginning. Our income will only increase from here. So stop calculating here – how much help can you provide alone? We need to quickly find more staff, we clearly have too few accountants.”
More than 5000 strings?
Fan Li almost cried.
We’ve made it!
We’ve really made it this time!
Fan Li said, “Don’t worry Brother San, I’ll recruit more staff right away.”
He paused suddenly, then added, “Brother San, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”
“What is it?” Zhang Fei asked.
“It’s about Miss Xu,” Fan Li said. “I understand she has good intentions, but currently we’re short-staffed at the shop, yet she’s taking people to help ordinary farmers with tax calculations in rural areas. That business can’t make money and wastes manpower and resources – it’s not worth it.”
These past few days, Xu Zhiqian had been going to surrounding villages, promoting Bianjing Law Firm’s tax calculation services. She wasn’t interested in business – she was more passionate about helping the poor.
She believed tax services weren’t meaningful for wealthy merchants but were crucial for honest farmers, truly providing them protection.
Zhang Fei smiled, “Mogul, we’re not the White Crystal Inn – we can’t provide delicious wine and food. We’re not a pawnshop offering financing, nor are we brokers who can source goods. Why would clients seek us out?”
Fan Li replied, “We can help them with lawsuits!”
Zhang Fei said, “Li Guozhong and others can do that too!”
Fan Li said, “But they can’t compare to you, Brother San!”
Zhang Fei asked, “And how did I build my reputation?”
“Through lawsuits of course.”
“Helping whom?”
“Li Si, the Shi family, and that Cao noble.”
“Actually, it was mainly Li Si and the Shi family – their cases let people see my abilities.”
Zhang Fei continued, “But I didn’t earn much money helping them. However, it increased my influence. What Miss Xu is doing now is the same.
If I can seek justice for a farmer, people will know I can certainly seek justice for a merchant, since merchants are usually in a better position than ordinary farmers.
Yes, perhaps helping a thousand commoners with taxes isn’t as profitable as helping one wealthy merchant, but you must understand – without those thousand commoners, we wouldn’t get business from that wealthy merchant.”
Fan Li nodded thoughtfully, “I understand now. This is the foresight you often mention, Brother San.”
Zhang Fei nodded and smiled, “Exactly.”
“What are you discussing?”
Xu Zhiqian walked in looking exhausted.
Zhang Fei smiled, “Just now Mogul Fan was saying since we made money, he wanted to propose allocating more funds to you.”
“What?”
Fan Li was immediately dumbfounded.
Xu Zhiqian glanced at Fan Li, knowing Zhang Fei was joking, and said, “Money is secondary right now – I need more helpers.”
Zhang Fei looked at Fan Li.
Fan Li forced a smile and said, “With money, we won’t lack for people.”
Zhang Fei smiled at Xu Zhiqian, “You don’t grow fat just from eating one meal – these things take time. Come, come, sit down and rest first.”
Xu Zhiqian gave him a glare, then joined him at a private table.
Servants quickly brought tea and snacks.
Showing no ladylike manners, Xu Zhiqian immediately started eating, having been hungry after running around all day.
Zhang Fei couldn’t help but laugh, “This is all your own doing – you can’t blame me.”
Xu Zhiqian took a drink of tea, “Am I really that unreasonable?”
Zhang Fei shrugged slightly without responding.
Xu Zhiqian stared at him intently.
Zhang Fei said, “On the contrary, you’re very, very reasonable – perhaps too reasonable.”
Xu Zhiqian could hear his implied meaning and snorted, “Only those who have done wrong fear reasonable people.”
Zhang Fei smiled, “If you were a man, the job of censor would suit you perfectly.”
Xu Zhiqian nodded, “I think so too.”
Zhang Fei said, “Then you’d discover that even upright officials like Academicians Wang and Sima fear censors.”
“Oh?”
Xu Zhiqian pursed her lips, “They fear you more.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Zhang Fei then asked, “How is your progress?”
Xu Zhiqian said dejectedly, “It was almost a wasted trip. Except for those who already knew me, most commoners don’t trust us.”
Zhang Fei nodded, “As expected – beginnings are always the hardest.”
Xu Zhiqian suddenly remembered something, “Oh right! When I arrived earlier, I heard the drum at the prefectural office again. I thought you had gone to beat it again.”
Zhang Fei rolled his eyes, “The drum at the prefectural office isn’t just for me. With so many people in our capital, it’s normal for it to sound occasionally!”
“But it’s not normal,” Xu Zhiqian said. “Very few people actually go to file complaints at the prefecture – they usually go to the bureaus or district courts. Only major criminal cases or grievances involving imperial relatives go to the prefectural office.”
Zhang Fei shrugged, “Well, this definitely has nothing to do with me.”
Recently, he really didn’t want to handle lawsuits – he just wanted to get the law firm and bookstore running smoothly.
At the second watch of the night.
Wang Anshi dragged his tired body home. He was truly the busiest person in Song Dynasty now, not only building the Finance Planning Commission but also drafting laws while dealing with those who came to argue with him.
But this was all within his expectations.
It was truly not an easy job.
However, before he could eat more than a few bites of hot food, urgent knocking sounded at the door.
It was Lu Huiqing.
“Teacher, something has happened.”
“What happened?”
Wang Anshi was completely confused but not worried, as he hadn’t done anything yet.
What could have happened?
Lu Huiqing said, “Two hours ago, that Qian Xi went to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office to file a complaint, saying the Finance Planning Commission violates ancestral law.”
“What?”
Wang Anshi suddenly stood up, then said through gritted teeth, “That stubborn old fool – I don’t believe I can’t handle this tough nut. Let’s go to the prefectural office.”
He strode toward the door.
Madam Wang, who had just brought hot water to soak Wang Anshi’s feet, saw him storming out and hurriedly asked, “Husband, you just got home and you’re leaving again?”
“I have something to handle.”
Wang Anshi had no patience to explain to his wife and stormed out.
Madam Wang called after him, “At least finish your meal!”
“I’ve lost my appetite!”
“At least wipe your mouth – there’s still rice in your beard!”
Wang Anshi wiped his sleeve across his mouth.
Madam Wang sighed deeply.
At the prefecture, Wang Anshi asked Lu Gongzhu, “Where is that old fool?”
Lu Gongzhu said gravely, “I’ve ordered him detained.”
“Gongzhu, judge for yourself – His Majesty merely established a commission to lead reforms, yet they won’t allow even this. After causing trouble at the imperial court, they come make trouble at the prefectural office – this is simply lawless.”
Seeing Lu Gongzhu, Wang Anshi was both aggrieved and angry.
Lu Gongzhu consoled him, “Calm down first. I also think Qian Xi went too far.”
“More than too far.”
Wang Anshi said through clenched teeth, “I won’t let him off easily this time. He’s no longer a censor, just a commoner. Coming here to complain clearly implies criticism of His Majesty – that constitutes the crime of great disrespect, criticizing imperial decisions, as well as bewitching the masses”
Lu Gongzhu nodded, “Based on his complaint document, such charges would not be excessive. But Anshi, don’t forget that Zhang San recently filed a similar complaint here.”
Wang Anshi exclaimed, “That’s different! Zhang San was seeking justice for the Shi family, while that old fool is clearly opposing the imperial court and sabotaging reform efforts – his intentions are condemnable.”
Lu Huiqing suddenly said, “Teacher, though that’s true, they will surely use Zhang San as precedent to demand a hearing for that old man.”
Lu Gongzhu nodded, “That’s right.”
Wang Anshi snorted, “That’s probably that old fool’s aim, but he won’t succeed. Tomorrow I’ll petition His Majesty to punish him.”
Lu Huiqing added, “Teacher, we should prepare for the worst.”
“Why?” Wang Anshi asked.
Lu Huiqing said, “Previously when Qian Xi impeached you at court, it was purely unreasonable, so His Majesty dismissed him from the capital, and Lords Fu and Wen said nothing.
But this case has very recent precedent. We may not have right on our side arguing this. If Lords Fu and Wen speak up for Qian Xi, it will put great pressure on His Majesty.”
Wang Anshi trusted Lu Huiqing greatly and asked, “What do you suggest?”
Lu Huiqing hesitated before saying, “At least we can’t let them engage Zhang San first.”
“Zhang San?”
Wang Anshi exclaimed, “You don’t think I’ll fall for their trap?”
Lu Huiqing said, “I just think we should prepare for the worst to ensure success.”
Lu Gongzhu, who had suffered greatly from Zhang San, nodded repeatedly: “Anshi, I know Zhang San’s methods all too well. If this really goes to court and Zhang San sides with them, the consequences would be unthinkable.”