klisemfg Chapter 479: Eastern Expedition Tax
Chapter 479: Eastern Expedition Tax
"You should also know that we buy food from the surrounding areas, right?"
"of course."
The earliest deal Lilith agreed upon with Catherine was that Ozler would provide the seeds, and the profits would be split 50-50 between the two parties. After learning about Ozler's true situation, she took the initiative to reduce the share and prioritize Ozler's supply. So in order to ensure that her own winery did not stop operating, Bella continued to collect grain from nearby city-states or farms.
At the beginning, the farms around Goletia were able to meet the supply, but as the winery expanded, Bella also began to collect grain from places outside Goletia. However, before the farming season started this year, farmers who had cooperated with Bella in the past came to the door one after another.
"Impose a second round of taxes in the name of Catherine?!" Lilith's voice rose eight octaves in surprise.
"The officials there claim that this is to help Her Royal Highness deal with the crisis in Ozler." Bella also looked serious. "Miss, has it come to this?"
"They are talking nonsense! The church only supports 300 people favored by God. Is it necessary to increase taxes?" Lilith cursed angrily. Is it the church? Or the king? No, they are in the same group. They are using this method to destroy Catherine's reputation among the people. It doesn't hurt anyone, but it disgusts people.
"I heard that the implementation was very sudden and the farmers were unprepared. Those who had extra money were fine, but many even had their seed grains used to offset taxes. Spring ploughing is coming soon and they can't afford seeds, so they came to me for help, hoping that we could prepay part of the grain sales money in advance so that they can buy seeds..."
Bella said this, looked up at Lilith's expression, and said carefully, "When they mentioned Her Royal Highness, they were all very resentful..."
As expected... Lilith closed her eyes weakly. What a hell of a life Catherine was living all day long!
But Bella didn't come to her to talk about current affairs. She looked conflicted. "I don't think I can make the decision, Miss. It's a large sum of money. Our winery is in Goletia, but their fields are in the empire. If they break the agreement and sell the crops to others, it will be difficult for us to hold those farmers accountable in the name of the law. The judge will not stand on our side..."
She talked for a long time, but seeing that Lilith was still distracted, she called her again.
"Miss Lilith?"
"It does sound risky." Lilith came to her senses and nodded in agreement.
Bella choked up now, her expression even more tangled, "So what do you mean...?"
"You already have the answer in your heart, don't you, dear Bella."
Bella pursed her lips when she heard this. "But if they don't have land to farm, their land might be taken back, and they'll become refugees, and then..."
She raised her head and looked at her boss bravely, "I think we can advance part of the grain money to help them cope with this difficulty."
Lilith showed a helpless look on her face, and Bella's heart ached when she saw it.
"I've already told you this, Bella." Lilith put her arm around her and stood with her in the corridor, watching the workers coming and going outside. This well-organized workshop witnessed the growth of this maid. "You have long been a big boss who can stand on your own. I think you made the right decision. Making money is important, of course, but sometimes it's not that important."
Bella breathed a sigh of relief and a smile returned to her face.
"Oh my, Miss Bella has solved another troublesome problem!" Lilith teased with a smile, but her happiness just emerged and was suppressed by the worries in her heart. She couldn't help but sigh and leaned on Bella.
"You're so awesome, Bella. I wish I could solve problems as easily as you do." Lilith muttered, like she was complaining and acting coquettishly.
"Will you run into trouble too?" Although Bella knew that the pretty elf was missing, she didn't know about the strange connection between Lilith and him. In her mind, Miss Lilith was omnipotent, so there wouldn't be any trouble for her. She thought about it and reluctantly comforted him, "No matter what the trouble is, you can definitely solve it. At least, at least you're better than Amy."
"Who is that?" Lilith was still clinging to Bella like a gecko.
"She is an outstanding graduate of Shelley Town Middle School who just came to Goletia a few years ago." Bella felt overwhelmed when she talked about this, and her voice became gritted. "I asked her to learn to take over some of the financial work. A few days ago, she calculated the taxes and found that the Goletia Taxation Bureau owed us 5,000 gold coins."
"Hahahahahahaha!" Lilith was really amused this time. She held her stomach and laughed.
"Miss, was I like this in your eyes back then?" Poor Bella was exhausted by the intern, and the way she asked why looked so familiar, just like looking in the mirror.
"It seems that this outstanding graduate still needs further study. I will send her to school later. Don't worry, Bella, I will definitely let these little guys get wet in the rain that you got wet in." Lilith promised with a smile.
Bella calmed down, and then she remembered something, "Oh, she not only came, but also brought clothes that Lady Mary had made for you and letters."
"Wow, then let her wait a few days before getting wet in the rain!" Lilith walked towards the small building after hearing that. The clothes made by Mary are always the most comfortable.
"There are also a few letters from other people that have arrived in the past two days. I put them all together." Bella instructed behind her.
"I know." Lilith responded loudly and trotted to Bella's room. She always put things neatly on the desk in the room. As soon as Lilith came in, she saw the pile of clothes.
"Really? You've done so much again..." Lilith reached out and touched it. It was soft. Mary would always wash and soften underwear before giving it to her, saying that it was more comfortable this way.
After she finished touching the clothes, she began to look through the letters next to it.
“Mary’s, Melissa’s, uh, this one’s…Bobby?!”
Lilith cried out in surprise.
Wow! This brat still has a conscience and even wrote to her!
Lilith hastily tore open the envelope and began to read.