Favoring the concubine and killing the wife? She divorced the concubine and lived with her concubine

Xiao Zongshan stated his requirements directly, which made it easier for Su Ze to deal with them.

Shipping by water requires official approval, as every port must inspect the cargo before unloading. If you attempt to transport cargo without approval, you could face fines at best and confiscation of your cargo at worst, so don't even try.

Xiao Zongshan's shipping business had approval documents for all ports from Nancheng to Jingcheng and then to Beidu, but he had never had the necessary documents to ship goods from neighboring countries.

The paperwork was simple: the Nancheng County government issued a permit in the name of the government and handed it to Xiangquan Town. Xiangquan Town then signed a document based on the permit, thus connecting the short waterway between the two countries.

"As long as the transported items are reasonable and legal, what's the difficulty?" Su Ze also replied frankly without any flaws.

"Of course, they're just some medicinal herbs, so they're definitely legal. It's just that the tax on goods shipped here from a neighboring country is a huge expense. The finished goods I buy aren't expensive, but the shipping costs are. If we continue with the same old prices here, and add a 30% tax, I'm afraid all my efforts here will be in vain."

No matter how cheap goods from neighboring countries are, shipping them here will cost a fortune. Sending a few boxes by horse and cart isn't a big deal, but bringing them here by large ship is a completely different matter.

Xiao Zongshan was attracted by the cheap purchase price in Xiangquan Town, so he wanted to bring in more at once. The price difference was several times higher, and if he could also ship a batch to the capital, he would make a huge profit.

Therefore, Xiao Zongshan's main purpose this time was not the approval document, but the tax issue. The approval document only mentioned medicinal materials, but if Su Ze could give a few instructions during unloading, he could save a lot of money.

Xiao Lan hadn't known Xiao Zongshan was trying to get this, but now she felt he'd hit a wall. Could Su Ze, the serious county magistrate, really help you get this?

Sure enough, when it came to the approval documents, Su Ze said nothing, but when it came to taxes, he fell silent.

Su Ze didn't say anything, but Master Cui took out an old document from his pocket and handed it to him.

Xiao Zongshan only took a glance and smiled. He picked up the teacup, took another sip, and praised it.

Xiao Lan was curious about what was written there that could make Xiao Zongshan smile with a determined look on his face.

Su Ze took the document, glanced at it, and looked up at Master Cui. Master Cui whispered a few words in his ear, and Su Ze pondered for a moment.

"Master Xiao, you have already made plans." Su Ze handed the document back to Master Cui, and couldn't help but admire Xiao Zongshan's shrewdness.

Xiao Zongshan quickly put down his teacup and said anxiously, "Oh, we are just ordinary businessmen. We have to be frugal every day to support our families."

"Master Xiao, when you asked me to come back that day to check the documents from more than ten years ago, I guess you were looking for this one. In the past, merchants donated money and manpower to build new city walls and gates, and they were given the privilege of annual tax exemption." Master Cui sent a letter to Xiao Zongshan that day, but Xiao Zongshan didn't even look at it. He asked Master Cui if he had read the documents from more than ten years ago. He also reminded him that it was when the city wall of South City was newly built, and there were many touching stories. Master Cui

"Found it? Yes, it's this document." Xiao Zongshan sat up straight and said with a smile, "I was just thinking that it's rare for merchants to donate money and manpower in the most difficult times. If we can get some preferential treatment, no matter what problems the city encounters in the future, everyone will definitely not shirk their responsibilities. Besides, I heard that there are many places to be repaired this time, and our Xiao family will definitely take the lead. We have our own brick kiln, so the adults don't have to worry about these things from now on."

Now Xiao Zongshan has uncovered all the loopholes that Su Ze can exploit, and as long as Su Ze takes advantage of them, it will be fine. However, Su Ze feels like he has been cheated, and he feels indescribable.

Xiao Lan looked at Su Ze's frustrated expression and found it funny in her heart, but she dared not show it on her face. After all, this was a business matter, and she could take advantage of the loophole or not, depending on whether he was willing to give her this face.

So she didn't want to annoy Su Ze at this time. She looked at Xiao Zongshan with a little surprise without saying a word.

"I'll think about it." Su Ze did not agree for the time being.

Xiao Zongshan was not in a hurry. "Okay, then I'll go talk to the merchants about the donations first so they have an idea of what's going on. As for the tax, it's up to you, sir, to decide. I won't let anyone know in advance and make it difficult for you."

When they went out, Xiao Zongshan and Su Ze walked in front, and Xiao Lan and Master Cui walked behind.

"Madam Sun, your father is incredible. No wonder the Xiao family's fortune is so huge. The abacus beads even fell on the county magistrate's face." Master Cui said softly.

Xiao Lan looked at him and smiled, "I didn't inherit this, otherwise I would have been a millionaire by now."

Master Cui didn't look at her, but only glanced at the distant corridor. "Hey, you are also capable, but you haven't yet found a place to use your talents. If you inherit the Xiao family business in the future, you will definitely thrive in it."

Xiao Lan followed his gaze and saw Pan Yingqiu standing there. She looked at Xiao Lan with a smile on her face and nodded as a greeting when their eyes met.

Xiao Lan felt that this person was very similar to the time when she first met Xiao Xuan. That mask-like smile floated on the surface, and the eyes were empty, with nothing in them.

"She's...a cousin?"

Master Cui retracted his gaze and said, "Yes, it was brought by Lord Su's parents. They might want to arrange a marriage for you."

"Oh... this girl is pretty." Xiao Lan also withdrew his gaze, his tone flat.

"But the master is annoyed by her and doesn't like her. I think the master likes you very much." Master Cui glanced at Xiao Lan and observed her expression.

Xiao Lan was a little unhappy about Su Ze's marriage proposal. This unhappiness could be attributed to her ex-husband, and perhaps had nothing to do with Su Ze himself.

But when Master Cui mentioned that Su Ze liked her, Xiao Lan was still unhappy. Xiao Lan felt that when facing Su Ze, she could change her name to "unhappy". She was not happy when Su Ze was nice to her, and she was not happy when Su Ze was not nice to her. Xiao Lan had never felt so awkward in her life.

"Lan'er, let's go. If there are business matters in the future, I will have to trouble you again. If you can't come then, you must run more diligently and don't be lazy."

Xiao Zongshan seemed to be teaching his daughter a lesson, but in fact he was telling Xiao Lan that she would be the housekeeper in the future, not an ordinary woman.

Su Ze looked at Xiao Lan, and Xiao Zongshan noticed the difference in his eyes towards her.

"Thank you for your hard work, ma'am."

Xiao Lan didn't know what to say, so she just bowed and smiled. This smile made Su Ze stand there, and he didn't come back to his senses until he saw the man get on the carriage and drive away.

Master Cui looked at Su Ze's distraught look and smacked his lips, "No one can escape the torture of being hot and cold."

Xiao Lan and Xiao Zongshan were riding in the same carriage. Xiao Zongshan got on, glanced at Xiao Lan, and sneered, "I didn't expect you to be so likable. I think Su Ze's eyes on you are ambiguous."

I had been sitting upright on that wooden chair for a while, and my back and waist were already sore. Xiao Lan leaned against the cushions behind her and asked, "Why don't I feel it?"

"You don't feel it, or are you pretending not to feel it?" Xiao Zongshan looked Xiao Lan up and down. Even with this lazy posture, she was not inferior to the girl from Beijing who brought in tea just now.

"I really don't think so. I'm a widow with a family to support." Xiao Lan said indifferently.

Xiao Zongshan was not happy about it. "Why? Even if my daughter is a widow, she is not someone others can covet. This Magistrate Su is a handsome man, and his family is a merchant in the capital. Their family business is not inferior to ours."

Xiao Lan looked at Xiao Zongshan in disbelief, thinking that he always acted on his own accord.

"Why, you don't want me to give birth to a son anymore? Are you going to remarry?"

"It's not impossible. Everything depends on human effort. If you can marry Magistrate Su, the Xiao family will be firmly in your hands."

"..."