After the arranged marriage, she farms and survives under the tutelage of the villainous boss.

He said, "This lady is quite clever. Not only did she see me there, but she also recognized me as He Jie, the newly appointed magistrate."

Jiang Zhiyun patiently explained, "I'm just guessing, I'm not entirely sure. But in order to survive, I want to take the gamble."

“I am a peasant woman myself. In our Yongquan Village, we can’t fight against the local bullies. If it were before, I certainly wouldn’t have dared to do so. But when I heard that a new county magistrate had arrived, I dared to give it a try.”

"Anyway, taxes should not be paid unfairly. I paid all of them, and it is only right that Lord Wang Yan's family should do the same. If it weren't for the county magistrate, Lord Wang Yan would probably have already tried to kill me after I said that."

Wang Yan quickly explained that he had finally managed to get out of Shikanchang and be promoted to the position of registrar.

We can't lose our jobs because of Xie Shuheng, our wife!

"Lord He, how could a peasant woman know about my father-in-law and mother-in-law? It's all fabricated. Please don't believe it."

"I will definitely be able to handle this tax payment matter."

He Jie looked at him and said, "I will personally investigate this matter in the future."

"As for your affairs, I have already been investigating them. There are some clues. It is only right for officials to conduct self-examinations, but you have disappointed me. You were strongly recommended by the local authorities to be the registrar, but now, seeing the people's reaction, I have doubts about your abilities."

“I will also report to the higher authorities again and request that a new person be selected for the position of registrar.”

"..." Wang Yan's legs went weak, and he sat down on the ground. He was somewhat at a loss.

Xie Shuheng was somewhat surprised. He knew He Jie to some extent, but his decisive dismissal and investigation of Wang Yan over tax matters was not his usual style.

To outsiders, it might seem that Jiang Zhiyun was eloquent and knew the inside story, so she had no choice but to do it this way.

In fact, He Jie should have found out long ago, but he was just looking for an excuse. Now, Jiang Zhiyun has become that excuse.

Jiang Zhiyun was naturally aware of these intricacies and connections. These people who had been in officialdom for many years had just stumbled upon her, becoming He Jie's sharpest weapon and also dealing with people like Wang Yan. Why not?

As for being hated by Wang Yan and the people behind him, Jiang Zhiyun is not afraid at all.

Anyway, Xie Shuheng had already offended all those people, so she was just adding icing on the cake.

The couple exchanged a glance, as if they both understood what the other was thinking.

Xie Shuheng turned his gaze to Wang Yan, and unlike the tenderness he showed Yun Niang, his expression changed instantly, filled with murderous intent.

……

The magistrate looked at Wang Yan, who was pleading everywhere, and handled the matter impartially, saying:

"Whatever happens to Jiang Zhiyun today, your family and relatives will also be subject to the same fate. They will all have to hand over their money, and those who are in the cloth business will definitely have to pay an extra 20% in taxes."

"Therefore, in addition to paying taxes, your family will also incur debts."

He Jie was serious and took notes as he spoke, maintaining a professional demeanor.

"There are other taxes besides grain tax. I will personally visit every household in the future to investigate their tax obligations. If they cannot pay, I will petition the court. As for the people here, there is no need to panic. Staying alive is more important than anything else." He Jie himself came from a small village.

He naturally understood how difficult it was to survive.

Then he looked at Jiang Zhiyun and said, "Making money is your skill. Besides, you can't be considered a merchant just because you're setting up a stall. Ten taels is not enough for you."

She gestured to the person next to her to return the money to her.

Then he said, "In the future, when you have truly become a merchant, come to me to pay your taxes. I'm waiting for you, Madam Jiang, to earn more money and support more people."

"Thank you for your trust and encouragement, sir."

Jiang Zhiyun thanked him with a smile, and Xie Shuheng also thanked his wife.

He Jie glanced at Xie Shuheng, the former heir apparent, whom he had met once in court. Their smiles were a sign of their greeting.

As for other things, there's no need to discuss them, let alone have personal relationships with them.

After the matter was resolved, they took Wang Yan away. When Wang Yan came in, he was arrogant and looked down on them, but now he was being dragged along, his legs trailing on the ground.

"I won't leave! I want to explain myself! Your Honor, how can you convict me based solely on the words of a peasant girl?"

“Jiang Zhiyun and Xie Shuheng are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Neither of them are good people. They hate me, so they are fabricating evidence here.”

“My wife and in-laws have never been merchants…”

Seeing that he was still trying to argue, He Jie threw the evidence he had gathered—a stack of papers, ledgers, and correspondence—directly in his face.

He Jie said slowly and deliberately, "Then how else can it be explained?"

“Registrar Wang, I’ve been giving you face; you’re the one who didn’t want it.”

Wang Yan was incredulous, even instinctively swallowing hard, before suddenly breaking down and shouting:

"Xie Shuheng, you and your widowed wife, get out of here!"

"Everything related to Xie Shuheng is my nemesis. A penniless exile, and a wretched peasant woman, yet they've driven me to this point!"

"You will all die sooner or later, and you will get your retribution sooner or later."

He had spent so many years in this wretched, impoverished place, and finally climbed step by step to the position of registrar, a position he hadn't even warmed yet.

It was all ruined by this Jiang family!

He was dragged away, filled with hatred and screams.

This group of people came quickly and left quickly.

They were completely silent shortly after they left. Just a moment ago they were shouting and causing trouble, but now they've left so quickly.

The other villagers in Yongquan Village had nothing to watch anymore and all went home.

Yunniang specially brought some of the prepared cakes to Aunt Hong, and then said, "Aunt Hong, I also want to thank you this time."

"It's nothing, I just brought everyone along to join in the fun. That's what gossipy women are like," Aunt Hong said with a cheerful laugh.

Seeing that no one was around, he pulled Jiang Zhiyun aside and said, "Don't think that everything will be fine once this tax payment is over."

"What do you mean?" Jiang Zhiyun asked, wondering if there was something else going on.

"Taxes are usually paid together with corvée labor. We have a small population here, and in recent years, the corvée labor has been almost completely eliminated, leaving very few men. The land is vast and sparsely populated. Our southwest is surrounded by desolate mountains, so wealthy people don't collect corvée labor to build summer houses."

Jiang Zhiyun nodded: "Isn't that a good thing? At least the boys in the family can be saved."

"If we don't collect this corvée labor, then the first batch of people to be conscripted into the army will be here. I've been talking to people from the neighboring villages these past few days, and I'm afraid they'll be coming to our godforsaken little place soon."

“We are poor here, so it doesn’t matter if there are one more or one less person, so the soldiers must come from our area.”

Jiang Zhiyun nodded: "That's true. But my son Yang is still young, that is, Xie Shuheng. Xie Shuheng is still in exile and has been convicted. I don't know if he will be forced to join the army."

"If someone really comes to arrest you, who cares if you're an exile?"