Chapter 3411: Tax Rate

Ning Shu rubbed her chin. Who knew there were so many ins and outs to simple taxation?

Ning Shu was a fresh-faced city lord. She didn’t know the first thing about some of these tricks.

After thinking it over, she decided she needed to ask someone for advice.

Ning Shu asked 2333, “How much faith points or merit points do you think I should collect?”

2333 replied, “According to the tax conditions in the documents, it’s generally 5% to 10% of a shop’s net profit. You can adjust this yourself based on your city’s situation.”

“Given the foot traffic in the City of Water, collecting 10% is acceptable,” 2333 said. “Of course, there are also some ‘gray profits.’ For example, some shops might offer extra dividends or kickbacks. These aren’t counted as official tax. Naturally, you also have to pay taxes yourself. The main system takes a 5% cut from your total tax revenue.”

Ning Shu: …

“This is completely a case of big fish eating small fish, and small fish eating shrimp.”

2333 nodded. “Exactly. At least you are now in the middle layer of the food chain.

“This is the power of authority,” 2333 said in a deep voice, like the low beating of a drum. It made Ning Shu’s heart pound violently.

Yes, this was what she deserved. She had exchanged her sweat and hard work for the right to speak, for the ability to live a bit more as she pleased.

Ning Shu looked at the documents. “I need to ask how taxes were collected before. The City of Water used to be jointly managed by several ordinance embodiments.”

Shu Bai had mentioned being exploited time and time again.

It seemed the ordinance embodiments who temporarily managed the City of Water hadn’t held back on their exploitation.

Ning Shu opened the chat system, thought for a moment, and clicked on the avatar of the closet-pervert qipao man.

Ning Shu realized she really didn’t know anyone in the Law Group.

She might as well ask the qipao man.

She received the qipao man’s auto-reply. [I am currently dead. For business, burn paper money. To see me, die first. For small matters, summon my spirit; for big matters, dig up my grave.]

Ning Shu rolled her eyes. How old was he, to still act so goofy?

Ning Shu: [I have something to ask you. Please rise from the dead.]

Qipao Man: [What is it? I charge a consultation fee. I am very unhappy right now. Extremely unhappy.]

Ning Shu placated him. [Okay, my bad.]

Ning Shu: [I wanted to ask you how you collect taxes.]

The qipao man gave her a very official, perfunctory answer. [Just collect according to the regulations in the file.]

Fine. It seemed this was a rather taboo topic.

Ning Shu asked again, [Now that the embodiment of the wind and thunder ordinances have been wiped, who is managing their cities?]

Qipao Man: [They’ve already been carved up. You have no chance.]

Ning Shu: […]

Ning Shu didn’t ask anymore. She wasn’t very close to the qipao man.

He had no obligation to tell her anything.

Ning Shu politely thanked the qipao man and closed the chat system.

It looked like she had to investigate her own city in person.

Ning Shu said to 2333, “Let’s go to the City of Water.”

Upon arriving in the City of Water, Ning Shu went to the casino first and met the owner, Si Tian.

Si Tian gave Ning Shu the impression of a handsome Zhuge Liang—the kind of person with deep schemes.

Si Tian wore gray-white deep robes with wide sleeves, which made him look particularly refined. His features weren’t exquisitely beautiful, but his relaxed and calm demeanor made one overlook his face.

He was always so calm.

“Si Tian greets the city lord. do you have any instructions for visiting my humble abode?” Si Tian clasped his hands and asked Ning Shu.

Ning Shu got straight to the point. “I came this time to understand the issue of taxation.”

Si Tian picked up an exquisite teapot, poured tea for Ning Shu, and said, “Whatever the city lord wishes to know, Si Tian will speak without reserve.”

Ning Shu gave a grunt of acknowledgment. “Tell me about the previous taxes. What percentage was collected?”

Si Tian took a sip of tea and gently set down the cup. “Previously, it was collected at 10%. Additionally, the embodiments of the wind, earth, and ice ordinances each took an extra 1%, so the total tax rate was 13%.”

Ning Shu nodded. “I understand. I’ll be going now.”

Si Tian couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. She was leaving already?

Si Tian stood by the upstairs window, watching Ning Shu walk down the street and randomly enter another shop.

Si Tian’s expression shifted slightly, and he sighed silently in his heart. He had told a small lie, and it was likely about to be exposed.

Ning Shu visited many shops in a row and covered several streets, before finally arriving at Shu Bai’s restaurant.

Ning Shu went directly to the private room upstairs and said to the waiter, “Please ask your boss to come over.”

The waiter brewed a pot of tea for Ning Shu and went to fetch Shu Bai.

When Shu Bai arrived, she asked Ning Shu, “Does the city lord have business with me?”

Ning Shu lifted her chin. “Sit. I have something to ask you.”

Shu Bai sat down. Her hair was pinned up loosely and elegantly with a simple hairpin. The pendant on it was trembling slightly.

“I came to your restaurant last because I hope you will tell me the truth. I’ve visited many shops and inquired about taxes.”

“Guess what?” Ning Shu asked Shu Bai with a smile.

Shu Bai gave a reserved smile, looking gentle with her head lowered. “I assume everyone under-reported the tax situation. Everyone hopes to pay less money.”

Ning Shu nodded. “I can understand that, but they really take me for an idiot. They actually reported 2% to me. With the foot traffic in the City of Water—only 2% tax?”

Shu Bai covered her mouth and laughed. “Bullying the new and the weak is just how things work.”

“I came to you because I want to know the true tax situation.

“I felt the most somewhat reliable figure was the 13% Si Tian mentioned.” Ning Shu held her tea, sipping it slowly. The taste was good.

Shu Bai shook her head. “Si Tian still reported it low. Originally, this place was managed by the embodiments of the earth, wind, and ice ordinances. The tax was 18%. On the books, it was 10%, but in reality, the three of them split the rest equally.”

Ning Shu nodded. “18%, huh? Why the hell did they tell me 2%?”

That was a world of difference.

“Do you guys cook the books?” Ning Shu tilted her head and asked Shu Bai.

Shu Bai’s mouth twitched. “The records and ID cards are just for show. All spending is transparent before the main system.”

Ning Shu gave an ‘oh.’

Human wisdom really couldn’t be underestimated. Where there were policies from above, there’d be countermeasures from below.

Shu Bai asked Ning Shu, “How does the city lord plan to collect?”

“Then let me ask a presumptuous question. What is the net profit of your shop?” Ning Shu asked.

Shu Bai held up five jade-white fingers.

“50,000?” Ning Shu guessed.

“Close to 500,000.”

Ning Shu: Holy crap…

That was so much. Ning Shu was so shocked she almost flipped the table.

“500,000 merit points or 500,000 faith points?” Ning Shu asked again.

“Combined, it’s not far off from 500,000. But if we’re talking about making money, Si Tian’s casino is the real winner.” Shu Bai dragged Si Tian into the water.

Ning Shu counted on her fingers.

500,000… calculated at a 10% tax rate, that would be 50,000.

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