He changed Tiwat

For powerful and wealthy merchants like Ningguang and Pantarone, Mora is nothing more than a number. They can manipulate events at will, and whether it's counterfeiting Mora or implementing the Liyue currency policy... these things that disrupt the lives of people across the continent are merely pawns in their game.

As businesspeople, profit and loss are part of the business process, and they can afford the costs.

But the workers of Liyue are the price to pay.

As the son of a laid-off worker, he knew what that kind of life was like.

Liyue is known as the "Land of Contracts." Workers seem to have the freedom to sign contracts, but if they are not employed by one capital, they must be employed by another.

The threat of hunger made it impossible for them to escape the fate of being employed, exploited, and oppressed by capital. Under conditions where capital owns the means of production, the so-called freedom of contract between employer and employee is merely a hollow concept for the workers.

If the boss of Dongsheng can shift his losses onto workers like Lao Meng, then who can Lao Meng seek compensation from?

Old Meng was at his wit's end.

The exploration team was also at its wits' end.

Those miners who joined the treasure-hunting gang were also left with nowhere to turn.

So they chose to commit crimes.

To eliminate crime, we must eliminate the conditions that allow crime to thrive.

Han Fu returned to the central courtyard of the Hall of Rebirth, where Xin Yan and the others were already waiting for him.

"There's something I'd like to ask you all for a small favor," Han Fulai said to the group.

Seeing his serious expression, Xin Yan couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is it?"

“It’s a very ‘rock and roll’ thing,” Han Fulai replied.

Xing Qiu and Yun Jin were both stunned. How could Han Fulai suddenly become a "friend of rock and roll" after only half an hour?

Han Fulai smiled back: "On this continent of Teyvat, is there anything more 'rock and roll' than changing the world?"

Chapter 333 Killing That Man from Mingyun Town (Part 2) [4k5]

The next day, Han Fulai and Xingqiu walked together on the streets of Liyue Harbor.

Xingqiu looked incredibly radiant and full of energy today, his steps were light as a feather. Anyone who saw him would probably think that the "Feiyun Chamber of Commerce" had just received a huge order worth hundreds of millions of Mora.

Only Han Fulai knew that Xingqiu's problem stemmed from "not being able to sleep before a school trip."

Han Fulai had just returned to Yuehaiting and consulted several documents with Miss Huixin, thus completing the preliminary preparations. Next up was his and Xingqiu's "chivalrous journey".

Last night, after Han Fulai explained the situation to the group, he asked Xin Yan and Yun Jin to help him go to Qingce Village to find Lao Meng's family.

Yun Jin had already made an appointment with Master Fan to visit Senior Ruoxin at Qingce Manor today and, while she was there, invite her back to Heyu Teahouse to design the new stage. This trip was convenient, so she naturally wouldn't refuse. Given her relationship with Ruoxin, the "village chief," finding someone at Qingce Manor would be a piece of cake.

Xin Yan, on the other hand, had another mission: Han Fulai entrusted her, as a fellow townsman of Mingyun Town, to build a closer relationship with Lao Meng's family and try her best to persuade them to return to Liyue Harbor to meet Lao Meng.

Xin Yan herself was ostracized in Liyue Harbor, so she was quite experienced in dealing with such situations and could easily resonate with the Meng family. Moreover, judging from how she took care of the crying little boy at the dock, she was both loving and patient, making her very suitable for this kind of work.

Xin Yan readily accepted the task—helping others is a "rock and roll" thing to do.

Moreover, she got inspiration for her new song from Lao Meng's story. If she could get in touch with Lao Meng's family, it might help her create the new song better.

Xingqiu was originally supposed to go to Qingce Manor with them, since Master Lu of "Fanmutang" hadn't left the mountain for a long time, and they would need Xingqiu's influence as the second young master of "Feiyun Chamber of Commerce" to persuade him. However, Xingqiu had already written a sincere letter and entrusted his subordinate Axu in the Chamber of Commerce to take gifts and go to Qingce Manor with Yun Jin and Xin Yan to invite people.

—A handwritten letter from Young Master Xingqiu is a rare treasure! His handwritten work is a token that can represent the "Flying Cloud Merchant Guild". No one in the entire Teyvat continent can forge it, which shows his sincerity. I think Master Lu will not refuse it.

The reason why Xingqiu was willing to pay the price of writing a letter by hand to stay by Han Fulai's side was, of course, because today he was going to join his brother Han in upholding justice after a long time.

Han Fulai is now a key figure in Liyue's political arena and is basically never free. Xingqiu also has family businesses to take care of, so they rarely have the opportunity to meet, let alone go on chivalrous adventures together.

Having finally gotten this opportunity, how could Xingqiu let it slip by?

Han Fulai knew his sworn brother's thoughts, so he naturally went along with it and invited him to travel together.

Their target today was Dong Sheng, the owner of "Rongfa Shop".

This is indeed a difficult problem.

A month has passed since Lao Meng's incident, and the source of the counterfeit Mora that Boss Dongsheng gave him is long gone.

Of course, it's not entirely hopeless. Ningguang might have some information from her investigation into the origins of the forged Mora, but given Han Fulai's current relationship with Ningguang, he really can't ask her for help.

As long as Boss Dongsheng insists that he sent Lao Meng genuine Mora, Han Fulai has no evidence to force him to admit it. On the other hand, the evidence against Lao Meng for attempting to beat Dongsheng and robbing "Rongfa Shop" is irrefutable, making it impossible to overturn the case.

Simply put, on the surface, the perpetrator of this incident is Lao Meng, while the owner of Dongsheng is the victim.

Logically, they have no right to make things difficult for a "victim".

So, on the surface, what they're investigating isn't Lao Meng's affairs.

There needs to be another incident that turns the owner of Dongsheng into a "criminal suspect" so that the truth can be uncovered.

Xingqiu was so excited because he had devised the entire investigation plan for today.

Xingqiu couldn't hide his smile; he could help Brother Han, show off his intelligence, indulge in a chivalrous adventure, and even have a rare opportunity to travel and bond with Brother Han alone. He had already decided to include this chivalrous experience in his new book.

In order to get the boss of Dongsheng to comply, their first step was to go to the North Wharf to find the boss of "Wanyou Shop" named Bolai.

When the two arrived at "Wanyou Shop," the owner, Bo Lai, was holding an account book, meticulously checking the accounts. Upon seeing the two distinguished guests, he immediately came out to greet them with a beaming smile.

"Deputy Minister Han, Young Master Xingqiu, it is an honor to have you two grace us with your presence today. Is there a large order you wish to bestow upon me?"

Mentioning the order, Boss Bo's eyes lit up. He remembered the last time Secretary Han accompanied that guest of the Hall of Rebirth to "Wanyou Shop," they placed a huge order. "Feiyun Chamber of Commerce" was known for its generosity, and Young Master Xingqiu was famous, practically a "God of Wealth."

Xingqiu smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Boss Bolai, it's been a long time. Judging from your complexion, business must be booming lately. I don't have any orders for you today; I just happened to run into Vice Minister Han and was accompanying him on a shopping trip..."

"Hey, Xingqiu, didn't we agree that the Yuehaiting procurement was to be kept secret?" Han Fulai said reproachfully.

Xingqiu quickly apologized.

Bo Lai, overhearing this conversation, beamed with delight: "Oh my, so Vice Minister Han is going to make purchases on behalf of Yue Haiting? Our shop has everything from office supplies to daily necessities, all at low prices and of high quality. Please give me a chance to do my best for Yue Haiting!"

Han Fulai hesitated, looked around, and then said, "Boss Bolai, to be honest, I was indeed ordered by Lord Gan Yu to represent Yuehaiting in finding a supplier of office supplies. As you know, our Yuehaiting office processes a huge number of documents every day, and the consumption of office supplies is also quite large. In order to ensure work efficiency, Lord Gan Yu hopes to find a supplier to reliably provide office supplies to Yuehaiting..."

"Then you've come to the right person, here I am..."

Boss Bo clapped his hands and began to enthusiastically promote his own products.

Han Fulai listened patiently for a while before saying, "Thank you for the recommendation, Boss Bolai. I have a general understanding of your products. I'm here today to inspect the store; since it's official business, we must do it professionally..."

“Of course, of course,” Bolai nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Han Fulai continued, "Currently, Yuehai Pavilion has shortlisted two partner merchants: your 'Wanyou Shop' and 'Rongfa Shop.' Xingqiu and I just came here from our inspection of 'Rongfa Shop.' 'Wanyou Shop' and 'Rongfa Shop' are about the same size, and their product range and prices are also quite similar..."

"What price will that kid Dongsheng quote? No, no matter what price he quotes, I'll give Yuehaiting a 10% discount on top of that, no, a 15% discount!" Bolai shouted immediately upon hearing "Rongfa Shop".

Xingqiu smiled and said mischievously, "Boss Dongsheng also said that no matter what price you quote, he will give you a discount based on your price."

Bo Laiyi puffed out his beard and shouted through gritted teeth, "He's waging a 'price war,' it's vicious competition! I'm going to the Market and Market Bureau to expose him!"

Han Fulai shook his head. "Boss Bolai, I have something to tell you, don't be upset—according to the standards, this order... I'm afraid it really should go to 'Rongfa Shop'."

"What? Why did he get all the benefits?!" Bo Lai's eyes widened, and the veins on his neck bulged.

Han Fulai sighed softly, "Alas, because according to the tax reports that Yue Haiting received, Boss Dongsheng is very proactive in filing taxes every year, and his 'credit rating' is... slightly higher than Boss Bolai's."

"Him? Filing taxes? Proactive... Hehehehe..." Bolai laughed disdainfully upon hearing this.

"Hmm? Was there something in Bo Lai's words just now?" Han Fulai raised an eyebrow and looked at Bo Lai.

Bolai snorted, "Don't fall for it. I know that kid better than anyone how wicked he is. You absolutely cannot trust his tax returns! This guy has evaded more than just one or two taxes."

"Huh, you know so much about the operation of 'Rongfa Shops'?" Xing Qiu asked curiously.

Bolai twitched his mustache. "Of course! I hate every single deal they make! Seeing that kid make money is worse than me losing money myself!"

Han Fulai was prepared and took out a tax report from Yuehai Pavilion from his pocket: "Then, please take a look at this tax report. Based on the information you provided, we will reassess the credit of 'Rongfa Shop'."

"Okay, okay, I will definitely read it carefully... line by line, word by word..."

Bolai hurriedly took the tax form, his eyes practically glued to the paper, as if he wanted to use a magnifying glass to find every single punctuation mark and flaw.

He quickly slapped the tax bill excitedly and exclaimed, "I've got it! I've got it! What about the high-end wooden furniture he bought from 'Fanmutang' at the beginning of the year? He even deliberately showed it off in front of me! Look at this tax bill, it doesn't mention it at all! That kid swallowed up all the profits!"

"Oh?" Han Fulai's tone was slightly hesitant. "But judging from the audit records provided by Baishui Hall, there's nothing wrong with his accounts, is there?"

“Hmph, how could anyone find out? He wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave the relevant documents in the store; he would have disposed of them long ago! But…” Bo Lai pretended to be profound, wanting to claim credit in front of the two of them, but Xing Qiu said with a grin, “Even if he destroyed all the evidence, I believe the source of the goods, ‘Fan Mutang,’ will still have the invoices.”

“Yes.” Bo Lai nodded quickly. “Old Master Lu of ‘Fanmutang’ won’t listen to Dong Sheng’s arrangements. Master Lu must still have the receipt.”

"Thank you for exposing Boss Dongsheng's illegal activities. Regarding the order... we will reconsider, Mr. Bolai," Han Fulai said with a smile.

Boss Bo waved his hand with feigned modesty: "Hey, it's nothing. Please find the evidence and deal with him severely. That would be the best way to thank me."

After leaving the "Wanyou Shop", Han Fulai and Xingqiu exchanged a smile.

"The one who knows you best is often your enemy." — In the business world, this is a well-known truth.

"Wanyou Shop" and "Rongfa Shop" have been rivals for years, always keeping a close eye on each other's every move. Xingqiu even heard that the helpers in both shops might be spies sent by the other side to infiltrate. To find evidence of Boss Dongsheng's crimes, of course, they have to rely on Boss Bolai.

The "Flying Cloud Chamber of Commerce's" ancestral "driving away the tiger to devour the wolf" technique is just that effective.

Moreover, as the heir to a large business guild, Xingqiu understands the ways of making money better than anyone else – as the saying goes, "a horse won't get fat without night grass," and tax evasion is a fundamental skill in doing business.

The next stop, naturally, is to have a good chat with Boss Dongsheng.

When the two arrived at "Rongfa Shop", it was already past noon.

Boss Dongsheng was wolfing down his lunch from a large bowl. As a former adventurer, he still retained his old eating habits from that time: the food didn't have to be fancy, but it had to be plentiful and filling.

Upon seeing a customer arrive, Dongsheng quickly put down his rice bowl and stood up.

"Oh, isn't this Young Master Xingqiu? And this... this is... could it be that Vice Minister Han?"

Although Dong Sheng tried his best to bow and scrape, his burly physique still made him significantly taller than both of them. Looking at his body covered in lumps of flesh, he certainly didn't seem like the kind of businessman who made his fortune through amiable means.

However, to his clients, his appearance made him seem quite honest and not shrewd at all, which in some ways was the source of his success.

Dong Sheng chuckled and rubbed his hands together as he asked, "I wonder what you two need today?"

At this moment, Han Fulai expressionlessly pulled out the tax invoice for "Rongfa Shop".

"Boss Dongsheng, I am Han Fulai, the Executive Deputy Director of Yuehaiting. Recently, the Yuehaiting Office received a report from the public alleging that your shop has committed serious tax evasion. Lord Ganyu has specially assigned me to investigate this matter, and I hope you will cooperate."

"I...I'm innocent...All transactions in my shop are recorded truthfully, and there are absolutely no problems with the tax forms. This accusation is completely fabricated..." Dong Sheng was stunned and habitually protested.

Han Fulai's lips curled slightly. All criminal suspects, regardless of whether they were innocent or not, would first shout "Innocent!" But this shout of innocence would be seen as deceiving public officials and an attempt to evade justice.

"Is it all baseless? I wonder if Boss Dongsheng dares to take responsibility for what he said? I sincerely suggest you give up your sophistry as soon as possible. Because it could very well affect the punishment you face in the final proceedings."

Dong Sheng rolled his eyes, seemingly trying to figure out if there were any loopholes in his accounts. After a moment, he shook his head and said, "No, no, that's impossible. I do business honestly and never covet any petty or shady profits."

Xingqiu walked over with a troubled expression and whispered, "Boss Dongsheng, considering our previous business dealings, I have something to tell you... We just went to 'Wanyou Shop'..."

Dong Sheng's expression froze instantly, and he stammered, "This, this, this..."

At this moment, Han Fulai pointed at the tax bill and said righteously, "Did I not explain clearly enough? Boss Dongsheng, the fact that you evaded taxes is irrefutable. We just came to see your attitude."

"Sigh..." Xingqiu shook his head, looking regretful, "I can't help you now. Boss Dongsheng, Boss Bolai has already told us about 'Fanmutang'..."

Upon hearing the name "Fan Mutang," Dong Sheng's face finally fell.

“That guy Bolai actually betrayed me behind my back! Humph… He himself has always been shady! I’m going to expose him too! Vice Minister Han, let me tell you, go check his accounts from the beginning of the year. He said back then that two suckers paid a lot of money to buy three hundred flowers from him…”

"Shut up! This is about your problem!"

The "sucker" himself immediately stopped Dong Sheng from reporting and exposing the matter.

“Dongsheng, your problems don’t stop at tax evasion. Bolai also reported that you used counterfeit Mora to offset employee wages a month ago. What do you want to say in your defense? Come with me to the General Affairs Department.”

Dong Sheng's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

“Tsk tsk… Once you’re in jail for this, you’ll have a hard time getting out…” Xingqiu looked around the Rongfa Shop from left to right, then turned back and said, “Boss Dongsheng, would you consider transferring the shop to me…”

Dong Sheng gritted his teeth and stomped his foot. "I knew it! That old Meng was indeed sent by Bo Lai! Otherwise, how would Bo Lai know so much?"

"I confess, I confess everything! Please don't shut down my shop, I'll pay all the taxes and fines! I... I can even help you audit the accounts and get credit for it! I have the 'Wanyou Shop's' secret accounts here, I just beg you not to let that guy Bolai go!"

Chapter 334 Learning from Past Mistakes to Avoid Future Ones, Curing the Illness to Save the Patient [4k]

By working together, Han Fulai and Xingqiu exploited the grudge between Dongsheng and Bolai, successfully inducing him to confess to deceiving Lao Meng with a forged Mora.

As the saying goes, "The person who knows you best is often your enemy," and the person who believes in your abilities the most is also often your enemy.

Dong Sheng and Bo Lai have been locked in a fierce battle for years, and they know each other inside and out. They have even gone so far as to bribe each other's employees to exchange for damaging information.

If Han Fulai and Xingqiu had asked about the forgery of Mora from the beginning, Dongsheng could have easily denied it.

But they first seized on Dong Sheng's weakness by accusing him of tax evasion, then threw out Bo Lai as bait, and with their acting skills, they guided Dong Sheng to imagine that "Bo Lai had collected all his dirt on him and reported it to the government in preparation for bringing him down in one fell swoop."

In order to protect himself, Dong Sheng naturally confessed and tried to expose the dirt on Bo Lai, hoping to bring them down with him.

Although Dong Sheng and Bo Lai's fight was ugly, Han Fulai finally found out the truth—it turned out that Lao Meng's predicament was largely due to the vicious competition between Dong Sheng and Bo Lai.