Chapter 29

Old Han, who had lived by the East Sea for six or seven years and seen the world, without needing Young Han’s reminder, resolutely rejected the lottery salesperson’s proposal to hand over 120,000 yuan in cash.

First, it wasn’t worth it, and second, having money brings many troubles.

A few years ago, there was a ten-thousand-yuan household in the town who raised river mussels for pearls. Whenever the town or village had any issues, they would go to him for sponsorship, elect him as a county People's Representative, and praise him on the radio every day. Now that his mussel farming business is no longer profitable and he has lost over 100,000 yuan, his life is tough, but the town and village ignore him, and the officials act as if they don’t know him.

With this precedent, Han Baoguo didn’t want to shoot himself in the foot.

He had built a house two years ago, renovated it last year, and his daughter and son-in-law got married during the Spring Festival. Two months ago, his son bought a house and renovated it, and now he needs to host a washing ceremony for his grandson. No matter how much money he has, it’s not enough. He will go to the credit officer to borrow a loan later. Even if he has money, he needs to act as if he doesn’t, borrow money to pay personal income tax, and see who would have the nerve to ask for sponsorship. He can’t just dismantle a wheel, right?

The salesperson, seeing no profit, could only prepare the procedures.

Personal income tax is collected by the tax department, and with Director Chen’s guarantee, the winning boss won’t evade taxes. The staff had no worries. After registering his ID, they had Old Han sign a stack of documents and handed over the keys and vehicle invoice without hesitation.

The grand prize, a small car worth nearly 200,000 yuan, was actually won by someone.

The news spread quickly, and people gathered here one after another.

This was in the town, during a temple fair. On a street less than 1.5 kilometers long, over 40,000 people were densely packed. Without taking measures, something serious could happen.

Director Chen decisively used the walkie-talkie to call the other three police officers and over a dozen security guards to maintain order, clear traffic, and create a lane for motor vehicles, allowing Han Bo to drive the new Santana 2000 home.

Some people wanted to watch the spectacle, some wanted cigarettes, and some shameless ones wanted red envelopes. They followed all the way to the entrance of the water conservancy station alley leading to the Hans’ home.

Young Han was his lover’s student and a future colleague.

A university graduate, a student party member, a student union official, and now the deputy director of the textile factory’s security department and the captain of the economic police, he had achieved success during the "strict crackdown" period and might be transferred to the bureau by the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. His future was limitless.

Of course, one helps one’s own.

Director Chen didn’t stop there. He left two security guards at the alley entrance, called Han Bo to the bridge to drive the police car, turned on the police lights and siren, and had Officer Huang and the other security guards continue to direct traffic, blocking the alley entrance with car No. 7. With handcuffs and batons ready, no one dared to be shameless and ask for anything.

"Mr. Han, Han Bo, you’ve really given me a hard time. I’m all sweaty and have to guard your door for you."

"Thank you, thank you very much. Director Chen, take a rest. I’ll go get some drinks. We’ll have dinner here tonight, and no one is allowed to leave."

With good fortune, it’s hard to resist. Han Baoguo was overjoyed and looked back at his new car.

These days, there are too many people with envy. Li Taipeng and the police guarded the alley entrance, not letting anyone unfamiliar in. If they rushed in, they might really ransack the house.

His grandparents came out, his uncle and aunt returned, and his aunts and uncles circled around the car. Even Han Fang, who was in confinement and couldn’t be exposed to the wind, couldn’t resist peering down from the second-floor window.

Han Bo went home and called Gao Changxing, asking him to get a temporary license plate from the traffic police and contact an insurance agent. They would take a minibus to deliver the documents and return car No. 7 to the unit.

After finishing, he came to the alley entrance, and the tax office people had already arrived.

"Twenty percent, exactly 39,000 yuan. Mr. Han, Director Han, whether you pay us or the county bureau, it’s the same. We are from the same hometown, help us out, don’t pay the county bureau, let us complete our task."

"Xiao Bo, I don’t understand these things, you talk to Director Gu."

In Sihe Town, some people raise chickens, some raise silkworms, and some go out to do construction. They are not poor, but they are not well-off either. Farmers can get by, but the government has no money, and there are too many officials. With 304 teachers, the government spent a lot in the past few years on office buildings, schools, nursing homes, and roads, leaving a huge debt. The summer and autumn levies are not enough to pay the officials and teachers, let alone pay off the debt.

Old Han was worried they might use the pretext of collecting taxes to ask for sponsorship, so he directly passed the ball to his son. His son is the captain of the economic police; deceiving him is like deceiving the police and the government.

Personal income tax is a local tax, and paying it to the town tax office or the county tax bureau makes no difference.

Han Bo said with a smile, "Director Gu, don’t worry. Whether we pay to you or the county bureau, it’s the same. But you need to give us a few days. Several things have happened at once, and we don’t have that much money. My father plans to borrow some from the credit union."

"Director Han, don’t cry poor to us. You can come up with 30,000 to 50,000 yuan." With nearly 40,000 yuan in local taxes, where would they normally collect it? Director Gu was worried about delays and being intercepted by the county bureau.

"Director Gu, I really don’t have it!"

Old Han counted the major events that had happened in his family over the years, finally patting his beeper: "This is another few thousand yuan, Director Gu, Director Chen. I, Han Baoguo, do home renovations door-to-door; I don’t print money. My brother-in-law is going to the credit officer to borrow money. Give us a few days, and as soon as we get the money, we’ll pay it to you, no questions asked."

Han Bo timely reminded, "Dad, borrowing 40,000 isn’t enough; we need to borrow more."

"Not enough?"

"The car isn’t bought, but the vehicle management office will still ask for a vehicle purchase tax invoice when registering it. I don’t know how it’s calculated, but it’s probably around 20,000 yuan. We also need to pay vehicle and vessel tax, insurance, and road maintenance fees. It won’t be less than 70,000 yuan."

"So much?"

"To get on the road, not a single cent can be spared."

"Underestimated, underestimated. If I had known, I would have taken the money!" His son can drive, and his son-in-law can learn. For over 70,000 yuan, they can own a car that costs over 200,000 yuan fully equipped. Han Baoguo didn’t think it was expensive, but in front of others, he had to cry poor and act regretful.

"The procedures are done, and you can’t return it. If it’s really impossible, I’ll try to borrow from my colleagues." His father was a good actor, and Han Bo tried hard not to laugh, sighing along with him.

Li Taipeng naively said, "Dad, Xiao Bo, I didn’t touch the money from the wedding. It’s in the credit union. I’ll go get the passbook."

"The money from the wedding is nothing. It’s not your business; go back and take care of the child." Han Baoguo was so angry that he wanted to bite his teeth. You’re crying poor, and you say you have money.

Li Taipeng didn’t understand and had to leave reluctantly after his father-in-law spoke.

It’s normal to have so many things to handle in a few years, and to buy and renovate a house in the county. It’s understandable that they can’t come up with the money right away. Director Gu finally believed them and didn’t press them to pay the personal income tax immediately like Huang Shiren.

As expected, the town officials came one after another, took a cigarette, looked at the car, and then at the old and young Hans, who were worried about not having money to pay taxes. They couldn’t bring themselves to ask for sponsorship and even joked with a hint of schadenfreude.

"Mr. Han, if you can’t come up with it, I’ll help you. I’ll give you 100,000 yuan, and the car is mine. I’ll go bankrupt and take out high-interest loans to pay this tax. Being an official is no fun; I’ll learn to drive and quit to become a taxi driver."

"Mayor Wang, don’t tease Old Han. He didn’t want 120,000 yuan; how could he want your 100,000 yuan?"

"Times have changed. Back then, it was 120,000 yuan, but now it’s not 120,000 yuan after the procedures. If you return the car now, see if they’ll take it."

...

Not just 70,000 yuan, I can come up with 170,000 yuan.

Old Han went along with them, but in his heart, he was thinking about starting a home renovation company. This car would be a great asset. He couldn’t trust others to drive it, so he would let his son-in-law drive it. But if he does, he would have to go to the East Sea, and what about his daughter and grandson?

As for his son, he is a government official and can’t drive such a good car. Besides, he already has a car, a police car.