Miss Witch, it's time to clean up the entries

Chapter 22 The Flower That Never Withers
After the first shareholders' meeting, many nobles sent their servants back to collect their money.

Li En left the meeting room with satisfaction. The two maids and the witch were waiting for him at the door.

The Ice Witch Sophie still had no expression on her face, and she was still wearing the wreath that Li En gave her.

She didn't seem to notice that the flowers had wilted.

But even the withered wreath still had a kind of shabby beauty when worn on her head.

In her hand she held a transparent flowerpot filled with soil and an ungerminated seed.

This is her new friend, and she hasn't named it yet.

Anna was holding a file box, which contained various documents about Li En.

Maybe because Li En thought she was suitable to be a secretary, so these things were always given to her.

Anne, who only wants to be a top tailor, is very satisfied with Li En's outfit today because he is wearing a suit that she designed and sewn.

Although the pants seemed a little tight, making Li En look overly cautious when walking.

I am afraid that if I take a big step, it will lead to social destruction.

"Annie, you are very talented in design. Have you ever considered opening a clothing store so that everyone can wear the clothes you make? Don't worry about the money to open the store. I can invest."

Li En had long felt that crinoline skirts needed improvement. Those large crinolines could easily cause many disadvantages. Not only was it easy to fall off high walls, it was also difficult to escape from fires, and one had to be extremely careful even when getting on a carriage.

If a smaller and more delicate puffy skirt were created, without the corset and crinoline, freeing women from their constraints, it would surely quickly become popular in the Green Shade Region.

Annie frowned, "Master Li En, your dress was made by my sister, not me."

"Well, Anna, do you have any idea?"

Li En looked at Anna.

Anna smiled but said nothing.

Anne replied, "I don't like making clothes for too many people. I just want to be a top tailor."

"Of course, Anna is only responsible for designing and letting the seamstresses make the clothes. Anna is a top tailor."

Li En said.

Annie thought about it and nodded slightly. "I think Sister will agree, but Sister doesn't have any ideas about women's clothing for the time being."

"Why not start by improving the bustle? A 4- to 5-meter bustle is too small and doesn't reflect the elegance of an aristocratic lady at all."

Li En knew that for a lady with a rebellious personality like Anne, he could only speak in a sarcastic way.

Annie nodded. "Sister will reduce the bustle to less than 1 meter, or even remove it altogether."

Anna said, "The ladies would find it inelegant."

"That depends on who it happens to."

Li En looked at the witch Miss Sophie.

If Sophie were to be the first to wear the new dress, those aristocratic ladies and young ladies in the community would definitely rush to imitate her. This is the star effect.

Annie also discovered her shortcomings in making men's clothing. She suspected that she didn't know enough about men's physical characteristics. If Li En allowed her to measure closely, she would definitely be able to make clothes that fit.

Unfortunately, she would never measure Li En herself.

Because this would expose the truth that it was she who wanted to be the top tailor, not Anna.

"Sophie, it's time to change your wreath. Maybe we can go to the flower shop."

Li En pointed to the wreath on Sophie's head.

Sophie shook her head, her expression stubborn.

"Um... I'll give you the flower of everlasting life next time."

"What is an everlasting flower?"

Annie asked curiously.

Sophie and Anna also looked at Li En.

“It is a flower that will never wither and never fade.”

Lee En explained.

"They will never wither, oh, fake flowers, made of fabric, glass or metal, without any beauty or vitality."

Anne said.

Li En twitched his lips. "They are indeed fake flowers, but they are not that bad." "Lord Li En thinks highly of Miss Sophie. Flowers that never wither symbolize unwavering love."

Anna said this with a smile, her eyes curved, and it seemed as if there was some inexplicable emotion hidden in them.

Unwavering love?

Sophie's cheeks gradually turned red as she thought about it.

She picked up the potted seeds that had not yet sprouted and covered her face with them.

"Even if I wanted to give it as a gift, it would take time. Making preserved flowers takes time."

Li En said.

"Maybe it will last a lifetime."

Anne added.

Spend a lifetime making a flower for yourself?

Sophie's cheeks turned red again as she thought about it.

She picked up the pot of seeds that had not yet sprouted and lifted it a little higher.

"It doesn't take that long. It's mainly because I don't know how to do it."

Li En said.

Sophie put down the potted plant in disappointment.

"So, I decided to give Sophie a wreath of flowers every day."

Sophie's eyes sparkled again, and she hugged her flower pot contentedly.

Until they got into the carriage.

Li En started talking about business with Finance Minister Omari Haney.

"Even though Green Shade Territory has been running a fiscal deficit for three consecutive years, our citizens still live quite happily. They're poor compared to the nobles and wealthy merchants, but compared to people in other territories, they're considered wealthy. Otherwise, how could they have parties every now and then?"

Finance Minister Omari Hani suddenly said proudly, "Our Green Shade Territory's tax revenue is less than half of that of other territories. In fact, if Lord Moria is willing to increase taxes, our financial situation will be much better."

"So, it's possible for our subjects to deposit money."

It seems that Lao Deng is not completely useless. He also knows how to improve the happiness index of his subjects.

Is this a fallback for him? Raise taxes if he can't repay the bank loan?
"Yes, this is one of the reasons why I support you opening a bank. Our people can deposit money, it just depends on whether they are willing. Of course, not all of them can afford it, because there are lazy people and poor people with bad luck everywhere."

Omari Hani then gave Li En a general introduction to the tax types of the major territories.
“There are many types of taxes across the country, which are divided into four major categories.

"First, there are taxes levied on transportation. These include tolls on roads, bridges, rivers, and fords, as well as vehicle taxes. The most common are tolls, of which there are 21 types.

"Secondly, there are taxes levied on goods, which are mainly imposed on merchants, totaling 113 types.

"Third, there are market and sales taxes and license taxes. Every sector that wants to do business must pay license taxes...

"Fourth, there are security taxes and window taxes for everyone...

"The above four categories add up to more than 160 types of taxes.

"But in Green Shade Territory, we only collect 10 types of taxes. It is precisely because of this that the population of Green Shade Territory has grown from tens of thousands in the beginning to two million today."

When talking about the glorious past of Green Shade Territory, the three ministers showed proud expressions on their faces.

"Unfortunately, even so, we still owe the Imperial Bank a huge loan. If we forcibly increase taxes, it will scare the people away."

Karel Dennis sighed.

"Karel, didn't Lord Li En already solve this problem? There's no need to sigh anymore."

Alex Poole said.

"Omari, I think you shouldn't focus on the common people. How much money can they have? The branch is just a decoration. The main thing is the inner city bank. The nobles' deposits are the key to solving the problem."

Karel Dennis said.

Omari Haney felt that Karel Dennis was right. The nobles' deposits were the key. "That's right. The Imperial Bank has a threshold, so our threshold can't be too low."

"There's no need to set a threshold for branches. This is precisely because the Imperial Bank only targets large customers. Whether it's deposits or loans, they only cater to the nobility. That's why we don't do this. We want to differentiate ourselves from the Imperial Bank."

Li En interrupted the three people's conversation and said, "The branch can accept deposits from everyone, as long as they are willing to deposit. This is also a kind of protection for them, but the most important thing is that we can open up loan services to civilians with good credit."

The three ministers looked at each other in confusion. "Loans to civilians?"

(End of this chapter)