"What? Why did these food prices suddenly go up? Meat has increased by 3 mao per jin, and even cabbage has gone up by 2 fen per jin!"
In the vegetable market, a group of middle-aged women were angrily shouting at the vendors.
Yes, shouting.
The profession of "auntie" is known for its loud voices when arguing or gossiping about others, and they are also the most sensitive to food prices.
Even a slight increase of one or two fen would lead these meticulous aunts to haggle for a long time, let alone such a sudden and significant price hike today!
Is there a famine again, or have the ghosts... cough, a... the great river is flowing east?
The weather has been good this year, and there haven't been any reports of famine anywhere! How come yesterday was fine, and today the prices have increased so much?
In an era where the average monthly wage was only a few dozen yuan, a 3 mao increase per jin for meat was outrageous!
Wasn't this highway robbery?
The aunts started arguing with the vegetable vendors, but the vendors remained silent. No matter how loudly the aunts shouted, the vendors stood their ground, coldly dismissing their usual important customers with a "buy it or leave it!"
Even their usual competitors, who often engaged in price wars and sabotaged each other, were uncharacteristically united. They all agreed to raise prices!
It wasn't just the vegetable market; other grocery stores, daily necessities shops, grain and oil stores, and food stores had also raised their prices. All goods were at least thirty percent more expensive than usual.
Some special items, such as white wine, fruits, cakes, and candies, had even doubled in price! Even when customers questioned them, the vendors could only offer apologies without any explanation.
Even the state-run department store had increased the prices of all its goods by at least half, especially clothing and children's stationery!
When questioned, the department store clerks responded with disdain, not even bothering to apologize.
This caused countless people to return home dejected, cursing the clerks' families, and leaving with their minds full of suspicion.
As all shops and vendors were inexplicably raising their prices significantly, almost everyone complained incessantly, filled with resentment.
Some emotional individuals even went to the government building to demand they report the matter to Secretary Yang.
As a result, the issue finally caught the attention of Secretary Yang and was brought directly to his attention!
"What did you say? All commodity prices in the entire county have suddenly and inexplicably soared?"
Upon hearing the report from his subordinate, Secretary Yang was furious. How could such an important matter be reported so late?
"Yes, almost all vendors have raised the prices of their goods by at least thirty percent, and some have even doubled them. The public is very displeased!"
The subordinate reported cautiously, knowing that Secretary Yang had been in a bad mood lately and was prone to exploding at the slightest provocation.
After only a few days of happiness from Wang Yu defeating the people from Island Nation, he was now overwhelmed by the metallurgy general plant colluding with the department store to sell counterfeit inferior products from an automobile factory, which led to accidents all over the province. He had even been severely reprimanded by provincial leaders again!
Huh? Why did I say "again"?
The young government clerk muttered to himself and secretly observed Secretary Yang.
"Without any disasters or calamities, why would commodity prices suddenly and inexplicably skyrocket?" Secretary Yang frowned.
"Have you investigated the cause?"
"This... I'm not sure," the young clerk said with shame, lowering his head. "No matter what methods we used, the vendors wouldn't answer. They just said it was normal business practice, just adjusting prices."
"What? Is such a significant price increase considered normal business practice? Do you believe that? Do you think I'm brainless, or has your brain been gnawed by a dog?"
Secretary Yang was furious and slammed his hand on the table in front of him.
"What are you people doing? Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!
If necessary, let the Public Security Bureau cooperate with your investigation!
Do you know what soaring prices mean? When the common people can't eat or dress well, it's our greatest failure!"
Looking at the flustered young clerk, Secretary Yang felt a surge of anger within him.
Why are these youngsters so impulsive? Can't they be mature, stable, and meticulous like Wang Yu? They never cease to worry him!
Amidst Secretary Yang's furious and thunderous roar, the subordinate had no choice but to flee the office in a sorry state.
However, just as he left, someone else arrived at Secretary Yang's office.
"Secretary, this is bad. Something big has happened."
This time, it was the director of the tax office who entered Secretary Yang's office in a panic.
"What happened? You're so jumpy, with no sense of composure!"
Secretary Yang glared at the director of the tax office. "You're an old comrade, why are you still so jumpy like the young ones?"
"This... Secretary, this matter is truly significant and must be reported to you." The not-so-young director of the tax office said with a苦脸 (bitter face) to Secretary Yang.
"Today is the end of the quarter for tax filings. People from the automobile factory came to pay their taxes, and the tax amount is too large!"
Upon hearing the director of the tax office's words, Secretary Yang's expression changed drastically, and he said sternly,
"What did you say? The automobile factory? Is it Wang Yu's Jiangyang County Automobile Manufacturing Plant? A huge amount? Did he evade taxes?
This young man has always been steady and reliable. How could he engage in tax evasion!"
Secretary Yang's face immediately fell. He had just praised Wang Yu in his mind, and now he was letting him down?
This young man is indeed very smart, but the smarter people are, the easier it is for them to go astray!
How did this Wang Yu go astray?
Thinking of this, Secretary Yang felt deeply pained.
Young people are allowed to make mistakes, and even grow from them.
But this does not mean they can cross the line, and tax evasion is such a line!
How could Wang Yu be so opportunistic? Thinking of this, Secretary Yang felt deeply pained.
"No, that's not it!"
Seeing Secretary Yang's expression, the director of the tax office quickly interjected to explain.
"Wang Yu did not evade taxes, but rather..."
"Rather what?"
"He paid too... much!"