Above The Sky
Chapter 811 - 811 40 Not Just One Astronomer Update of w words asking for monthly votes~

811: Chapter 40 Not Just One Astronomer (Update of w words, asking for monthly votes~) 811: Chapter 40 Not Just One Astronomer (Update of w words, asking for monthly votes~) “You are correct.”

Roland held great respect for the elderly, especially since Old Farrel, despite his lack of fame, was highly regarded.

Only when actually working did young people understand that those who are neither hated nor envied, and who get things done well and steadily without becoming famous, are the truly impressive and capable ones.

As the saying goes, after being the head of a household for three and a half years, even the dog will look down on you.

Expecting to manage without being disliked is nearly impossible, yet Old Farrel managed to ensure tax collection while still making many satisfied and willing.

Roland admired the approach deeply.

It was said that Old Farrel even provided ideas and solutions to help impoverished families out of difficulties, but how exactly he did this was a mystery to the young man.

Thinking this, Roland suddenly grew intrigued—since Old Farrel satisfied everyone in his usual work, how would such an old tax officer answer the questions on the test?

He inquired, and the old man chuckled, setting down his pipe.

“Definitely not to collect.”

The old man’s golden pupils were dimmed by age, showing a dark gold color, and he calmly answered Roland, “It might be a bit presumptuous to guess the Lord’s intentions, but since such a question has been posed, it’s meant to identify those who would answer ‘not to collect.'”

“Moreover, if the poor have no money, they really have no money.

Aside from their lives, what else do you expect them to be able to offer as taxes?”

“But the lives of the Domain Residents are also the property of the Lord in a sense…

You young people may not fully comprehend, but it is the truth—we are all property of the Lord.”

Old Farrel relit his extinguished pipe, taking a draw, and slowly said, “Therefore, driving people to death is something only the most foolish of tax officers would do.

The Lord has not permitted such actions.”

“If Domain Residents lacking money due to a poor harvest still have the capacity to work, and temporarily cannot repay it, then let them not repay.

If possible, have them do other work, like carrying goods, digging ditches—the city is repairing roads lately, right?

Let them dig sand and gravel for paving; such work is also valuable.

With so much work to do, there’s always an opportunity.”

“The most important thing is not to let people idle about without work; then they’ll be forever poor.”

Roland was taken aback, stunned.

This young Mechanical Engineer gasped in surprise, “But, this doesn’t really seem proper, does it?

After all, they indeed haven’t paid taxes, and it’s the tax officer’s job to collect taxes.

Are such tasks really something a tax officer should do…?”

“If this were the past, indeed so, but do not forget, the current examination is named ‘public servant.'”

Old Farrel shook his head, took a puff of his pipe, and blew a perfect ring of smoke, “A new Lord, new rules.

How come you young ones are not as quick-witted as I am?

With the name changed, you should forget those old ways.”

“Do not forget the true nature of our work—serving the Lord.

What is the Lord’s goal?

This main idea needs to be clear.

As long as it aligns with achieving that, even if it’s improper, the Lord will think you are competent.”

Old Farrel summed up, “And this young new Lord, at a glance, is wealthy and wants to undertake great ventures – does he care about such a small amount of taxes?

What he values is the order and whether people contribute to his cause.”

“As long as the general direction is right, everything else is just detail.”

Old Farrel spoke, and Roland understood; hence, he was astonished.

Such words didn’t seem like they could come from just any old tax officer of the Xia Hui Domain—so straightforward, so clear and easy to understand.

If you said he was a tutor from some academy, Roland would believe it!

And moreover…

“Why are you telling me all of this?” the young man asked, somewhat puzzled.

Taking a drag from his pipe, Old Farrel looked at Roland curiously, “Aren’t you one of the talented students from the Falling Star Hills?

Moda has been bragging about you for years.

With the Lord announcing the construction of a brand-new ‘Industrial Alchemy District,’ someone with your expertise is sure to be valued.”

“Moreover, I’ve worked with your father for many years; have you forgotten how I held you as a child, and you even peed on my collar…”

Roland was mortified; he never anticipated that the most classic ‘I held you when you were little, and you peed on me’ incident would happen to him—and he had completely forgotten about it!

But indeed, he wasn’t someone who would remember such trivial matters.

“We are likely to be colleagues in the future; there’s nothing wrong with building a good relationship with coworkers ahead of time.”

After speaking, Old Farrel pulled out a small booklet from his Huai, wrote something inside, and Roland, not eager to return home so soon, cheekily continued to ask, “Uncle Farl, what did you do before becoming a tax officer… It feels like…”

“Ah, that.”

Before Roland could finish his hemming and hawing, the old man already knew what he was about to ask—many had asked this question, so he wasn’t surprised.

Lifting his head, the old man with gray hair looked up at the ceiling, his dark golden eyes fixating on something beyond it.

Farl said, “My family were Astronomers; I learned to watch the stars from a young age… Then the stars were gone, weren’t they?

The Nobles who supported Astromancy stopped funding it, so I had to return to my native place and use my knowledge to be a tax officer.”