Chapter 18: A Gift from the Dwarf!

Chapter 18: A Gift from the Little Dwarf!

Qin Lin entered the tax office hall. At this hour, no one was around, so there was no need to queue. Besides, most people now handled their taxes online with just a smartphone.

Those who still came to the local tax bureau window to pay taxes were either first-timers or simply accustomed to the traditional way, often harboring a psychological distrust or resistance to online services—mostly older individual business owners.

“Sir, please show me your ID, and I’ll help you look up and print your tax payment receipt,” said the young woman behind the window. Her nameplate read Li Jiahui.

Qin Lin provided his ID information; having already filed his taxes online, the system quickly displayed his payment details.

At that moment, Chen Hao appeared inside as well.

He pretended to be there for some documents but was mainly curious to see how much tax Zhao Moqing’s husband was paying.

It was a strange kind of envy—perhaps a sudden realization of lost superiority that gnawed at him.

Li Jiahui took Qin Lin’s ID and swiped it to retrieve the tax information, letting out a surprised, “Oh…”

No wonder she was startled—the data was unbelievable.

Only 23 years old, just graduated from university a year ago? Earning over 100,000 yuan a month and paying more than 20,000 yuan in taxes?

In a place like You City, an annual income of 100,000 yuan at such a young age was already excellent. Those making 100,000 a month could be counted on one hand.

For a single woman, what an extraordinary prospect!

She even glanced up at Qin Lin instinctively, her gaze tinged with a new kind of admiration.

“Sir, we’ve found your tax info. You can scan this code to pay, and I’ll print your payment receipt afterward,” Li Jiahui’s tone softened, as if she wanted to present her best self.

Qin Lin took out his phone and scanned the code to pay the tax.

After a moment, an AI voice announced, “Tax payment received: 24,378 yuan!”

Chen Hao’s eyes suddenly widened at the sound, his mind racing wildly.

Paying that much tax—he must be earning 100,000 a month!

And to think someone making 100,000 a month rides a little electric scooter?

Well, if you can’t afford one, you’re poor; if you can afford one, you’re just being low-key.

Chen Hao’s emotions were a tangled mess.

Li Jiahui printed the receipt and handed it to Qin Lin with a bright smile: “Mr. Qin, our tax bureau offers value-added services. I’m Li Jiahui; you can add me on WeChat, and if you have any tax questions, feel free to ask anytime.”

“Damn…” Chen Hao silently cursed in his heart.

What kind of damn value-added service is this?

“Qin Lin, what are you doing here?” A clear voice rang out.

Zhao Moqing, delighted to see Qin Lin, hurried over to the window.

“Moqing!” Qin Lin wanted to embrace and kiss his wife but thought better of it given the setting.

Li Jiahui seemed to feel threatened and curiously asked, “Moqing, do you know Mr. Qin?”

“That’s her husband!” Chen Hao casually interjected from the side.

“What?” Li Jiahui was stunned, then inwardly frustrated.

Such a valuable catch doesn’t wait for anyone. So young and already taken.

No wonder Zhao Moqing barely responded to suitors like Chen Hao.

Li Jiahui glanced at Chen Hao—this guy, with cars bought by his parents and sister, was clearly outmatched.

Chen Hao seemed to sense Li Jiahui’s disdainful gaze.

What did that mean?

Qin Lin smiled upon seeing Zhao Moqing and said, “Moqing, I came to file taxes and pay them.”

“Pay taxes?” Zhao Moqing was surprised. She knew the situation at Qin Lin’s store; it hadn’t even qualified for tax before. Now he was paying taxes?

She recalled Qin Lin mentioning he had started a wholesale business, so his income must have increased.

She was happy for him and took the tax receipt from his hand to see how much he paid.

“24,378?” Zhao Moqing was stunned. Paying that much tax meant Qin Lin was earning 100,000 yuan this month.

She double-checked to confirm she wasn’t mistaken, then pulled Qin Lin outside. Only after they left the tax office did she ask, “Qin Lin, is this real? Are you really making that much from wholesale now?”

Qin Lin smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Of course it’s true. And for you, I’ll work even harder. I want to bring you home as soon as possible.”

Women are emotional. Hearing this, Zhao Moqing was touched and planted a firm kiss on Qin Lin’s face. Though she was willing to endure hardship with him and had secretly registered their marriage without telling her family, every woman hopes her husband will succeed.

“I have to work late tonight. Come pick me up after work,” Zhao Moqing said, smiling shyly at Qin Lin. “My parents went back to the countryside today, so I don’t have to go home.”

“I’ll book a hotel room for us later!” Qin Lin blurted out instinctively, only to be pinched on the waist by Zhao Moqing.

She snorted proudly, “I’m off to work now.”

Qin Lin watched Zhao Moqing enter the tax office, then returned inside himself to apply for online tax payment services again at Li Jiahui’s window.

This time, Li Jiahui’s demeanor was lukewarm, nothing like the previous warmth and enthusiasm. It made him wonder if she was a relative with mood swings.

When Qin Lin left the tax bureau, his mood was unprecedentedly joyful. Riding his little electric scooter, he stopped at a pharmacy and bought the most expensive small umbrella.

There was no choice. Until he could openly bring Moqing home without causing a scene or angering her parents, he had to be cautious.

Back at the market street, as soon as Qin Lin entered his shop, he was surprised to see new scenes unfolding in the game running through his mind.

This farming life simulation, besides daily planting, raising livestock, and construction, also included storylines—interactions with townsfolk of Ore Town, like Zack giving fishing rods and bait.

Naturally, some plots were triggered by animals or mysterious creatures.

For instance, the little dwarf now appearing on the screen.

The dwarfs lived deep in the forest; the game mentioned there were seven dwarfs who had settled outside Ore Town. Players could even invite them to work on the farm.

“You are the farm’s owner? I’m Ani, a little dwarf from deep in the forest. I have seven companions who’ve settled outside Ore Town. Lately, I’ve been helping them build houses.”

“I like fishing. I saw you fishing by the river these days. Shall we have a fishing contest?”

“If you win, I’ll give you a gift!”

Seeing the invitation for a fishing competition, Qin Lin controlled his character to accept it, and the character automatically followed Ani to the riverbank.

The scene changed. After the screen went black briefly, a fishing mini-game competition appeared.

The contest was simple: who caught the most fish within one minute.

Unlike his previous fishing, this mini-game tested reflexes—casting the hook exactly as the fish swam by to catch it.

If controlled by hand, Qin Lin, who was clumsy, would struggle. But with his mental command within the mind screen, he was fearless.

As the contest began, Qin Lin quickly took the lead and won decisively.

The game returned to normal, and Ani the dwarf praised him generously: “Your fishing skills are amazing! I lost. As the winner, here’s a prize. I just caught this in the wild.”

Ani gave the character a special container holding a beautifully colored fish—white and brown, stunning to look at.

[You have obtained a valuable special wild ornamental fish: Albino Yellow Tiger]

…

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(End of chapter)