[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-zombie-apocalypse-creation":3,"chapter-zombie-apocalypse-creation-zombie-apocalypse-creation-chapter-702":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Zombie Apocalypse: Creation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1887279,2510,"Chapter 702: Bias and Tax Surveys","zombie-apocalypse-creation-chapter-702",702,"\u003Cp>\"This is the paper you come up with?\" Xiaoyun questioned as he rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yep. I surveyed fifty thousand people and asked every single person for their opinion, like you had asked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you only interview women or something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Obviously. What do you think I should do? Ask men how women should be exploited in an inherently disadvantaged marriage?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuqi’s argument made Xiaoyun fall instantly into silence, as he could feel the hint of anger and irritation in her voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear she didn’t want to write this guideline. No woman in their right mind would want to write this kind of paper, just as he had first thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this the final draft? No room for adjustment of any sort?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can conduct one hundred thousand people surveys if you want. As you said, better listen to what the population thinks first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I never even said that. The closest thing I had said was to listen to others for their experiences.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Close enough. So, are you agreeing with this paper or not? Or do I need to scrap the whole thing again to fit your Machismo agenda——\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m fine with it. Where do I sign my name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuqi was a little stunned as she didn’t expect Xiaoyun to go through with it. She couldn’t believe her ears as he didn’t put up a fight at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said I’m fine with it. Do I sign at the bottom of the paper?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re agreeing with this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. I mean, it is kind of an unfair guideline. But if a relationship goes to the point of a divorce, maybe the person shouldn’t have tried to marry multiple people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, the person probably deserves some blame if the other parties are willing to work together to break up with him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I sometimes can’t understand how your brains work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, why are you insulting me? Where do I sign the paper? is it at the bottom here——\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Xiaoyun could show her the bottom of the last page, Yuqi quickly snatched it out of his hand, signing her name right at the bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You happy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuqi questioned, her face seemingly a little happy despite signing a document that would cause harm to her reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t have to do this, darling. I’m more than happy to sign it. This is going to make your job so much harder in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiaoyun could already feel the media backlash against Yuqi—the hidden feminists in the population labeling her as a traitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s fine. Think of this as an... early birthday present to you. You don’t have to take the blame for it now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yuqi put the signed document back down onto the table, he quickly tore it apart before throwing it straight into the bin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My reputation is already ruined anyway. Might as well add fuel to it... Here’s a brand new copy with my name signed onto it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now you have to think of a different birthday present for me. Don’t try to rip it or else I’m going to make my own document and veto yours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a small sigh. Yuqi was grateful for what Xiaoyun was doing. But at the same time, she was a little exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong? Is a new birthday gift that hard to think of?\" Xiaoyun curiously asked as he moved his seat next to hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not that. Your birthday present is the easiest thing in the world... I just remember it’s also Yueyue’s birthday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, that hurts my feelings. You’re making me sound so cheap——\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Babe. Can you help me come up with a gift? I’ll let you do whatever you want. Right here, right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yueyue whispered into Xiaoyun’s right ear, he felt a chill down his spine as his body instantly started having a reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahem, w-we are still in the office right now. W-We can talk about Yueyue’s gift after we finish working first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, if that’s what you wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuqi’s face instantly went back to fully serious mode, almost as if her seductive voice earlier was just an illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took a second for Xiaoyun to recover as she started passing him several pieces of paper about tax surveys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I did what you told me to do. I told the head of statistics to collect the general population on their views about the change in the tax code.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reading the new document, Xiaoyun was instantly a little intrigued as the report was much more comprehensive than he had imagined in such a short time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over a hundred thousand people were surveyed, with thousands of data entries and variables considered in the sample sizes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The abstract had a dedicated page talking about how this research was expedited in a short time, which may skew the results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going past the first few pages, he soon reached a bunch of statistical graphs that were a little out of his capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The majority of the document was not simplified in more layman’s terms. But still, he was able to understand the evidence and the conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All these studies to come up with the result of no taxes?\" Xiaoyun questioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, the citizen doesn’t want an income tax. The factory owner doesn’t want an excise duty, and the business owner only wants us to lower the corporate tax.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So... No taxes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hell no. The study only tells me that taxes are more necessary than ever... Look at the population’s feeling of wealth inequality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xiaoyun flipped back to the last few pages, he could see that the majority of the interviewees pointed out a drastic separation between rich and poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh, ironic. They want no taxes, but taxes are the only way to get the rich to pay their dues.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly. There is more than enough popular support to push for full tax reform. We need to adjust it to target the rich and——\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"alleviate for the poor... Y-You agreeing to it?\" Yuqi questioned, looking just as surprised as earlier, once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, why not? You conducted the survey, and it shows that people are starting to get fed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better resolve it than leave it later. I already thought this was a brewing issue that had been ballooning a little too much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But aren’t you scared there’s going to be big economic consequences?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are they going to do? Revolt? Do I need to remind you who’s the one that has the gun around here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about Liuqian and Muxie? Didn’t you say there’s going to be a heavy drawback if we were to tax them now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So they’re going to leave and bring their business elsewhere? I sure hope they are used to trading with zombies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xiaoyun... Why are you suddenly changing sides like this? You were saying the complete opposite just a week ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just noticed a lot of private business acting up... They are really trying to tell me that a business contract is more important than a military fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like, can you imagine that? Telling my construction team to go help build a skyscraper rather than to build a wall to prevent zombies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuqi instantly fell into silence, as she was the one who sided with the business to incentivize construction towards the private sector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway, you can go teach them a little lesson. No, a big lesson. Make sure they don’t repeat the same mistake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay. I’ll begin asking the finance department to begin making a tax reform draft.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Make sure you also get the media on your side. Hire as many as you need to get the public on your side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly nodded her head, noting it down on her laptop as Xiaoyun brought up another point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If any of them decided to play some stupid game, just tell Yueyue... Let them know you aren’t just messing around.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anything else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also, make sure you have extra security. The last thing you want is someone to jump you and try to blackmail you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t that a little overkill?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re an important public figure now. I should have done this long ago, but you really need a bodyguard with you at all times.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine. I’ll call Yueyue later to get me a bodyguard. Anything else I need to be worried about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nope. That’s all I can think of... Now, is there anything else we need to work on today?\" Xiaoyun questioned right back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s pretty much it, birthday boy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yuqi jokingly leaned closer to his shoulder, he immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her even closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now you said earlier about my birthday present... Can I ask what exactly you are getting for me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I already told you, if you help me with a gift for Yueyue, then I’ll give you the birthday present you deserve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of birthday gift requires someone to come up with a gift for someone else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you aren’t going to help me with that, then you can help me with this work——\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay, okay, you being in this office is the biggest gift I could ever ask for.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiaoyun immediately backed down as he could see her taking out several papers related to the tax survey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, you’d better think that... Anyway, don’t expect a gift from me. You didn’t even gift something to mom when it was her birthday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1571,"2026-06-10T06:59:54.595Z",1,"novelbin.me","6044f24c3c60c27d18edf40df03b85859c37e91a1f02285a5ee87b05c0f6cc68","zombie-apocalypse-creation-chapter-703","zombie-apocalypse-creation-chapter-701",829,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fzombie-apocalypse-creation-cover.jpg"]