The next morning, Lin Ling tells his brothers that the governor has announced a new tax on brothels in order to raise money for the flood prevention efforts in the river. He says that the brothels will be able to operate more openly now that they have to pay the new tax. Lin Ling thinks that this is a good idea, but he wonders what kind of advisor thought of it. He wonders if they will move on to another place. The other brothers are angry with the constables, who are trying to arrest Lin Ling for running a brothel. They demand that Lin Ling show them official documents to prove that he has been arrested, but Lin Ling refuses to show them the documents. He tells the brothers that he can deal with a "jack of all trades" like Lin Ling.