Chapter 3

With a strange feeling, Xiao Linglong handed over fifty coins, watching the carriage being pulled away by Old Wang. She couldn’t help but feel as if she had been cheated.

Ten coins can buy a pound of rice! Parking a carriage actually costs fifty coins!

Beside her, Lü Yuan looked at the guide and asked, "Guide, if we only park for a short while and then leave, how would that be calculated?"

The guide turned around with a serious face, "Then you would be at a great loss."

Xiao Linglong...

Lü Yuan...

"Come, come, the carriage is parked. I’ll take the three of you for a good tour of our Yuanjiang County!" The guide waved his hand, his lips curling as he looked at the three bewildered people.

If I don’t make you three leave with even a single copper coin today, then I’m not a good guide!

However, in just half an hour, not only Lü Yuan but even Xiao Linglong was amazed by Yuanjiang County.

The residents of Yuanjiang County were different from the emaciated and complaining people they had seen recently. Not everyone was plump and fair, but they were all well-off.

There were no ruffians or beggars, which was truly bizarre!

Xiao Linglong couldn’t help but ask, "Guide, why are there no beggars in the city?"

Lü Yuan, holding three skewers of candied haws that cost twenty coins each, her mouth full of sugar, also asked suspiciously, "Yes, we haven’t encountered a single one since we arrived."

The guide immediately replied, "Miss, under the governance of our handsome, young, and capable county magistrate, every resident of Yuanjiang County is wealthy and healthy. How could there be such a thing as a beggar? Besides, the people of Yuanjiang County are all hardworking, so naturally, there are no beggars."

The old carriage driver suddenly said, "But it’s impossible for everyone to be so hardworking, right?"

The guide coughed twice, "Ahem, in our county, the policies are good, and people are given jobs, so they can’t help but work hard."

As he spoke, a group of people with brooms appeared and started sweeping the streets. This was the third group Xiao Linglong and the others had seen, and now they understood what the guide meant by "can’t help but work hard."

It was already afternoon.

Under the guide’s persuasion—no, enthusiastic service—Lü Yuan’s purse was empty, having spent ten taels of silver on all sorts of snacks and trinkets.

It wasn’t until then that the three of them, including Xiao Linglong, remembered why they were there.

"Let’s call it a day. Thank you for your trouble, guide," Xiao Linglong said. If she let this guy lead them any further, not only Lü Yuan but her own purse would be empty.

The young guide sighed inwardly, nodded, and extended his hand, "Alright, who will settle the guide fee? It’s three taels in total!"

Xiao Linglong’s eyes widened, and the corner of her mouth twitched under her veil in shock, "This also costs money? Why didn’t you say so before!"

"Miss, I’m not a free laborer! I also have to support my family! As for why I didn’t mention it earlier, I might have forgotten."

"This is my responsibility, so two taels of silver will do."

Xiao Linglong looked at Lü Yuan, who blushed, "Miss, I have no money left."

Xiao Linglong, feeling frustrated, took out the silver and handed it to the guide, "You’re faster than a thief."

"Corruption is strictly forbidden by our county magistrate," the guide said with a smile as he took the silver and left.

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r> At this moment, Old Lin, who was standing beside them, came to his senses, "Miss, I’ve realized that the people of Yuanjiang County are really cunning. In just half a day, we’ve spent over ten taels of silver. I wonder who this county magistrate is, to have led such a group of people."

Xiao Linglong’s expression softened, "Let’s see how things go. From the residents alone, they seem to have no complaints about this county magistrate. Let’s find an inn to stay in for now."

As she spoke, she glanced at Lü Yuan, who was still eating the candied haws, and said with a laugh, "Still eating! Don’t you think twenty coins per skewer is expensive?"

"Miss, I think it’s expensive too, but it’s really delicious! I don’t know what it’s made of, but it’s sweet and sour," Lü Yuan muttered.

The three of them went to an inn and heard that a room cost three taels of silver. This time, Xiao Linglong couldn’t hold back.

"Are you robbing us? Even in the capital, inns don’t cost this much!"

The inn attendant immediately smiled, "Miss, you’re mistaken. Our Lijing Inn is invested and founded by the county magistrate, and it’s the best inn in the county. Once you stay here for a night, you’ll know what value for money means."

Xiao Linglong, without listening to his nonsense, turned and went to the next inn.

The attendant of the next inn said, "Miss, our inn is also invested and founded by the county magistrate, and it’s the best in the county..."

Xiao Linglong was exasperated.

Since they had decided to stay and see, they had to endure the high prices.

Just entering the room, Xiao Linglong’s frustration vanished.

The room was elegant and comfortable, though it couldn’t compare to the palace, it was much better than any other inn they had seen. The attendant brought a pot of tea and, while pouring it for the two women, said,

"Misses, this is the latest ice red tea developed by our county magistrate. It’s very refreshing. Please try it. Also, that white porcelain is a toilet. Just pull this rope, and water will come out."

"Please don’t mistake it for a drinking vessel."

"Toilet?" Lü Yuan looked curiously at the toilet designed by Zhao Kang.

The attendant hurriedly explained, "Yes, it’s designed by our county magistrate to make it convenient for guests to use the restroom. Every inn in our county has one installed."

Xiao Linglong frowned, looking at the attendant, "Where does the waste go?"

"Our county has underground pipes. The waste is flushed away and collected for fertilization."

Xiao Linglong was stunned. With her status, she had seen many things, but this toilet was something she had never heard of before. She quickly asked, "Attendant, you said this toilet was invented by your county magistrate? And you also said this inn was invested and founded by him?"

The attendant replied, "Yes, our county magistrate is truly a genius. Most of the major industries in our county are actually created by the magistrate in his official capacity. Merchants from other places must first go through the county office to do business. After everything is settled and the merchants leave with their goods, the locals can then go to the county office to collect their money."

"What about the land?" Xiao Linglong, realizing the complexity of the situation, immediately asked.

The attendant matter-of-factly replied, "That’s also allocated by the county office. How much land each household gets and how much grain tax they pay is all decided by the county office. The county magistrate calls it some kind of land system, but I’m not quite sure. In any case, following the county magistrate is always right. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have the good life we have now. Tomorrow, our county will even have a brothel opening, all thanks to the county magistrate!"