Liaozhai Great Sage

Chapter 8
Li Xiuyuan's face immediately turned cold when he heard that the city fee would be collected. He didn't care about the penny in and out, but what about the people who went in and out of the county town for work on weekdays?A penny is different for them.

Immediately, he sneered coldly: "Absurd, it is according to the rules of the imperial court that only big cities can collect city fees. I have never heard that county towns also charge money."

He knows that in ancient times in this world, city fees were collected, but that was only for some prosperous cities, such as Guobei City, Jinling City, Luoyang City, etc., and Guobei County is just a county, and there is no entry into the city at all. fee.

"Young master, this county master probably came up with this idea because he saw the prosperity of Guobei County." Tieshan said.

"The business tax of my Li family is enough to cover the tax of a city. Even if half of it is concealed, it is enough to pay for the court. This new county master is very greedy, so much money can't satisfy his appetite. I'm going to visit him sometime."

Li Xiuyuan's face darkened, and he drank casually, but there was a sense of majesty, and the guards beside him all lowered their heads and dared not speak.

"Get off the horse and go back to the house."

Without further words, he got off his horse and entered Guobei County.

Everyone in the house knew that Li Xiuyuan had a rule that he would never ride a horse within the county town, and he must dismount before entering the city.

When Tieshan passed by the gate of the city, he lost eleven cents and put it into the basket, which was regarded as the fee for entering the city.

"A horse is also considered a person, and you have to pay a penny." A soldier said.

"Huh?" Li Xiuyuan stopped and gave him a serious look.

An old soldier next to him hastily kicked him, and said with an apologetic smile: "Master, this is a newcomer, he is ignorant, so don't take it to heart, it is also the county master's rule to collect money, and we have no choice but to follow it. Neither do we."

"Remember your name, old man, right? Since you have collected the entrance fee, you must not be short of money. In the future, your monthly salary will be halved. When will it be restored after my Li family settles the matter?" Li Xiuyuan After speaking, he led the horse and left.

This old soldier named Lao Youtou suddenly wanted to cry, but he didn't dare to get angry with Li Xiuyuan, so he had to vent his anger on the new soldier just now.

"You idiot, don't even look at who that person was just now. You can offend the young master of the Li family. It doesn't count if you hurt yourself, but you also hurt us." The old oily man immediately yelled and cursed.

The recruit still had a bit of backbone, and said angrily: "I'm so afraid, we won't eat from his Li family."

"You say you are stupid and you still don't admit it. The salary of the imperial court was set hundreds of years ago. Now it is enough to support who? Even if it is not withheld, it is not enough for you to eat rice for a month. It is not to look at the Li family. I don’t want to be a soldier for the monthly bounty, don’t you think about it, do we have a share of the money in this basket? It’s all the county lord’s. Gotta starve to death."

The old man was so angry that he wanted to beat this idiot to death.

In the morning, Guobei County was still very lively, with various breakfast shops opening up, shouting constantly, and the people who had slept enough, all got up early in the morning to eat breakfast, and then busy with the day's work.

"I'm going to eat something, you guys take the horse back, and tell my dad that he's safe." Li Xiuyuan said, seeing all kinds of breakfast snacks, he felt hungry.

"Yes, young master." Tieshan and others responded and took the Yezhao Jade Lion away, and went back to the mansion first.

When Li Xiuyuan came to a shop and just sat down, there was a waiter who greeted him respectfully and enthusiastically.

"Isn't this the young master? Why do you have time to eat here today?" Xiaoer recognized Li Xiuyuan immediately when he saw him, and hurriedly greeted him.

"Just passing by, I'm a little hungry." Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "What good food do you have today?"

"Young master, you are welcome. There is nothing good in this small shop. There is only fresh soy milk and hot buns just out of the cage." Xiaoer also laughed.

Li Xiuyuan said; "Then make three bowls of soy milk and ten buns first."

"Okay, wait a minute, young master." Xiao Er quickly went to work.

"Hey, isn't this the eldest young master? Dare I ask if there is any work in the house, take care of the little one." A passing idler said with a smile when he saw Li Xiuyuan.

Li Xiuyuan said: "Do you want to be a bodyguard? Guarantee you to earn a house in one year and marry a young girl in two years."

The idle man said: "The lesser ones dare to do the life-saving work. The lesser ones can't make money. Doesn't the eldest and young master have other jobs?"

"I don't have any other jobs, and I won't hire you asshole. Get out, get out, don't say you know me next time we meet, shame on me." Li Xiuyuan scolded with a smile.

The idle man chuckled and walked away again.

"Hi, young master." A little lady who bought buns passed by and greeted Li Xiuyuan.

"It's not very good these days, sister just give me a smile." Li Xiuyuan said
The little lady didn't get angry when she was molested, she giggled and said, "Okay, you can give my sister a jade lock. Sister will make you laugh enough. If you don't have a jade lock, you can get a golden lock."

"Sister, your hair is all up, and you still miss my young master's jade lock, the golden lock? If my sister waits for this young master for a few more years, maybe this young master may give you a silver lock." Li Xiuyuan spread his hands and smiled helplessly. road.

The little lady blushed slightly and said: "I can't wait, I can't wait, my sister won't be able to get married if I wait any longer, the young master's silver and gold locks should be left to other women, my sister won't worry about it."

After talking, paid the money, took the buns and left.

Li Xiuyuan said with some emotion: "Time flies so fast. The girls in the county who used to pester me to buy candied haws are all married now."

"That's because the young master doesn't nod. If the young master nods, those girls will follow the young master wholeheartedly." Xiaoer brought the soy milk and buns with a smile, and then said in a low voice: "This bun is stuffed with beef. Yes, it is the shopkeeper who specially respects the young master."

"Where did you get the beef? Did the cattle fall to death in the nearby village?" Li Xiuyuan asked.

The rule of the imperial court is that cattle are not allowed to be killed, because cattle need to be cultivated, so beef can only be eaten from cows that fell to death, died of disease, or died of old age. It is illegal to kill cattle privately, even if it is not illegal, eating beef is also very The behavior of prodigal, no family is willing to kill the cattle.

Xiaoer said: "I heard from the butcher that a calf slipped in the cowshed and was accidentally trampled to death by the cow. The shopkeeper bought a few catties and made beef buns. He wanted to try something new. It is rare for the young master to patronize today, so I will honor the young master."

"Since that's the case, let's try your steamed buns stuffed with beef." Li Xiuyuan laughed.

Just when he was about to eat, he heard the sound of begging behind him.

"The store is kind, my husband's family has a child who hasn't eaten for three days, and I really can't do it if I'm hungry, so give me some steamed stuffed buns."

A tall, but extremely thin man led a black and thin woman standing beside the steamed stuffed bun shop, looking at the steaming steamed stuffed stuffed buns and swallowing, beside the woman was also leading a girl with withered hair and a yellow and thin face , the girl opened a pair of bright eyes and bit her fingers, greedy.

"Hey, why are you here again? This small shop is a small business, so I can't afford to give you alms. You should go elsewhere." Xiaoer said hastily.

"Excuse me." The thin man was a little lost, and he wanted to leave with the woman and the girl.

"Wait." At this time Li Xiuyuan turned around and called out: "If you don't mind, come here to eat."

"Thank you for the charity, young master, thank you very much." The thin man said happily.

"You're welcome, it's just a meal." Li Xiuyuan smiled, then stood up and gave them their seats.

"Thank you benefactor." The woman was also very grateful.

The family was indeed starving, and after a thank you, they immediately started gobbling up food.

Li Xiuyuan said: "You have been hungry for a long time, eat less steamed stuffed buns, drink more soy milk, so as not to hurt your body, Xiaoer, go get some more bowls of soy milk and charge it to my account."

Soon Xiao Er brought several bowls of soy milk.

(End of this chapter)