Chapter 143: Corrupt Officials in Power

The next day.

Jiang Yu, Chen Xinli and his party set out early. After traveling for a long time by horse and mule carriage, they finally arrived at a county town.

The dry food on the road had been eaten up long ago. For safety reasons, Chen Xinli did not use the space for the time being. The group was tired and hungry.

After wandering around the county town for a long time, I didn't see many shops doing business. Almost every house in the county town was closed, and there were only a few small vendors selling daily necessities on the roadside.

There were few common people on the road, only groups of beggars huddled in groups of three or four in various corners.

Seeing their carriage approaching, the beggars opened their lifeless eyes and looked over.

When they saw Xu Huai and his guards, the beggars who were ready to make a move did not dare to act rashly and retreated.

Jiang Yu looked around the county town, feeling puzzled. After turning a few corners, the faint aroma of rice coming from the end of the alley caught his attention.

"Brother Yu, I want to eat a bowl of noodles," Jiang Qi swallowed, pointed at the food shop and looked at Jiang Yu eagerly.

"What would you like to eat, gentlemen?" A waiter with droopy eyebrows suddenly brightened up when he saw the carriage. He immediately ran over and tried to be enthusiastic. "We have dandan noodles, sweet water noodles, chicken soup wontons, tofu pudding, jelly, pot cakes, and the new skewers..."

"Pick up some of your store's specialties and serve them all. Also, feed some hay to the horses and mules." Jiang Yu ordered.

The clerk finally started to greet people cheerfully, and asked another skinny clerk to drive the mule cart. He said to the child happily, "That's great. We finally have some business today."

Chen Xinli and the other two sat at one table, while Xu Huai and the other guards sat at another table.

Just as the food was served to the few people, they heard men talking outside.

I saw a group of twenty or thirty people, led by a few people wearing yamen uniforms, rushing in, surrounding a tall and thin man with a goatee and a long gown.

"Boss, according to the old rules, serve our master a portion of roasted rabbit meat, a portion of each soup, and a portion of jelly for each of us brothers."

The leading yamen runner shouted at the shopkeeper very rudely.

"Hey, I'm here. I'm so sorry that Master Li and the other officials have come to visit us.

"Please sit down for a moment, gentlemen. I'll have the kitchen prepare it for you." The skinny shopkeeper smiled widely, carefully complying with the orders of the yamen runner.

But when the shopkeeper turned around, he went into the kitchen with a sad face.

On this side, Jiang Qi was already enjoying the delicious food. Jiang Yu seemed to be eating noodles, but in fact he had already noticed the new situation in the store.

"Is it delicious? I'll give you my bowl of jelly too."

Seeing that Chen Xinli took a bite of the dandan noodles and then concentrated on eating the jelly, Jiang Yu immediately pushed his jelly over to her.

"No need, one bowl is enough for me. You should try it too, it's delicious." Chen Xinli thought of the grass jelly she made. She had planned to make grass jelly to increase her family's income in Qianniu Village that day but didn't have the chance. She didn't expect that the jelly in Shu tasted better.

After taking a bite, it was smooth and delicious, and her throat felt moistened. Chen Xinli immediately felt extremely refreshed.

"Brother Yu, you are biased. You never share the delicious food with me." Little Jiangqi slurped up the tofu pudding and jelly, complaining with great dissatisfaction.

Chen Xinli was about to speak when she heard voices coming from a few tables next to her.

"Master, your idea is really brilliant. These troublemakers in Xiaowang Village are newly resettled refugees. They are a bit bold and should be severely punished." The leading yamen runner changed his attitude towards the shopkeeper and turned to flatter the master.

"Humph, a bunch of rabble."

"Yes, they are a mob. But your method is really good. We admire you very much." The bailiff said in a very servile manner.

The lawyer snorted coldly and bowed to the air, saying, "The two taels of silver in labor tax this time are all to be handed over to the court by the county magistrate.

Since I have received the salary from the county magistrate, I should do this for him.

The county magistrate serves the emperor, and the emperor has seen his merits, and the benefits will not go unrewarded to those present here."

"Master, you have worked hard." The leading yamen runner continued to flatter him: "Now that the labor tax is over, it's time for the autumn grain tax. With you here, Master, our lives will be better."

After a pause, the yamen runner poured a bowl of wine and said, "I only hope that when the time comes, we can still follow you, Master."

"Hey?" Master Li waved his hand and changed the subject, "Why do you say that, Mr. Fan? We are all serving you, my Lord. Why do you need to follow me?"

Seeing that the other party did not respond, the yamen runner surnamed Fan frowned and was silent for a moment. Then he slammed the table and shouted at the shopkeeper:

"Where are the shopkeepers? Why haven't you served our master any food yet? I think you're really bold. Have you paid the business taxes for this store?"

"Hey, here I come."

The skinny shopkeeper appeared immediately upon hearing this. "What are your instructions, sir? The rabbit meat is already cooking. I'll personally monitor the heat for you."

"Give the master a jar of good wine and a serving of mouth-watering chicken, and put it in my account separately." Fan, the yamen runner, ordered.

"But...but our shop's mouth-watering chicken is sold out." The shopkeeper spread his hands, feeling very embarrassed. Seeing the veins on the yamen runner's forehead bulging with anger, the shopkeeper immediately said slowly, "How about giving Master Li an extra portion of rabbit meat?"

"Then go quickly, why are you still dawdling here?"

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper went back to work.

The sound of these people eating meat and drinking was really noisy, and they even started playing drinking games. Jiang Yu frowned.

When Shu was hit by a major epidemic, the King of Shu and the imperial court didn't care either. He activated his mother's private treasury to transport a large amount of supplies and medicinal materials, and then dispersed them to various prefectures and counties to stabilize the people.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!