Li Da Kui quickly opened the bundle.

Tang Huan and Xue'e huddled together, trying to get closer.

The two bundles were almost identical, both containing spare clothes.

There is also a merchant's token.

A business license was a token issued by the imperial court to legitimate merchants, which was engraved with the business name, address, and scope of business.

Tang Huan took a closer look and immediately gasped.

These two people were actually wealthy merchants from the capital!

To be able to do business and make money in the capital city, where land is incredibly valuable.

What does this tell us?

This means they have connections!

However, his network of contacts is also very limited.

Otherwise, in this era, anyone with a bit of ability would run to become an official, so who would be a wealthy but lowly merchant?

After fiddling with the merchant's token for a while, Tang Huan suddenly asked, "Xue'e, is there a batch of coarse white sugar in the county government's warehouse?"

Xue'e said, "Yes, sir, there are still several hundred catties left. These days, the people in the county are only eating refined white sugar. Nobody wants the coarse sugar even if it's given away for free. It's been sitting in the warehouse for a while and it's almost expired."

Tang was delighted: "Hehe, who said nobody wants it if it's given away for free?"

He waved the token in his hand.

"Doesn't that mean we'll have a market for it?"

Li Da Kui grinned: "You're so smart, sir. I'll bring them over right now."

"stop."

Tang Huan kicked him.

"Do you even have a brain? You can't just rush them into a sale. You have to make them come to you on their own before you can dictate the price."

...

The next day, while Wu Lanxi was still asleep, she heard a melodious tune drifting in from outside the window.

The melody is gentle and extremely elegant.

She felt refreshed and her fatigue completely gone.

Lin Wan'er helped him change and go downstairs, where he saw a beautiful woman holding a musical instrument that looked like a pipa and playing it gently.

She tried to hold back, but couldn't resist and risked being ridiculed for being illiterate to inquire about it.

"Hey buddy, what kind of instrument is this? It's so elegant and melodious, like a gentle spring breeze. I've never heard of it before."

The waiter laughed and said, "It's normal that you don't know. This is a unique musical instrument in our Qihuai County, called a guitar. The song the girl is playing is called 'Blue and White Porcelain,' and everyone here knows how to sing it."

"The sky is the color of rain and mist, and I am waiting for you. Smoke rises from the chimneys, thousands of miles away across the river."

He hummed a couple of lines, quite pleased with himself.

In Qihuai County, he was tone-deaf.

But to outsiders, his voice, with its melodies, was absolutely heavenly.

Sure enough, Wu Lanxi was delighted upon hearing it: "What a beautiful melody, what a wonderful tune, what beautiful lyrics!"

Qihuai County is indeed extraordinary; even its music is three times more refined than that of the Ministry of Rites.

The waiter was secretly pleased: "Thank you for your kind words. By the way, sir, someone found your bundle yesterday and delivered it over overnight. You should go check with the manager to see if anything is missing."

Have you retrieved all the baggage?

Wu Lanxi and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance, both looking terrified.

Fortunately, they carried their entry pass and other important items with them.

Otherwise, if our identities are exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable!

They immediately went to the shopkeeper to collect their bundles.

I thought I would be harassed and extorted, but to my surprise, the shopkeeper not only returned the baggage readily, but also gave me a friendly reminder.

"Everyone who books a luxury suite will receive a complimentary breakfast. Would you like to have it now, or later?"

After being tricked all day yesterday, Wu Lanxi and Lin Wan'er were touched by the unexpected gifts and free breakfast today.

Could it be that Qihuai County isn't as despicable as they think?

Was yesterday just a show of force to intimidate them?

Sure enough, the waiter revealed the truth to them during breakfast.

"It's not that we're targeting out-of-town visitors, it's just that our Qihuai County is overpopulated. Lord Tang said that resources are limited, and if we don't control the population size, people will only be able to compete for resources, and once they start competing, their quality of life will plummet."

"Only in this way can we dissuade outsiders who want to come and seek refuge. Lord Tang is doing this for our own good."

"Of course, we would very much like to welcome a businessman like you who is both cooperative and capable."

Wu Lanxi understood.

The impoverished people who came seeking refuge were refused by Qihuai County.

Wealthy, gullible merchants are let into Qihuai County to extort money from them, and then they are driven away after the extortion is complete.

evil!

That's too cunning.

but……

"Why does this tea have an inexplicable sweetness? It's actually quite delicious."

The guy approached and struck up a conversation, just waiting for this one sentence.

"That's because white sugar was added to the tea."

He took out a small jar and generously scooped out two spoonfuls.

"See this? This is white sugar, a specialty of our Qihuai County. Try it, isn't it exceptionally fine and sweet?"

In all her life, Wu Lanxi had only ever seen maltose made from boiled rice sprouts; she had never seen white sugar before!

She dipped her finger in it and smacked her tongue.

A sweet taste instantly spread throughout my body.

"What kind of candy is this? It's way too sweet."

Seeing this, Lin Wan'er quickly tried some as well, and was immediately amazed by how delicious it was.

There is such sweet candy in the world.

Why has she never eaten this before?

Wu Lanxi was overjoyed: "Do you still have any sugar? Give me a few pounds, I want to take it home."

The shopkeeper chuckled and slammed the lid on: "Sorry, white sugar is a pillar industry of our Qihuai County. People are not allowed to buy and sell it privately. If you want to buy some, you have to go find our Lord Tang."

Lord Tang?

The magistrate of Qihuai County?

That's fine!

She was looking for an opportunity to meet this person.

Ask them properly about the city wall and the local history of Yingzhou.

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