Everyone worked silently, without disturbing Murong Yue.

Even when Li Chi was carrying his luggage, he did so very quietly.

Master Ji found Ah Hao.

"Miss, the master hasn't eaten much. Let me make some more."

"Everything is ready in the car."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work, Chef Ji. Please don't make Huaizhou cuisine, lest the master be unhappy if he sees it."

"Um."

Murong Yue looked at the moon in the sky.

It's only the beginning of the month, and the moon is crescent-shaped, like the smiling eyes of my mother in my dream.

Her heart gradually calmed down.

Granny Li was unaware of Murong Yue's true identity, assuming she was simply a young lady from a powerful family.

He was filled with gratitude for the young lady who had changed his and his son's fate.

I noticed that Murong Yue was unhappy.

Grandma Li looked at Ah Hao again.

She asked cautiously, "Is Miss unhappy because of the food at that table?"

Ah-hao sighed silently, "I don't know."

Even outside the palace, she could not reveal His Majesty's thoughts.

If you don't develop the habit of guessing the emperor's intentions, you'll lose your head.

Grandma Li sighed as well.

"It's normal for Miss to be angry; it's not as noticeable in other parts of Huaizhou."

“But the competition in Huaicheng is so intense, and it hasn’t even gotten to the point.”

"It's not your fault, Miss."

“Yes!” Murong Yue slammed her hand on the table.

The stone table in front of them suddenly cracked open.

Everyone: ...

"Grandma, you're right, they're not competing on the same level."

Those who are alive should strive to live.

Humans with good living conditions can certainly enjoy life.

But eating more, wearing more clothes, looking at beautiful things, and using expensive things are all fine.

But what's this called in Huaicheng?

That's called waste.

Moreover, it's not from the heart; it's for the sake of comparing with others.

"If they like to compete so much, why don't they compete to see who dies first?"

"Not a contest of who's stronger?"

"Isn't it about who produces more grain?"

"Isn't it about who did better in the imperial examinations?"

"Grandma, you're right, here's a reward!"

The dark clouds that had been hanging over Murong Yue's heart immediately parted, letting in countless rays of light.

My mind and thoughts were completely clear.

Seeing that His Majesty was happy, everyone in the courtyard breathed a sigh of relief.

"Qi Yuan, come here."

"Yes, Master."

"Have someone compile statistics on the amount of betrothal gifts and dowries, as well as the amount of money spent on birthday banquets in Huaicheng over the past few years."

"I want to see what everyone in Huaicheng is competing with."

"yes."

Granny Li, Li Daniu, and Li Chi all looked at Murong Yue cautiously.

This employer seems to be someone special.

Building a base is not easy.

Since he is the boss of the base, the base must listen to him.

Otherwise, if humans use their force but don't listen to you, what will you become?

What a great injustice.

so!

She said no waste, and that's final!

After she came to terms with it, her appetite returned.

"Master, please try this green bean and minced meat noodles, and the freshly baked flatbread."

"This is hot."

It was already late at night, so Chef Ji chose dishes that were easy to digest and not greasy.

The aroma made Ah Hao's appetite return.

Almost no one ate anything just now.

So many of us ended up having a big late-night snack together.

The next morning, the information gathered by the Imperial Guards was presented to Murong Yue.

"Ten years ago, Huaizhou was not wealthy. For ordinary families, weddings cost five to ten taels of silver."

"At that time, the cost of a wedding in the capital was only thirty or forty taels of silver."

"Then one day, a woman from Huaicheng caught the eye of a merchant from Yue, who gave her one hundred taels of silver as a betrothal gift."

Now you understand.

A dowry of one hundred taels of silver is definitely a generous sum.

A monstrous wave was unleashed in the small city of Huai.

Is this girl's family really worth anything?

No, more importantly, the businessman liked the woman quite a bit.

From then on, the trend of competing in betrothal gifts began.

Your family has one hundred taels?

My daughter is more outstanding than yours, so 110 taels isn't too much to ask, is it?

A family with a daughter will attract a hundred suitors.

If your family offers 110 taels, my family is even more sincere. I'll grit my teeth and offer 130 taels!

The first thing to rise was the bride price.

Then came the dowry.

And so it rose with the tide.

This competitive spirit has begun to spread to other areas.

Birthday banquets, full moon celebrations, housewarming parties, first birthday parties, shop openings...

When attending a banquet, one should give a gift.

"People don't get married and have children every day, so they come up with more excuses to recoup their investment."

"Over time, people in the Huaicheng area attend about four banquets every month."

this...

Murong Yue asked while eating peanuts.

"Will that interfere with farming?"

The attendant nodded, "Yes, Master, it is true that there will be some delay."

Delaying farming means delaying food production.

"What did the authorities say?"

Murong Yue heard yesterday that the government had taken some measures.

"The government's current policy consists of two points."

“One rule is that banquets are prohibited throughout the city during spring planting and autumn harvest.”

One rule is that each banquet cannot exceed twenty tables.

Oh.

Murong Yue scoffed.

Didn't we all see that yesterday?

The devil may be one foot tall, but the righteous are ten feet tall; there are always ways to deal with it.

"Moreover, the government dared not interfere too much, so the common people's banquets were all small-scale."

“Those powerful and wealthy people spend a lot of money and manpower on banquets, long banquets, and food.”

"It indirectly supports some people."

Murong Yue pushed open the flower and took a sip of tea.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!