Chapter 62: Three Days of Separation

Xie Yan raised his hand and straightened the silk flowers on the side of Lu Mingchao's bun. "I don't know whether the county magistrate will reward you."

"But the young women of Ohkawa Village will be grateful to you."

"If enemies come, we will stop them with soldiers; if water comes, we will block it with earth." Lu Mingchao said calmly.

There was a long queue outside the city gate.

"City gate tax?" Lu Mingchao frowned.

She remembered that it wasn't there when she came back from Shangjing City.

Xie Yan explains: "The Daqian law imposes taxes on the goods of merchants entering and leaving the city gates, but the emperor is far away, and many local officials will privately expand the scope of taxation."

"How much?"

“I don’t know.”

Hearing this, Lu Mingchao was surprised.

Xie Yan glanced at the officials at the city gate who were shouting and ordering people around. "They change from time to time."

"The least is one cent, the most is five cents."

"Especially in winter, you need to pay the city gate tax when entering or leaving the city."

Lu Mingchao's eyes widened slightly. "No wonder it took three years to ask the county magistrate for 100,000 silver coins."

"For the poor people, winter is a difficult time when they have to tighten their belts and make the least income. They chop a few bundles of firewood and sell them in the city to exchange for rice to feed the whole family, but after the city gate tax is deducted, there is almost nothing left."

"After all the hard work, I still have to starve."

A bundle of firewood costs only a few coins.

The shouting, urging and cursing of the officials were endless, and were occasionally mixed with the pleading calls of the people.

After waiting in line for a long time, it was finally Lu Mingchao and Xie Yan's turn.

"Three cents." The officer pointed impatiently at the wicker basket at his feet. When his eyes inadvertently caught a glimpse of Lu Mingchao's cheek and the exquisite cloak on his body, his eyes lit up, as if he had seen the God of Wealth.

The opportunity to make a fortune has arrived!

Six copper plates fell into the rattan basket. Xie Yan leaned aside to block the officer's inquiring gaze. "Can I go in?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

The officer couldn't help but smile on his ferocious face.

He will go to collect his reward later.

Entering the city gate, it is a completely different scene.

Looking down the long street, teahouses, wine shops, pawnshops and workshops are neatly arranged on both sides, like chess pieces on a chessboard. Outside the shops, small vendors display their wares, some with umbrellas, some pushing wooden carts, and some peddlers carrying heavy loads on their shoulders, hawking their wares along the street, adding some liveliness and vitality to this bustling long street.

At first glance, it may not be as prosperous as the capital city under the emperor's feet, but it is also prosperous, which is in sharp contrast to the desolation outside the city gate and the pleas of the people queuing up.

"Ming Dynasty, there is something wrong with that official." Xie Yan said in a deep voice.

Lu Mingchao nodded and said, "They are just spies hired by Sun Ershao."

"There's no need to let him ruin our good mood going into the city."

"He's a defeated general. Come and continue to deal with him."

Just as Lu Mingchao had expected, the official at the city gate hastily handed over the task to his companion and hurried to Sun's family to report the news.

Everyone in Changhe County knew that the second young master Sun was a stupid, rich, and generous man. A casual reward from him was equivalent to the income he earned from guarding the city gate for a month.

Young Master Sun looked sick, covered with a thick plush blanket. He sniffed from time to time, and the luxuriously decorated house was filled with a faint smell of medicine.

He is actually sick!

The doctor said that he had caught a cold out of shock and needed to stay in bed.

He admitted that he had caught a cold, but he could never admit that he was frightened.

"Young Master, Young Master." Ah Xing ran into the house in the cold wind.

Young Master Sun suddenly started sneezing and couldn't stop.

Before Sun Ershao got angry, Ah Xing spoke first, "Master, the officials at the city gate reported that the couple from Xichang Village have entered the city."

Young Master Sun's dull eyes suddenly brightened up. This piece of news was more miraculous than asking him to drink several bowls of bitter medicine for the cold.

My headache is gone, my nose is no longer blocked, I no longer feel listless, and all of a sudden I seem to have endless energy.

I can plow two more acres of land when I go to the fields.

"Changhe County is my territory. Today I must teach that ignorant couple a lesson."

Young Master Sun touched his chin with a greedy look on his face.

Fairy, who can remain indifferent to the fairy who is about to be eaten?

Two days ago in Changxi Village, he was outnumbered and had a disadvantage. Today, he must take back everything he had lost.

Since the hunter refused to drink the toast, he would just watch the hunter observe the live sex scene.

"Walk."

"Call all of my thugs."

The second young master Sun waved his hand with great momentum and excitement, and he had completely forgotten about the official who brought the news.

"Young Master, why don't you think about it again?" Ah Xing reminded anxiously.

In the past two days, whenever he closed his eyes, he saw either the evil couple or a kitchen knife with a cold glow.

"If you think about the daylily any more, it will get cold!"

The official waiting for reward at the gate: Where is the reward in silver?

What about the reward he longed for?

The official squeezed his palms and held back the chilly northwest wind.

Bai Xian is very diligent!

…

At this time, Lu Mingchao and Xie Yan were strolling freely through the streets and alleys of Changhe County, carefully selecting the shop they liked and enjoying the scenery of the county town.

"Sure enough, cakes taste best when they are fresh out of the oven." Lu Mingchao took a bite of the steaming cake, looking very satisfied.

"Ah Yan, do you think it's better to rent a shop or a small courtyard?"

"I think the one with the courtyard is suitable."

"There are two plum trees and a pear tree in the courtyard. In winter, when you admire the plum blossoms, the fragrance is so pure that you don't feel the cold. In spring, when you admire the pale white pear blossoms, the white gold without any pattern, the fragrance is rotten and the jade-like trees are covered with snow."

“It’s a different feeling.”

"Brother will come to the academy in the spring of next year. It's always good to have a place to stay. Huaiqian is old enough to start school."

Xie Yan wiped the cake crumbs from the corner of Lu Mingchao's mouth and said, "I'll listen to you."

Lu Mingchao glanced at Xie Yan and said, "No principles."

"Why hasn't Young Master Sun come yet?"

"If you don't come, I won't be standing in this alley in the cold wind anymore."

You're still so slow and still want revenge? You can't even eat hot shit.

"Maybe he is just too stupid." Xie Yan replied calmly.

Under Lu Mingchao's constant thoughts, Sun Ershao's affair came late.

"If you keep showing off and being shameless, Xie Yan, I will give you another chance today!"

"Xie Yan, if you can get under my crotch, I will let you live." Young Master Sun's eyes were burning, as if he had already secured victory.

"Why are dogs barking in the street in broad daylight?" Lu Mingchao's lips were itching, and he blurted out, "It is not impossible for my husband to achieve peerless merits like the Marquis of Huaiyin and become a peerless national hero. But you, it is impossible for you to have a good end like that butcher who was humiliated under the crotch."

Sun Er Shao's smug smile froze on his face. "Who are you calling a dog?"

Lu Mingchao "After three days of absence, a fool is still a fool."

"I don't know who the dog is, but the dog certainly knows."

Lu Mingchao leaned against Xie Yan, his eyes fixed on Sun Ershao without blinking.

"I just can't stand your big mouth!" Young Master Sun was furious.

Cut off his leg