"You," Qin Xiaozhou chuckled helplessly, "I've heard that there are occasional wars in the north. Without anyone paying taxes, how can they recruit soldiers to protect us common people? Do you think the waterways next to us just naturally grew like that and don't need anyone to manage or repair them so that boats can pass through? The road at the entrance of the village was also built by people. None of these things are free."
Lu Yan quietly leaned closer and said nervously, "But I heard that someone might embezzle this money."
The fact that a young girl could know this was thanks to Lu Yunxing. Lu Yunxing studied at the teacher's house, but he lived in the backyard of the shop. He went out early and returned late every day, and he still had to do his homework when he came back. Every night, Lu Yan would sneak into his room to watch her second brother read and write. After listening to Lu Yunxing read history books for several nights, she learned about some of the darker side of this world from the books.
Qin Xiaozhou patted her head and said, "In the future, study more with your second brother and observe the people coming and going in the shop. You will then understand that human nature is complex and it is difficult to distinguish between good and bad. It cannot be explained in just a few words. However, some things can only be said at home. Do not let others hear them, lest you become the subject of gossip."
Lu Yan nodded repeatedly and ran into the shop.
These past two days, Fenggu County has seen a surge in visitors, and Yifanfengshun Restaurant has been packed with people every day. That afternoon, Zhu Xian rode a tall horse through the market, followed by a magnificent carriage, which stopped in front of the shop.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhu Xian helped down a woman adorned with jewels and dressed in luxurious clothes. The woman's eyebrows, eyes, and mouth were very similar to Zhu Xian's, so they looked like mother and daughter. Qin Xiaozhou hurriedly went to greet her, "Miss Zhu has arrived. May I ask how you should address Madam? Please come upstairs."
Zhu Xian said indifferently, "This is my mother."
Each private room upstairs was separated by curtains, and there was cool well water under the table for cooling off. There were green bamboo buckets on the table as vases, with one or two flowers or a bamboo stalk inserted in them. A gentle breeze blew by, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere. It was quite unexpected to find such a tranquil place in the sweltering heat of May and June. "It's rare to find such an elegant place in such a small place."
She had heard her daughter mention it before and had also tasted a dessert called cake. She heard that it was something from this building. Half a month ago, her daughter insisted on bringing her from Wanzhou Prefecture to the countryside to relax. She was reluctant to come, but she felt that she was in a bad mood in the prefecture and it would be a shame to go against her daughter's wishes. It took her several days by boat to reach this remote rural county town.
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