Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Lu Yao sat in the carriage, examining the copper plaque. The craftsmanship was exquisite, with a mountain pattern engraved on the front and the character "Liang" written in seal script on the back.

"What's this for?"

"Just now, that official asked me to compete with him in arm strength. He said if I could win, I could seek his help whenever I needed it in Ping Prefecture."

Lu Yao's eyes lit up. "I didn't expect to encounter such good fortune!" Although they might not need to rely on this Official Liang, having an additional ally was certainly beneficial!

"Big Brother, you're so amazing!" Xiaonian and Xiaodou couldn't help but praise him.

Zhao Beichuan said, "Forget it, I don't want to deal with these officials. They scare me to death with their constant threats of violence. If we meet them again, let's just avoid them."

Lu Yao knew that the corvée labor had left a deep scar on him. He patted his back. "Then we'll try to avoid any contact with him in the future."

In the afternoon, they traveled thirty miles and encountered a carriage stuck in a mud pit halfway.

The carriage was deeply embedded, and the people on board couldn't push it out. Seeing Zhao Beichuan and his group driving a mule cart, the coachman hurriedly waved to stop them.

"Brother, can you help pull the carriage?"

Lu Yao poked his head out and happened to see a round-faced young man standing nearby. It was the same person he had met outside the examination hall.

Qin Hao also recognized Lu Yao and ran over excitedly. "Did your brother pass the exam?"

"Yes, and your husband must have passed too."

Qin Hao smiled and nodded. "We came here for the prefectural examination, but the carriage got stuck in the mud and couldn't move."

Seeing it was an acquaintance, Zhao Beichuan quickly got off the cart to help.

The coachman wanted him to unhitch the mules and tie them to the carriage to pull it out. Zhao Beichuan pushed the carriage and said, "No need for the mules. Just drive the horses forward, and I'll push from behind."

"We couldn't move it; three of us tried earlier."

Zhao Beichuan said, "Let's try again."

The coachman's face turned red, but he didn't know what to say. He thought this person was really showing off. If they could move it, wouldn't they have already left?

Zhang Shumin said, "Uncle Fang, you drive the carriage, and I'll try again with this brother."

"Alright." The coachman walked to the front and pulled the reins. "Go, go!"

Zhao Beichuan pushed the carriage with both hands and exerted all his strength. The wheels instantly lifted and rolled over the mud pit.

"Whoa!" The horse moved too quickly, nearly pulling the coachman down. He looked at Zhao Beichuan in amazement. "Little brother, you've got quite some strength!"

Zhang Shumin bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, brother, for your assistance!"

Zhao Beichuan waved his hand. "It's nothing. Since we're heading the same way, let's travel together."

"That would be great!" Having such a strong companion would surely make the journey safer.

They stopped and rested along the way, and during these breaks, Lu Yao and Qin Hao often chatted together. Being around the same age and both outgoing, they quickly became friends.

From Qin Hao, Lu Yao learned that Uncle Zhang from the Zhang family lived in Ping Prefecture. This time, they were staying at his house for the prefectural examination. She also told him about some things in Ping Prefecture that she had heard from her elders, as it was her first visit too.

Xiaodou often brought books to ask Zhang Shumin for guidance. After learning that Zhao Beidou was the seven-year-old "prodigy," Zhang Shumin's attitude toward the Zhao family changed.

When the county examination results were announced, he had doubted the ranking.

Although Zhao Beidou was ranked last, a child barely two or three years into his education, how could he possibly pass the examination for a child scholar?

After spending time with him, he realized that this child was indeed extraordinary. He knew the Four Books and Five Classics better than himself and had a profound understanding of them, clearly having been taught by a master.

After three days of travel, they finally arrived at Ping Prefecture. The two families parted ways at the city gate. Zhang Shumin gave them his address. "We're staying at my uncle's house on the east side of Changrong Road in Hulu Alley. Ask around, and you'll find it. If you need anything, come look for me."

"Sure, we will."

The Zhang family had entry documents and could enter directly, while the Zhao family had to undergo a household registration check and inspection of their belongings before entering the city.

The mule cart followed the long queue slowly moving toward the city. Lu Yao and the two children poked their heads out to look around.

Ping Prefecture was truly vast! Even though Lu Yao had seen many large cities in the modern world, he couldn't help but exclaim that the ancient cities depicted in TV shows were far less impressive than what he saw in reality.

The ancient and imposing city walls, with their weathered appearance, told the story of its tumultuous history.

He had heard that Ping Prefecture had been built more than three hundred years ago. Despite centuries of wear and tear, the city not only hadn't fallen into disrepair but had become even more vibrant!

After about an hour, it was finally their turn.

Zhao Beichuan took out the household registration and documents from his bag. The clerk examined them carefully, comparing the people in the cart, from their height and build to their appearance and age, ensuring everything matched before directing them to drive the cart to an open area where another clerk checked for prohibited items like salt, iron, and weapons.

Once everything was confirmed to be in order, the clerk waved them through, instructing them not to linger.

Zhao Beichuan drove the cart forward. As soon as they entered the city, the bustling sounds of vendors selling their wares filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.

"Hot drinks, warm your body—"

"Yellow rice cakes, sweet and delicious."

"Steamed buns, fresh and hot meat buns—five coins each, tasty and affordable!"

Xiaonian and Xiaodou swallowed hard. "Sister-in-law, they sell steamed buns in the Prefecture City too."

Lu Yao smiled and took out some money from his pocket, handing it to the two. "Go buy a few more; I'm hungry too."

The two children happily jumped off the cart and ran to the nearest bun stall.

A few elderly men soon gathered around, "Young man, do you need accommodation? Thirty coins a day, with hot water provided."

"Stay at the inn? Forty coins a day, clean and safe."

"Want to rent a house? Three rooms, five hundred coins a month, fully furnished, move in right away..."

Lu Yao quickly waved his hands in refusal, "No, thank you. We're here to visit relatives." On their way, Qin Hao had warned them that if they encountered people soliciting for accommodations upon their first visit to the city, they should never go, as it was easy to end up in a black inn.

For example, the solicitor might say thirty coins a day, but once inside, the price would change to three hundred coins a day, claiming you heard wrong. If you refused to pay, your luggage might not be safe.

Another type of place charged a low price, but inside, it was a large dormitory that couldn't accommodate people properly. Once the money was paid, it couldn't be refunded, leaving you to bear the loss.

Fortunately, they had met the Zhang family on the way; otherwise, being first-time visitors to the Prefecture City, they would have been taken advantage of.

Xiaonian and Xiaodou returned with steaming buns. Zhao Beichuan hurriedly drove the cart further into the city.

The buns were freshly steamed, hot, fragrant, and soft, dripping with oil when bitten. They tasted much better than those from the town!

"Be careful not to get oil on your clothes," Lu Yao said, pulling out handkerchiefs from his bag and handing them to the two children, while also giving a bun to Zhao Beichuan to taste.

While eating, Lu Yao commented, "The streets in the Prefecture City are really wide, more than half wider than in the county town, and much busier. There are so many shops, I can't even take them all in."

Zhao Beichuan, holding a bun in his mouth, said, "How about it, didn't we make the right choice?"

"We made the right choice!"

As they entered the city center, the two children pointed excitedly at the buildings on the street, "Big Brother, look at the two-story houses! Wow... so tall!"

Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan also looked up. Due to the building materials used, there were no multi-story buildings in Qiushui Town or Pingyang County, so they were particularly curious.

In his previous life, Lu Yao had seen skyscrapers, but he was still attracted to the ancient architecture. Northern architecture, though not as intricate as Southern, had its own unique charm with its grand and open style.

They walked and inquired along the way until they reached Niujia Garden, a location in the southwestern corner of the city. According to Qin Hao, there were many inns and guesthouses here for traveling merchants, with affordable prices and no regrets in staying.

The closer they got, the more dilapidated the surroundings became. The road, no longer paved with stone slabs, turned muddy, and occasionally, they stepped on animal droppings. The cold weather kept the smell down, but once it warmed up, the area would surely reek.

There were about seven or eight guesthouses ahead, all with small signs hanging out.

Zhao Beichuan went into one to inquire. Here, they offered both long-term and short-term rentals. Long-term rentals started at two guan for three months, while short-term rentals were thirty coins a day. The price wasn't high, but the environment inside was less than desirable.

Since the previous tenants were mostly merchants who traveled long distances, the rooms were dirty and smelled strongly of foot odor. Zhao Beichuan took one look and rejected it. Lu Yao, who was particular about cleanliness, definitely wouldn't stay in such a place.

After asking several places, none were satisfactory. They even encountered a brothel trying to solicit customers. A few women dressed provocatively were leading a merchant inside, and halfway through, the merchant eagerly embraced one of them, shocking Xiaonian and Xiaodou, who covered their eyes.

Lu Yao's face turned red with embarrassment, "Let's go, let's find another place." Although Qin Hao meant well, they couldn't stay in such a seedy and vulgar place, no matter how cheap it was!

Zhao Beichuan quickly turned the cart back toward where they came from. As they passed through two alleys, the road gradually widened, and the people passing by were dressed more normally.

This time, Lu Yao got out of the cart to inquire. He found two inns, both charging around one hundred coins per day, with much cleaner environments than those in Niujia Garden.

"Let's stay here first and slowly look for other accommodations. If we find something suitable, we'll move."

"Alright, I'll follow your lead." Zhao Beichuan drove the mule cart through the side gate of the inn.

Similar to the inns in Qiushui Town, this one had a large courtyard surrounded by rows of rooms, each with its own lock, allowing guests to live independently without disturbing each other.

There was also a stable at the back for storing vehicles and animals. If needed, daily care cost twenty coins, which they decided to pay.

They hadn't brought much on the trip, and the hay for Dahuahua was almost gone.

After unloading their luggage, Lu Yao and the two children moved into their room. When they opened the door, a faint musty smell greeted them.

The room didn't have a kang (a traditional heated bed), only a wooden bed frame. The two children, seeing this kind of bed for the first time, curiously touched it everywhere. The bed had a set of bedding that looked relatively clean, but it could only fit two adults, so they would have to sleep on the floor tonight.

Soon, Zhao Beichuan came in, "This room is really small. Tonight, you and Xiaodou and Xiaonian can sleep on the bed. There's a pile of hay in the stable; I'll take some to lay on the ground and sleep."

"For now, we'll have to make do. Tomorrow, we'll go around the city to look for a suitable place to rent and move in as soon as possible."

In the afternoon, the sky turned overcast, and Xiaodou and Xiaonian, sitting on the bed wrapped in blankets, shivered from the cold.

Lu Yao asked a staff member for a brazier, and the charcoal had to be bought separately. He spent fifty coins on a small bag of silver charcoal and lit it, finally bringing some warmth to the room.

Living in the Prefecture City was truly not easy, with expenses everywhere, unlike in the town where twenty coins could buy enough firewood to last for a long time.

To save money, Lu Yao placed an iron pot on the brazier and cooked a pot of porridge. Each person, adult and child, had a bowl, and after the tiring journey, they all went to bed early.

In the middle of the night, Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan were woken by loud arguing.

"My things were clearly in the room, how could they be gone after just one meal!"

"Oh, sir, when traveling, take good care of your belongings. If you didn't keep them safe and they were lost, we can't be held responsible."

"My package contained over two hundred taels of silver! If you don't find it for me, I, I won't let this go!"

The argument woke the two children. Xiaonian rubbed her eyes and asked, "What's happening?"

Lu Yao tucked them in, "Nothing, someone lost something outside. Go back to sleep."

Zhao Beichuan put on his cotton jacket and got up, "I'll go check it out."

"Don't get involved."

"I know."

He opened the door, and a gust of cold wind rushed in. Zhao Beichuan quickly closed the door and tightened his clothing before walking into the courtyard.

The neighboring guests were also awakened by the noise and came out to see what was happening.

The man who lost his money, wiping his tears, shouted, "I must have an explanation today! My things were in your inn, so it must have been taken by someone staying here!"

The young apprentice had no choice but to call the innkeeper over.

When the innkeeper arrived, he said the same thing, "We're just an inn; we don't charge for storing items. If you lost your silver, there's nothing we can do. If it comes to it, you should report it to the authorities."

It was too late to report it tonight; they would have to wait until tomorrow, and by then, the thief might be long gone with the stolen goods.

"No, I must search the rooms tonight!"

The innkeeper chuckled, "Sir, this must be your first time traveling, right?"

The man replied, "So what if it is?"

"Our inn has no authority to search other guests' rooms. If you want, you can ask around, and if someone lets you, you can search their room."

"You—"

The innkeeper yawned, "If there's nothing else, I'll be going back now. Everyone should get some rest." With that, he left, hands behind his back.

The man looked around, about to go to the next room to ask, but the person turned and went inside, locking the door behind them.

Zhao Beichuan also entered his room.

"Any luck finding the silver?"

"Where would I find it? It's like when we were in Pingyang County at the post station; our luggage was in the room, and someone took the silver. There's no way to get it back."

Two hundred taels of silver was not a small amount; an ordinary person might save half a lifetime and still not accumulate that much. Lu Yao sighed, "When traveling, one must be extremely cautious. Money should never be out of sight. It's late, let's get some sleep."

*

The next morning, the family got up early and took turns using the restroom and washing up. An adult always stayed in the room to watch over their belongings to prevent any thieves from entering.

Breakfast was millet porridge again, served with large pancakes. There was a bit of leftover braised meat, but it didn't taste good anymore, so Lu Yao didn't dare eat it and threw it away.

In the morning, Zhao Beichuan went to the government office to handle the procedures. They needed to register their household relocation with the local authorities.

The government office in Prefecture City was not far away, a fifteen-minute walk. To register the household, one had to enter through the side door, where a long queue was already forming. These people were all here to handle official business.

A constable was maintaining order nearby. Zhao Beichuan approached him and quietly slipped him a string of coins, explaining his purpose. The constable then led him through the long queue.

Zhao Beichuan couldn't help but marvel at Lu Yao's foresight. If he had waited in line, he might not have been able to complete the process in a day.

Inside, there was a dedicated area for handling household registration. Zhao Beichuan presented the documents and the household registers of the four people.

Since it was for educational relocation, the requirements were not strict. After verifying the information, the clerk retrieved the old household registers, recorded them, and issued new ones for the four people, stamping them with the seal of Ping Prefecture. With this, they could now buy property in Ping Prefecture.

After paying four hundred coins, Zhao Beichuan carefully stored the new household documents and hurried back to the inn.

Lu Yao examined the new household documents, "Four pieces of paper cost four hundred coins, not to mention the money given to the constable at the gate!" No wonder people in ancient times didn't move around much; everything required money, and those who weren't well-off probably couldn't afford the cost of relocating their household.

Zhao Beichuan took a sip of water and said, "As long as it's done, just as you said, 'The gates of the government office are open, but without money, you can't enter.'"

Lu Yao replied, "Rest for a while. I'll go around the city to see if I can find a place to stay."

"Can you manage on your own?" Zhao Beichuan was a bit worried.

"Why not? Didn't you see yesterday, there were many women and children doing business on the road? This Prefecture City seems much safer than the county or town."

"Then go quickly and come back soon."

Lu Yao took two hundred coins and left the inn. The street was bustling with people coming and going, vendors shouting their wares, and even performers putting on shows.

Lu Yao didn't dare to watch closely; there were bound to be pickpockets, ready to steal when you were distracted, just like in the TV shows he had seen in his previous life.

"Scissors, brooms, sewing kits, rouge, powder, and oil—"

Lu Yao's eyes lit up. Hawkers who wandered the streets were like living maps of Ping Prefecture; no one knew the city better than they did!

"Brother, hold on a moment."

"What would you like, sir?"

"Give me... a comb."

"Sure thing!" The hawker put down his pole and took out a large bundle of wooden combs from his wooden box, "We have peach wood, walnut wood, sandalwood, and ebony. Which one would you like, sir?"

Just being in the Prefecture City made a difference; even the variety of combs was greater.

Lu Yao picked up an ebony comb, "I'll take this one. And while I'm at it, I'd like to ask you something."

"Of course, sir."

"In this Prefecture City, where can I find a cheap and clean place to rent?"

The hawker smiled, "Are you from out of town, sir?"

"Yes, from Pingyang County. I'm here to take the prefectural examination."

"Do you plan to rent for a short term or a long term?"

"If there's a suitable place, I'm open to a long-term lease."

"In that case, I recommend you check out Changshui Street," the hawker enthusiastically introduced Ping Prefecture.

From him, Lu Yao learned that the street they were on was called Changxing Street, one of the main thoroughfares in Ping Prefecture and the most frequented by the common people. It was lined with shops, restaurants, and inns, making it the commercial center of Ping Prefecture.

To the north was Changrong Street, where the nobility and scholarly families lived. Merchants rarely ventured there, fearing they might offend someone important and face consequences.

To the south was Changshui Street, where ordinary people lived, and the majority of the city's residents resided there.

And to the southwest was Niujia Garden, a place for the lower classes. It was chaotic but cheap, where the poor and destitute lived.

There was also the military camp and granary in the northeast of the city, where Zhao Beichuan and his men had moved grain last year.

The peddler was quick with his words, and in just a few sentences, he gave a clear introduction to the entire city of Ping Prefecture.

Lu Yao then spent twenty coins to buy a box of clarified butter from him, and with the item in hand, he headed toward Changshui Street.