Li Xiuyuan's face suddenly turned cold when he heard that he had to collect city fees. He didn't care about a penny coming in and out, but what about the people who usually went in and out of the county for work? For them, a penny was different.
He immediately shouted coldly: "That's ridiculous. According to the rules of the imperial court, only big cities collect city fees. I have never heard of county towns also collecting fees."
He knew that in ancient times in this world, city fees were collected, but that was only for some prosperous big cities, such as Guobeicheng, Jinling City, Luoyang City, etc., and Guobei County was just a county, and there was no such thing as city fees.
fee.
"Young Master, this county master probably saw how prosperous Guobei County is and that's why he came up with this idea," Tieshan said.
"The business tax of my Li family is enough to cover the tax of a city. Even if I hide half of it, it will be enough to deal with the court. This new county master is really greedy. Even so much money can't satisfy his appetite.
I will go visit him sometime."
Li Xiuyuan's face darkened, but a majestic air emanated from him as he drank casually. The guards next to him lowered their heads and did not dare to speak.
"Dismount and return home."
Without further words, he dismounted and entered Guobei County.
Everyone in the house knew that Li Xiuyuan had a rule that he would never ride a horse in the county town and must dismount before entering the city.
When Tieshan passed by the city gate, he lost eleven cents and put it into the basket, thinking it was the fee for entering the city.
"A horse counts as a person and needs to be paid a penny." A soldier said.
"Huh?" Li Xiuyuan stopped and looked at him seriously.
Ding, a veteran next to him, kicked him hastily and said with an apologetic smile: "Young master, this is new here and he is not sensible. Don't take it to heart. This collection of money is also the rule of the county master. We, the people, have no choice but to follow it.
We don’t want to either.”
"Remember your name, old oil man, right? Since you have collected the entrance fee, you must not be short of money. From now on, your monthly salary will be halved. When will it be restored after my Li family resolves the matter?" Li Xiuyuan
After saying that, he took the horse and left.
The veteran named Lao Youtou suddenly burst into tears. He did not dare to be angry with Li Xiuyuan and had to vent his anger on the new recruit just now.
"You idiot, you didn't even look at who that person was just now. You can also offend the eldest young master of the Li family. You are not only harming yourself, but you are also harming me and others." The old oil man suddenly yelled and cursed.
The recruit still had a bit of backbone and said angrily: "I'm so afraid, we won't eat from his Li family."
"You are stupid, but you still don't admit it. The salary from the imperial court was set hundreds of years ago. Who can be supported now? Even if a penny is withheld, it won't be enough for you to eat rice for a month. Don't look at the Li family.
I have long ceased to be a soldier for the monthly reward. Don’t you think about it, do we have a share of the money in this basket? It all belongs to the county master. This county master is very stingy. If you count on him to make a living, my whole family will
Have to starve to death."
The oily man was so angry that he wanted to beat this idiot to death.
In the morning, Guobei County is still very lively. Various breakfast shops are open and shouting. People who have had enough sleep wake up early in the morning to have breakfast and then go about their day's work.
"I'm going to get something to eat. You can take the horse back and report to my father that he's safe." Li Xiuyuan said after seeing the various breakfast snacks that made him feel hungry.
"Yes, young master." Tieshan and others responded, then took the Yezhao Jade Lion away and went back to the house first.
When Li Xiuyuan came to a shop and sat down, a waiter greeted him respectfully and warmly.
"Isn't this the young master? Why do you have time to come here to eat today?" The waiter recognized Li Xiuyuan immediately when he saw him and greeted him quickly.
"I happened to be passing by and I'm a little hungry." Li Xiuyuan said with a smile, "What good food do you have to eat today?"
"Young master, you're too polite. There's nothing good in the shop. They only have fresh soy milk and hot buns that have just come out of the cage." The waiter also laughed.
Li Xiuyuan said: "Then make three bowls of soy milk and ten steamed buns first."
"Okay, young master, wait a moment." The waiter quickly went to work.
"Hey, isn't this the eldest young master? Is there any work in the house? Please look after the younger one." A passing man said with a smile when he saw Li Xiuyuan.
Li Xiuyuan said: "Are you going to be an escort? I guarantee that you will earn a house in one year and marry a yellow girl in two years."
The idle man said, "You dare to do this hard work, but you can't make money. Doesn't the young master have other jobs?"
"I don't have any other jobs, and if I do, I won't hire you, a coward. Get out of here, get out of here, and don't say you know me next time we meet. It's embarrassing." Li Xiuyuan laughed and cursed.
The idle man chuckled and walked away again.
"Hello, young master." A young lady buying buns passed by and said hello to Li Xiuyuan.
"It's not going well these days, I just want my sister to give me a smile," Li Xiuyuan said.
The little lady was not angry even after being teased. She giggled and said, "Okay, you can give your sister a jade lock to make you laugh. If you don't have a jade lock, a gold lock will do."
"Sister, your hair is already tied up, but you still miss my jade lock and gold lock? If sister waits for me for a few more years, maybe I can give you a silver lock." Li Xiuyuan smiled helplessly with his hands spread out.
road.
The young lady blushed slightly and said, "I can't wait, I can't wait. If I wait any longer, my sister won't be able to get married. I'd better leave the silver and gold locks of the eldest young master to other women. My sister won't worry about them anymore."
After saying that, he paid the money, took the buns and left.
Li Xiuyuan said with some emotion: "Time flies so fast. Several girls in the county who used to pester me to buy candied haws of sugar are now married and starting families."
"That's because the eldest young master doesn't nod. If the eldest young master nods, those girls will follow him wholeheartedly." The waiter smiled and brought the soy milk and steamed buns, and then said in a low voice: "These steamed buns are filled with beef fillings.
Yes, it’s the shopkeeper who expresses filial piety to the eldest young master.”
"Where did the beef come from? A cow was killed in a nearby village?" Li Xiuyuan asked.
According to the rules of the imperial court, killing cattle is not allowed, because cattle are used for farming, so the only cattle that need to be eaten are those that have been killed by falls or those that have died of illness or old age. Killing cattle privately is against the law. Even if it is not against the law, eating beef is also very serious.
No family is willing to kill the cow as a waste of money.
The waiter said, "I heard from the butcher that a calf slipped in the cowshed and was accidentally trampled to death by the cow. The shopkeeper bought a few kilograms and made beef stuffed buns. I wanted to try it.
It's rare for the young master to come here today, so I'm going to show my respect to the young master."
"In that case, let's try your beef stuffed buns." Li Xiuyuan said with a smile.
Just when he was about to eat, he heard the sound of begging coming from behind him.
"Thank you, store owner. My husband and I and our children haven't eaten for three days. We are really hungry. Please reward me with some steamed buns."
A tall, but extremely thin man was standing next to the steamed stuffed bun shop with a dark and skinny woman. He swallowed hard while looking at the steaming steamed buns. Next to the woman, he was holding a girl with yellow hair and a sallow complexion.
, the girl opened her big bright eyes and bit her fingers, greedy.
"Oh, why are you here again? This store is a small business and I can't afford to give you alms. You can go elsewhere." The waiter said hurriedly.
"Excuse me." The thin man was a little lost and wanted to leave with the woman and girl.
"Wait." At this time, Li Xiuyuan turned around and called, "If you don't mind, come here to eat."
"Thank you so much for your charity, young master. Thank you very much." The thin man said happily.
"You're welcome, it's just a meal." Li Xiuyuan smiled, then stood up and gave up his seat to them.
"Thank you so much, my benefactor." The woman was also extremely grateful.
The family was indeed starving. After thanking them, they immediately wolfed down the food.
Li Xiuyuan said: "You have been hungry for a long time. Eat less steamed buns and drink more soy milk to avoid injury. Waiter, go get a few more bowls of soy milk and charge it to my account."
Soon the waiter arrived with several bowls of soy milk.