Chapter 134: How Much Salary Was Issued?
On a balmy summer afternoon, Cao Jinsong finally re-experienced the fear of being dominated by fierce bandits, and even his proud chest deflated.
It seemed that the arrogance in his chest and his money bag were connected; if one leaked, the other couldn't hold anything in.
And on the afternoon of the second day, Ji You received another letter sent from down the mountain, so he hurriedly left the mountain, and after some travel, arrived at the courtyard at the end of Chunhua Alley, the residence of that Kuang Shusheng.
In fact, the day after returning to Tianshu Academy from Lingjian Mountain, Ji You had already been there once.
However, that time, Kuang Cheng was not there, and the main gate was tightly locked.
He inquired at the Si Xianjian and learned that after he set off, Kuang Cheng had been transferred to the Reception Department of the Si Xianjian, and was subsequently responsible for handling trade between the Yao Race and the Human Race.
At this time, Kuang Shusheng had just returned to the capital, looking a bit travel-worn, and was sweeping the courtyard with a broom, seemingly in a good mood.
Hearing footsteps, the scholar turned to look outside the door and saw Ji You.
“Brother Ji, long time no see.”
Ji You raised the corner of his mouth: “I heard you got a promotion. How much salary did you get?”
Kuang Cheng’s mouth twitched, and then he put down the broom: “Have you eaten? I haven’t eaten yet, why don’t we talk while we eat?”
Ji You couldn't help but give a thumbs up: “Excellent.”
Then the two left this remote place and found a nearby noodle shop to sit down, ordering two bowls of plain noodles,
and some wine and meat dishes.
At this time, Kuang Cheng took out some silver from his Pregnant and handed it over, placing it in front of him: “This is half of my salary from last month.”
“So much? It seems your monthly salary has indeed increased.”
“My monthly salary is still the same. The increase in pay is actually related to the Yao Race entering Kyushu for trade.”
Kuang Cheng peeled garlic and said, “The Spirit Stone transported by the Yao Race from the Snow Region is of higher quality than those from the large mines in Yunzhou and Zhongzhou, and is extremely popular among cultivators. This channel is handled by Great Xia, and it can be considered that a part of the ownership of the Spirit Mine has been reclaimed from the Worldly Family of Kyushu.”
Ji You raised his eyes: “No wonder the prices of Yunzhou Stone and Zhongzhou Stone have been falling these past few days.”
“That’s right, and this matter is beneficial to the common people.”
“Oh?”
Kuang Cheng handed him a garlic clove: “The Yao Race transports Spirit Stone from the Snow Region, but what they exchange for is not our Human Race’s silver, but grain, vegetables, fruits, salt, and various handicrafts.”
Ji You chewed on the green vegetable leaves in his mouth and understood why this matter was beneficial to the common people.
The Snow Region is a bitterly cold place with few crops that can grow, so what they want are these agricultural products.
Through trade with the Yao Race, Great Xia suppressed the price of Spirit Stone in the hands of the Worldly Family, and at the same time earned silver from the cultivators of Qingyun World.
After deducting profits, a portion of this silver is used to purchase agricultural products from the common people, which will further drive up the prices of these goods, making the common people more prosperous.
Ji You took a bite of noodles: “It seems that the Emperor in the palace wasn’t just talking when he said he wanted to establish new policies.”
“That’s right, my colleagues in the Si Xianjian and I are all working hard, but... even so, it still can’t change the current situation, because even if we control the Spirit Stone, it’s still insignificant to those Immortal Sects and Worldly Sect who collect taxes and tributes every year, and besides, the Yao Race is not easy to get along with.”
“Again, if they are not of our kind, their hearts must be different?”
Kuang Cheng nodded: “Your Majesty opening the borders and allowing the Yao Race to trade in Kyushu is a very risky move. On my trip outside, I always hear rumors that the Yao Race wants to seize the Human Race’s Luck and return to Kyushu, and the barbarians in the Northern Territory seem to have the same goal.”
Ji You bit into a garlic clove and looked at him.
Kuang Cheng’s position and identity determined his current perspective on things.
For ordinary people like them, although the common people often suffer oppression from Immortal Sects and Worldly Sect, it is still better than being enslaved by other races.
No one wants to return to the ancient era, to the days of being enslaved, oppressed, flayed, and dismembered by other races.
However, rumors of a chaotic world are still just rumors for now.
Although the Yao Race and the barbarians are stirring, and the Seven Great Immortal Sects and Kyushu Worldly Sect are also somewhat restless,
after the Qi Ridge incident, there doesn't seem to have been any greater turmoil.
The clues about the infants found earlier from Qingwa seemed to have vanished like a mud ox entering the sea,
without any news.
Those infants are still missing to this day. He doesn't know if they dissipated between heaven and earth with the Zheng Family Old Ancestor.
Because with Ji You's current status as an Outer Courtyard Disciple, he cannot access more useful information.
However, what particularly concerned him was the faint, weak whisper he heard when he Transmigrated here.
He believed there would be a chaotic world, but how it would start, and who would cause the chaos, remained a mystery.
He only needed to improve his strength and enter the Inner Courtyard.
And Kuang Cheng was the same, diligently striving in the right direction amidst the confusion, full of drive.
This was probably because he could truly do something practical for this world, and was no longer the sentimental scholar he once was.
“Brother Ji, you still need to quickly become the Celestial Book Institute Head Teacher.”
“You always have a blind confidence in me.”
“This isn't blind; it's because once Brother Ji becomes the Celestial Book Institute Head Teacher and marries the daughter of the Dan Sect, his voice will carry much more weight, and he can at least make life a little easier for the common people.”
Ji You looked at him: “What do you think if I marry the future Head Teacher of Lingjian Mountain as well?”
Kuang Cheng’s lifted noodles hung in the air: “That would, of course, be even better. I said before that it’s not necessarily a long sword that conquers the world; it could also be a healthy body.”
“Eat your noodles, you perpetually anxious scholar.”
Then the two ate their noodles and talked about matters concerning Yuyang County.
After the silver notes were sent back last time, Chen Fuzi found a piece of land in the county and began to build a school, intending to teach the children of Yuyang County how to read and behave properly.
Additionally, this year, there have been continuous wars in the north, and the villagers seem a bit uneasy.
Moreover, there has been some drought this year, and the harvest of crops doesn't seem very optimistic.
However, amidst the bad news, there was also good news: Fengxian Mountain Manor, which had intended to capture Qiu Ru for alchemy, had moved out of Yuyang County, leaving behind only an uninhabited large mansion.
Hearing this news, Ji You was quite surprised: “Moved out?”
“They say they moved, but no one saw them. You know, the county residents don’t dare to go near there. They usually walk around it, fearing to offend Immortals.”
Ji You held the chopsticks in his hand: “Then why do they say they moved?”
Kuang Cheng also stopped eating: “It was Old Geng, the hunter who lives at the foot of the mountain. When he went hunting, he found no one inside. Later, a few half-grown children bravely went to look around the vicinity,”
“And no one saw how they left?”
“No, but I heard that the things in the mansion are still there. It's as if they vanished into thin air. Earlier, some people in the county were discussing whether Fengxian Mountain Manor had offended some greater Cultivation Worldly Family, which is why they left so quietly.”
Ji You held his chopsticks, feeling it was a bit bizarre.
However, Qingyun World is so vast that anything is possible; the Ji Family also vanished overnight like that.
After the two finished their noodles, they returned to the secluded residence along the alley.
However, as they approached, they saw a graceful figure standing around the residence. Upon seeing Kuang Cheng and Ji You approach, she panicked and immediately walked away.
But after a few steps, the graceful figure couldn't help but stop, and after a moment of hesitation, looked back.
“Kuang… Young Master Kuang.”
“It’s Miss Wei, long time no see.”
Wei Rui lowered her head and spoke softly: “I heard you returned to the capital, so I—I thought I’d stop by and take a look.”
Since the Qi Ridge incident ended, Zhongzhou has been relatively stable, and the refugees who had gathered at the city gate have also left. Wei Rui no longer needed to distribute porridge.
Afterwards, Kuang Cheng was transferred out of Shengjing, and he hadn't seen her for several months. “Although I, Kuang, am a weak scholar, I received much care from my colleagues in the Si Xianjian during my journey. This trip was safe, and I appreciate your concern, Miss.”
“I—that—well, as long as Young Master is safe, that’s good.”
Ji You reached out and pushed open the courtyard gate: “Miss Wei, I invite you in for a cup of tea on behalf of Kuang Cheng.”
Wei Rui glanced at Kuang Cheng, and after a moment of silence, said, “Okay.”
“Let’s not, Brother Ji. I just returned to the capital, and there’s no tea at home. Besides, I haven’t had time to go to the water shop, and the water vat at home is already empty.”
Kuang Cheng suddenly said to Ji You, his expression frank.
Ji You turned to look at Wei Rui, and saw her slightly stunned upon hearing this. She looked up at Kuang Cheng: “Is that so—then, then I won’t disturb you. May Young Master be safe.”
Ji You watched Wei Rui leave, then looked at Kuang Cheng: “She clearly came specifically to see you, why did you send her away?”
“I am in the Si Xianjian and cannot have too many connections with the Wei Family. Moreover, Miss Wei and I are merely casual acquaintances. It is against etiquette for a single man to invite an unmarried woman into his home, and it would harm her reputation.”
“Then you don’t have to find such a clumsy excuse. Just tell her the truth.”
Kuang Cheng glanced at his right hand: “In investigating Wei Li’s tax corruption case, every page I saw had the words ‘eating people,’ so it was difficult to reconcile.”
Ji You turned to him: “But if a woman gets married, she is no longer considered a Wei family member.”
“Brother Ji—Brother Ji, what nonsense are you talking about?”
“I bet you’ve even thought of the children’s names.”
Kuang Cheng held his breath, his face flushed: “Brother Ji is talking absolute nonsense!”
Ji You narrowed his eyes: “Don’t pretend, I’ve thought about it too.”
“I haven’t!”
“Even if you have, it’s useless now. You’ve already sent her away.”
Upon hearing this, Kuang Cheng's mood suddenly began to fall, and he pursed his lips, saying nothing.
However, just at this moment, footsteps suddenly came from the alley again.
The two looked up and saw Wei Rui, who had previously left, now walking back, looking somewhat flustered.
She held a paper package in her hand, with a tea label on the outside, and was followed by a water carrier.
The water carrier asked if it was this house, and upon seeing Wei Rui nod, he pushed the door open and went inside. Then, a gurgling sound of water pouring into a vat was heard.
“I—I bought some tea.”
After the sound of water stopped, Wei Rui finally mustered the courage to speak.
Most people in Shengjing knew that Wei Li’s granddaughter was a gentle and well-behaved person who avoided conflict and rarely spoke.
But at this moment, she displayed an unexpected stubbornness.
Ji You looked at the two who were staring at each other without speaking, and thought to himself, well, I’m redundant now.
“Brother Kuang, I’m leaving first. You two—take your time drinking.”
“Ah, Brother Ji!”
“Don’t be polite. After all, I don’t want to participate in your discussion about naming children. I still have names for my own family to choose.”
“?”