Xiuxian, I can travel to another world

Chapter 474 Stealing a Man

Destruction is always easy.

The courtyard was destroyed in the blink of an eye, but it will take a long time to rebuild.

More than ten days have passed since the demons went out of control, and Taiyuan Prefecture has still not been rebuilt from the ruins.

A sense of decline and decay lingers, refusing to dissipate.

"The Lord of the Manor has given an order!"

"Because of the demonic chaos that has wreaked havoc in the city and caused the people to suffer, a one-year tax exemption is hereby granted to allow the people to recuperate."

"This matter..."

The shouts came from outside the courtyard and gradually faded away.

These are messengers from the City Lord's Mansion, scattered throughout the city's streets, reading out the City Lord's decrees.

"Great!"

"Finally, we can have a few good days!"

"The city lord has the people at heart; he is a good official, an honest official, and our upright and just magistrate!"

"..."

Those who heard the sound were all delighted, and the resentment in the city lessened considerably.

Some even praised the city lord's kindness.

Because so many houses were destroyed, Zhu Ju now eats with his two aunts and several younger siblings.

The voice came, and he spoke slowly:
"What do you think?"

"Exempt from taxes?" Aunt Zhou from the second wife asked with a smile.

"This is a good thing. Life at home will definitely be more comfortable, and rebuilding the house won't be so stressful."

As they spent more time together, she became less reserved in front of Zhu Ju.

"Yes."

The third son nodded and then said:
"But haven't all the major merchants in the city already paid their taxes for the next year in advance?"

"To avoid taxation on the people," Zhu Ju said.
"But it didn't say anything about exempting commercial taxes."

"This..." The two concubines were stunned for a moment, then looked at each other and shook their heads speechlessly.

"What's the point of not exempting commercial taxes?"

"Brother." Zhu Ying, the eldest of her younger siblings, turned her eyes and asked:

"Why are the Green Robe Gang members when taxes are collected, but the City Lord's Mansion members when taxes are waived?"

"You've observed very carefully," Zhu Ju said with a smile.
"Taxes are hard to collect. Sometimes it requires beating, smashing, and robbing, which will damage the city lord's reputation and his lofty image. That's why the Green Robe Gang and the Three Rivers Gang are entrusted with collecting them."

“They are willing, after all, only a portion of the tax revenue is handed over to the city lord’s mansion, and the rest belongs to them.”

"Oh!" Zhu Ying suddenly realized and nodded slowly.

"elder brother."

Zhu Zhenzhen suddenly spoke:
"I feel like Qian Hu has been acting a bit strange lately."

"Qian Hu?" Zhu Ju put down his chopsticks.
"What's up with him?"

"I can't explain it." Zhu Zhenzhen pursed her lips.

"There's something strange about him, especially his eyes, which seem different from ours."

"Hmm..." Zhu Ju squinted:
“I heard that he has made great progress in martial arts recently.”

"Yes." Zhu Zhenzhen nodded.

"His strength is increasing rapidly. Zhang, the head nurse, said that he would be able to reach the rank of a high-level cultivator in less than a year."

A year doesn't go by quickly.

but.

Qian Hu is still a child, and the fact that he was admitted to the cult before his bone age was fully developed shows that he has great potential.

Of the four children in the Zhu family, only Zhu Zhenzhen was able to enter the ranks of the "products" before the age of fourteen or fifteen.

Even without any background, Qian Hu is very likely to achieve the seventh rank, or even the sixth rank, in the future.

"I see."

Zhu Ju thought for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Young Master." At that moment, a servant came to report:

"Miss Zhou is inviting you to drink."

*
*
*
Restaurant.

"Young Master Zhu, please come upstairs."

"Squeak..." Upon reaching the second floor and opening the door, a beautiful figure was already waiting there.

"It's you?"

Zhu Ju frowned and subconsciously turned around.

"Peng!"

A graceful figure flashed to the front, gently reached out and closed the door, raising an eyebrow as she pressed her body against it.

"Since you're already here, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

"Men and women are different," Zhu Ju began.
"I don't mind a man and a woman alone in a room, but I'm afraid it might damage your reputation, Miss Nie."

"People of the martial world don't concern themselves with trivial matters." Nie Leyao waved her hand, her beautiful eyes carrying a hint of provocation:
“When you and Ruxuan travel together, there aren’t so many rules.”

"Heh..." Zhu Ju chuckled, and seeing that the other party was blocking the door, he simply pulled over a chair and sat down:
"Miss Nie, is there something you need from me?"

The other person, who had been like Zhou Ruxuan's little follower all year, actually asked her out alone today.

Moreover, it was all done under Zhou Ruxuan's name.

"Something happened."

Nie Leyao's pretty face flushed slightly. She coughed lightly to compose herself before pacing back and forth with her hands behind her back:
"I hope you can help me."

"Help you?" Zhu Ju asked, puzzled.
"How to help?"

"Just like how I helped Zhou Ruxuan," Nie Leyao began.
“The Nie family is no worse than the Zhou family. As long as you follow me, the Zhu family cloth shop will be protected by the Nie family.”

Ok?
Zhu Ju was stunned.

He then subconsciously touched his cheek.

This body has an extraordinary appearance, though it is somewhat frail. However, since he started practicing martial arts, he has gained a masculine aura, which not only makes up for the original body's shortcomings but also elevates his appearance and temperament to a new level.

Talk about it.

Since he traveled through time, he has never met anyone who could surpass him in appearance.

"Miss Nie is too kind..."

"Don't be in such a hurry to refuse." Nie Leyao waved her hand:

"On the day of the demonic calamity, the Zhou family suffered a misfortune. Ru Xuan's father, the head of the Zhou family, was seriously injured. Even if he managed to escape the calamity, his days were numbered. Otherwise, why hasn't she come to find you for so long?"

"Is that so?" Zhu Ju nodded.
"In that case, I, Zhu, shall pay a visit and inquire after your well wishes."

"Hmph!" Nie Leyao snorted coldly.

"It seems you still don't understand."

"Ruxuan has a high status in the Zhou family because she is favored by her father, but the situation is different now. If the head of the Zhou family gets into trouble, her status will also be affected, and she may not be able to protect the Zhu family cloth shop."

“Her status in the Zhou family is not as high as mine in the Nie family. It’s better to follow me than her.”

"Miss Nie has probably misunderstood," Zhu Ju chuckled.
"My relationship with Ruxuan is not as you think."

“Heh…” Nie Leyao rolled her eyes:
"To tell you the truth, Zhou Ruxuan told me that she never intended to marry you from the beginning."

"She's just using your name to avoid being engaged."

"Then, with the money from the Zhu family's cloth shop and the resources from the Zhou family, she aimed to reach the sixth rank before she turned thirty. Didn't she tell you that she didn't want to get married before she turned thirty?"

"Hmm." Zhu Ju stroked his chin.

"Miss Zhou has great ambitions, which is admirable."

"She's playing you!" Nie Leyao moved closer, her beautiful eyes wide open.
"If she really achieves the sixth rank before she turns thirty, do you think she'll still look at you?"

"If not..."

"You can wait for her for so many years? She can easily find an excuse to throw you aside. After all, you two are not engaged. To her, you are just a tool to be used."

each other!

me too.

Zhu Ju's expression remained unchanged.

"I'm different."

Nie Leyao took a deep breath, her pretty face flushed:

"If you stay with me, we can get married this year."

"Peng!"

She just finished speaking.

The door was kicked open from the outside, and Zhou Ruxuan, panting and with a flushed face, appeared in front of the two.

"Nie Leyao!"

"You bitch!"

(End of this chapter)