Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 357 356 Jinluo Grand Market
"This……"

The servant's smile froze slightly.

Feng Xiuhu took out a few copper beads from Shunzi's pocket, and without counting them, simply laid them out on the table.

"cough."

The servant coughed lightly and glanced subconsciously in the direction of the shopkeeper. Seeing that the shopkeeper was looking down at the accounts, he looked away.

He swept the rag across the table, and the copper beads fell into his sleeve pocket.

The servant lowered his voice: "Yes and no, it depends on the person."

Feng Xiuhu nodded: "I know, we only accept business people."

The servant chuckled awkwardly, "Hey, actually... even businessmen have to be fair."

Feng Xiuhu didn't understand what he was saying and looked puzzled.

The servant bent down and lowered his voice: "If it's a 'businessman' wearing patched clothes and carrying a bamboo basket, we'll charge less—because they can't afford more; if it's a 'businessman' wearing gold and silver and accompanied by many people, then we won't charge them—because it'll easily cause trouble."

Feng Xiuhu pointed to his nose: "Then which one do I look like?"

The servant looked at Feng Xiuhu, then at the carriage parked outside, and chuckled dryly, "To be honest, people like you are the ones who take the most bribes—they seem to have a lot of money, but they don't seem to be in a high position. If they don't spit out a lot of silver, they probably won't be able to get away."

Feng Xiuhu understood and nodded silently.

After a moment's hesitation, the servant cupped his hands and asked, "How should I address you?"

"Ma Er".

Feng Xiuhu replied.

The servant licked his lips and said, "Master Ma, for the sake of the copper bead, I'll say a few more words."

"This city gate tax has never been collected at the city gate."

Feng Xiuhu looked over and asked, "Where do we collect it?"

The servant said, "We'll collect the money wherever there are patrol officers."

He pointed outside: "If you're unlucky, it's normal to get arrested seven or eight times a day while walking on the street—especially these last two days."

"So I'm just trying to give you some advice: if you don't have anything urgent to attend to, you should leave the city early tomorrow morning."

Feng Xiuhu picked up a piece of food and asked curiously, "Why these two days of particular?"

"A grand market of brocade and silk!"

The servant feigned surprise: "You don't even know this?"

Feng Xiuhu shook his head: "I'm from out of town, tell me more about it."

Speaking of this, the servant had a proud look on his face: "The Jinluo Grand Market is the most important event in our Jiangluo Creek."

"Our Jiangluoxi is famous for its abundant production of fabrics, among which Zhulin brocade is the most expensive—I don't mean 'expensive' in terms of price, but rather 'expensive' in terms of prestige. Even the President praised it highly."

Feng Xiuhu interjected, asking, "What exactly is so special about Zhu Linjin?"

The servant replied with a smile, "Master Ma, you may not know this, but besides its excellent quality, the color of this Zhu Lin brocade is also exceptional. It's reddish-purple with hints of gold, and when placed in the sunlight, it reflects fine, fish-scale-like patterns. Isn't that amazing?"

Feng Xiuhu nodded slightly: "Continue."

The servant cleared his throat: "Ever since the President gave his word, Zhu Lin Brocade has become highly sought after by the gentlemen of Taijing, who have rushed to buy it, leading to a shortage. Therefore, the county government has set a rule that the supply will be provided on a quarterly basis, with all the Zhu Lin Brocade produced going into storage and being taken out for sale on a fixed day each quarter."

"That's a really good idea!"

The servant gave a thumbs up: "Since this rule was set, the lords of Taijing no longer have to worry about leaving empty-handed. At the same time, it has attracted merchants from surrounding towns to gather here on this day, each bringing out their best goods to sell. If you are lucky enough to have your goods taken a liking by a lord of Taijing, then you will be on a meteoric rise to success."

"So this day of the season became the most important day in Jiangluoxi, and the county government decided on a name for it—Jinluo Market!" Feng Xiuhu poured cold water on the servant's enthusiasm: "So there are more vendors on the street, and more constables collecting city gate taxes?"

The servant's smile turned awkward, and he rubbed his hands, saying, "Hey, what are you saying... In this world, where is there a place where you don't have to pay taxes? If you stay a few more days, who knows, the church's offerings and the temple's incense money will also be collected from you."

……

Meanwhile, in the alley across the street, patrol captain Ma Sihai was leading more than a dozen patrol officers, remaining stationary.

He asked the beggar beside him, "Did you see clearly? Are they the ones?"

The beggar, his body shrouded in shadow, replied in a trembling voice, "Captain, I'm absolutely certain I'm not mistaken. Those three by the window, and that carriage parked outside, belong to them too."

Ma Sihai squinted as he observed the person opposite him, seemingly considering something.

Seeing that he remained silent for a while, the beggar mustered his courage and probed again: "Captain, they must have money. When that tall, strong man tossed me the copper beads, I heard his money bag clatter—the sound of the copper beads was dull, but the sound of the money bag was very crisp, it must be a plate full of gleaming silver! I can't be mistaken!"

"Shut up!"

Ma Sihai shouted, "I'm here to arrest criminals! What silver plate? Where did this silver plate come from? Did any of you see it?"

The police officers behind them shook their heads, some saying they hadn't seen it, others saying they had seen the silver plate at the captain's house.

Ma Sihai nodded in satisfaction. He spat on the ground and squinted at the three people opposite him who were eating heartily: "Damn it, he's from the same clan, Second Master? I'm the fourth oldest, so am I still a head shorter than him?"

He beckoned to a police officer in plain clothes, stuffed a packet of powder into his hand, and then whispered some instructions to him.

The uniformed policeman nodded in agreement, and before the three men opposite could look in their direction, he slipped out of the alley and walked calmly toward the inn across the street.

The shopkeeper was flipping through the ledger when he suddenly felt a darkness before his eyes as a shadow fell, blocking out the light.

He looked up and saw that the person in front of him had his back to the hall, with one hand raised to his lips to signal silence, and the other hand taking out a police badge and showing it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper was startled and instinctively looked around to see if anything was amiss.

The uniformed police officer glared at him and pointed towards the kitchen.

The shopkeeper immediately understood and led the uniformed policeman to the back.

……

"Offering silver?"

Feng Xiuhu sneered: "I'm good at this kind of work."

The servant didn't argue with him, but cupped his hands and said, "Master Ma, that's all I have to say. The city gates open at six in the morning, so please remember to get some rest."

Suddenly, a foot shot out and kicked the servant, sending him staggering.

"You chatterbox, get back to work."

The servant, wincing in pain, dared not utter a sound, and quickly left with the rag draped over his head.

The shopkeeper turned around and smiled at Feng Xiuhu: "Please excuse my poor manners."

He placed the plate on the table and said with a smile, "These are complimentary dishes for you three. If you like them, please remember to come again."

The shopkeeper was very polite, but Feng Xiuhu was somewhat dissatisfied: "I haven't finished talking yet."

The shopkeeper was taken aback, but quickly replied with a smile, "That lazybones can't even read a few words, what kind of nonsense could he possibly spout? If you want to chat, I'll keep you company, and we can even have a few drinks while we talk."

"That's it."

Feng Xiuhu waved his hand in refusal: "I have to get up early tomorrow, and I'm afraid I'll run into a drunk driving checkpoint."

PS: That's why Sail City is so peaceful. The areas outside are a complete mess.

(End of this chapter)