Chapter 61: Passing by Tianshui Mansion

As the name suggests, most of the people in Xiangjiabao are surnamed Xiang, and they are related to each other. In today's world, clans are very powerful, and even fill in some gaps in the government's governance of local areas. The key to clans is unity.

The magistrate was a little worried that if they wanted to arrest people, there would be conflicts with the Xiangjia clan. Although the government is not afraid of these, it is still a troublesome matter. However, I didn't expect that the people in Xiangjiabao outside were mostly gloating, not to mention the conflict with the government for Xiang Rulin. It can be seen that Xiang Rulin's relationship with his clan is not very good.

After a brief discussion, the magistrate, Zhou Daoshi, and the trial centurion decided to take Xiang Rulin to the county town for temporary detention, and then report it to the government.

This case has a great impact, and it is bound to alarm the government, and maybe even the state, and there are many procedures to go through later.

Although Qi Xuansu was going to Tianshui Prefecture, he didn't want to get too involved. After all, his identity as a man in black was fake. It was okay to use it for emergency purposes. If he really treated himself as a man in black and dealt with officials in a swaggering manner, he would be exposed sooner or later.

In addition, the heavy snow had stopped, so Qi Xuansu said goodbye to the three people, saying that he was still responsible for the work of General Loulan and it was not easy to delay. At this time, the case was clear, and it could even be said that it had been solved. The three people didn't need to find someone to share the responsibility, so they naturally agreed to it. However, they still politely retained him for the sake of face. After returning to the county town from Xiangjiabao, they held a farewell banquet for Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu left the county town and continued to move towards the prefectural city.

He planned to rest a little in the prefectural city, then pass through Tianshui Prefecture, leave Liangzhou, and enter Qinzhou.

There was no trouble along the way.

Qi Xuansu galloped and arrived at the prefectural city of Tianshui Prefecture smoothly. After all, this is the center of a state, and it is prosperous and lively. There is not only the Taiping Inn, but also the branches of Huasheng Hall and Tianji Hall. Unfortunately, Qi Xuansu was short of money. He had 300 Taiping coins left. After a lot of trouble, he gave 100 Taiping coins to the innkeeper and spent 50 Taiping coins himself, leaving only 150 Taiping coins.

Qi Xuansu had heard that the rules in the officialdom were that when other officials passed through, the local government not only had to receive them, but also had to pay tribute. But the three of them just held a banquet, but did not intend to pay, which disappointed him a little, probably because his personal soldier was too low in rank.

In fact, the court did have such a rule, and just as Qi Xuansu guessed, not everyone at all could have such treatment. If Qin Wubing passed by in person, then he would have.

According to common practice, the deputy governor was equivalent to the governor, the garrison commander, and the assistant minister, which was about 100 Taiping coins for food and fodder, and 300 Taiping coins for tribute. Above them, the Duhu is equivalent to the governor, the admiral of military affairs, and the minister. They pay 200 Taiping coins for food and fodder, and 400 Taiping coins for tribute. As for the elders above, there is no usual rule. How to receive them depends on the local government. Even if they want to build a sedan chair with 32 people, it is not impossible.

As for the Taoist sect, there is no such rule because Xuansheng strictly prohibits it. Let’s not talk about what happens in private, at least they dare not put it in the open. Unlike the court government, these tribute expenses can be recorded openly. Even if they commit a crime in the future, the higher-ups will come down to check the accounts, and they will not pursue the expenditure of these silver and money. It is a habit, and it is difficult to blame the law.

If there is no special opportunity, Qi Xuansu will not be able to contact these big officials. He can only contact these county-level officials. He is a seventh-rank Taoist priest, or a sixth-rank Taoist priest, and these people are also around the sixth and seventh ranks, which is not much different.

As for the Qingping Society's silver, Qi Niang withheld it again, saying that half was used to pay off debts and the other half was saved for him to use for marrying a wife in the future.

This was also strange. Qi Xuansu really couldn't understand what Qi Niang was thinking. She said she would give away the "Death Jade" that the Li family of Taiping Dao wanted, without even blinking an eye. If it was sold to the Li family, it would cost at least tens of thousands of Taiping money. And when she rescued him, it would cost at least tens of thousands of dollars, and she said she would spend it.

Qi Niang didn't care much about all these big money, she just liked to stare at Qi Xuansu's little money and withhold it all. Sometimes, Qi Xuansu even thought that Qi Niang was making fun of herself.

Even if it was used to pay off debts, how long would it take to pay it back with just this little silver?

As for marrying a wife, that was even more nonsense. He wanted to marry Zhang Yuelu, was it a matter of money? If he could really overcome all difficulties and get the beauty back, he might have already worn the Wisdom Sword and would not lack this little expense. He didn't need to ask, someone would help him solve it.

Qi Xuansu walked around the city for a while, touched the demon pill in his arms, and walked towards the Huasheng Hall.

The layout of Huasheng Halls in various places in the world is similar. Qi Xuansu came to the lobby and took out the black-clothed man's waist badge to prove his identity. He was not a secret society demon from an unknown origin. The people of Huasheng Hall did not look up to Qi Xuansu for this, and no local leader came in person.

Qi Xuansu remembered clearly that the last time he followed Zhang Yuelu to the Tianji Hall and Huasheng Hall branches, the Taoist priest in charge came in person, which shows Zhang Yuelu's status. After all, he is the youngest deputy hall master, and he has a bright future.

Qi Xuansu took out the green bead that he had wrapped, put it on the counter, and asked softly: "This... How much is it worth?"

The female crown who was responsible for reception behind the counter glanced at it and said: "An ordinary demon pill, the medicinal power has been lost, the quality is medium and low, five hundred Taiping coins."

Qi Xuansu asked: "Can it be higher?"

The nun glanced at Qi Xuansu and said, "What do you think this place is? A market for bargaining? If you want to sell, sell. If you don't want to sell, leave."

After all, it's not her own business. The nun is a Taoist priest with a fixed position. Even if the business is not good, she will not lose her job. It's a big store that bullies customers, so the nun is not polite at all.

Qi Xuansu remembered the last time she went shopping with Zhang Yuelu. These people were more attentive and enthusiastic in front of Zhang Yuelu, but now they are so cold and hard. Although they are not in the same branch, it can be seen that they are looking at people to serve them.

If Qi Xuansu still has the identity of a sixth-rank Taoist priest, then the nun will not have such an attitude. After all, they are in the same Taoist sect. It's hard to say whether they will deal with each other in the future. Maybe there will be a time when they need to ask others for help. Giving a smile will not lose anything. Just think of it as a good relationship. But now Qi Xuansu's identity is just a black-clothed man without an official or rank, so the nun is too lazy to pretend and waste her feelings.

Qi Xuansu has been walking around the world for a long time. What kind of people has he not seen? Naturally, he would not get angry over such a small matter, nor would he feel aggrieved. There was no ripple in his heart, and he said calmly: "This is my first time here, and I don't know the rules. I hope you can forgive me."

"Then will you sell it?" asked the nun.

"Sell it." Qi Xuansu said without hesitation.

Only a young man would not sell it in anger. Qi Xuansu was like a shrewd peddler at this time, calculating everything carefully. He did not have a suitable container to store the demon pill, but just wrapped it with silk. The efficacy would continue to lose, the appearance would continue to decline, and the price would naturally decrease. If he did not sell it now, he would have to take it himself. However, this unprocessed demon pill has great side effects. If you take it rashly, you may even have the consequences of demonization, such as scales growing on your body, horns growing on your head, and your eyes becoming vertical pupils, etc., so selling it is the best result.

The nun took a jade box, put the demon pill in it, and then asked: "Do you want cash or official bills?"

"Official bills." Qi Xuansu saw the nun's attitude and tactfully did not say anything about big bills or small bills.

The nun took out five brand new bills and placed them in front of Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu put away the official bills and asked, "Do you sell 'longevity wine' here?"

"Yes." The nun said perfunctorily, "The cheapest 'longevity wine' is for ordinary people with innate powers. One thousand five hundred Taiping coins per portion. Do you want it?"

Qi Xuansu was surprised: "Isn't it one thousand Taiping coins per portion?"

The nun rolled her eyes at him: "That's the price within our Taoist sect. If it's a high-quality Taoist priest, it can be even cheaper. If it's a second-grade real person, a certain amount will be provided directly for free. Not to mention high-quality Taoist priests and real people, are you a Taoist? This is the price for selling to outsiders. Take it or not."

Qi Xuansu nodded and turned away silently.

Qi Xuansu came out of Huasheng Hall and went to the Taiping Inn not far away. After resting for a night, he continued on his way.