Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

......

Time passed slowly, and before we knew it, two hours had gone by.

Zhao Xian finally understood the meaning behind his uncle Zhao Li's words.

Two strong servants lifted a thin Taoist priest and moved him to a table not far away.

Zhao Xian then noticed that there was another table hidden among the crowd.

Behind the desk sat a scholar in a blue robe, the wide robe covering his thin body, giving him a somewhat pretentious air.

Looking at the man again, he had a rat-like face, a pointed mouth and monkey cheeks, and his small eyes darted around. He was clearly not a gentleman.

"The face reflects the heart; someone with such an appearance must be a cunning and treacherous person!"

Zhao Xian couldn't help but ponder this in his heart.

"Li Gan, a Daoist, is short forty talisman coins in this year's land tax. Our patriarch, in his benevolence, has lent him fifty talisman coins, with an annual interest of five hundred per thousand!"

"Seventy-five talisman coins must be repaid by next autumn harvest!"

The scholar in the green robe stroked his short beard and chuckled.

He then took out a pre-written loan agreement, in duplicate, and added Li Gan's name, the amount of money borrowed, and the amount to be repaid.

Another soldier stepped forward, drew a short blade from his waist, slashed Li Gan's thumb, and pressed two fingerprints onto it with the blood.

"Liu Jun, take the talisman money!"

The scholar in the green robe casually tossed a small string of talisman coins into the hand of the clerk counting them.

To demonstrate impartiality, the minor official counted the items in full before the crowd of people.

"Forty coins!"

"Pass!"

"Next!"

A loan agreement landed in front of Li Gan, its bloody fingerprints quite conspicuous.

"The Yan family is the largest money lender in Wohu Township. They lend out principal and earn interest. It is said that they have powerful connections in the county and their business is very large."

"That shifty-eyed fellow, named Huang Liang, is a guest of the Yan family."

Seeing Zhao Xian remain silent, Zhao Li continued in a low voice.

The term "Zi Qian Jia" is derived from the idea that money can produce offspring.

"Borrowing fifty, receiving forty, and then adding twenty-five in interest—that's almost doubling the principal!"

"That's definitely a good deal!"

Suddenly, Zhao Xian gave a bitter smile and sighed.

"What's the big deal!"

"When the villagers of Chunping Village come forward to pay their land taxes, that will be a real treat!"

Zhao Li chuckled and gestured for Zhao Xian to continue reading.

Daewang-ri, Prosperity-ri, and then Yangpyeong-ri.

Before long, the clerk called out, "Zhao Yi, a resident of Yangping Village!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately carried a large basket of millet and a cloth bag of talisman coins forward.

"One thousand coins and eighty catties of millet!"

Zhao Xian bowed respectfully and shouted loudly.

Zhao Zhong, leaning on his cane, nodded to Zhao Xian.

"Just a gentle tap!"

The clerk said without even looking up.

The clerk in charge of counting immediately stepped forward to count the coins and weigh the millet.

"One thousand coins for the talisman, but less than forty catties of millet!"

A moment later, the clerk frowned and called out loudly.

"Um?"

Zhao Xian was taken aback upon hearing this. When he looked at the scales again, he felt an inexplicable surge of anger rising within him!

He was about to step forward and speak when Zhao Zhong suddenly grinned.

"Liu Jun, on the night the bandits attacked Shanghuting, Jiulang shot and killed more than ten bandits in one night."

"He received praise from the thief clerk, the merit clerk, and the patrol officers, and was rewarded with 12,000 coins."

"Weigh it again!"

Zhao Zhong spoke in detail, his voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

After Zhao Zhong finished speaking, the expressions of all the officials in the village changed slightly, and even the guests and servants of the Yan family not far away showed surprise.

"This young man possesses such courage and martial prowess!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Liang, the shifty-eyed guest who lent money to the Yan family, quickly realized what was going on and immediately smiled, "Young master, my patriarch greatly admires chivalrous youths. We'll cover the cost of the talisman!"

"Master Yan is so generous; I thank you on behalf of my nephew!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhong immediately replied with a smile, and then looked at the clerk who was counting the items with a grin.

Upon seeing this, the minor official immediately smiled, looked at Zhao Xian, and said with a smile, "We have heard of your outstanding achievements in our hometown."

"A meager amount of millet, not worth mentioning!"

"Even if the local officials come to punish us, we will take the blame for Jiulang!"

He could rattle off a string of polite words without hesitation.

"Jiulang, why don't you thank Lord Liu!"

Zhao Zhong immediately offered some advice.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian smiled and first bowed to the scholar in the green robe not far away, saying with a smile, "Master Yan's reputation is so great that even we youngsters have heard of it."

"Thank you for helping me out!"

"Haha, it's nothing, just a small matter! If you have some free time in the future, Jiulang, you are welcome to visit the Yan family in Xiangting. Our master is renowned throughout the county for his hospitality!"

The scholar in the green robe, Huang Liang, stroked his short beard, quite pleased with Zhao Xian's respectful manner.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Liu, for your help!"

Zhao Xian bowed again to the clerk who was counting the items.

"It's a small matter, Jiulang, you may go!"

The clerk, who was checking the inventory, also offered a perfunctory gesture to Zhao Xian, and said with a smile.

"Next!"

"Zhao Li from Yangping Village!"

Uncle Zhao Li stepped out from the crowd, but looked at Zhao Xian with considerable worry.

Zhao Xian grinned and waved his hand dismissively.

When he returned to the crowd, Zhao Xian still had a smile on his face, seemingly quite pleased with himself.

Before long, the uncle paid the land tax for his own family and the families of Zhao Ren and Zhao Zhi.

"Ah Xian~"

As Zhao Li approached Zhao Xian, his face showed concern.

"It's nothing, Uncle!"

Zhao Xianli immediately smiled and nodded.

"At such a young age, Jiulang has already shown such patience; he will surely bring honor to our family in the future!"

Seeing that Zhao Xian didn't take it to heart, Zhao Li breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself.

After Yangpingli comes Chunpingli.

When the people of Chunping Village came forward to pay their taxes, Huang Liang, the guest of the Yan family in his green robe, and his group of strong servants moved even the table and chairs closer to them.

"Hu Mo, a resident of Chunping Village, is required to pay 10.4 shi of land tax."

Upon hearing this, Dao Min's face immediately darkened, and he then walked towards Huang Liang.

"Your Excellency, I, Hu Mo, a humble citizen of Chunping Village, humbly beg for your mercy and request a loan of four hundred coins!"

With a thud, he knelt down and kowtowed!

"Hu Mo, you borrowed five hundred coins from my family last year, and you should have paid back seven hundred and fifty coins, but this year you have only paid back three hundred coins."

"Add this four hundred coins, and that makes eight hundred and fifty coins!"

"With an annual interest of 500 per thousand, you should repay 1300 coins after next year's autumn harvest!"

Huang Liang did some quick calculations with his fingers and immediately said with a smile.

"I'm willing to lend!"

Hu Mo kowtowed again.

A moment later, a token floated down in front of him, and a short blade also fell in front of him.

Hu Mo immediately gritted his teeth, pulled out his short blade, cut his finger, and pressed two fingerprints onto the oozing blood.

"Mr. Liu, write down the four hundred coins for now, and come with me home to get them later."

Huang Liang looked at the clerk who was taking inventory and said with a smile.

"Brother Huang, your noble character has saved us from dire straits. I certainly trust you!"

Upon hearing this, the clerk in charge of inventory immediately smiled.

"Next!"

Afterwards, people from the Daoist community came forward to pay their land taxes. Very few paid in full on their own; most borrowed money from others, or even lent money to the Yan family.

When one person stepped forward to pay his taxes, he was led directly by the hand of a seven- or eight-year-old child.

"My son is eight years old and already has strength. He has pawned himself to the Yan family and borrowed a thousand talisman coins!"

The man did not step forward, but knelt down directly in front of Huang Liang, kowtowing and weeping.

"nonsense!"

"My fellow villagers, how could my Yan family do such a heinous thing as sowing discord among our own flesh and blood!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Liang threw the green bamboo slip in his hand at the man and angrily rebuked him.

"Ha, that old hag, her family has done this kind of thing countless times!"

Immediately, some onlookers showed their displeasure and muttered curses under their breath.

Zhao Xian watched this scene, but his smile had vanished.

"I beg the Yan family to take in my son and save his life! My family has been without rice or porridge for days!"

The man knelt down and kowtowed again, the sound of his head hitting the ground loudly, his forehead already bruised and swollen.

Seeing this, Huang Liang also showed sympathy and said sadly, "Lord Sun, this year we are a hostage, what will happen next year!"

"Very well, I'll take this boy in for now. After I return home, I'll plead with the head of the family to let him stay in the manor and give him a bowl of porridge to survive!"

After saying this, the strong servant beside him led the child aside.

"Liu Jun, we are both from the same hometown. Our Yan family paid the land taxes for Sun Jun's family!"

"Master Yan is kind and benevolent, Brother Huang is noble and righteous!"

"Next!"