Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

The next morning, the meditation was completed.

After breakfast, Zhao Xian went to the stable to prepare his and Chen Yuancheng's mounts, since both of them needed to go home for a rest today.

"Ninth Brother, are you accompanying Lord Chen on another inspection tour of the countryside today?"

An elderly man with white hair came out of a small hut next to the stable and saw Zhao Xian grooming the horse. He immediately greeted him.

"Elder Mu, we inspected the last pavilion yesterday. We haven't rested for ten days straight. Mr. Chen, Mr. Liu, and I will each go home for two days to rest."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately looked up and responded with a smile.

Liu Jun was the official who accompanied the two on their inspection tour of the countryside, and he had not taken a break for ten consecutive days.

"Thank you very much, Elder Mu, for the ointment for Jiulang. The pain in my thigh has completely disappeared."

Zhao Xian put down his work and bowed to the white-haired old man.

Zhao Xian had never learned to ride a horse since childhood. When he first rode a horse, he accompanied Chen Yuancheng to inspect the countryside.

For seven consecutive days, he traveled at least 10 or 20 miles each day, and sometimes dozens of miles, until his thighs were raw and bleeding.

That day, the old herdsman in charge of the stable noticed that Zhao Xian looked unwell when he got on and off his horse. Knowing that he must have injured his groin, he gave Zhao Xian some ointment he had prepared himself.

"Haha, it's a trivial matter, nothing to worry about!" Upon hearing this, Elder Mu immediately waved his hand dismissively and then stepped forward to instruct Zhao Xian on how to prepare his mount.

"Jiulang, you and Chen Jun patrolled the villages, distributing thousands of talisman coins every day, saving the lives of impoverished villagers. We common folk are eternally grateful!"

"This is all thanks to Lord Chen; Jiu Lang merely served by his side, running errands and doing his bidding!"

Zhao Xian immediately replied modestly.

"Haha, Jiulang is very honest and kind!"

The old herdsman praised again and stepped forward to help Zhao Xian tidy up his mount.

Once everything was ready, Zhao Xian went to the backyard to report to Chen Yuancheng.

A short while later, Zhao Xian and Chen Yuancheng greeted the village officials and then led their respective mounts out of the village.

One went east, the other west; the two said their goodbyes.

Watching Chen Yuancheng ride away alone, Zhao Xian led the old horse towards the market.

The minor official's annual salary was thirty shi (a unit of dry measure), and his monthly salary was two shi and five dou (another unit of dry measure) of millet. According to the county's custom, he was given one shi of millet and one hundred and fifty wen (another unit of cash).

This applies to all officials below the rank of Baishi.

Only officials of the Hundred Stone Rank and above would distribute their annual salary in low-grade spirit stones.

When Zhao Xianchu first became an official, his monthly salary was not paid until the following month.

However, with the meager token of the local official's generosity, he was not short of money for expenses.

Upon arriving at the market, Zhao Xian first went to a stall selling farm tools and bought some.

When the vendor saw Zhao Xian dressed in black robes, holding the reins, and with a bow and sword hanging from his horse, he immediately smiled obsequiously and stepped forward to bow.

"Sir, would you like to buy some farming tools?"

Zhao Xian nodded slightly, bent down, picked up an iron shovel, weighed it in his hand, and found it to be quite heavy, indicating that it was made of high-quality materials.

"What is the price?"

"Thirty talismans!"

"How many scythes are there?"

"Fifteen coins!"

A pound of crude iron costs about ten coins, and after quenching and forging, the price is reasonable.

After pondering for a few moments, Zhao Xian stood up and said with a smile, "Wrap fifteen pieces for each of you!"

After saying that, Zhao Xian took out some talisman coins from his pocket and handed them to the vendor.

Overjoyed at the sight of the money, the vendor deftly tied the farm tools together with hemp rope, and thoughtfully draped half a straw mat over the old horse, hanging the tools on either side.

Continuing on, Zhao Xian bought another ten catties of meat and twenty catties of wine.

As they were leaving the market, Zhao Xian spotted vendors selling puppies, chicks, and goslings by the roadside and bought a puppy and two pairs of goslings.

My younger sister, Zhao Yu, has always envied other people who own dogs. Today, she happened to be there, so naturally, I had to fulfill her wish.

As for the goslings, his mother had mentioned them once, and Zhao Xian had taken them to heart.

All the goods were piled on the old horse, brimming with them. Zhao Xian then took the reins and headed west along the official road.

Wohu Township is located in the far west of the county, and Shanghuting is located in the far west of Wohu Township.

......

As noon approached, Zhao Xiancai arrived at the familiar country lane.

I could see the familiar inner gate from afar, and my heart was filled with excitement.

In fact, Zhao Xian had already accompanied Chen Yuancheng on an inspection tour of Shanghuting yesterday.

However, at that time he was on official duty and all he could see were the miserable conditions of poor villagers struggling to make ends meet. His heart was heavy and he had no feelings of homesickness!

During a seven-day inspection of the village, it was found that among the seven villages in Wohu Township, the residents of Shanghuting were not in the most miserable situation, but rather in the best one.

And this is all thanks to Chen Yuancheng serving as the head of the pavilion here!

Although Shanghuting was attacked by bandits, it did not suffer too much damage, and the county even issued relief and rewards.

Chen Yuancheng provided food and clothing on several occasions. Last year, not many Daoist practitioners had to borrow money to make ends meet, so this year their situation is naturally much better.

A mere village headman, by acting justly, saved the lives of over a hundred people, while other high-ranking officials remained indifferent, not because they were incapable, but because they were unwilling.

With a thousand thoughts swirling in my mind, I had unknowingly walked to the inner gate.

Zhao He, the gatekeeper, had already seen someone leading a horse from afar, but he only recognized Zhao Xian when he got closer.

"Oh my, Jiulang's back!"

"I have met Uncle Eleven. I have been in the township for ten days without a break. Mr. Chen has granted me permission to go home and rest for two days."

Zhao Xian greeted him with a smile and led his horse forward.

"Wow, Jiulang has really struck it rich this time! I knew Jiulang was going to amount to something!"

When Zhao He saw the goods on the horse's back, his eyes widened and he praised them repeatedly.

"Uncle Eleven, bring the earthenware jar, I'll share some wine with you, I bought twenty catties!"

Zhao Xian stopped in his tracks and said with a smile.

"Oh dear, how can this be? How can this be!"

Zhao He initially declined, but eventually gave in to Zhao Xian's insistence and returned to the chamber to retrieve a ceramic jar.

Zhao Xian didn't take much, only about two jin, then stopped. After Zhao He thanked him repeatedly, he led his horse home.

It was midday, and most of the clansmen were working in the fields, so the village was quite quiet.

Zhao Xian led his horse and soon arrived at his house. He looked into the yard but did not see anyone at home.

Pushing open the courtyard gate and leading the horse into the yard, his mother, Zhao Xushi, had already heard the noise and came out of the house.

"Oh, Dalang's back!"

Upon seeing Zhao Xian leading the horse, Zhao Xushi, the mother, immediately exclaimed in delight, and then her younger sister Zhao Yu darted out of the house.

"Brother!"

With a scream, she rushed forward and hugged Zhao Xian.

Zhao Xian immediately reached out and patted his little sister's head, laughing, "Let go quickly, I bought you a puppy!"

"Where?!"

The younger sister immediately released Zhao Xian and pressed him for an answer.

Zhao Xian turned around and took a bamboo basket from the horse. Inside were the brown puppy and two pairs of goslings.

"Oh, Mother, my eldest brother also bought two pairs of goslings!"

The younger sister turned to look at Zhao Xushi and exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhao immediately came forward, her face beaming with joy, but she also cautioned, "Eldest son, you've just arrived in the countryside and will need a lot of money. Why are you buying these things?"

Looking up, he saw the farm tools, wine, and meat on the horse, and reached out to strike Zhao Xian: "With the money for talismans, instead of cultivating properly, you just buy things recklessly like this?"

Zhao Xian quickly stepped aside and hurriedly offered an explanation.

After listening to Zhao Xian's words, Madam Zhao Xu suddenly realized what was going on, but she was also very worried.

Knowing what was troubling her, Zhao Xian immediately explained in detail, which put Zhao Xu at ease.

Divide the meat into three portions, leaving one portion at home. Zhao Xian then took the wine and meat, first going to his uncle's house, where he left one portion of meat. After chatting with his aunt for a while, he went to his grandfather's house.

When Zhao Xian arrived carrying wine and meat, his aunt and sister-in-law were overjoyed.

The eldest brother Zhao Zheng and the second brother Zhao Ji were still recovering from their injuries and spent their days at home chatting with their grandfather.

The arrival of Zhao Xian also delighted the three of them.

As night fell, my uncle, father, and uncle arrived one after another. Several dishes were served, and everyone drank and enjoyed themselves.