Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

After three cups of wine, Zhao Xian's gaze fell on the bamboo scroll on the table, and the others followed suit, remaining silent.

"The Yan family owns fifty mu of land, and the Xu and Cao families own one hundred mu." After a moment's thought, Zhao Xian slowly said, then turned to Liu Mao, "Mr. Liu, how much land did the Song family own in previous years?"

"Last year, the Song family reported 300 mu of land!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Mao immediately replied without hesitation.

"This year, the Song family has registered 350 mu of land!"

"What is Lord Song's opinion?"

Upon hearing the figure of one acre, Song An became anxious and looked up at his father, Song Chen, who was seated above him.

Upon hearing this, Song Chen sighed inwardly, knowing that this was the best possible outcome for the day, and immediately nodded slightly.

Zhao Xian refilled the wine cups and toasted everyone.

Everyone then drank it all.

After chatting for a while, Zhao Xian and his companions got up to say goodbye and returned to their country home.

Yesterday's inspection lasted all day, and four households in Qiandeli have not yet been inspected, but there is no need to go and inspect them again.

Apart from the Song family, the other three households were poor Taoist priests who owned only a few acres of meager land and had little else to show for their existence.

After leaving the Song family residence, Song An presented each person with a small cloth bag and handed Zhao Xian a much larger package.

"Please have Mr. Zhao forward this to Mr. Chen!"

Zhao Xian took the package and scanned it with his divine sense, immediately knowing that it contained low-grade spirit stones, about a hundred in total.

After bidding farewell to Song An again, Zhao Xian and his party returned to their village.

Watching Zhao Xian and his entourage depart, Song An's expression changed, and he spat out, "You lowly country bumpkin, how dare you covet my beautiful maid!"

......

On the way back, Zhao Xian looked at the farmers working in the fields and felt a surge of emotion.

Weighing the small cloth bag in his hand, the spirit stones clinking inside, Zhao Xian asked without turning his head, "Lord Liu, did the Song family do this in previous years?"

"How could this be! Last year when we were surveying the fields, we stayed at the Song family's house in the same way, and returned to our village the following afternoon."

"The Song family reported 300 mu of land, but this year they've gone mad and dared to report only 100 mu!"

"What merit or ability does his family possess to dare to stand shoulder to shoulder with the three most prominent families in the village!"

Liu Mao also showed a hint of disdain as he spoke.

"Does Mr. Liu know the actual amount of land owned by the Song family?"

"It covers an area of ​​approximately 800 mu."

Liu Mao immediately replied without hesitation.

Hearing Liu Mao's quick reply, Zhao Xian turned to look at Liu Mao, his eyes filled with surprise.

Seeing Zhao Xian's expression, Liu Mao smiled helplessly and said, "We truly do not know how much land the three families in the village own!"

"But we all know how much land the wealthy households in the village own!"

"Without such abilities, how could one establish oneself in this village?"

At this point, Liu Mao and the two officials behind him smiled in unison.

"Mr. Chen has repeatedly mentioned that Mr. Liu is shrewd, capable, and meticulous. Now that I have heard this, Bozhang is convinced."

Zhao Xian also spoke from the heart.

Seeing Zhao Xian in the hall today, showing no fear and wielding a ring-handled sword with a chilling killing intent, Liu Mao and the other two were filled with admiration.

Once the conversation started, the three of them talked non-stop, telling Zhao Xian in detail about the situation in the village.

"The wealthy households in the village have assets of over 100,000 coins, and employ anywhere from a few to dozens of servants and laborers. Their land holdings range from over 100 mu to under 1,000 mu."

"Only when a family owns more than a thousand acres and has over a hundred servants and dependents can it be called a major family in the village."

"In the seven pavilions of Wohu Township, there are about thirty wealthy households."

"Among them, only five families owned more than 500 mu of land. These five families were considered the second largest households in Wohu Township, after the three surnames."

"According to past practice, wealthy households in the village often conceal half of their land holdings."

"Wealthy families like the Song family, who have connections with prominent clans in the county, may have concealed more than half of the total amount."

"Then there are wealthy families with no close ties to the household, but less than half of them are hiding."

After they finished speaking, Liu Mao looked at Zhao Xian and said with a smile, "The story of the Song family today will surely spread throughout the countryside."

"At that time, it will be much easier to go to the fields in various pavilions."

"Bo Zhang is about to become famous in the countryside."

In closing, Liu Mao also made a joke.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian waved his hand dismissively, saying that his minor fame was nothing to worry about.

As the sun set, the group returned to their country house.

Liu Mao and the others went to the front yard to eat, while Zhao Xian carried the package and headed towards the back yard.

Upon entering the backyard, Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, and the others sat around under the trees and enjoyed their meal.

Upon seeing Zhao Xian return, the group smiled and looked him up and down.

Wang Congchu, who had just come of age, was only a few years older than Zhao Xian. He ran up to Zhao Xian with a bowl in his hand, twitched his nose a few times, and then turned to look at Zhao Cheng and the other two, laughing, "Oh, why does Ninth Brother still smell of perfume!"

"Could it be that he stayed overnight at the Song family's house last night?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian blushed and immediately grabbed the package and strode forward, leaving the four behind him laughing heartily.

Removing his shoes before entering the room, Zhao Xian's face hardened. He bowed respectfully to the handsome cultivator behind the desk and said, "Having completed the surveying of the fields six miles from Xiangting, Bozhang has come to pay his respects to Lord Chen!"

"This item was presented to Lord Chen by the Song family!"

After saying this, Zhao Xian placed the package on the table and waited respectfully in the hall.

"Bozhang, did you rest well last night?"

Chen Yuancheng didn't even glance at the package, but instead looked up at Zhao Xian with a smile and teased him.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian blushed immediately and stammered for a long time, unable to utter a word.

"Haha, the township administers seven pavilions, and there will be six more in the future."

"Mr. Chen, please entrust the matter of surveying the fields to someone else, as Bozhang may not be able to handle it."

Zhao Xian gave a wry smile and bowed respectfully.

"From what Mr. Cao said, Bozhang's investigation is very thorough and excellent. How could he be incapable of handling the task?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuancheng smiled and asked.

"The wealthy families of the village flattered him obsequiously, and Bozhang feared he might lose control, become addicted, corrupt his conscience, and hinder his spiritual practice!"

Zhao Xian immediately replied in a solemn voice.

Chen Yuancheng nodded slightly, his smile fading, and then said calmly, "It's just some petty tricks of country bumpkins. Bozhang really thinks he can't resist and becomes obsessed with them?"

"If that's the case, Bozhang will then serve diligently in Wohu Township. We've known each other for almost a year, and I can protect Bozhang for the rest of his life."

"Chen Jun~"

After a few moments of silence, Zhao Xian said solemnly again, "In that case, Bozhang will certainly continue to survey the fields and live up to Lord Chen's expectations!"

Zhao Xian bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew.

After chatting with Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, and a few others for a while, Zhao Xian also headed towards the front yard.

After finishing his meal, Zhao Xian returned to his room and placed the small cloth bag in a hidden box under his bed.

Without even opening it, Zhao Xian knew that it contained ten low-grade spirit stones.

Last time, I helped Chen Jun's friend Qi Lian to buy land and houses and recruit Taoist practitioners to work. Afterwards, I sent a servant to deliver three thousand coins.

Spirit stones are precious; even if you exchange three thousand talisman coins for low-grade spirit stones, you'll only get twenty-six.

When measuring the land, Zhao Xian gave Liu Mao and the three officials five coins each, leaving only eleven coins.

Including these ten low-grade spirit stones, there are now twenty-one low-grade spirit stones in the box.

In addition, Zhao Xian had been an official for more than three months, and his monthly salary had already been paid.

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).

Zhao Xian sent all the millet home, but kept the coins for emergencies.

Looking around the house, he saw nothing unusual. Zhao Xian, with a ring-handled sword at his waist, a bow and arrows on his back, stepped out of the village house.

I didn't do my morning exercise today, so I'll make up for it tonight.

"Practice your fist techniques twenty times every day, and you will need to practice your sword techniques twenty times every day as well!"

With these thoughts in mind, Zhao Xian also assumed a fighting stance and began to practice slowly.