SFS Chapter 6: First Entry into the County Town, the Wang Family Blocks the Road
Chapter 6: First Entry into the County Town, the Wang Family Blocks the Road
The morning mist had not yet dissipated.
Three oxcarts slowly descended the mountain road, their wheels making a dull thud as they rolled over the gravel.
Each vehicle was covered with a thick cloth and filled with the Qingyu Spirit Rice that had been sealed up the night before.
More than ten guards from the Li family stood on either side, weapons at their waists, their expressions wary.
At the very front, Li Yuanlie carried a knife and walked at the head of the group. Every two steps he would turn back to look at the vehicle, as if afraid that someone would steal a single grain of rice.
Beside the last car, Li Yuanshan held the account book, looking nervous, and kept muttering to himself.
"Travel expenses: thirty spirit coins..."
"Sixteen spirit coins for the guards' provisions..."
"If we can't sell them today, we'll lose at least forty-six spirit coins..."
Li Yuanlie, annoyed by what he heard, turned and cursed:
"Can you shut up?"
Li Yuanshan spoke with righteous indignation.
"What do you know?"
"I'm managing the risks."
"What's the difference between doing business without accounting and suicide?"
Li Yuanlie sneered.
"If you read it again, I'll make you lose the cost of your coffin right now."
Li Yuanshan's face turned pale, and he quickly hid behind Li Xuan.
⸻
Li Xuan rode a thin horse, his expression calm.
Qingyun County is the place that the Li family has become both most familiar with and most unfamiliar with over the years.
It's familiar because Lingmi comes here to sell every year.
The feeling of unfamiliarity stems from the fact that, over the years, every time the Li family came to the county town, they were almost always suppressed by the Wang family.
Price suppression, delayed payments, commission-based practices, and obstruction of payment.
Every time the Li family came to the city, it was as if they were begging for food.
But today is different.
Today, I'm here to overturn the table.
⸻
Half an hour later.
The city wall of Qingyun County came into view at the edge of the horizon.
The wall, built of bluestone and about three zhang high, may not be considered magnificent, but it is the most prosperous place within a hundred li radius.
People were constantly coming and going at the city gate.
Caravans, independent cultivators, and ordinary vendors mingled among them, creating a constant commotion.
On both sides of the city gate, there were county guards wearing leather armor, all of whom were elite ordinary people who had practiced martial arts.
Occasionally, one can see Qi Refining cultivators swaggering into the city, drawing awe and respect from onlookers.
Looking at the city gate, Li Yuanshan couldn't help but sigh.
"Every time I come to the county town, I feel like this place is a money-devouring beast."
Li Yuanlie scoffed.
"You feel like you're being ripped off wherever you go."
Li Yuanshan rolled his eyes.
That's because you're not making money.
⸻
The Li family's convoy was stopped as soon as it reached the city gate.
A tall, thin tax collector walked slowly over, his gaze sweeping over the caravan before finally settling on the cloth bags on the carts.
"goods?"
Li Yuanshan immediately stepped forward with a forced smile.
"Lingmi, a small business."
The tax collector reached out to stop him, his expression indifferent.
"The county has a new regulation that will impose an additional 10% tax on grain and goods entering the city."
Li Yuanshan's expression changed instantly.
"One-tenth?!"
"It was three points last month!"
The tax collector shrugged.
"The price has started to rise today."
Li Yuanshan was so angry he was trembling.
"You're robbing me!"
The tax collector sneered.
"Come in or don't come in, it's up to you."
⸻
Li Yuanlie's eyes turned cold, and his hand was already on his knife.
"I killed him."
The tax collector's face turned pale instantly, and he took two steps back.
"You dare to make a move at the city gate?!"
The surrounding county guards also turned to look, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Li Xuan raised his hand to stop Li Yuanlie, his gaze sweeping over a wooden plaque at the tax collector's waist.
On the corner of the wooden sign, a small character "王" (king) is carved.
He immediately understood.
The Wang family's influence is swift enough.
The Li family had a good harvest last night, so taxes will be levied at the city gates today.
It seems the Wang family is even more anxious than he thought.
⸻
Li Xuan dismounted and walked up to the tax collector.
"Raise taxes, fine."
The tax collector was taken aback, not expecting Li Xuan to agree so readily.
Li Yuanshan was so anxious he was jumping up and down.
"Young clan leader! Ten percent tax!"
Li Xuan, however, remained calm.
"However, I also have a rule."
"What are the rules?"
"I need to get a receipt for paying taxes."
The tax collector frowned.
"What receipt?"
"Write clearly who imposed the tax today, how much it was, and which county magistrate was responsible."
Li Xuan looked at him indifferently.
"Without a written document, it is an unauthorized tax collection."
The tax collector's expression changed slightly.
Although Qingyun County is small, it has its own rules.
If the illegal collection of taxes were to reach the county government, although the county magistrate would mostly side with the Wang family, it would ultimately not look good on the surface.
He was only trying to disgust the Li family on behalf of the Wang family, but he didn't want to actually take the blame.
"you……"
The tax collector gritted his teeth for a long time before finally letting out a cold snort.
"You're lucky today, go in!"
Li Yuanshan was so happy he almost jumped for joy.
"Young clan leader is wise!"
Li Yuanlie curled his lip.
"It's easier for me to just cut it once."
⸻
Upon entering the city, the streets immediately became lively.
Shops lined both sides of the street, and vendors' calls filled the air.
The store has everything: medicine shops, weapon shops, spiritual material shops, inns, and restaurants.
Many ordinary people bowed and made way for the cultivators when they saw them for the first time.
Li Yuanlie walked with his chest out and head held high, exuding a powerful and vigorous aura.
Li Yuanshan said disdainfully:
"You're like a monkey that's just come into the mountains."
Li Yuanlie angrily said:
"You're like a rat stealing the ledger."
The two looked like they were about to start arguing again.
Li Xuan ignored them and led his team directly to the East Market.
That place is the largest grain market in Qingyun County.
It's also Wang family territory.
⸻
Even before we got close, we could hear shouts from afar.
"Wang Family's Premium Spirit Rice, Special Price Today!"
Buy ten pounds, get one pound free!
"Essential for Qi Refining cultivators; best for restoring spiritual energy!"
In the center of the grain market, a three-story shop hangs a golden signboard:
Wang's Grain Store
The storefront is bustling with people; business is booming.
The dozen or so workers were so busy they barely had time to breathe.
There were also two Qi Refining Level 2 guards standing at the entrance, looking quite imposing.
Li Yuanshan's face was grim.
"The Wang family controls 70% of the grain transport routes in the entire county."
"When we used to come here to sell rice, we could only sell to them, and then they would lower the price and resell it."
Li Yuanlie gripped the hilt of his knife tightly.
"Then let's tear this shop down today."
Li Xuan shook his head.
"Demolishing the store is pointless."
"It hurts when they steal their customers."
⸻
Just then, a middle-aged man in brocade robes walked out of the grain store.
This person has a round face and narrow eyes, and a friendly smile, yet he exudes shrewdness.
It was Wang Fu, the manager of the Wang family's grain store.
He spotted the Li family's convoy at a glance and immediately greeted them with a smile.
"Oh, isn't this a friend of the Li family?"
I was very worried when I heard that your ancestral home caught fire last night.
Li Yuanshan was so angry he wanted to grind his teeth.
That old fox, knowing full well it belongs to Wang Jiaqian, is still pretending to be a good person.
Wang Fu glanced at the cargo bags on the truck and feigned surprise.
"Are you here to sell grain?"
"Tsk tsk, what a pity."
"Grain prices in the county have just dropped; ordinary spirit rice is now only worth fifteen spirit coins per pound."
Li Yuanshan exclaimed in disbelief:
"fifteen?!"
"It was thirty a few days ago!"
Wang Fu sighed.
"That's just how the market is; there's nothing I can do about it."
He then added with a smile:
"However, considering our past relationship, I can accept your goods."
"Twelve spirit coins per pound"
Li Yuanshan almost vomited blood.
This is outright robbery.
⸻
Many shopkeepers in the vicinity were secretly watching the spectacle.
Everyone knows that the Wang family is suppressing the Li family.
But no one dared to speak.
Wang Fu was secretly pleased.
So what if you have the goods?
In Qingyun County, without the Wang family's approval, who would dare to buy grain from the Li family?
If the Li family doesn't back down, they'll just rot in the car.
⸻
Li Yuanlie had already pulled the knife out half an inch.
"Young clan leader, I really can't take it anymore."
Li Xuan suddenly laughed.
"Manager Wang is right."
Wang Fu was taken aback.
"Oh?"
Li Xuan nodded.
"The market has indeed changed."
"Therefore, we do not sell regular Spirit Rice."
After saying that, he raised his hand and lifted the thick cloth on the car.
Sunlight streamed down.
Bags of Qingyu Lingmi (a type of rice) were revealed.
The rice grains are crystal clear and plump, like jade and pearls, with a faint bluish-green luster.
A faint, ethereal fragrance instantly wafted through the air.
Passersby were all taken aback and subconsciously gasped.
"What kind of rice is this?"
"It smells so good!"
"The spiritual energy is far superior to that of the Wang family!"
Even Wang Fu's smile froze.
Having worked in the grain trade for over a decade, he could tell at a glance—
This is no ordinary item.
Li Xuan looked at him calmly.
"Your rice sells for fifteen spirit coins."
"My family's—"
He pointed to the empty space on the side of the street.
"Sell it myself."
"Moreover, it costs thirty spirit coins per tael."
The entire room fell silent instantly.
One jin and ten liang.
Thirty spirit coins per tael?
That's three hundred spirit coins per pound!
Are you crazy?!
Li Yuanshan's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.
Wang Fu was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Are you crazy?!"
"At this price, even a dog wouldn't buy it!"
People around them were also talking about it.
But Li Xuan's expression remained unchanged, and he only spoke calmly:
"Yuanshan, support the pot."
Li Yuanshan was dumbfounded.
"what?"
"Cook rice."
"……oh!"
Soon, the Li family guards set up a pot and started a fire in the street.
Add the jade rice to the pot and let the water boil.
Before long, an unprecedented aroma of rice wafted along the entire East Market.
The people queuing outside Wang's Grain Store all turned their heads.
The air suddenly fell silent.
Li Xuan stood beside the pot, his gaze indifferent.
"Whether to buy or not, smell it first and then decide."
The smile on Wang Fu's face slowly disappeared.
End of Chapter Six