Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Arrival at Qingzhou Prefecture
Ren Zhong didn’t respond to Ren Zi’an’s words, but looked at Meng Yao, saying, "In a few days, when I’m on a break, I have to go to Qingzhou Prefecture."
"This is my name card, take it with you. I have friends in Qingzhou Prefecture, though they’re not officials, they have status there." Ren Zhong handed the card to Meng Yao. "Of course, I hope you won’t need it."
"Thank you, brother-in-law." Meng Yao accepted the card.
"Safe travels, if anything happens, don’t try to handle it alone." Ren Zhong reminded once more.
"Rest assured, brother-in-law, I’m not one to show off." Meng Yao replied.
"I know you’re quite capable, so if He Yan finds you and needs help, I hope you can assist him, provided your own safety is ensured." Ren Zhong added.
"Alright." Meng Yao agreed.
Without Ren Zhong’s request, if He Yan found her and needed help, she would certainly give it her all.
After all, she still had He Yan’s belongings with her, and she had to return them, didn’t she?
Apu held Ren Zi’an’s hand and followed the carriage, escorting Meng Yao out of the city. After another emotional farewell, Meng Yao’s group finally set off.
Two days later.
Meng Yao looked at the thick city walls, the grand city gate, with the three gold-gilded characters of Qingzhou Prefecture hanging above.
At the city gate stood the garrison soldiers, and two long queues formed as people presented travel permits and entry fees to enter the city.
Within Qingzhou Prefecture’s jurisdiction, the entry fee was two copper coins.
Outside Qingzhou Prefecture’s jurisdiction, the entry fee was three copper coins.
For their group of five, the entry fee was ten copper coins.
Someone ahead complained about the unreasonable entry fee, and was promptly driven away by the soldiers.
"Why do we have to pay to enter the city?" Zhao Xiaoshu was quite puzzled, "Mother, are the officials in Qingzhou Prefecture not good ones?"
Even though Zhao Xiaoshu spoke softly, his words nonetheless caught the attention of the soldiers.
Meng Yao quickly spoke up, "Xiaoshu, you mustn’t just look at the surface of things. You cannot judge whether an official is good or bad just by whether they collect entry fees!
Consider the city walls of Qingzhou Prefecture; through the years, with wind, sun, and rain, the blue bricks get damaged. Repairing the city walls each year costs a large amount of silver.
Also, the roads within the city are paved with bluestone; if they’re cracked, they need replacing, right?"
The approaching soldier, hearing Meng Yao’s explanation, was intrigued rather than scolding, and listened to what she had to say next.
"So this entry fee is used to repair the city walls and roads?" Zhao Xiaoshu realized.
"Correct." Meng Yao said with a smile.
Ultimately, no one knows for sure what the fees are actually used for, but for now, that’s what she chose to say.
This young lad, while smart, lacked experience. With the wrong explanation, they might have ended up on an unwanted tour of the prison.
"Madam seems quite understanding." The soldier, who appeared to be in charge, spoke up, glancing at Zhao Xiaoshu, "Boy, you should learn more from your mother."
Meng Yao handed over the travel papers while also passing the entry fee for five to the soldier in charge. Underneath the travel papers was a purse containing broken silver—enough for their group to enter the city multiple times.
"You’ve worked hard, officer. The child’s words were not meant as an affront to the man in charge. Please see it clearly." Meng Yao said with a polite expression.
"Since he’s just a child, we certainly won’t hold it against him. However, madam should teach him well. After all, trouble can come from the mouth." The soldier in charge said.
"Thank you for your advice, officer." Meng Yao said.
"Officer, it’s this boy who’s been shortsighted. Thank you for overlooking it, officer." Zhao Xiaoshu, never one to be unreasonable, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"Oh, I didn’t notice you’re quite a learned one. Well, knowing one’s fault and correcting it is of great value." The soldier in charge said cheerfully, "Alright, you can go into the city."
Meng Yao thanked him again, finally leading the carriage into the city.
"Mother, did I cause trouble?" Zhao Xiaoshu asked, a bit anxious.
"What the officer said was quite right; trouble can come from the mouth. Fortunately, he didn’t hold it against us. If he had, we surely would be in deep trouble." Meng Yao said seriously, "Not just Xiaoshu, Xiaohua, Wen Nuan, you should remember too: trouble can come from the mouth. When you’re about to speak, think it over. If something shouldn’t be said, bite your tongue and don’t say a word."
Meng Yao’s tone was stern, prompting the three to nod earnestly.
"Let’s go. Your second brother sent a message back earlier; he’s rented a place in Qingzhou Prefecture. We’ll go straight there." Meng Yao said.
Following the address given by Zhao Dahe, Meng Yao soon found the place.
Knocking on the door, she was greeted by a stranger-looking scholar.
Meng Yao identified herself and asked if Zhao Dahe was there. Upon hearing she was Zhao Dahe’s mother, the scholar immediately changed his cold demeanor to a broad smile, "Zhao Auntie is here. I also have the surname Zhao, called Zhao Qing, from Wuhe County. Auntie, please come in, I’ll send my Attendant Student to find him and bring him back."
Entering the house, she found that the seemingly ordinary exterior concealed a very elegant interior.
Moreover, the house was quite large.
My goodness, for a place like this, Meng Yao thought, the rent must be at least ten silver a month?
Before coming to Qingzhou Prefecture, Zhao Dahe took fifty silvers from Meng Yao.
It seemed a lot, but it was for both his and Qin Zheng’s living expenses. Moreover, after arriving in Qingzhou, he was bound to socialize with people. For such a house, it’s usually required to first pay a deposit equivalent to three months’ rent.
Unexpectedly, this boy knew how to enjoy life.
Meng Yao remained composed, already having coaxed information from Zhao Qing by the time she reached the living room; it was a place with three entrances and fifteen scholars living there.
Each person’s monthly rent was one and a half silvers, including meals.
Breakfast consisted of rice porridge, egg soup, and buns. Lunch was rice, steamed bread, two vegetarian dishes, and one meat dish. Dinner was buns or steamed bread with rice plus one vegetable dish.
Meng Yao roughly calculated, after all expenses, Zhao Dahe could earn at least five silvers a month.
Suddenly, Meng Yao didn’t know what to say.
At least, judging by Zhao Qing’s enthusiasm, his charges for Zhao Dahe seemed reasonable.
Soon, Zhao Dahe, Qin Zheng, Wen Shu, and Yue Sihai returned.
Seeing Meng Yao, Zhao Dahe was delighted, as he hadn’t known she would be coming.
"Mother, what brings you here?"
"Second brother, Mother couldn’t stop worrying about you, so she brought us all here." Zhao Xiaohua said.
"What about elder brother and sister-in-law?" Zhao Dahe asked.
Meng Yao was pleased that Zhao Dahe asked, as it showed he truly considered Zhao Dajiang and Song Xiu’er family.
"They are at home watching over the house; we can’t all come here and leave the house, can we?" Meng Yao replied.
"That’s true." Zhao Dahe nodded, "Mother, Master, let me take you to settle in first."
"Do we have a place to stay?" Meng Yao asked.
"We do, the courtyard at the back is still empty." Zhao Dahe said, "Though it’s small, the view is the best in this house, Mother will surely like it."