An Astronomical Compensation and a Small Fine

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his entourage were speechless, exchanging glances.

Zhang Shuo his hand and said, "Ahem, excuse me, I broke a TV."

Seeing that Zhang Shuo had already spoken, Wang Gonggong immediately stepped forward and said, "I broke something, but I don't know what it is?"

"That's right. You broke a TV and a sex toy vending machine, worth a total of 500 taels of silver. Because you broke them, you'll be fined ten times that, which is 5,000 taels of silver. So, how about you pay—by scanning a QR code or cash?"

Sister Wang handed over a QR code sign and asked.

"What? You heartless shopkeeper! Didn't you say the original price was 500 taels? We can understand that. But you're asking for 5,000 taels! This is robbery!"

Zhang Shuo unhappy, after all, he had been the one paying for everything along the way, and he didn't know how many hundreds of taels he had spent so far.

These days, breaking something can cost so much.

It's a bit expensive, but as the prime minister of a country, he can afford it.

But to impose a fine of 10 times the amount? That's outrageous!

"Ahem, gentlemen, these are clearly marked prices in our shop. Look, it says here that we'll compensate ten times the price for any damaged items!"

Sister Wang pointed to the sign next to her and said.

Upon inspection, everyone saw that it indeed stated that anyone who damaged any item would have to pay ten times the amount in compensation.

"Hmph, I don't care, I'm only paying 500 taels. Go ahead and take me to the yamen if you dare!"

Zhang Shuo because he had spent so much money, he had completely forgotten that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was still alive.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang shook his head helplessly, after all, Zhang Shuo had paid for everything along the way.

Since Wang Gonggong had also damaged the sex toy vending machine, he shouted, "Fine, we broke it, we admit it, but we'll pay the original price. You decide what to do!"

At this point, Sister Wang said with a dejected look, "Alright, alright, I guess I'm just unlucky. If it weren't for Zhang Mazi's sake, I would have called the police. Fine, here's the 500 taels of silver!"

Finally, Zhang Shuo's lips twitched, and he took out five silver notes from his wallet, each with a face value of 100.

Although he took it out, Zhang Shuo he didn't hand it over for a long time.

Seeing this, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang of Tang could not stand it any longer and directly took out a silver note with a face value of 500 taels.

"Come on, ma'am, thank you for going easy on me!"

The proprietress took the silver notes, then looked at Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and said, "Hmph, you're smart to know your place. Leave now; our shop will never welcome you again."

And so, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his entourage were driven out by Sister Wang.

"Hmph, they swindled so much money from us and still act so self-righteous. Your Majesty, I think Qin Hao, Lord Qin, should be thoroughly investigated."

Zhang Shuo with a resentful expression.

"Alright, we've already spent so much money just since we arrived. Let's not rush things, let's observe for a while first."

"Besides, their rooms are really nice. Last night I... slept very well. Let's go, let's stroll around the streets of Taoyuan County!"

As they spoke, the group walked towards the street.

The streets were bustling with people, but unlike Chang'an City, everyone was riding two-wheeled vehicles.

Some people were wearing yellow clothes with the four large black characters "Taoyuan Takeout" written on them.

"Hey, there's a restaurant up ahead! It smells so good, I'm starving!"

Princess Yuzhen pointed to a tall building in front of her and said.

"Haidilao!"

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang said.

So, the group arrived at the traffic light intersection, and while the light was still red, they decided to cross.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing? Can't you see it's a red light? Come on, run the red light! It'll be a fine of 10 copper coins for everyone!"

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his entourage were stunned, not because of the fine.

It was because the fine was so cheap, only 10 copper coins.

At this moment, Zhang Shuo without saying a word, he took out one or two taels of silver and handed it to the old woman wearing a volunteer's uniform.

"Hey, hey, hey, can't you understand human language? Running a red light is a fine of 10 copper coins per person, that's 50 copper coins for the five of you, 50 copper coins, not one tael of silver!"

Zhang Shuo looked at the one tael of silver in his hand and his lips twitched.

Since arriving in Taoyuan County yesterday, I've spent a fortune on it.

But now, even though I don't know why I'm being fined 50 copper coins, wouldn't it be better to pay an extra tael of silver? And yet I still got scolded.

"Hmph, you suddenly brought up fines and then asked for money. I didn't pursue it and even gave you a tael of silver. You still think it's too much? Fine, I won't give you any today!"

Zhang Shuo he was really angry. He was scolded for giving too little before, and he was still scolded for giving too much now.

Because he was speaking too loudly, he immediately attracted the attention of the people around him.

"Oh no, are you all visiting Taoyuan County for the first time? You can't run a red light, or you'll be fined 10 copper coins. That's the county magistrate's rule. This lady is a volunteer, so we can't charge her more, or she'll go to jail."

At this moment, an old man kindly explained to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his entourage.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang became interested upon hearing this, wondering how Qin Hao had managed to govern the county so well. In just one year, not only had the county changed dramatically, but the residents had also become so law-abiding.

"Grandpa, why is there such a rule? It's like robbery—fining people and demanding money for no reason!"

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang asked.

"Hey young man, you don't understand! Look carefully, the light is red, and there are cars coming and going. If you go up now, you'll get hit by a car. The fine is to protect your life, understand?"

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his entourage looked around the street and, sure enough, there was no one walking on it, only carriages, just like the many Great Tang Travel they had ridden in the day before.

"Well, it is indeed a bit dangerous to go over there now, but can't cars just let people pass?"

The light turned green just after I said that.

The old man said, "Look, the light is green now, we can go!"

As he spoke, the old man and many onlookers all started crossing the road.

The volunteer woman then yelled, "What's wrong? You can't even pay 50 copper coins? I'm calling the police!"

At this moment, Liu Shuai, a palace guard, immediately took out 50 copper coins and handed them to the old woman, thus ending the matter.

Then I crossed the street and arrived at the Haidilao restaurant on the other side.

"Oh my god, how come this door rotates to enter? This is so much fun!"

Princess Yuzhen was pushing the revolving door back and forth at the restaurant entrance like a child.

At that moment, the welcoming staff at the door immediately came forward.

Welcome! Please come in, everyone!

I must say, this service was simply amazing, absolutely impeccable.

"I..."

Before Emperor Xuanzong of Tang could finish speaking, another pretty waitress approached and asked, "Sir, how many of you are there?"

And so, after a series of arrangements, the group arrived at a private room.

This private room is very spacious and luxuriously decorated.

There is also a huge floor-to-ceiling window with a clear view of the street outside.