A Grand Display

Leaving behind Lin Songbao, who had changed his life, Liang Qu returned home, took all his savings, and rode up Red Mountain to the largest market in Ping Yang County.

"Take a look, have a look! Porcelain from the Imperial Capital! Buying it will make you look really prestigious!"

"Butcher milk, butter milk with brown sugar!"

"Yun brocade, the finest Yun brocade, let's buy it and make a dress for Madam."

At the market, Liang Qu weaved through the crowd, holding Red Mountain's hand, with two porters following behind.

For just three copper coins, you can hire a strong man to carry various things for an hour; for two more coins, he can deliver them to the employer's home.

In the original Ping Yang Town, such a profession would never have appeared, or would have been very rare.

The truly wealthy families all had servants to do the purchasing, while the poor were unwilling to spend the money. Only slightly better-off families would use it, as doing this kind of work would lead to starvation.

With a large enough population nowadays, there's a considerable market. If you're observant, you can earn dozens of dollars a day.

Of course, most of them are part-time jobs. For example, fishermen would come over in the afternoon after fishing at night to earn a few copper coins.

"Wrap up those wooden clogs for me."

"This mirror is nice, I'll take it."

Liang Qu picked up a large mirror that was about half his height. It was clean and bright, and he was very satisfied.

Copper mirrors are actually copper- Xihe, with a higher proportion of tin. After polishing, they transmit light just like glass mirrors, reflecting people clearly with virtually no color difference. They are definitely not brass-colored.

However, after a period of time, the mirrors will oxidize and become foggy, requiring further polishing. Therefore, there is a profession called mirror polisher, who goes from street to street polishing mirrors. It is a dangerous job because the special mirror polishing solution contains mercury.

It can be said that, apart from the difference in durability, it is almost identical to mirrors of later generations.

Liang Qu strolled through the market and various shops, purchasing a great many items.

Mosquito coils, fire starters, flint and steel, brooms, winnowing baskets, raw lacquer, wood wax oil, carpets, toilet bowls, charcoal, bath tubs, toilet paper, pillows, screens, lamps, spices, sesame oil, lamp oil, and brass locks—this is life.

If you want to live a convenient and comfortable life, you can't do without all sorts of miscellaneous things.

After buying the items, Liang Qu had the two men deliver them to his residence. He also planned to visit the local brokerage firm in the county to buy some large furniture and hire a few servants.

A brokerage firm is essentially an intermediary. If you need to buy large items or hire servants, it's best to go through a brokerage firm. Although it's more expensive, it's equivalent to having a third-party guarantee.

"One person should cook, and the cooking must be delicious; the other should clean and do laundry. They should be honest, quick, and efficient. I don't want anyone who has been rejected before."

"May I ask where you live, sir? How much land do you own? Would you mind if multiple people shared the job?"

"The Liang Residence Yi Xing Town is a three-courtyard house, covering an area of 2.2 mu. It has a stable, and we welcome sharing the property."

The so-called "multiple employees" means that one woman takes care of more than two families, washing clothes at one family's house in the morning and at another family's house in the afternoon.

As for the area occupied, the wages will be calculated based on the size of the land.

Asking about the local area is also necessary. When hiring, locals are preferred, as they have families here and you can work with more peace of mind.

Originally, Liang Qu needed a groom to tend the horses, but Yang Dongxiong helped solve that problem.

His family had three grooms, one of whom had a son who was only thirteen years old. This son was a good match for him as a stable boy, and the groom was paid a monthly wage.

Liang Qu readily agreed, as being a groom was a very important job, and it was necessary to find a reliable person, usually a domesticated man.

Ya acted swiftly, with the candidates already in mind. He quickly found someone who met Liang Qu's requirements and showed him the information.

Liang Qu glanced through the list and selected four for interviews. It was almost an hour later before the interviews were finalized.

Both old women were originally from Yi Xing City. Liang Qu looked familiar, but he couldn't recall their names. Together they earned 800 coins a month, which was acceptable.

The two old women were also very happy to see that Liang Qu had hired them.

Everyone knows Liang Qu's name. He became a master at a young age, and he is destined to rise to great heights in the future!

Most importantly, Liang Qu had a good reputation. The things he did back then, one by one, were all well-known and highly praised.

In the dead of winter, they not only provide meals but also pay wages for working there!

Where can you find customers like this?

Employers choose their servants, and servants choose their employers.

The biggest fear for domestic workers like them is that their employers have someone in their household who likes to haggle over every little thing. Even if they agree that you're only going to cook, they might insist on including chopping wood as part of your job and not pay you extra. Sometimes, not only will they not pay you extra, but they might even scold you and deduct dozens of coins from your pay! Who could stand that?

Liang Qu was the best among all the employers he could find.

He is generous and kind, has a small family, and doesn't cause many problems.

Having decided on the person, Liang Qu took out two keys from his pocket.

There are many entrances to the three-courtyard complex, but he wouldn't give out the key to the main gate; he would give out the key to the side door instead.

"I bought some things and have already sent them to my home. You two can go and help me tidy up the place and the stove so we can prepare dinner."

They were both from the same town and knew the location of Liang Qu's new home. After receiving the keys, they went back to work.

With his wallet empty, Liang Qu declined the maid recommended by the broker and walked out of the brokerage shop, where he heard cheers from the people on the roadside.

Liang Qu looked outside, his face showing surprise.

What a magnificent carriage! Three enormous horses, each four meters tall, galloped like mountains from the end of the street.

With each step, his muscles rippled like water, and long plumes of white steam billowed from his nostrils, steadily pulling the carriage, which resembled a grand mansion.

Fortunately, the street was wide enough, otherwise the large carriage would not have been able to get in at all.

Liang Qu estimated that the carriage was at least eighty square meters, with three undulating roofs and surrounding canopies swaying in the wind.

Even the wheels underneath are half a meter wide, four on each side, designed to bear enormous weight, leaving no trace on the ground.

Ordinary wood simply cannot be used to make the axle of this vehicle; even the wood used to make it must be extraordinary.

A four-meter-tall, mountain-like horse moved to the entrance of the brokerage firm, and a faint scent of incense wafted from its carriage.

Upon closer inspection, the chariot appears even more imposing.

Compared to this horse, Liang Qu's Red Mountain looks like a chick; its broad back is so thick that you could sit cross-legged on it.

What kind of horse is that?

"Replying to Lord Liang, if I am not mistaken, those should be the most slender of the Qing Province Valiant Blood Steed, all over ten feet tall. Their broad backs make them unsuitable for riding and only suitable for use as draft horses."

"Qingzhou horse?"

Liang Qu immediately thought of Jian Zhongyi, the County Magistrate of Ping Yang County whom Xu Yuelong had once mentioned to him!

He was born into the prominent Jian Family Aristocratic Clan Qingzhou.

Is the man inside the carriage County Magistrate Jian?

Such a grand display?

The brokers nearby also speculated. "The officials from the River Conservancy Office Demon Subduing Division have all come. The Three Laws Department Offices should also have an office, but they wouldn't come with such a grand display. Perhaps it's the County Magistrate magistrate who has arrived."

Judging from his appearance, he must be an important figure in that family. I've been to many places, but I've never seen such a large carriage.

Not to mention the brokerage firm, even Liang Qu himself had never heard of anyone being able to build such a large carriage.

Materials truly change lives.

This world has Treasure Wood and materials; as long as you have enough money, you can get any material with any strength.

Such a carriage, which would probably not be able to withstand the pressure of the axle even with ordinary iron bars, can run stably here, showing its exceptional sturdiness.

What could Jian Zhongyi be doing inside such a large carriage?