The Old Town Mayor

Box Town's Town Mayor's residence was a single-story building in an antique style.

It had red walls and green tiles, with a spacious private courtyard. It stood on higher ground in the town, and there was pleasant greenery both inside and outside the courtyard, including many green bamboo plants. There was even an artificial water channel and pond in the courtyard. Just looking at it made one feel refreshed.

Above the courtyard gate hung a gilded plaque bearing four large characters: "No Taxes on Water." Three hundred years ago, during Box Town's most prosperous period, a virtuous senior monk from the Temple had personally consecrated it, blessing the Town with everlasting prosperity and its leaders with integrity and service to the people.

Box Town was deep in the mountains and had always been particularly isolated. The so-called Town Mayor's position had been passed down through the same lineage: after each Town Mayor stepped down, the most outstanding of his children would take over.

In theory, such a system was bound to cause problems with administration, but in reality, over the centuries, there had been no major issues. Box Town had seen its ups and downs, but no major upheavals.

Perhaps it was because the Town Mayor only handled matters concerning Box Town's daily life and development, and had no authority over the Security Post or any direct connection to it.

If there were serious problems with the system the Town had in place, the Security Post would communicate and negotiate with them.

Inside the Town Mayor's residence, a place usually so peaceful, an argument could be heard today.

"Father, you're just an old fossil!"

"The Town isn't even rich. Why spend so much money on the Ghost Festival Celebration?"

"What good can it possibly do for our Town?"

"This kind