The houses in Tuhe City had originally been brick-and-timber structures, though most had fallen into disrepair. Over the past few years, every house in the city had been renovated. There were even professional youth construction teams that built heated kang beds and heated walls for the homes. There were cooking stoves and furnaces. Though there was no central heating, the heated walls served as a substitute to some extent. In winter, coal burned inside the homes, black smoke rose from the chimneys, and large double-paned windows kept the interiors warm and comfortable.
Guo Jia entered the courtyard and stepped inside, surveying the furnishings. Tables, chairs, benches, pots, bowls, ladles—everything was there. There was also a writing desk indoors, complete with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Beside it stood a custom-built wooden shelf for books and ornaments.
Sunlight streamed in from outside, making the room exceptionally bright. At night, there were candles for illumination as well. The room could not be called clean, with a layer of dust still settled over it; sweeping, washing, and tidying would have to be done personally. A new blue quilt lay on the kang bed, wrapped in coarse linen, clearly delivered only recently.
As more people came to join them, a proper onboarding process had naturally been established.
The clerk walked over, picked up a stiff paper envelope from the table, and drew out a stack of General's Money. "Sir, this is an advance on your salary, to be used for settling in and purchasing necessities. Shortly, people from the post station will deliver all your belongings. Please settle in today. After the hour of the dragon tomorrow, someone will come to assign you a post. You will also be given a horse to make travel easier."
After explaining all this, he took Guo Jia