Yunlu County City

Since Dongsheng Town was over ten li from Yunlu County, a long line had already formed ahead of them by the time they arrived. After waiting nearly an hour, it was finally their turn for inspection.

A city guard at the front extended his hand: "Entry fee and Tooth Token."

The Tooth Token served as proof of identity and household registration in the Great Qi Dynasty, and had to be carried when traveling far from home.

Otherwise, if caught by the authorities, one would be deemed a black household—at best, property confiscated and conscription into the army; at worst, imprisonment and being used as a scapegoat for the wealthy.

After checking their Tooth Tokens, the lead guard sized them up and extended his hand: "Dongsheng Town entry fee, twenty copper coins."

"Twenty copper coins? Isn't it ten? I came to Yunlu County last month, and the fee was only ten copper coins."

Hearing this, the guard was about to lose his temper, but when he looked at the speaker, he noticed a resemblance to Captain Wang, the centurion. Seeing that the man's Tooth Token also bore the surname Wang, Wary of offending someone he shouldn't, the guard quickly said, "Since you know the rates, ten coins each it is."

After collecting the fee, the guard registered their information and handed each of them a "Temporary City Entry Token."

The Temporary City Entry Token required them to leave the city before the You Hour; anyone caught lingering in the county at night would be treated as an enemy spy.

With that, the guard clasped his hands toward Wang Meng, signaling they could enter.

Once inside the city, Luo Yi began observing the environment of Yunlu County:

The houses were arranged in neat rows, the streets paved with bluestone, wide and clean. Vendors' stalls lined both sides in orderly fashion, their constant hawking drawing in passersby to buy.

The bustle within the county and the dilapidation outside felt like two different worlds.

Seeing Luo Yi lost in thought, Wang Meng asked, "Xiao Yi, are you coming with us to sell the wolf hides, or do you have other plans?"

Thinking that this was his and his younger sister's first time in the county, and unfamiliar with the place, wandering around with wolf hides looking for buyers would easily catch the eye of troublemakers.

"This is my first time in the county, and I don't know my way around. I'll stick with Uncle Wang and the others."

Wang Meng nodded and led the group to the usual spot where they sold their game and pelts.

"Qipi Collection Shop." Staring at the lavishly decorated storefront, the name struck Luo Yi as odd. Besides animal hides, were there other kinds of pelts? Doubt crept into his mind.

Wang Meng led them inside.

Entering the main hall, Luo Yi noticed that the Qipi Collection Shop had more than one floor—in a corner of the ground level, a staircase led up to the second story.

"Captain Wang graces my humble shop—do you have pelts to sell?" The first-floor manager clearly recognized Wang Meng and greeted him proactively.

After a few pleasantries, Wang Meng opened his pack and pulled out five wolf hides. Luo Yi followed suit, taking out his own.

The manager called over a shop assistant to spread each hide out and hang them on racks inside the store.

He examined them closely, then gently rubbed the fur with his hands.

"These wolf hides are decent quality, but the tanning process is poor—many spots are stiff and not soft enough."

"Except for this one, which is relatively intact, the others have quite a few tears. Fixing them up will be troublesome."

After the manager finished, Wang Meng asked, "Manager Li, what price are you willing to offer for these hides?"

"The best one I can give you twenty-two silver taels. The others, only eighteen taels each."

Hearing the offer, Wang Meng glanced at Luo Yi.

The price exceeded his expectation of twenty taels, so Luo Yi nodded.

Seeing Wang Meng defer to the young man beside him, the manager introduced himself to Luo Yi:

"Young brother, my name is Li Hui, and I'm the first-floor manager here. May I ask your name?"

"Luo Yi. Four fires make Yi."

"An excellent name, young brother—truly excellent. I can tell you're destined for great things."

Seeing the two chatting, Wang Meng didn't interrupt, waiting until they finished.

Wang Meng said, "Manager Li, we'll go with your price."

Li Hui agreed, went into the back room to find the accountant, and returned with twenty-two silver taels for Luo Yi, handing the remaining ninety to Wang Meng.

"From now on, Captain Wang and young brother, if you have any pelts, feel free to sell them here. I guarantee you the highest price in the county."

After selling the wolf hides, they stepped outside the shop.

Wang Meng said to the hunters, "This money was earned with the lives of our brothers who went into the mountains that day. When we get back to the village, we'll split it evenly with the families of the fallen. What do you all think?"

"We'll follow Captain Wang's lead. No objections."

Seeing everyone agree, Wang Meng continued, "I'm going to buy some things for Xiao Yong and your sister-in-law later."

"Since we rarely make it to the county, I'm sure you all want to look around and pick up what you need. Let's part ways here."

They agreed to meet at the city gate during the You Hour, and everyone scattered.

Leading his younger sister through the county streets, Luo Yi took in the dazzling array of shops lining both sides.

Passing a shop called Chen's Cloth Shop, he thought of how his sister always wore the coarse hemp clothes their father had left behind. He pulled Luo Xi inside.

Finding the manager, he bought two sets of coarse cloth clothes for himself and two for his sister.

After buying the clothes, He recalled the first few days after crossing over, when he'd eaten nothing but Black Dough.

After his body recovered, every day was back to millet porridge and smoked meat—his mouth was so bland it felt like a bird might fly out.

He stepped into the grain shop next door and saw a wide variety of goods for sale, priced much cheaper than in town.

He bought two jin of coarse salt, one jin of brown sugar, one jin of white sugar, one jin of spices, and thirty jin of polished rice, spending six taels of silver in total.

Two jin of coarse salt alone cost him three taels of silver.

Luo Yi finally understood why selling smuggled salt in ancient times could get your head chopped off, and why so many people still threw themselves into it.

After buying the food, it was already noon. He took his younger sister to a stall in the market, ordered some snacks and two bowls of braised pork noodles.

After lunch, thinking about the rundown house in Dongsheng Town, he decided to first check the prices of houses in the county seat.

Just as the two were about to get up, a commotion broke out not far away.

"Twenty coppers for the stall fee. If you don't pay, get lost—don't set up here." As the man spoke, he waved his hand, and a group of runners behind him fanned out, heading to each stall to collect the fee.

Stall owners who paid the fee could keep selling; those who didn't got a beating from the runners, and their whole stall was overturned and tossed to the roadside.

Luo Yi recognized the leading runner—it was Qin Feng, the one who had taken men to Wang Meng's place that day.

To avoid trouble finding him, Luo Yi tossed twenty coppers on the table and led his sister out of the market.

They found a house broker in the county seat.

He learned that in Yunlu County, even the most ordinary house cost at least two hundred taels of silver.

Right now, he had only about one hundred and twenty taels in total.

Considering he also needed to buy tonic medicine for martial arts training, he temporarily shelved the idea of moving to the county seat.

He glanced at the sky—it was almost time for the meeting with Wang Meng and the others. The two headed toward the city gate.