Han Anbo frowned, then regained his composure and turned to look at Li Qingxian.
Li Qingxian nodded, and Han Anbo promptly pressed a tael of silver into Xu Changren's hand.
Xu Changren swept his right hand over Han Anbo's, slipping the silver into his sleeve without a trace. He bent his back slightly and said, "Gentlemen, if you need a guide to make your stay in Blessing Town easier, you can come to me anytime. Besides, isn't our meeting the greatest sign of fate?"
"We'll have a look first," Li Qingxian said.
"As you wish!" Xu Changren said.
Xu Changren added, "I know you're all people of distinction. Keeping quiet would benefit me too, but what I must tell you is this: spend as little money as possible here, because money is very, very, very hard to earn, yet especially easy to spend. Banknotes are useless."
"All right." Li Qingxian nodded.
Han Anbo asked, "How much food can one tael of silver buy here?"
Xu Changren said, "That brings us to the situation in Blessing Town. The number of people here fluctuates, and resources are limited, so the Town Yamen has forbidden private trading. All transactions must take place at the Town Market, and every transaction is taxed. Still, don't worry too much. If you have no money, you can work for the Town Yamen. As long as you work, the Town Yamen will provide basic food. You'll only be half full, but you won't starve."
"Can't we grow vegetables or farm ourselves?" Han Anbo asked.
"Every grain of soil and every drop of water here is privately owned. Of course, those owners aren't us, but the major factions that entered before us. For instance, the land belongs to the Seven Families, so this house naturally belongs to them too.