The Word Is "Public" (Part 2)

Qi Hongxin nodded when he heard. "That works."

Led by Su Ziji, they turned into the main hall, arriving just as the collection and storage of silver was at its busiest. Ten desks had been set up, with personnel transferred from several government offices handling the work.

"Shi Yunwei." A clerk at one desk called out from the register. The names of those bringing in silver from outside were all recorded.

At the call, a middle-aged man answered and stepped forward.

Qi Hongxin gave him a look. The man wore a dark brown robe, neither new nor worn-out, and did not seem to be a local gentryman. Qi Hongxin hesitated slightly before hearing Su Ziji murmur, "He is one of the men Shi Yunwei brought."

Qi Hongxin understood at once. The gentry could hardly carry several hundred taels of silver themselves; they must have brought attendants or stewards. Sure enough, the middle-aged man shouted, and a young man carried over a box and set it on the desk.

When the clerk opened it, it was filled with silver ingots.

Apparently accustomed to such work, the clerk had someone beside him specially inspect the purity of the silver, while another weighed it. Before long, someone called out, "Purity ninety-eight, weight three hundred and one taels, seven mace."

As the clerk spoke, he entered it in the register, then called again, "Miao Shaolan!"

"This servant is here!" Another attendant stepped forward. With every name called, someone carried gleaming white silver to the registration desk. Once the clerks had inspected it and confirmed that the purity was excellent and the silver was full-weight, they registered it. Another clerk then wrote one to five slips according to the amount of silver paid, crumpled them into paper balls, and stuffed them into a box.

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