Royal Gold Magistrate

“I never expected the atmosphere in Banshan District to be even better than in the Inner City.”

A Hanlin scholar beside Yang Yingcai couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

But he quickly realized his misstep and lowered his head.

Wasn’t this just boosting others’ morale while deflating their own?

Yang Yingcai also sighed helplessly. Indeed, it was true… but could anyone really achieve such perfection?

Naturally, Yang Yingcai wasn’t one to believe in the impossible. The group continued forward.

After just a few steps, they felt pain in their legs. Conveniently, there was a tea stall nearby with a few scholars seated inside.

The tea stall obviously couldn’t accommodate too many people.

Yang Yingcai and his group split up again into several smaller groups to look around.

After sitting down, a waiter enthusiastically brought a pot of tea.

Yang Yingcai stared at the hot tea, lost in thought, unsure of what was on his mind.

Suddenly, the waiter appeared again, placing a plate of sunflower seeds on the table.

Yang Yingcai exclaimed in surprise, “We didn’t order this.”

The waiter smiled slightly, “This is complimentary for you gentlemen. Don’t worry, it’s free, please enjoy.”

“Uh… why are you giving us this? Do you recognize us?”

Yang Yingcai perked up!

Aha, I’ve finally found a flaw!

Someone’s trying to curry favor, and a plate of sunflower seeds exposes your true colors!

The waiter looked confused at Yang Yingcai’s attitude and explained, “Master, you’ve misunderstood. How could I possibly know you?”

“We give a plate of sunflower seeds to every table. If you don’t believe me, take a look around.”

Yang Yingcai and his companions looked at the other tables, and indeed, every table had a small plate of sunflower seeds.

Instantly, he wavered again and asked, “Why give them away for free? Don’t these sunflower seeds cost you anything?”

The waiter replied, “Master, you must not know. You must be new to our Banshan District.”

“The competition among tea stalls in the district is fierce now, so this is a special service we’ve introduced to attract customers.”

“Not only that, but our tea is also a few coins cheaper than in other districts.”

“At ordinary tea stalls, a pot of tea would cost around 15 coins, but here it’s only 12 coins, and we give free sunflower seeds.”

“Although it seems we’re making less profit, Banshan District is different from other places. Our security is good, and no one comes asking for protection money. With more customers, we actually earn more than before.”

“So, you see, we focus on reputation and steady business. If you enjoy it, you’ll come back next time, won’t you?”

Yang Yingcai pointed at the waiter in amazement, “My! You seem to know quite a lot for a waiter.”

The waiter smiled proudly, “It’s nothing special. Every business in the district operates this way. Please enjoy, I won’t disturb you further. Let me know if you need anything.”

With that, the waiter left.

The Hanlin scholars looked at each other, speechless, silently picking up their tea cups and sipping, each lost in their own thoughts.

After finishing a cup of tea, Yang Yingcai heard the voices of a few scholars reciting poetry behind him.

He turned around curiously, listening carefully.

“This poem, with its four charming aspects, is not deliberately crafted, nor could it be achieved through deliberate effort. Brother Shen, your progress in just a few days is astounding. We are far behind…”

“Haha, you’re too kind, too kind. Have some tea.”

Yang Yingcai couldn’t help but tap the shoulder of the person behind him. “You…”

Shen Yi turned around, looking at the middle-aged man before him, and asked curiously, “Old sir, do you have something to say?”

Yang Yingcai spoke, “I am Yang Yingcai. May I ask…”

“Oh, I’m Shen Yi.”

“I wanted to ask why you’re studying at a tea stall. Are there no study halls in Banshan District?”

Shen Yi laughed, “What are you saying? Why should we choose a specific place to discuss poetry and compose verses? Sitting here at the tea stall, watching passersby, has its own charm.”

“Moreover, the citizens passing by might hear us discussing literature and learn something too.”

“There’s a saying that beauty is contagious, which is quite profound… though I forget who said it…”

“The atmosphere in the district has always been like this. Old sir, you must be from outside the district.”

Yang Yingcai felt a twinge of disappointment, “I’m from Dengjin District.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’s face showed disdain.

Yang Yingcai noticed and quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Do you have some issue with Dengjin District?”

Shen Yi replied indignantly, “Issue! I have a big issue. They’re all a bunch of petty thieves, especially Yan Guoan. I was blind to have looked up to him as a role model.”

Yang Yingcai pointed at Shen Yi, trembling, “You… how can you say such things? Yan Guoan is a Number One Scholar, a Hanlin Editor at court.”

“So what! Even if he stood before me, I, Shen Yi, would curse him without hesitation!” Shen Yi showed no fear.

The scene of being carried out was still etched in his mind.

Having wandered around Banshan District for a long time, he had grown bolder and more unrestrained.

In the past, he probably wouldn’t have had the courage.

“He may be a Number One Scholar, but from what I’ve seen, he hasn’t truly absorbed his studies. What use is it to merely memorize the words of sages! No matter how flowery his words, they can’t save the people from poverty.”

“In my opinion, compared to Young Master Fang and Young Master Li, he’s worlds apart!”

Yang Yingcai was dumbfounded, “Who are Young Master Fang and Young Master Li?”

“I don’t know their real names, that’s just what everyone calls them. These two are the true managers of Banshan District.”

Yang Yingcai immediately understood and continued to ask, “Are you from Banshan District?”

Shen Yi shook his head, “No, I’m from Dengjin District, but… I’ll be moving here soon.”

Then he suddenly smiled, “Old sir, since we’ve met, it must be fate. Let me tell you, if you live in Dengjin District, you should move here as soon as possible.”

“From what I’ve seen, in just a few months, the price of houses in Banshan District will rise. By then, you might not even be able to buy one, haha!”

Yang Yingcai asked reluctantly, “Is Dengjin District really so unbearable in your eyes?”

“Yes.”

“………..”

Hearing Shen Yi’s straightforward answer was like a heavy blow to everyone.

Someone beside Yang Yingcai tried to make one last effort: “Then, is there anything in Banshan District that displeases you?”

“Displeases me?” Shen Yi furrowed his brow, thinking hard.

“Displeasure… there doesn’t seem to be much. Oh, but yesterday, after the rain, there was a play at the first bonfire evening that was quite uncomfortable to watch. It was… utterly disgraceful!”

As he said this, Shen Yi’s face contorted, as if the play had left a deep psychological scar.

Yang Yingcai and the others’ eyes lit up, and they quickly asked, “What play? What was it about?”

“The Legend of the White Snake! It was about a snake spirit falling in love with a monk… Just thinking about that play gives me a headache! What nonsense were they performing, it was all a mess.”

“The first half was clearly a tragic love story, but why did the plot suddenly change after the monk raped Bai Suzhen… The playwright clearly lacks common sense.”

Shen Yi’s tablemate laughed, “Ah, Brother Shen! You just don’t understand. My family has been in the snake-catching business for generations!”

“Do you know that snakes can mate for up to five hours? And that’s two snakes! Even ten Xu Xians wouldn’t be enough for Bai Suzhen to run away from. Fahai, with his powerful magic, would definitely have no problem!”

Hearing this, Shen Yi slapped his forehead, suddenly enlightened!

“So that’s how it is! Then it makes sense. It seems I was the one lacking common sense.”