Chapter 24: Uninvited Guests

Three days later, the weather was clear and bright.

With the carriages and horses prepared, Fan Jin, accompanied by the two local gentry, Zhang and Zhou, and their servants, set off westward toward Gaoyao County. Along the way, the group enjoyed the local customs or engaged in reciting poetry and discussing literature. They were in high spirits, and their rapport deepened significantly.

The only one who suffered was Hu the Butcher, who followed along feeling as though his mouth had gone completely bland. He racked his brains but could not understand why his son-in-law and the local gentry would choose to endure such a bumpy journey just to admire these "wild landscapes." Aside from the yellow of the autumn leaves, there was only the pervasive, earthy, pungent smell of soil and the occasional fierce wind that made it difficult to keep one's eyes open.

After about a day of travel, the carriage procession finally arrived at the city of Gaoyao. Once they entered the city, Hu the Butcher immediately sprang back to life, watching everything with keen interest, finding it all remarkably novel.

Stores lined both sides of the streets. The soft, lingering glow of the dusk sun spilled gently over the red bricks, green tiles, and the colorful, upturned eaves of the pavilions, adding a touch of haziness and poetic charm to the bustling evening scene of Gaoyao. The high-flying shop banners, the clattering of carriages and horses, the endless stream of pedestrians, and the serene, contented smiles on their faces all reflected the self-satisfied prosperity of the city’s residents.

Reaching the busier district, the group stepped out of their carriages. Looking into the distance, they saw a dense, chaotic crowd of people—a mix of vendors and travelers. The stalls were stocked with knives, scissors, and various sundries. In the marketplace, some were selling tea, while others were reading fortunes... Many visitors stood by the railings of the bridge over the river, some pointing and gesturing, others watching the boats passing to and fro. The pedestrian walkway on the bridge had turned into a bustling, surging river of humanity. There were people in sedan chairs, people on horseback, men carrying shoulder poles, others driving donkeys laden with goods, and laborers pushing single-wheeled barrows—the variety was endless.

It was not just Hu the Butcher who was dazzled; even Fan Jin felt he had truly broadened his horizons. To think that this was merely a county seat—if it was this prosperous, one could hardly imagine the magnificent spectacle of the capital, sitting at the feet of the Emperor.

Seeing Fan Jin’s amazement, Squire Zhang laughed heartily. "Brother Fan, what do you think? Gaoyao is rich and fertile, and it truly lives up to its reputation, does it not?"

Fan Jin nodded with a smile. "This Gaoyao city is indeed worthy of its name for prosperity. This journey has truly been an eye-opening experience."

After traveling nearly another mile and gradually moving further away, Fan Jin could still faintly hear the piercing cries of the vendors and an occasional long neigh of a horse behind them. Though they were all counties, comparing Nanhai County to Gaoyao County felt like comparing clouds to mud.

The grandeur of Gaoyao City was something Nanhai County could never hope to match, even during the festive season. An important indicator of urban prosperity is population; the population of Gaoyao County was more than double that of Nanhai, and its urban population was nearly triple that of the latter. Population is, of course, closely tied to tax revenue.

In the early years of any dynasty, the focus is always on recuperation and moderate taxation. Thus, the primary source of tax revenue for a feudal dynasty at this stage is land tax. However, the total amount of land in a country is fixed; even with the encouragement of land reclamation, growth is relatively stagnant, not to mention the issues of land annexation and underreporting. Therefore, in any feudal dynasty, as it continues to develop, the primary source of tax gradually shifts toward a "poll tax." As for collecting "commercial taxes"? In truth, they were always collected, but the amounts gathered never reached a level comparable to land or poll taxes.

While Fan Jin was lost in these thoughts, the scout servant returned to report. He had presented their calling cards, but the yamen runners informed them that, unfortunately, Magistrate Tang had gone to the countryside to inspect the autumn grain and his return date was uncertain.

Upon hearing this, the group looked at one another, at a loss for what to do next. Hu the Butcher tightened his padded jacket, and his belly let out a hungry growl. Embarrassed, he retreated behind the carriage train to beg for some dry rations from Monk Hui.

Fan Jin flicked his long sleeves and asked, "Is there no one of authority left in the county?"

According to custom, since Magistrate Tang was away, it would be inappropriate for them to simply move into the yamen. With nightfall approaching, if they did not find a place to stay, these distinguished scholars might well find themselves sleeping on the streets tonight.

The servant replied, "The runner suggested that the head of the Works Department, who manages county affairs, is currently at the Guan Yu Temple. We could go there to find him."

Mentioning the Guan Yu Temple, the two squires, Zhang and Zhou, immediately understood. Upon arriving at the temple, they saw that the majestic structure was undergoing major renovations, and the county’s Works official was overseeing the work. When the official heard that friends of the Magistrate had come to visit, he hurriedly came out to greet them, invited them into the main hall, and ordered tea and snacks to be served.

Having traveled all day, Fan Jin and his companions were hungry and thirsty, so they did not stand on ceremony and quickly partook of the food. Fan Jin looked at the sky, paused, and asked, "Official, may I ask if there is a return date for Magistrate Tang's inspection of the autumn grain?" Sitting here idly was hardly the way to proceed. Squires Zhang and Zhou also looked over expectantly.

The Works official looked hesitant and helpless. "I truly have no way of knowing."

As they spoke, they heard the sound of boots scraping against the ground. Before long, a young man walked in. He was dressed in a scholar’s cap and wide-sleeved robes, wearing black boots with white soles. He had bee-like eyes, a high nose bridge, and a thick beard.

The moment he entered, he immediately ordered the tea sets to be cleared away. Then, with a piercing gaze fixed on the three men, he bowed respectfully and asked, "May I ask which of you is Mr. Zhang, and which is the elder Mr. Fan?"

"I am Zhang Jingzhai."

"I am Fan Jin."

After they had exchanged names, the man looked at Fan Jin with a beaming smile and introduced himself, "My humble surname is Yan, and my home is nearby. Last year, when Academician Zhou came to Gaoyao to preside over the examinations, he became a very close friend of Magistrate Tang. Are you all close friends of the Magistrate as well?"

Fan Jin was stunned; he had not expected this person to be so familiar, having assumed the man was an arrangement made by the Magistrate. However, one does not strike a person who is smiling. Especially after the man revealed his status as a *gongsheng* (tribute student), everyone could not help but regard him with more respect. Not everyone had the qualifications to study at the Imperial Academy in the capital and call themselves a *gongsheng*. In the era of the imperial examinations, one was generally selected from among the top-performing or most qualified students in the prefectures, states, and counties to enter the Imperial Academy in the capital. If he had entered the academy through his own merit, it was notable; if he had entered based on family status, that was even more significant.

After chatting for a while, they found they shared similar interests. Yan Gongsheng even treated the group with the courtesy due to teachers and invited them to his home as guests. Seeing that they were getting along well, and that Yan Gongsheng had volunteered to host the distinguished guests on behalf of the Magistrate, the Works official felt relieved. Remembering that the temple renovations were complex and required his attention, he excused himself and slowly withdrew.