Chapter 529: We Only Accept Gold
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zeng Sanshui looked up. Sure enough, all the walls were pasted with posters containing the words “It’s shameful to waste food. Charges will be incurred for packing leftovers!”
Zeng Sanshui looked at his leftover fruits, skewers and snacks and said, “Then pack them up!”
Just as the soldier was about to speak, he heard the soldier beside him say to Bai Xinshui, “Consort, the food you need to pack costs a total of 86 taels of silver.” Then he emphasized, “We only accept gold, not silver and copper coins.”
Bai Xinshui even suspected that there was something wrong with her ears. “86 taels? You’re robbing money, right!”
The soldier said seriously, “According to the market price, it’s already considered cheap. Originally, you should have paid 108 taels of silver.”
Bai Xinshui was furious. “I’ve never heard of an envoy having to pay when visiting other countries. Are you crazy from being broke?”
The soldier suddenly pulled a long face. “It’s shameful to waste food. Our Carefree Kingdom’s money is the taxpayer’s money. Why should we let you be extravagant and wasteful?”
“We allowed you to eat and drink here, but we didn’t say that you were allowed to pack them away for free!”
“According to Consort Li, you’re guests and if you fancy our Carefree Kingdom’s mineral ores vein, do we have to hand it over with both hands?”
Bai Xinshui’s face turned pale. “You, you’re clearly twisting facts! If the country can’t even afford a meal, don’t treat me from the beginning!”
The soldier did not give in to her. “Since the Consort doesn’t like our food, we won’t prepare any more for you. Please pay for the takeaway and leave quickly!”
Before Bai Wutong even met them, this group of soldiers was already as arrogant as a halfwit. Anyone could give her an opening gambit.
There were scrutinizing gazes all around. Moreover, they were already in the territory of the Carefree Kingdom. It was impossible for them to fight this group of soldiers head-on.
Bai Xinshui had already guessed that Emperor Ling Hui had ill intentions when he asked their entire family to come to the southern frontier to persuade Bai Wutong to submit.
Now there were tigers in front and behind. They could not escape anywhere.
Seeing that Bai Xinshui and the soldiers of the Carefree Kingdom were in a deadlock, Bai Shining frowned and walked over. He took out a banknote. “Take it!” His tone was as if he was dismissing a dog. He said to Bai Xinshui, “There’s really no need to lower yourself to argue with a group of rude people.”
The soldier was not annoyed and emphasized, “We only accept gold.”
Bai Shining’s expression darkened. “You’re too much!”
The soldier reasoned, “How can our Carefree Kingdom use your Ling Kingdom’s banknotes? You’re the ones who are going too far!”
Seeing that the argument was about to escalate, the smarter people hurriedly went outside to look for Qu Yuanxian.
Qu Yuanxian learnt about the entire situation. When he saw the piled delicacies at Bai Xinshui’s table, he understood why the soldiers were charging them for it.
Just the abalones and prawns on the table cost no less than dozens of taels of silver. Besides, there were so many rare delicacies.
All of them were so expensive. If it was in the capital, they might not even be able to pay for the meal with a thousand taels of silver.
The soldiers only charged around 80 taels according to the market price of the southern frontier. It was really considered cheap.
Moreover, as soon as they entered the dining hall, the soldiers of the southern frontier had already reminded them that they would have to pay a fee if they could not finish it.
Moreover, they had indeed put in a lot of effort to entertain them.
Qu Yuanxian looked at Bai Shining, whose face was dark and green, and suppressed him with his position. “Lord Bai, give them the corresponding amount of gold. This is the Carefree Kingdom, so you have to respect the rules of the Carefree Kingdom.”
Bai Shining only had banknotes and silver on him and no gold at all. Jia Yuqin knew his situation and hurriedly took off the golden hairpin on her head. She said angrily, “Keep the change.”
The soldier said meticulously, “We can’t take any of your excess money.” He actually got someone to carry a special instrument and melt the golden hairpin in front of Bai Shining and the others.
This golden hairpin was the most popular design in the capital’s craftsmen workshop. It was difficult to obtain it. Bai Xinshui had used the Eldest Prince’s residence’s influence to purchase one.
They had actually melted it just like that.
It was simply infuriating.
However, Zeng Sanshui’s attention was on the automatic fire gun. He asked in surprise, “What’s that thing? How can it spew fire at once? The firepower is so strong that it can melt gold in an instant.”
The soldier said, “That’s a firearm that’s specialized in melting gold. It’s used to purify gold. Later, after weighing it, you’ll know how heavy the real gold is and if there’s any fake material mixed in.”
Zeng Sanshui was shocked. “Is it so troublesome to collect gold here?”
The soldier shook his head. “Only outsiders or people who sneak into our Carefree Kingdom would have such troublesome procedures.”
A scene suddenly flashed in Zeng Sanshui’s mind. He was penniless in Carefree Kingdom and could not even afford a steamed bun and had to be chased away.
After a while, Jia Yuqin’s golden hairpin was completely melted. There was still a layer of black material inside. The soldier said bluntly, “Madam’s golden hairpin is not pure. We have to filter it first.”
The golden hairpin was impure. This came as a huge embarrassment and Jia Yuqin’s face burned.
Zeng Sanshui also looked over and saw a layer of black junk outside the gold.
It was really not pure.
After the soldiers purified the golden hairpin and weighed it, Jia Yuqin’s face became even redder.
The soldier said, “Madam’s gold is only worth 80 taels of a tael. You still need to pay another six taels.”
Just now, Jia Yuqin had even said that they could keep the change.
In the end, it was still insufficient.
There was a burst of gossip around him. Bai Shining had never been so embarrassed in his life.
He glared at Jia Yuqin angrily. Bai Xinshui hurriedly took out another golden jade hairpin from her head. “This should be enough!”
Her jade hairpin was a high-quality Hetian white jade, a royal tribute.
Unexpectedly, the soldier took a look and said, “You have to smash the jade hairpin before we can take out the gold inside.”
Bai Xinshui looked shocked. “Are you guys stupid? This is high-quality Hetian jade. Isn’t it more valuable than gold?”
The soldier said meticulously, “We only accept gold.” Bai Xinshui almost died from frustration.
Zeng Sanshui asked in confusion, “The Hetian jade is clearly very valuable. Can’t you exchange it for gold?”
The soldier smiled and said, “Our Carefree Kingdom has an excellent jade mine. This Hetian jade is very common!” After saying that, he even took out an especially white Hetian jade from his pocket and bragged to Zeng Sanshui, “I spent a month of salary to buy this. Isn’t it much better than hers?”
Zeng Sanshui did not know much about jade, but he just felt that the round jade the size of a soldier’s palm was too beautiful.
She asked incredulously, “Five taels?”
The soldier chuckled. “Uh-huh. Our troops are camped at the foot of the jade vein. I bought it at the last minute and didn’t have time to carve it. When I have a leave, I’ll find someone to help me design it properly and keep it as an heirloom.”
Zeng Sanshui was envious. “1’11 give you 10 taels.. Sell it to me!”
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