Farming Family's Pocket Dimension: A Charmed Little Lady Comes to Farm

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Encountering a Benefactor

Mrs. Chen quickly said, "Uncle Ma, you can’t drink that unboiled water. It’ll give you diarrhea."

Uncle Ma just smiled. "It’s fine. I’m always on the road, so I’m used to it."

After filling their water containers, they continued on their way.

After being delayed on the road for an hour, it was already dark by the time their party arrived at the small town.

Every home in the small town was shuttered and dark; only a single inn still had its lights on.

The group steered their carts over. Several young men were standing guard at the courtyard entrance.

The men sized up their convoy. "Here for the inn?"

Gu Zhang nodded quickly. "Yes, to stay the night. Do you still have room?"

The men stepped aside. "Come on in. We still have space."

The group drove their mule carts inside and saw several horse-drawn carriages already parked in the courtyard. The stables were filled with horses.

Two of the carriages were empty; their cargo must have already been unloaded.

There were two other carriages as well: a green oil car and an Eight-Treasure Bead Carriage.

Gu Fei had often seen such carriages at the Marquis Mansion.

However, the pearl and jade ornaments that should have adorned the bead carriage were gone. Only its brocade curtains shimmered faintly in the darkness.

’There are important people in this inn.’

Gu Fei and Lan Zhi exchanged a look. They both knew that only people of extraordinary status could ride in such a carriage.

The Eight-Treasure Bead Carriage could only be used by titled ladies of a specific rank.

The group unloaded their carts and led the mules to feed.

Gu Fei followed Gu Zhang through the inn’s doors.

Three tables in the main hall were occupied.

At one table sat a beautiful middle-aged woman with a young man of about seventeen or eighteen in azure brocade. Several maids stood by, waiting on them.

At the other two tables sat eight guards dressed in black.

Gu Fei glanced over once, then quickly looked away.

Lan Zhi nudged her arm and whispered, "That’s the governor’s wife."

The governor’s wife had attended the wedding banquet for the Marquis Mansion Heir last year.

Gu Fei murmured in acknowledgment. ’No matter who she is, it has nothing to do with us.’

The village chief stepped forward and asked the Shopkeeper directly, "How much for a spot in the common room for the night?"

The Shopkeeper barely lifted his gaze. "Fifty cents per person." He glanced at the chief’s grandson, Shanyao, standing beside him. "Children are half price."

The village chief froze, thinking he’d misheard. "Fifty cents? The other day, a spot in the common room was only twenty cents!"

The Shopkeeper chuckled. "My friend, in times like these, we live day by day. It’s only natural for the prices to do the same."

He jerked his chin toward the entrance. "You saw those men at the gate when you came in, right? I hired them all. It costs me a fair amount of silver every day, so tell me, how could I not raise the prices?"

The village chief asked in confusion, "Why hire them?"

The Shopkeeper threw up his hands. "I have no choice. If I don’t hire men to stand at the door, I can’t get rid of the drifters. They all want to come in begging for food and drink, and I can’t run my business that way."

He sighed. "Who knows, I might not even be able to stay open for many more days. Just taking it one day at a time."

Reluctant to spend the money, the village chief hesitated and stepped to the back.

Gu Fei took out a piece of broken silver. "Spots in the common room for ten adults and one child, plus four bundles of fodder and six buckets of water. Can you tell me the total?"

The Shopkeeper glanced at Gu Fei, his abacus clacking away. He smiled. "Now here’s a decisive young lady. Let’s see... lodging is five hundred and twenty-five cents, four bundles of fodder is eighty cents, six buckets of water is nine hundred cents... that comes to a total of one tael and five maces of silver, plus five copper coins."

"Tell you what, I’ll knock off the five copper coins. Just give me one tael and five maces of silver."

Gu Fei shook her head. ’The price for lodging has gone up, and the price of water has gone up. But there’s no other choice. We have to stay.’

She placed the silver on the counter. "This is two taels of silver. Please weigh it."