Chapter 172: Sky-high entry fee

Nan Jingzhi, Li Rui, Zhang Bingliang, Wan Sanye, and others stepped forward one after another.

Li Rui was illiterate, but because he had been selling goods on the streets all year round, he knew a few numbers that represented money.

Nan Jingzhi, Wan Sanye, and Doctor Li were all literate. After reading the content clearly, they wore expressions of disbelief similar to Su Yin’s.

Zhang Bingliang and his three uncles were both illiterate and looked confused.

However, seeing the expressions on the faces of those who could read, they felt that something bad had happened.

Wan Sanye clicked his tongue twice, “It’s really dark.”

Cousin-in-law Zhou Youcai asked anxiously, “What does it say?”

Doctor Li frowned and said, “It says that if you want to enter the city, everyone must pay one tael of silver.

No matter how big or small, you have to pay one tael of silver.”

“One tael of silver!”

Everyone was shocked.

The income of a farmer’s family throughout the year is only a few taels of silver, and one tael per person was an exorbitant fee for entering the city.

A family with a small number of people might manage to squeeze in and barely afford it, but a family with a large number of people, like Zhang Bingliang’s family with twenty members, would mean paying twenty taels.

As they were reeling from the shock of one tael of silver per person, Doctor Li dropped another bombshell.

“It also says that a horse costs ten taels to enter the city.”

“What?!!”

Everyone was left completely speechless.

Su Yin had prepared herself to be exploited upon entering the city, but she had underestimated the malicious intentions of these officials.

Twenty taels for the carriage, plus four head fees. If they entered the city, she would have to pay a total of twenty-four taels of silver.

If they hadn’t met a “kind person” who “sent” money to them on the way, Su Yin wouldn’t have been able to get in because she didn’t have that much money in her pocket.

Every household in Xinghua Village had a carriage. If they wanted to go into the city, they would have to start with at least ten taels.

Where could they possibly get that money?

When going to the city, they would need to buy food and various necessary items, all of which cost money.

Ten taels of silver could be converted into food, enough to feed a family for a long time.

Who would be willing to give that away for free?

Even though Su Yin had hundreds of taels of silver in her pocket, she still felt reluctant about the expensive entrance fee, let alone the others.

Before Zhang Bingliang and the others had finished digesting this news, Doctor Li dropped another bombshell.

“And when you enter the city, you can only stay for one day. If you want to stay for another day, you need to pay extra, and the price is the same as the entrance fee.”

Zhang Bingliang and the others were left speechless, their minds running wild with disbelief. The officials of Linzhi County had truly lost their minds.

If they wanted to rest for a night in Linzhi County, they would not only have to pay twenty taels of silver but also an additional twenty taels for the carriage.

“Well done, sir, let us enter the city,” someone pleaded at the door, but how could the government, which was only looking to make money, give any discounts?

“If you don’t have money, get out.”

“Don’t block the way; leave quickly.”

As the city guards drove them away, they surrounded the city gate, and the crowd gradually dispersed, everyone looking despondent.

“Before we came in, we paid a toll, and now at the city gate, they’re asking for even more money.

Where can we find that kind of money?” someone murmured miserably.

“These officials are rich and unkind.”

“The fee for entering the city is only a few cents, but they’ve raised it to one tael. This is to force us to death.”

“Who can enter the city except for the wealthy?”

“Hey! This is obvious. They don’t want poor people to have a way to live.”

Su Yin listened to the comments around her and realized they were all correct.

The magistrate of Linzhi County was doing this, firstly to make money, and secondly to shut out poor refugees in a seemingly fair manner, all while pretending to uphold justice.

It sounded so good when stated that way.

They didn’t close the city gate outright, and they didn’t prevent anyone from entering; instead, they placed the blame on those who didn’t have enough money to pay the fees.

This behavior was shameless, and since it was shameless, it was also disgusting.

Su Yin and her party returned to the group.

Cousin-in-law Zhou Youcai immediately informed everyone in the team of the situation.

“What are you talking about? One tael of silver per person?”

“Yes.”

“A carriage costs ten taels of silver.”

“Ten taels of silver?!” Exclamations echoed around, and everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Zhang Bingliang added, “Not only that, if you plan to rest for one night and leave tomorrow, you will have to pay an extra day’s fee, which is the same as the entrance fee.”

Mother Su patted her chest and exclaimed, “I’m a good boy. How can they be so black-hearted?”

“This is too much. This is an open robbery!” Su Baozhu exclaimed, her eyes widening with anger.

Madam Xu had a sad look on her face. “Although Linzhi County has opened the city gate, it’s clear they don’t want us to enter. What should we do?”

“Yes! Linzhi County is clearly not allowing us in.”

Su Yin raised her head and glanced at the sky; it was already the seventh hour, and in another hour, the city gate would close.

If they tried to enter the city at this time, they might not be able to buy anything, forcing them to either leave the city or stay overnight.

It was impossible for everyone to enter the city.

The current solution was to send a few people into the city to make purchases.

“Don’t worry, everyone. It’s obviously impossible for everyone to enter the city.

We will send a few people into the city together, and each family must hand over the purchased items to the designated purchaser,” Yang Dashan suggested.

“Da Shan is right; we don’t need to send everyone into the city, just a few people,” Butcher Yang agreed.

“Yes, yes, I was so anxious just now.”

Su Yin remained silent, allowing everyone to come up with their own ideas to deal with the situation. It was better than having to figure it out herself.

“There must be a lot of items needed, and it won’t work with just a few people.

Let’s get a horse and carriage to enter the city. The cost will be shared among each family, so we won’t waste too much money,” someone proposed.

“I agree,” Li Rui added.

Everyone then looked at Su Yin. “Yinyin, what do you think?”

“I think it sounds fine; that’s what we’ll do next.” It was a good choice, and too many people weren’t necessary. “Doctor Li needs to go; he has to buy some medicinal materials.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Li Rui, you choose two or three people; it’s up to you,” Yang Dashan said.

“I’ll discuss it with my uncles first,” Li Rui replied, hurrying off to talk with them about the candidates.

Yang Dashan looked at the others. “Which of you wants to go?”

No one spoke up.

Seeing that no one was volunteering, Yang Dashan continued, “Yinyin is smart. If there’s anything, it would be nice to have someone to discuss it with.

Yinyin can be one of the people; what do you all think?”

Madam Xu shook her head.

Doctor Li said, “I think it’s okay.”

Butcher Yang added, “Da Shan, you can go as well.”

That left them with only three people available.

“Okay.”

They finally confirmed the three people who would go.

Li Rui hurried back and said, “We don’t need so many people over there. I’ll just go with my second uncle.”

In total, fifteen families decided to send five people and an empty carriage.

They planned to give fifteen taels of silver for the supplies.