Chapter 26: You Are Not In Exile You Are Clearly Traveling!
Chapter 26: Station
"Arrived at the post station!"
Seeing the post station, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, finally they could rest.
Braving the rain on the road, they were all soaked, longing for a place to warm up.
However, although the post station allowed them to stay for free, it wasn't individual rooms but rather several people crowded into one room.
Of course, even for the bailiffs, there were only two or three in one room.
But then?
The post station did have independent rooms, but you needed to pay for them yourself, and even then, it wasn't guaranteed that you could get one.
"Sir, can you give us a room? Just one for my family," Zhang Yiquan found the post station's officer and slipped him some silver.
"A room? That's a bit difficult," the bailiff frowned, "There are so many of you, and all the separate rooms are taken..."
Having been an official for so many years, Zhang Yiquan naturally wasn't clueless. He immediately understood what the officer meant and reluctantly took out another silver ingot from his sleeve.
"Sir, could you please reconsider?"
The post station officer's eyes brightened as he discreetly pocketed the silver, coughed, and said, "With your reminder, I remember there's a large room available, enough for your whole family..."
"But it'll cost twenty taels per room."
"No problem, thank you, sir."
Zhang Yiquan's eyes lit up and he quickly handed over thirty taels. He couldn't sleep well last night in the wilderness, and now he could finally rest properly tonight.
"Wait here, I'll go see if the room has been arranged..."
Watching the post station officer leave, Zhang Yiquan felt elated. His approached him, "How did it go?"
"Sorted," Zhang Yiquan said triumphantly, "In this world, as long as you have money, you can get things done."
"Not like some people, being carefree on the road, but when it matters, it's all about money."
The Chen family was nearby, and Zhang Yiquan's sarcastic tone was clearly directed at them.
Everyone knew that Chen Yuan was penniless. Despite buying a carriage, they had depleted their savings, so they couldn't afford to stay at the post station.
So, Zhang Yiquan couldn't help but mock them, returning the humiliation he had suffered earlier.
"Oh, Master Chen, why are you also staying at the post station?" Zhang Yiquan continued sarcastically, "Don't you have a carriage? You can sleep in it at night, it's comfortable..."
Madam Zhang chimed in, "Do you know how much these rooms cost? Twenty taels each, tsk tsk, Master Chen, who has no money, can you afford it?"
Chen Yuan: "..."
What's wrong with being penniless? Did I eat your rice? Who's saying I'm penniless? I'll give you a piece of my mind!
"Dad, did you hear the dog barking?" Chen Xue innocently said, "I think I heard a dog barking in my ear? It's so annoying!"
Chen Yuan couldn't help but laugh, "I heard it, let me tell you, the louder the dog barks, the more guilty and afraid it is..."
"Chen Yuan, what do you mean?" Zhang Yiquan suddenly got angry, "Who are you calling a dog?"
"Whoever admits it."
"You..."
Zhang Yiquan felt frustrated. In the past, he was adept at flattering and eloquent, how come he couldn't argue with Chen Yuan now? Chen Yuan was known for his silence and lack of flattery in official circles, but why was he so infuriating now?
"What's the use of being sharp-tongued? You still have nowhere to sleep," Zhang Yiquan mocked, "But Master Chen, if you're willing to give up your carriage, I can help you book a room with money..."
"Although carriages are good, they're definitely not as comfortable as staying at the post station. You can wash up and buy hot meals at the post station..."
"Master Chen..."
Just then, someone interrupted Zhang Yiquan's words. It was Xu Tian and Zhao Guang, two officers, walking over.
"Master Chen, I've arranged the rooms, please follow us..." Xu Tian clasped his fists.
"It was me who arranged it," Zhao Guang quickly interjected, "Master Chen, please, I'll ask the station master to arrange a superior room for you."
Xu Tian looked at Zhao Guang, puzzled. Wasn't Zhao Guang targeting Minister Chen a few days ago? Why was he more attentive than himself today? Has he had a change of heart?
However, Xu Tian worried that Zhao Guang might be playing some tricks, deliberately pretending to be attentive and then causing trouble in the room. So he hurriedly said, "Master Chen, please follow me..."
"Master Chen, this way..."
How could Zhao Guang let Xu Tian take the opportunity to offer hospitality? He quickly flattered, "I've arranged a large room, enough for Master Chen and his family..."
Seeing the two bailiffs fawning over them like treasures, everyone was dumbfounded, especially Zhang Yiquan.
Just now, he was mocking the Chen family for not being able to afford the relay station, but now two officers were begging them to stay. Not only were they not charging any money, they were also humbly pleading for their stay. This was simply...
If Zhang Yiquan hadn't bitten his tongue and felt the intense pain, he would have thought he was dreaming.
Why!
Why did everyone here, all exiles and both belonging to the Ministry of Revenue, have these officers fawning over them?
What's so good about the Chen family? They have no background and no money.
"Two gentlemen..." Zhang Yiquan approached them reluctantly, "The Chen family is the mastermind behind a corruption case..."
Zhang Yiquan stopped there, believing that these officers were smart enough to know that the Chen family, as the mastermind behind a corruption case, couldn't be reinstated. Hoping for the Chen family to be reinstated was impossible.
It was better to invest in them. At least, he still had the relationship with the Minister of Personnel, and there might be a chance in the future.
"Shut up, you talk too much," Zhao Guang turned and glared at him, "Do you want to eat lashes?"
"Nonsense," Xu Tian also glared at him, "Master Chen is clearly innocent."
Offending three people with one sentence, Zhang Yiquan was suddenly sweating profusely.
He couldn't understand why Xu Tian and Zhao Guang, two bailiffs, were so protective of the Chen family. What's so good about the Chen family?
"Master Chen, take a look, which room would you like to stay in?" Zhao Guang pointed to the room he arranged, then to the one arranged by Xu Tian, giving Chen Yuan the choice.
Xu Tian had nothing to say and could only let Chen Yuan decide.
Chen Yuan couldn't make the decision himself, as the choice was in the hands of his wife and daughter, so he turned to look at them.
In the end, Chen Xue and her family chose Zhao Guang's room. It was larger and could accommodate their whole family. As for the room arranged by Xu Tian, they let their servants occupy it.
After arranging the rooms, Xu Tian and Zhao Guang left, not wanting to disturb the Chen family.
Standing at the entrance of a room, Zhang Yiquan watched the Chen family enter their room, feeling extremely frustrated.
At this moment, he saw the post station officer from earlier coming over and quickly ran over. "Sir, about our room..."
"Sorry, all taken," the officer shrugged, "They've all been assigned."
"What?" Zhang Yiquan's face changed. He thought the officer wanted to extort more money from him, so he reluctantly took out more silver and handed it over. "Please, sir, help us out."
The officer took the silver and sighed, "I can't help it. The rooms are limited. However, you can negotiate with that family. I heard they booked two rooms..."
The officer pointed to the room where the Chen family was staying, leaving Zhang Yiquan dumbfounded. Asking them for rooms? The Chen family wouldn't even tolerate them, let alone give them their rooms.
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