The next morning, Zhang Yuan left Chen Family Village and headed to the county town.
He was going to sell the rock ginseng.
Fortunately, when he returned yesterday evening, the valuable herb wasn't discovered by Zhang Xiong, otherwise, it would have been seized just like the rock sheep.
Zhang Yuan felt that Zhang Xiong was very dangerous; the strength of this martial artist definitely surpassed Hunter Gao.
Zhang Yuan had killed the lame Hunter Gao using a surprise attack with lime, and still almost failed.
With his current strength, he had no confidence facing Zhang Xiong head-on!
So, he needed to endure for a while.
But Zhang Yuan believed that this time would be very short!
Along the way, he disguised himself in a secluded place, changing into new clothes and wearing a bamboo hat as he entered Linhe County Town.
Before stepping into the herbal shop, Zhang Yuan activated the Power of the Black Giant Ant.
Just the enhancement of doubling the strength made his aura change abruptly.
Walking straight to the counter, Zhang Yuan took out the rock ginseng wrapped in a cloth bag and placed it on the counter, then opened it.
He said in a deep voice, "Shopkeeper, please give me a price."
The shopkeeper behind the counter was startled and felt a chill down his neck, having the sensation of being watched by a beast.
"Please wait a moment."
The shopkeeper didn't dare to slack off and quickly started weighing and appraising it.
Although he was quite scared in his heart, his eyes still showed an excited look, with a hint of subtle greed, upon seeing this nearly perfect old ginseng.
However, thanks to Zhang Yuan's astonishing aura, this shopkeeper suppressed his wicked thoughts.
He respectfully said, "Esteemed guest, your rock ginseng weighs five taels, three qian, and four fen, is between seventy-five and eighty years old, and of perfect quality without flaws, it is a top-grade old ginseng."
If it were an ordinary herbal client, the shopkeeper would have haggled over the price.
Zhang Yuan was clearly a martial artist, which was not something he could provoke easily.
The shopkeeper, observing Zhang Yuan's expressions, cautiously asked, "Our shop is willing to offer a top price of 115 silver taels for this, what do you think?"
Zhang Yuan pondered for a moment.
This price was actually close to his expectations.
After tapping his fingers on the counter, Zhang Yuan decisively said, "120 taels!"
The shopkeeper replied with a bitter face, "Esteemed guest, our shop's profit margins are actually quite thin..."
Then suddenly changed his tone: "Let's make friends then!"
Profit margins could not be thin; even with fear in his heart, business is business!
Both parties thus reached a deal.
Zhang Yuan asked for cash silver.
Originally, he wanted to purchase a batch of materials for making medicinal soup.
But realizing that even after selling the rock ginseng, his silver taels were still not sufficient, he temporarily abandoned this idea.
Settling down in the county town was the top priority!
Without hesitating further, Zhang Yuan went straight to the brokerage he visited last time.
Of course, he no longer maintained the state of enhanced strength, and he took off the bamboo hat.
The broker there still remembered Zhang Yuan.
After understanding Zhang Yuan's needs, he clapped his thigh excitedly and said, "What a coincidence, just yesterday a household listed their house for sale with us."
"I think that house is very suitable for you!"
Regarding this kind of sales talk, Zhang Yuan just smiled.
But the house definitely needed to be viewed.
So, accompanied by the broker, the two of them went to Fish Alley in Chang'an District, located east of Linhe City.
The house mentioned by the broker was at the very end of the alley, with five rooms and a small courtyard made of blue bricks, black tiles, and white walls. Although the area wasn't large, the layout and quality were pretty good.
It's considered a good house in Fish Alley.
Moreover, the courtyard was already vacated, with no one living there currently.
The price quoted by the broker was 147 taels.
Zhang Yuan bargained and only managed to lower it by seven taels, rounding it to an even number.
More than that was refused.
The broker explained with a bitter smile, "Esteemed guest, this is already the bottom price from the owner, it really can't go any lower!"
Zhang Yuan knew well that houses in Linhe County Town were always in demand, and finding another might not be any better.
And if he didn't buy it today, it might be sold by tomorrow.
That would require more trouble.
So even though the price exceeded his original budget, this small house was really suitable.
Thus, Zhang Yuan gritted his teeth and decided on the spot to buy it: "When can the transfer be completed?"
The broker said, "If you're in a hurry, we can take you to the government office for the deed transfer today, but it'll cost more."
He shook his five fingers: "Five taels of silver."
Zhang Yuan calculated.
Buying the house required 140 taels, the deed tax for the transfer was ten taels, and the expedited fee was five taels, totaling 155 taels.
This doesn't even include the commission paid to the brokerage!
He carried just about this much cash, and he had brought all the silver hidden at home.
With tight finances!
After paying out, Zhang Yuan and his mother still couldn't settle down officially.
The residency registration and the head tax for the first year required another 26 taels to be settled!
He thought of buying the house first, not expecting the broker next to him to observe and offer with a smile, "Esteemed guest, if you're short on funds temporarily, we offer emergency loans."
The brokerage actually had such a service?
Zhang Yuan immediately changed his mind: "What's the interest rate?"
The broker raised two fingers: "Two percent."
Zhang Yuan was a bit surprised — such a reasonable 2% monthly interest?
But he instinctively felt something was off: "Is it monthly interest?"
The broker's expression was as if he had been hit by a brick: "How could that be, of course, it's daily interest!"
Daily interest?
Zhang Yuan nearly drew his sword to cut down the deceitful broker in front of him.
A 60% interest rate per month was extortionate!
He held back and remarked, "The interest is too high."
"Not high at all!"
The broker feigned innocence, "Esteemed guest, you can inquire around; inside Linhe County Town, besides the Fuji Money Shop, our brokerage offers the lowest lending rates."
"But to borrow from Fuji Money Shop, you not only need collateral but also a guarantor, which is quite troublesome!"
"I'm really not cheating you!"
Zhang Yuan fell silent.
Eventually, he took out a high-interest loan of fifty silver taels from the brokerage.
After gathering enough silver coins, with the broker's assistance, Zhang Yuan successfully obtained the property deed and also officially registered residency at the county town for himself and his mother.
As the saying goes, with money, all things become possible; the familiar broker with the government office handled the paperwork, money exchanged hands all the way, without encountering any hiccups or trouble.
But in the end, Zhang Yuan not only emptied his pockets but also owed the brokerage a sizable high-interest loan.
On the way back to Chen Family Village, he couldn't help but lament that houses and residency registrations were truly burdensome.
Even in another world, he couldn't escape from being devoured by them!