Perhaps because it was payday, the Inspection Office, which was usually deserted even during roll call, was now packed to the gills and filled with clamor.
Chu Mu stared blankly at the banknotes in his hand, completely bewildered.
If he remembered correctly, he had only joined the Inspection Office four or five days ago.
And his Monthly Stipend was only eight silver.
By that calculation, his pay should have been a little over one silver at most.
But now, he was holding about ten Paper Currency bills, amounting to over nine silver!
"Haha, you're stunned, aren't you!"
He Ergou sidled up, slinging an arm around Chu Mu's shoulder with a smug grin.
Chu Mu looked up and subtly shifted away, glancing at He Ergou with a look of confusion. "This extra money is..."
He Ergou, ever the loudmouth, immediately started blabbing, "It's the same for everyone. We get double pay. One part is the pay the Court gives us, and the other is a bonus from the higher-ups..."
Chu Mu was starting to understand, but he still asked tentatively, "This bonus money?"
He Ergou raised his hand and pointed toward the mines, his voice dropping a little. "The mines. They're Qinghe County's Treasure Basin. Every time Ore Materials are sent to the Commandery City, the county skims a portion off the top."
"Ore Materials are expensive! Just think, at our mines, thousands of men on Forced Labor are digging day and night. How much money do you think that's worth?"
"The masters above are eating the meat, so they have to let us have some of the broth!"
"Anyone with an official position in our county gets double pay..."
Chu Mu swallowed. 'I've been too naive. I thought that web of profit was far removed from me. Who would have thought that even a minor Inspector like myself is already caught in it...'
'I really want to ask if one of the masters of Qinghe County is named Lei Luo.'
'This is a straight-up Black Gold Empire!'
In the end, Chu Mu couldn't help but ask, "Being this blatant, aren't you afraid someone from above will investigate?"
He Ergou sneered. "You think the masters in the Commandery City aren't corrupt?"
"Who's going to turn their nose up at money!"
"Besides, who would dare to investigate?"
Chu Mu didn't ask any more questions. A massive web of profit connected the entire ruling class of Qinghe County, and it surely extended to the Commandery City as well.
Such a massive web of profit could never be shaken by minor efforts. It would take a complete, bottom-up purge, or someone at the very top with the power and ruthless determination of Zhu Yuanzhang.
At that moment, Chu Mu felt a strange sense of urgency. 'I need to find a history book and see what this world of Great Chu is really like.'
"Now you see the perks of being an Inspector!"
He Ergou rambled on carelessly before his tone suddenly shifted. He slung his arm around Chu Mu again and grinned. "So, how about it? Lend me some money. I'll pay you back next payday!"
"New guy, don't trust him! That bastard never pays back what he borrows. He spends it all on women! He'll die on top of a woman one of these days!"
He Ergou flew into a rage and charged, cursing, "What the hell are you talking about, you brat! Are you looking for trouble?"
"Oho, this dog has grown a temper, has he? What, was I wrong?"
"You bastard..."
The turn of events was so sudden that before Chu Mu could even process the request to borrow money, He Ergou was already brawling with the other man.
It was just that... although He Ergou had thrown the first punch, it looked like... he was the one getting beaten up...
Luckily, there were plenty of Inspectors around, as well as a whole lot of Squad Leaders. Soon, with a sharp reprimand, some Inspectors rushed in to break up the fight.
The two were then tied up and dragged away. A Hundred Households with a grim expression stood nearby. It was obvious that things were not going to end well for either of them.
"Er..."
Chu Mu blinked. 'I suddenly feel an urge to lend He Ergou the money. It wouldn't even matter if I never got it back.'
'That He Ergou is actually a bit pathetic. He's tried to borrow money from me twice now, and both times he was hauled away before I could even refuse or say a word.'
'Does this count as me taking dirty money?'
Chu Mu glanced down at the Paper Currency in his hand. 'Good heavens, I'm an upstanding young man from the 21st century! I've only been in this world for a little over ten days, and I'm already taking dirty money?'
Chu Mu silently tucked the money into his robes. The already thick wad of Paper Currency grew a little thicker, just like the Skill Level increasing on his Light Curtain Panel.
'Mmm... Reassuring...'
'I'll probably feel even more reassured next month,' Chu Mu reckoned, 'when I collect a Monthly Stipend of sixteen silver.'
"Brother Mu!"
He had only taken a few steps before an arm was slung around his shoulder again.
"I'm treating you to Fengyue Tower tonight!"
This time, Chu Mu didn't move away. He glanced at the Paper Currency clutched in Xu Yuan's hand and said pointedly, "Looks like you've struck it rich, kid."
"You know it!"
Xu Yuan chuckled, then carefully glanced around before leaning close to Chu Mu's ear. "Brother Mu, I've struck it *really* rich!"
Chu Mu feigned confusion. "Really rich?"
"At least this much!"
Xu Yuan held out his hand, smugly making a gesture for a number.
"Twenty silver?"
Chu Mu's eyebrows shot up in surprise. 'On the Black Market, iron is twenty copper per pound. Twenty silver is one hundred pounds of iron. If even a newcomer like Xu Yuan got a cut of twenty silver, how much iron did their little group steal?'
'But when he considered the scale of the mines, Chu Mu relaxed a little. With thousands of men on Forced Labor working day and night, the amount of iron they had stolen was likely just a drop in the bucket.'
'The real big score was still with the masters in the county.'
'Everyone with an official position in the county gets double pay. If the "broth" is this substantial, one can only imagine how terrifyingly large the "meat" must be.'
Xu Yuan had expected Chu Mu to ask about it curiously, but after waiting for a while without a word, he couldn't help but ask:
"Aren't you curious where I made all my money, Brother Mu?"
Chu Mu shook his head. "Keep your own secrets. Don't tell me."
Xu Yuan paused, stunned, then broke into a wide grin. "But I'm telling you, Brother Mu! It's not like you're a stranger!"
Chu Mu waved his hand dismissively, changing the subject. "You said you were treating me to Fengyue Tower tonight, right?"
Xu Yuan's eyes instantly lit up with excitement. "Brother Mu, you have no idea! Inside Fengyue Tower..."
Chu Mu glanced at Xu Yuan's excited expression and couldn't help but feel a little speechless.
'Fengyue Tower. You could guess its main Attribute just from the name.'
'A place for food, drink, and entertainment.'
'If I remember correctly, this kid Xu Yuan probably hasn't even hit puberty yet, but he's already been to a place like that to have some fun?'
'A small horse pulling a large cart?'
'Can he even pull it?'
A sudden curiosity struck Chu Mu, and he couldn't help but look Xu Yuan up and down.
"Brother Mu, what's wrong?"
Chu Mu didn't answer, asking instead, "When did you go to Fengyue Tower?"
"The last time, when I went with the Thousand Households!"
Chu Mu's expression turned a little strange. "So you went back again by yourself after that?"
"Hehe..."
Xu Yuan was clearly a little embarrassed, just chuckling sheepishly.
Chu Mu was even more speechless...
...