Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

Page 771

"Sir, you know that obtaining rice is more difficult than you imagine. If you want to buy millet, I'll still offer the normal price."

"How much is that?"

"50 coins per liter."

"..."

Kyosuke Kousaka was completely speechless and immediately multiplied the amount fivefold.

That's not right either. The prices of millet and rice have been rising these days. I remember that a few days ago, rice was around 1300 coins per shi (a unit of dry measure), which was still a relatively low price.

Millet is generally one-tenth the price of rice. Since prices are fluctuating, let's say it's 130 coins per shi (a unit of dry measure).

Even if it's 13 qian per liter, the price is still several times higher. It's really expensive!

It's important to understand that 1 unit of currency is enough for a couple's daily expenses, and saving some can help them continue to support themselves for several more days.

Incidentally, one qian is not the smallest unit of currency.

Theoretically, yes.

However, in previous years, the powerful families of various states had been rampant in producing inferior and worthless currency.

Then the current emperor was furious and ordered the Onmyoji to be dispatched, which resulted in a large number of nobles being completely deposed and reduced to commoners.

Meanwhile, those inferior coins were not wasted; they eventually became the most widely circulated currency among ordinary people.

However, the government does not recognize these currencies; it only recognizes the copper coins it produces itself.

The way to distinguish them is even simpler: just look at how thin they are. Inferior coins are as thin as paper; you can tell just by touching them.

One coin is equal to ten bad coins.

Of course, ordinary people aren't stupid; they will still save the officially designated currency when necessary.

Because many stores do not accept counterfeit money.

There are specialized channels for large-scale exchanges on the black market, but I heard that the price has been reduced to half. I didn't look into the details.

Since it involved noble families, Kousaka Kyosuke didn't bother to make a move.

Let's go back to this moment.

Kyosuke Kosaka sensed that the businessman in front of him was "black" to the extreme.

"I think I should just buy it in Kyoto."

"Hehe, I advise you not to go. If you're not strong enough, you'll just be a sitting duck for the Onmyoji. You know what the new head of the Bureau of Investigation and Punishment is, right?"

"...I've heard of him."

"Yes! He has fierce eyes and a ferocious face. He shows no mercy to monsters, and it is said that he moves faster than Itsumade, the fastest runner!"

"...That's really terrifying."

"It's not that scary, is it? I heard that as long as you behave in front of him, there's a good chance you won't get killed."

"Then I'll try."

"Don't be greedy for small gains. Is your life more important than money?"

"My partner likes to eat rice, so I'd better save some money."

"Okay, I'll save some rice for you. You're a good man if you work hard to earn money and make sure your partner eats and dresses well."

"Thank you for your guidance," Kousaka Kyosuke said politely.

Leave.

This was the day he was most viciously attacked online.

He remembered the monster.

It seems like I've encountered this before... It's been a while since I remembered it, never mind, I'm too lazy to recall.

Immediately afterwards, Kyosuke Kosaka continued strolling with Kasumigaoka along the bustling main street.

Every now and then, they had to dodge and avoid the horns and fur of some monsters, but Kasumigaoka was laughing happily.

She kept smiling.

Kousaka Kyosuke thought it was better to let her laugh than to cry.

"Does Mr. Kyosuke, with his fierce eyes and ferocious face, have anything to say?" Kasumigaoka asked with a smile.

"I just have something I want to do."

"What's going on?"

"It's like taking a bunch of grain and selling it to that unscrupulous merchant, always making sure you sell it for a penny less than him."

"Why don't we ask other merchants about their prices?"

"Don't ask, I think the most expensive one is that of the unscrupulous merchant."

Kousaka Kyosuke said firmly.

While speaking, he kept rubbing his right thumb and forefinger together.

He had a tiny, tiny bit of a crush.

I never realized there was such a lucrative opportunity here!

Rice is a food that ordinary people cannot eat, and the channels through which it can be purchased are strictly controlled.

No wonder unscrupulous merchants inflate prices so drastically.

"So poor they have to sell their grain?" A mocking voice suddenly rang out from the side.

Kousaka Kyosuke followed the sound and looked.

Then they saw a handsome man wearing a purple hunting robe and with purple paint on his face.

It's Kuro Seimei!

Kyosuke Kosaka's face darkened: "Yeah, we're too poor. I'm planning to sell all the grain in the warehouse!"

"We'll see," Kuro Seimei said with a smile, fanning himself. "Perhaps we'll be able to drink rice-brewed sake in a while."

Why bring out the wine?

Are you trying to cause trouble?

Kousaka Kyosuke, however, noticed that Kuro Seimei wasn't threatening anyone, but rather hinting at something.

"Only the imperial palace and noble families would do rice wine brewing. It's not impossible for someone like Aori, who likes brewing, to do it..."

"Whether anyone can afford it is another matter, and the success rate of producing good wine is also quite low."

In a daze, Kousaka Kyosuke seemed to see Ori and the cat shopkeeper huddled together in a corner of a now-closed tavern, shivering in the cold wind...

Well, this technique of speaking with hidden meaning is truly worthy of a great Onmyoji!

"You'll probably never get to drink it in your lifetime."

"Hehe, not necessarily."

Kuro Seimei chuckled, then turned and left.

Kyosuke Kosaka felt that this guy was bound to get struck by lightning sooner or later; he was such a show-off.

"That person is Kuro Seimei, a truly despicable scoundrel." Kousaka Kyosuke added to the description of Kuro Seimei's wickedness, speaking to Kasumigaoka, who had been silently standing behind him.

Kasumigaoka listened quietly, the smile on his lips hard to hide.

Despite what Kyosuke Kousaka said being awful.

She was still able to understand a certain will of Kuro Seimei from the objectively narrated events.

"Onmyoji who protect yokai are truly admirable. But Onmyoji who protect both humans and yokai are even more admirable..."

Kasumigaoka thought to himself with a smile on his face.

Afterwards, the two continued shopping, and Kyosuke Kosaka bought some handicrafts for Kasumigaoka.

Like humans, yokai also possess crafting skills.

Like the drum that the moon-chasing god liked.

As she walked along a rather secluded path, Kasumigaoka remembered something else.

"Suddenly I remembered, what kind of monster is Itsumade that the merchant mentioned earlier?"

"Oh, it's a bird-like monster."

While still figuring out how to make money, Kyosuke Kousaka casually offered an explanation.

He then emphasized, "Their feathers are golden, which is why they are so popular."

Pfft!

A girl who happened to be passing by suddenly fell down.

Kyosuke Kosaka turned his head in slight surprise, and immediately saw that all the scenery of the unripe peach was slowly covered by a simple skirt that was fluttering... His surprise deepened.