Hearing Yan Xing's voice, laced with a scolding tone, the two peasants immediately stopped caressing the electric motorcycle and swiftly retreated to kneel on the ground.
Like a traveling minstrel, they called out in a melodic voice, "Great and generous Knight, you ride your enchanted steed across the wilds to our presence. Your clothing is so splendid; your helm is so strong. You carry the world's most delectable food and bestow it upon us, the lowly ones.
Having received your bounty, we wish to follow you, to become your subjects.
You provide us with food and protection, and we offer you our taxes..."
As Yan Xing listened, the corners of his eyes twitched.
An electric motorcycle that cost more than a thousand RMB had suddenly become an enchanted steed!
And they're asking me for food and protection...
Finding a sucker to feed you every day for free is your real goal, isn't it?
And offering taxes?
You're so poor you're almost out of trousers, and you still have the cheek to talk about paying taxes.
Have you ever even seen a banknote bigger than ten RMB...?
However, Yan Xing's train of thought came to a halt at that moment, for he saw the two peasants kneeling before him, respectfully opening their hands, revealing a glittering, coin-shaped metal lying in their grubby palms.
It must be copper!
Yan Xing was certain that two peasants as poor as this couldn't have Gold.
But these Gold Coins reflecting the sunlight are dazzling... making me think of the thick Gold bracelets that rich ladies in the city wear on their wrists.
The hue is exactly the same.
This just got interesting!
Yan Xing pinched the Gold Coins from the hands of the two peasants, and they chimed against each other with a pleasant ring.
Hefting them, they felt satisfyingly heavy.
Examining them closely against the sunlight... Yan Xing truly couldn't distinguish if they were real or fake.
But the pattern and lettering on the coins were exquisitely done.
The obverse of the coins featured a knight with a lance and a shield-shaped crest, surrounded by a wreath of thorns; the reverse showed an abstract figure of an Angel.
Both sides were inscribed with words Yan Xing had never seen, but recognized all the same.
"Gold blessed by God."
This made it even harder for Yan Xing to determine their authenticity.
"Hey..." Yan Xing said to the two peasants, "is this real Gold?"
"In response to the Knight!" the slightly taller peasant replied, "This is Gold blessed by God, bestowed by the laws unto every human peasant for paying weekly taxes to the Lord. This God-given Gold can only be used by the Lord and can be exchanged for territorial supplies through the laws. And only the Lord can transform God-given Gold into regular Gold for daily transactions."
So, it seems these two golden coins really are Gold Coins.
Gold Coins were the size of a one RMB coin, weighing roughly 15 to 20 grams.
Taking 15 grams as an estimate.
The market value of Gold is nearly 500 RMB per gram.
Fifteen grams times 500...
Good gracious!
A single one is seven thousand five hundred, two are fifteen thousand... and I only spent ten RMB on two burgers using coupons.
This is a seriously profitable deal.
And based on what the taller peasant said, they'll give me two Gold Coins every week in the future.
Fifteen thousand at a time, that's sixty thousand a month!
Why bother working a job then!
I could just provide for them lavishly, collecting rent on time every week.
MUAHAHAHA...
Yan Xing wanted to burst out laughing, but the laughter retreated back into his throat.
This clearly isn't the world I came from, so what use is sixty thousand a month?
Looking around at this desolate grassland where not even birds would shit, what use is collecting two Gold Coins a week?
Having two subordinates who need to eat but can only pay taxes in Gold is fucking useless!
Gold, although desirable, is inedible, undrinkable, and I can't even find a charging station to power up an electric scooter for a buck.
Yan Xing somewhat regretted giving away the two hamburgers. If possible, he truly wanted to exchange the two Gold Coins in his hand to buy back those burgers.
Now it's too late for regrets. I have to face reality.
At that moment, Yan Xing thought of what the tall farmer had said… the Lord could use this God-given Gold to purchase materials for his territory from the laws.
Let's see what I can buy first. At the very least, I need a knife for self-defense.
What are the laws?
With a thought, Yan Xing's attribute panel appeared in his field of vision.
Then he noticed that in addition to his own character attributes, there were other optional display pages.
It really is like a game!
Yan Xing wanted to click on the territory option, but when he saw there was a subject option, he clicked on it directly instead.
Inside were just two lonely names.
Farmer 1
Farmer 2
Plus a brief introduction to the farmers' attributes.
Farmer (Human Race First Order Unit, the labor force of the Human Race faction. Can be upgraded to a Second Order combat unit, Militia. Can be upgraded to a Second Order Elite Unit, Tax Collector.)
Attack: 1
Defense: 1
Damage: 1
Vitality: 1
Talent: Taxpayer (pays the Lord one God-given gold coin in taxes each week. Under the supervision of an excellent Tax Collector, they can pay more in taxes.)
Seeing the farmers' attributes of four ones, Yan Xing felt a sense of superiority looking at his own hero attributes.
As for the Taxpayer talent... Unsure if I can even go back, I've lost interest in the Gold Coins I just got.
Let's take a look at what options are available for the Lord.
But before Yan Xing could click on the Lord option, a somewhat inconspicuous button caught his attention in a corner.
"Exit"
What could this mean? Could it be to exit the game?
The next moment, Yan Xing clicked "Exit" as if guided by some divine presence.
「In an instant!」
The wasteland and the two farmers he had just recruited vanished from Yan Xing's sight, replaced by a narrow alleyway.
On both sides of the alley stood towering buildings. Garbage that hadn't been cleared away in time was piled up at the base of the walls. Ahead, a hair salon, closed for the night, had its shutter down. A kid, almost late for school and dressed in a uniform with a backpack, ran quickly past Yan Xing.
Through the gaps between the buildings above, the colossal form of an airplane in descent hastily made itself known.
Yan Xing was certain this was his city, and this alley was the path he had to take to work.
I actually returned!
At that moment, Yan Xing was straddling his small electric scooter, one foot braced against the ground, in disbelief of what he had just experienced.
But the hard sensation in his palm sped up his heartbeat.
He slowly opened his hand, and there lay two Gold Coins, silently ensuring him that what he had gone through was not an illusion.
He had not only entered an alternate world with a game-like state but had also brought back Gold.
He would receive two Gold Coins every week.
An income of sixty thousand a month; even in this city intoxicated by wealth, he could live a taste of the good life.
If I save a bit, buying a house isn't a dream!
This time, I'm truly on the path to becoming wealthy!
At this very moment, Yan Xing's phone suddenly rang.
He took it out and answered. Before he could speak, his department supervisor's roar burst from the phone, "Yan Xing, do you not want to work anymore?! Not only do you dare to be late, you also dare not answer my calls! Look how many missed calls there are! Do you know you're still on probation? I can kick you out at any time!"