Bai Erlang thudded upstairs from downstairs, "We’ve checked the back, it’s similar to this side. Don’t mention the bedding, some rooms don’t even have complete tables and chairs, and there are several chairs in the hall missing arms and legs. I say, how long has it been since anyone stayed at this post station?"

Ren Ergou could only force a flattering smile. Bai Shan pointed at the inn diagonally opposite and asked, "Is that inn run by your Post Station Steward?"

"Yes," Ren Ergou said foolishly, "Sir, this post station hasn’t had anyone stay for several years. Most officials who come here stay at the inn across the road."

Bai Shan then asked, "I see there’s another inn next door, who’s running that?"

Ren Ergou scratched his head and shook it, "No idea, but Shopkeeper Zhang is in charge next door."

Bai Shan was new here and had no idea who Shopkeeper Zhang was.

Manbao directly asked, "Who is Shopkeeper Zhang?"

Ren Ergou, "Shopkeeper Zhang is just Shopkeeper Zhang. He’s pretty friendly, sometimes when he sees me sweeping out front, he’ll greet me, so I also sweep the front of his place."

Everyone: ...

After a silent moment, Bai Shan asked, "When you sweep his area, doesn’t your Post Station Steward get mad?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"No, he doesn’t. I also sweep the front of the inn across the street."

Manbao looked at the honest Ren Ergou and couldn’t help but burst into laughter, and the others shook their heads, smiling as they discussed, "What should we do? We can’t really stay here, can we?"

They didn’t lack bedding since they had their own, but what about the soldiers and guards?

Moreover, the entire establishment had only one staff member. Forget about food; there might not even be enough hot water.

Bai Shan thought for a moment and called over Steward Li, "Go next door and ask what relationship their inn has with the defense gate lieutenant."

Steward Li was stunned, "Just ask directly?"

"Just ask directly, we’re unfamiliar with the place and don’t have time for pleasantries, just ask directly."

Steward Li agreed and turned to leave.

Bai Shan and Manbao then looked up again to evaluate the post station, curiously asking Ren Ergou, "When did your post station stop running business?"

Ren Ergou shook his head, implying he didn’t know, and added, "I thought it’d be busy when I first came, only to find out I’m the only one here, spending days sweeping and cleaning. The other person is also nowhere to be seen, but fortunately, the owner never delays wages and sends me food, which is why I’m happy."

Manbao saw the stones on the steps were fairly clean, mainly because no one had walked on them for too long, plus constant sweeping, wind and rain couldn’t keep them dirty. She simply sat on the ground and waved for him to sit down and chat.

Ren Ergou declined, letting them sit while he squatted nearby, amusedly saying, "We like to squat when chatting."

Manbao said, "We don’t like that, squatting makes the legs numb."

"That’s because you don’t know how to squat properly. Everyone in our village prefers squatting."

Seeing him so simple and young, Bai Shan smiled and asked, "How old are you this year?"

"Nineteen."

Bai Shan: "Not much older than me. Haven’t you married?"

He shook his head, laughing heartily, "My Third Brother just got married and there’s no money left at home. My mom said to wait two more years, by then if I save some money and the family contributes a bit, I’ll be able to get a wife."

"Is your home far from here? Do you think of home when you haven’t visited for a long time?"

"I do," Ren Ergou said, "My home is quite far from here, takes a day’s walk. Generally, I don’t think about it, but after work, I do. There’s nobody to talk to here, only when I go sweep outside do people say a few words."

"But the wages are high here, with food and accommodation included. The owner treats me well, never demanding work. Even if these rooms are empty, it’s no worry, but having accepted the money, I can’t idle. As my mom said, you have to work diligently outside, that’s how the owner will like you. I’ve always been diligent." Ren Ergou vaguely knew they were officials, so he racked his brain trying to praise himself, "You can check the rooms; I’ve even cleaned dust in the corners."

Manbao nodded, what could be cleaned was clean, but they forgot to ventilate, so inside there’s a musty smell.

Seeing them listening earnestly and occasionally responding, Ren Ergou felt very happy, having not talked this much to anyone in a long time. Even when his brothers came to see him, they said nothing more than "Listen well, work diligently, don’t squander money, and save up to marry."

Now these guests didn’t remind him of such things; instead, they were interested in his daily work. In this brief chat, Bai Shan and the others learned he had four brothers and three sisters at home, and that this job was obtained through his mother’s connection with his third uncle’s sibling’s second son and the Post Station Steward.

For this, his family sacrificed two sheep and two yards of stored good cloth.

The money he earns needs to first repay the sheep and cloth before he can save for his own marriage.

Bai Shan and the others also learned that his owner, oh, the Post Station Steward, generally doesn’t come here, saying a few words to him at the entrance occasionally before entering the opposite inn.

Of course, most of the time, the Post Station Steward doesn’t talk to him, just nods and goes in; hence Ren Ergou is so happy to sweep the road in front of Shopkeeper Zhang’s inn next door because Shopkeeper Zhang talks to him.

Bai Erlang held back but couldn’t help saying, "The Post Station Steward isn’t your owner. Your owner is the government, or more accurately, the County Governmental Office, or the Prefect’s Office, you know?"

Ren Ergou blankly shook his head, saying to him, "The Post Station Steward hired me and pays my salary."

Bai Erlang exclaimed, "So what? The government hasn’t even punished him for negligence yet."

Ren Ergou’s heart tightened, somewhat anxiously looking at them, "Are you going to arrest my owner?"

Though not very smart, he understood if the Post Station Steward was gone, he’d likely be out of a job at the post station.

After a moment, Bai Shan asked, "Do you know the Emperor?"

Ren Ergou nodded, "Who doesn’t know that?"

"Good," Bai Shan said earnestly, "This post station belongs to the Emperor."

Ren Ergou’s eyes widened.

"The Emperor is actually your boss. The Post Station Steward is just managing it for the Emperor, like Shopkeeper Zhang next door, just a manager," Bai Shan said, "So your salary is given by the Emperor through the Post Station Steward, and everything you eat is provided by the Emperor."

Ren Ergou was so excited that his lips trembled, "My, my boss is the Emperor?"

Manbao and Bai Erlang turned to look at Bai Shan, who nodded calmly, "That’s right, it’s the Emperor!"