Chapter 4: The God in the Village Temple
During the Great Yan Dynasty, commerce flourished like never before. As Jade Cloud Corridor was a major road, there were many teahouses and inns along the way, especially teahouses.
Teahouses were essential necessities along official roads.
The number of teahouses increased as one headed toward Yidu.
These teahouses not only provided a place to rest and quench one’s thirst but some even offered simple meals which were far better than the dry rations carried by travelers. The quality of tea provided had various grades; from plain salted water to a better brew with a hint of tea flavor. For those willing to pay extra, one could drink tea as brewed in the city. As for the taste, it depended on the skill and conscience of the teahouse owner.
Song You had not walked far when he spotted a crowded teahouse ahead. The steam rising from stacked bamboo trays was no small temptation for travelers in the wilderness. He walked over and sat down. Then he ordered a bowl of tea and two steamed pancakes. Only then, did he open the money pouch given to him by the merchants.
Inside lay pieces of silver, their weights unknown.
Roughly estimated, they seemed to be around ten or so taels in total.
Silver had only become a common currency in this world during the current dynasty. This was convenient for long distance travelers like Song You. Before this, the people seldom used silver for business. At present, people still mainly used the Great Yan common currency, the copper coin known as "wen." When silver was used, it was converted into the equivalent amount of copper coins in terms of value. During his previous descent from the mountain, one tael of silver was worth nearly a thousand two hundred wen.
When he left yesterday, he had nearly emptied the temple’s savings. He carried a total of nineteen taels of silver as well as a string of copper coins. His old Daoist master wouldn’t be able to descend the mountain and buy meat for some time.