Knight: Becoming King of the World

Secondly, while commoners’ jobs included meals, and they might earn a little more if lodging wasn’t provided, it was easy to imagine the quality of that food.

But they were different. Though it wasn’t as good as the army’s fare, they frequently had all sorts of meat.

They were provided with clothes for all four seasons, and families with many members received subsidies for grain and clothing.

Was there any comparison? None at all! Their lives were worlds apart.

Take Old Tom, for example. He worked in the third division of the tax department, responsible for tax collection in Westwood Laine’s North City. For each shop and Workshop, Civil Servants would first compile the data. A director would then calculate the amount, the division chief would assign the tax bracket, and finally, it would go to the department head for final approval. The Civil Affairs Department recorded the decision, and the Inspection Department audited it.

It might seem like the Civil Servants and the director didn’t have much power, but that wasn’t true. Even without outright corruption, there were many ways to maneuver.

If a Civil Servant was "too busy" and collected the tax a few days late, it was no problem at all, and a business owner with tight cash flow would be endlessly grateful.

’I won’t accept a gift as thanks, but if I come to your restaurant, you can give me a discount. No one can say a thing. If my family sells the produce I bought cheap, again, no one can say a thing.’

Little Tom looked a bit awkward. He did have money, and his salary wasn’t low, but he had invested it all.

"Father, I’ve found a business opportunity. The more money I invest, the more I’ll earn in the future."

Alarm bells went off in Old Tom’s head. When it came to making big money, nine times out of ten, it was a scam.

"How much did you invest?"

"Sixteen Dinars."

Old Tom’s eyes went wide. "Where did you get that much money? And what kind of opportunity needs even more than that?"

Little Tom waved his hand dismissively. "I sold the subsidized grain and clothes.

The Earl’s Domain is undergoing major construction right now, and the population is growing. Westwood Laine is bound to become a big city like Odoche, and when that happens, houses will be worth a fortune.

Right now, many of the multi-story buildings are selling rooms that can house four people for only ten Dinars. In the future, they’ll be worth tens, even hundreds of Dinars!

Officials aren’t allowed to engage in commerce, but there’s no rule against buying houses.

In the future, whether we sell or rent them out, it’ll be a huge source of income!"

The more Little Tom spoke, the brighter his eyes became. "Father, your salary is fifty Su a month, my mother makes twenty Su a month at the Civil Affairs Department’s cafeteria, and I make thirty Su a month. That’s one Dinar a month right there!

Our food and clothing are all provided, so we don’t have to spend our own money, and we don’t need to buy anything extra. If you factor in the subsidized goods, overtime pay, and bonuses, we can save nearly three Dinars a month!

Our family’s savings must be at least forty Dinars by now, right? That’s all potential houses!"

Old Tom’s expression softened. According to Little Tom’s reasoning, it really did sound like a business opportunity.

His second son and youngest daughter were still young. Her schooling would cost money. His second son wanted to be a soldier and join Lord Henry’s army. As their father, he would have to find a good instructor to train him beforehand and make sure he ate well to build up his strength. All of that cost money.

"But what does this have to do with a major crisis?"

Little Tom looked at him with sheer disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe his father could be so slow-witted.

"Father, the treasury’s revenue is soaring, the population has suddenly exploded, and the grain trade is bound to increase dramatically. When money flows, the city will inevitably prosper, attracting more people to move here.

When more people move in, more jobs are needed. More jobs mean more people earning money, which leads to increased consumption and even greater trade volume.

It’s a repeating cycle, so there will never be enough housing. Yes, it’s an opportunity, but it’s also a crisis."

Old Tom stared blankly at his son, a little dazed, a little gratified. ’The boy... he’s grown up. And he has vision. He’ll have a better future than me.’

"Mm, that is indeed a problem. Jobs don’t just appear out of thin air, and those business owners aren’t fools.

If too many people can’t find a way to make a living, they’ll form gangs, or be hired as thugs by those business owners, or even become tenant farmers for the big landowners and headmen in the surrounding villages."

"Exactly! That’s why, within the next few months, there will definitely be a purge within the Earl’s Domain."

Old Tom nodded in agreement. Opportunity, and crisis.

"I agree. I’ll give you all the money. Go buy the houses. Don’t forget to get them notarized. Don’t get swindled."

Seeing his father agree with his plan, Little Tom couldn’t hide his delight. He said with a beaming face, "Don’t worry, Father. The houses are being sold directly by the Civil Affairs Department, so of course they’re notarized."

Watching his son leave happily, Old Tom couldn’t help but shake his head, but an unavoidable smile crept onto his lips.

Little Tom’s words had also served as a reminder. He followed his son’s line of thinking and realized that his family had a chance to become a family of minor nobility in three generations.

As long as he didn’t make any mistakes, he could at least ensure his eldest son would become a director. If his eldest son was capable enough, becoming a division chief wasn’t out of the question.

’His second son joining the army... well, as long as he’s safe, that’s what matters.’

’His youngest daughter should preferably marry a small business owner. That way, her future would be secure.’

In that case, when his eldest son married and had children, his grandson would be born into a wealthy family. With earlier education and training, his wisdom and physique would far surpass those of ordinary people.

If he continued in the system of officials, as long as they remained steady, by the fourth generation, the family would have already grown and spread its branches.

At Lord Henry’s pace of development, Westwood Laine’s prosperity would surely rival that of Xilonia and Autongard by then. All they would need to do is sell a few houses, and they could buy a plot of land in a village and become minor landowners.

At that point, with property in the city and land outside it, after several generations of accumulation, it would be easy to donate their way to an honorary noble title.

Once they reached that step, his, Old Tom’s, family would have brought honor to their ancestors and could be considered a family of minor nobility.

After that, they could groom the fifth generation to become a Knight, serving as an Attendant to Lord Henry’s descendants. Becoming a noble Knight family, a true family of minor nobility, would be just around the corner!

This beautiful fantasy was shattered by a knock on the door. Snapping back to reality, Old Tom accepted a new stack of documents and threw himself back into his work.

After a busy day, he returned home from work to see his eldest son fast asleep, his little daughter reading a book, and his second son lifting stones to build his strength. He felt like his life was complete.

Truly complete!

"Father!"

"Father."

Before Old Tom could even speak with his children, his wife pulled him into another room.

"Our son said you were giving him all our money. I didn’t believe him, so I haven’t given it to him yet. I’m asking you, did you really say that or not?"

Old Tom smiled, not expecting his wife to be so cautious. He said to her, "I did indeed."

His wife frowned, somewhat displeased. "Can we just spend that money recklessly? That’s the money for our son’s bride price. Besides, if you want a promotion later, won’t you have to give some gifts to your superiors? That all costs money."

Hearing this, Old Tom was so startled he waved his hands frantically and said sternly, "What gifts? Don’t you ever say such things again!

Promotions and transfers for officials are strictly managed! They’re rigorously approved by the Civil Affairs Department and the Inspection Department. What does it have to do with my superiors?

And don’t you mention giving gifts. Bribing an official and accepting a bribe are the same crime!"

His wife didn’t dare to argue. She didn’t understand these things; she had only heard that officials in other places were like that.

"Then what about our son’s marriage?"

Exasperated by her shortsightedness, Old Tom said, "Are you dense? We’re letting our son use this money to buy houses. In the future, whether we rent them out or sell them, we won’t be short on cash.

As long as the family has money, as long as our son has money, what kind of wife couldn’t he find? Maybe our son will even be able to marry a nobleman’s daughter one day!"

Old Tom used to be a primary school teacher, so he was already considered one of the empire’s intellectuals. Sometimes he was just limited by his own way of thinking, but once that barrier was broken, he could see everything clearly.

Seeing his wife still didn’t understand, Old Tom recounted what Little Tom had said that day and explained his own vision. His wife was left dumbfounded by his explanation.

’Good heavens,’ she thought, ’could life really get that good?’

"Is that really true? What if we spend all our family’s money and can’t earn it back? What if Westwood Laine’s development isn’t as good as you two imagine?"

"It won’t be. You have to believe in the Count’s abilities!"