Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"Look at Blake; he was always helpful when we were neighbors, smart and resourceful. Last time he came back, he even brought me a gift. If you had half his thoughtfulness, you wouldn't be in this mess..."

His wife continued to nag, constantly praising the neighbor's virtues.

Walter fell into thought.

Asking a friend for help, to be honest, was a bit embarrassing, especially a friend who was doing so well.

But then he thought again.

Although his friend's success was heartbreaking, his nagging wife was even more unbearable.

After hesitating for a long time, Walter said weakly, "I'll go see him tomorrow... Stop nagging and go cook."

......

The next day, inside a café in the inner city.

Walter and Blake sat side by side.

Walter was still wearing his usual worn-out clothes, looking particularly awkward in the luxurious Starbucks café.

Everyone around him was well-dressed and composed.

He could hear elegant conversations, and he could vaguely make out that they were talking about something important.

Blake, his friend of many years, glanced at him, a hint of a smile on his face.

After two cups of coffee were served, Blake said, "You're lucky today; you caught me at home. Usually, I'm out busy with clients and rarely have time."

Walter smiled shyly, "You... you're doing so well now?"

"It's alright, it's just a good time right now." Blake picked up the coffee and took a sip, his eyes slightly narrowed as if savoring the rich aroma of the coffee. "Back when Holy City was in turmoil, we made some money, and then the Da Jing people started doing construction in Holy City, right?"

"I took advantage of having some money and bought a lot of sand, stone, and wood. The business is okay now. Others eat meat, and I can drink some soup."

The city was full of construction, how much wood would that need, how much money would that make?

Walter felt bitter in his heart and took a sip of his coffee.

But as soon as it entered his mouth, he choked. An extremely bitter, astringent, and slightly sour taste spread in his mouth. Fortunately, he endured it and swallowed it down.

The taste and texture felt exceptionally inferior...

Seeing this, Blake teased, "Not good?"

Walter muttered, "It's too bitter and sour."

"You really have no taste, the life of a poor man! This is coffee shipped from Da Jing, even the emperor drinks it. Now, the upper class in Holy City drinks the most bitter stuff, the more bitter, the better!" Blake waved to the counter, "Bring some milk and sugar."

A can of milk and a can of sugar were immediately brought over.

Blake picked up the can of sugar and the can of milk and poured them into his coffee cup.

Walter was speechless, "Aren't you upper class? Why are you adding sugar too?"

"Damn, I don't like drinking it so bitter either, but with my current status, I have to pretend!" Blake said, pushing the sugar can over. "I'm connected with Mr. Hope now, and people in the same circle all drink this bitter stuff. Would it be appropriate for me to add sugar?"

Walter was surprised, "You even know Hope? He's not an ordinary figure!"

"That's right!" Blake smiled triumphantly. "I know a lot of important people now and know a lot of things. Having money is good; it broadens your horizons. Unlike before, lying there doing nothing."

"But to be honest, it's quite tiring. I'm doing construction, running around all day, eating and drinking lavishly, and finding women in different ways, which is exhausting me... I'm full of ailments."

Faced with his old friend's subtle boasting, Walter lowered his head deeply.

"Alright, let's talk about you. You usually don't like to talk. This time, you took the initiative to find me, so there must be something going on, right?"

Walter nodded, "There's something... They've built new houses in the slums, you know? Our place is just across the street from the new community. Now, we can't get a house, mainly because the family wants the child to attend a school run by Da Jing. You're capable now; is there a way to help me change the household registration on the yellow register?"

Hearing this, Blake laughed.

"You've come to the right person. I supplied the materials for the houses in that community. This little thing is naturally easy to handle, but do you have money?"

"We're friends; do you still need money? Isn't it just..."

"Stop!" Blake's face turned stern. "You kid, you deserve to be poor! Do you understand the principle of business is business? Besides, I don't want to take your money; this money is for you to grease someone's palms."

"I'm helping you, and you're unhappy about mentioning money! If we hadn't known each other for over twenty years and were neighbors, I really wouldn't bother with you!"

Walter was ashamed, "I didn't mean that. Of course, I'm willing to spend money, but you know I don't have that much..."

"Back during the turmoil, I asked you to go rob money with me, but you didn't! Relying on having read a bit, you started putting on airs, and now you can't even live in a decent house." Blake scolded without hesitation, "Why did you even study? Either study hard or be a gangster like me. If you do well as a gangster, you can even get a clean slate."

"Now you're stuck in the middle, achieving nothing. I'm saying you have to choose one path! What do you mean by standing in the middle? You're really beyond redemption!"

"Beyond... beyond what redemption?" Walter stammered.

Originally, he didn't dare to look up after being scolded by his friend, but the other party suddenly said something in a foreign language, which really confused him.

"This is Da Jing language. Upper-class people mix languages now! Do you understand? You've even studied."

Walter's face flushed, and he said angrily, "Are you going to help me or not! Did I come here today to listen to your lectures?"

"Alright, I won't say anymore, saying too much will hurt our feelings." Blake tapped the table, "Just tell me how much money you can come up with?"

"About ten silver coins."

"Oh! I can't tell; you're quite good at saving. But ten silver coins are a bit short..." Blake pondered.

"Ten isn't enough! Isn't it just changing the household registration?"

"Stop joking, it's not just about changing the household registration; they also have to sell you the house in their hands!"

"Isn't the house given away for free?"

"Yes, it's given to them, not to you! They consider it a windfall, but you still have to pay to buy it!" Blake explained, "And I'm telling you, the people who get the house also have a property certificate. The address on your household registration has to match the address on the property certificate for the child to be able to attend school; otherwise, it won't work."

"Otherwise, do you think the Da Jing people are stupid? The school is so big, and the benefits are so good. Too many people want to find loopholes to get in, so they're also guarding against it."

Walter was dumbfounded. He originally thought it would be simple to change the record on the yellow register, but he didn't expect it to be so complicated.

"Then... what if I don't have enough money?"

"Hmm... how about this, I'll help you make up the difference. Aren't you working? Just pay me back later." Blake said casually, "But there's another problem. Back when they made the yellow register in Holy City, weren't you and your wife registered together?"

"We're husband and wife, of course, we were registered together. What's wrong?"

"Tsk! That won't work either! Others will see there's a problem, and the child still won't be able to go to school. And if two people change it at the same time, you'll have to spend double the money."

"Damn it! Why is this so difficult?" Walter was almost going crazy.

Just because he lived in the wrong place, just because there was a street separating them, his life actually had so many obstacles!

When the old Pope was here, a wall separated the rich and the poor, but now that the Da Jing people have come, they only used a piece of paper to erect an invisible wall in his life!

They even saved on the bricks!

"Don't worry, let me think." Blake pondered, drawing circles on the edge of his coffee cup with his finger.

After a long time, he raised his eyebrows and said, "How about... you divorce your wife?"

......