Chapter 121 The Merchant Who Relieved Himself Everywhere
Zachary's smile grew wider as he announced, "These carriages belong to Henry. You can ride into the city for three steel coins each."
"Steel coins? What's that? Aren't they copper coins?" Soro was bewildered.
"You'll find out once you're on the carriage."
Zachary waved for a carriage, leaving the merchants in confusion.
"Shall we know if we ride on?" Soro hailed a carriage.
"Sir, do you want a ride? Three steel coins to Eldoria." the driver politely offered.
"What are steel coins?" Soro inquired. "I've never heard of it."
The driver chuckled proudly, "Those are the coins Henry invented for us commoners. One copper coin can be exchanged for ten steel coins, and you can buy a lot with them. Five steel coins can get you a big meat hamburger."
"Can I exchange my copper coins for your steel coins?" Soro asked, intrigued by the idea of a meat hamburger.
"Of course, please get on the carriage," the driver courteously invited.
Henry had made it clear that overloading was not allowed, as it would tire the horses. Once, a driver had taken extra passengers for more coins and was fined three times the fare, which was quite embarrassing.
Soro exchanged his copper coins for steel coins and marveled at their craftsmanship.
Gael, on the other hand, was displeased. He thought, 'It's just a carriage ride. Why is father taking so long to speak? Our family is in the transportation business, and I heard he has over fifty carriages.'
"Incredible!" Soro exclaimed, seeing the potential in the steel coins.
"Unfortunately, no one can replicate them unless..." Soro shook his head, realizing some things were better left unsaid.
Despite seeing the opportunity, the merchants eventually gave up. They couldn't produce exquisite steel coins.
"Terrible city," Gael remarked, looking at Eldoria's dilapidated walls. "It's far inferior to the Royal City."
Soro also found Eldoria's walls needing improvement. They hadn't been renovated in years, and compared to other cities he had visited, Eldoria's condition ranked among the bottom three.
The driver became a bit displeased. What's the matter? Are they looking down on Eldoria? Once they entered the city, they would be amazed by the transformation.
Henry had mentioned that the city walls would be rebuilt next year, and Eldoria would be grand and beautiful.
Everyone believed with Henry, everything would improve. He was better than the former noble - Carter.
The merchants, who had initially scorned Eldoria, were now in awe, their mouths agape at the wide, flat, and clean roads, surpassing even the Royal City.
Soro was speechless. Not only did the roads surpass those of the Royal City, but the neatly aligned houses on both sides exuded tidiness.
What amazed Soro the most was the cleanliness. There was no trash or foul odor in the air except for the stench emanating from the merchants themselves.
Soro abruptly realized that even the scent clinging to the carriage driver was more agreeable than his own.
Just three days without bathing, a circumstance commonplace in the past - even extending it to periods of a month or two didn't evoke any sense of discomfort or wrongness. But for unknown reasons, he now felt embarrassed.
After witnessing the driver sporadically pinching his nose, Soro wanted for an immediate bath and exchange a suit of new clothes.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Hey, you! Have you no manners? Can't you find a proper place to relieve yourself?"
Soro turned to see a well-dressed, chubby man, one of the fellow merchants, squatting in a corner, relieving himself.
In the Royal City, it was common for people to find a corner to do it. Why was this old man so angry, as if the merchant had committed a heinous act?
Zachary, who was leading the way, recognized the shouting man was Vincent.
Vincent was furious. What kind of person? Even his own grandson knew that one should use a restroom for such matters. Only dogs would defecate everywhere.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! Haven't you been taught any manners? Only dogs relieve themselves wherever they please," Vincent retorted. He couldn't let some people ruin the good management of Eldoria.
"But isn't everyone..." The merchant squatting there, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, couldn't comprehend the current predicament. In the Royal City, his actions had always gone unrestricted, but here, why was he prohibited from relieving himself?
Several other traders and servants who were equally in need were struck dumbfounded as well. Was his intention to cause their demise by holding relief? Initially, they were considering the solace of a secluded corner to relieve themselves.
"What do you mean, everyone? You are the sole offender!" Vincent erupted in wrath. It was once tolerable when everyone indiscriminately executed such deeds out of naivety, and Vincent himself was no stranger to such conduct. But in the face of the advent of public restrooms, such action was absolutely intolerable.
The merchant's face turned red. Anyone would feel embarrassed being stared at defecating, let alone being scolded by others.
"What about me? Can't you see that sign?" Vincent pointed to a wooden sign by the road, shouting, "Can't you read it? It clearly says 'No defecating' in public. Use the public restroom provided. There's even an arrow pointing to the restroom. Are you a dog?"
Illiterate? No, that was an improbability. Each merchant present was well-acquainted with the written word. The endeavor of doing business would indeed be virtually unachievable without the fundamental ability to read.
The merchant turned his head and saw the sign. It was written as Vincent had said, with an arrow indicating the direction of the public restroom. There was even a drawing of a man and a woman, with a sign of excrement below, a clear sign indeed.
What was this?
