The purchasing power of one écu was equivalent to around 18,000 to 19,000 renminbi on Earth. Four écus could buy a BYD Qin PLUS Honor Edition back on Earth.
A mere carriage—what kind of advanced technology did it have?
It didn’t even come with a horse, let alone a carriage system, and yet it dared to match the price of a BYD Qin PLUS Honor Edition?
More importantly, while Charlot Mecklenburg had never owned a carriage, he often rode public carriages or borrowed the private carriages of the Bretagne family. Naturally, he knew that these things were not worth that much!
The carriage broker smiled and said, “A carriage of this quality is a rare find. Sir, are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”
Charlot immediately raised his voice and declared loudly, “Find me another broker!”
The sudden outburst drew the attention of many around him. The broker’s face flushed red, and he lowered his voice, saying, “Apologies, sir! Allow me to make amends—this carriage can be yours for three écus and eight flors.”
Charlot said coldly, “I don’t want to repeat myself.”
The broker’s voice dropped even lower, “Actually, three écus will do!”
Charlot shook his head. “This is your last chance to quote me a price.”
On Earth, there was a long period when car buyers seemed masochistic, enduring aloof attitudes, contempt, markups, and months of waiting just to get their hands on a specific car brand.
Charlot found it incomprehensible. To him, vehicles were industrial products—none had epoch-defining technology. If one car didn’t work out, just get another. Why let oneself be treated like a fool?
In this era, carriages lacked technological sophistication. A carpenter could oversee the entire process, from chopping the wood to crafting the carriage. Forests surrounded the cities, and wood was virtually free, while labor was cheap. The most expensive part of a carriage was often its decorations.
Even in Strasbourg, very few could afford carriages. Made of durable wood, carriages could last for decades, sometimes passed down through three or five generations. A newly crafted carriage might take months to find a buyer.
The market for second-hand carriages was even smaller. Many people preferred paying a premium for a brand-new carriage over compromising on used ones. A practical buyer like Charlot was rare—he was not about to let anyone treat him as a fool with money to burn.
Gritting his teeth, the broker whispered, “Two écus and eight flors! I’ll throw in carriage lamps, cushions, and reins!”
Charlot nodded and said, “Recommend me a draft horse as well.”
This time, the transaction proceeded much more smoothly.
Charlot did not pick the fully golden-haired, radiant Argento horse, which looked like a divine steed from the heavens. Nor did he select the Bronay horse, a solid white breed that resembled carved marble. He also ignored the massive Shire horse. Instead, he chose a two-year-old Brabant draft horse!
In this world, due to the exorbitant cost of horses, high maintenance expenses, and the prevalence of extraordinary abilities, knights emerged as a symbol of elite martial strength, but large-scale cavalry never developed. Nearly 90% of all horses were bred as heavy draft horses.
The Ingrima Empire had a saying: “More horses pull carts than carry riders.”
The Brabant draft horse was considered medium-sized among draft horses, with average strength. Even so, it stood over two pimis tall—far larger than most horses on Earth.
Hardy and unpicky eaters, Brabant horses could go hungry for a few days without issue. Although not as strong as other breeds, they had excellent endurance and decent speed. Their only flaw was their mixed coloring—chestnut, brown, bay, gray, and black often blended into patchy coats, making them less aesthetically pleasing. As a result, they were priced lower than other draft horses.
This two-year-old Brabant horse cost Charlot two écus. The broker even threw in a year’s worth of hay.
Typically, horses on the Old Continent lived for 30 to 50 years. With proper care, they could outlast a carriage and serve three generations or more.
Charlot’s purchase of the carriage and draft horse had already drawn attention.
A woman in her thirties, strong and resolute-looking, stepped into his path. She wore clean but slightly worn clothing and spoke, “Sir! Do you need a coachwoman?”
“I have excellent driving skills, low wages, and can even handle odd jobs like cleaning.”
“I really need this job. Would you consider hiring me?”
Charlot hesitated slightly. The woman lowered her voice and added, “The broker here can vouch for me.”
The broker hesitated, then said, “Mrs. Nancy is a better driver than many men. Her previous employer was extremely satisfied with her and even offered her a lifetime contract. However, due to a failed gold mine investment in the New Continent, her employer had to sell off assets to cover the loss, including releasing Mrs. Nancy from her contract.”
Charlot asked, “Madam, what’s your weekly wage?”
Mrs. Nancy bit her lip and replied, “Eighty-five centimes.”
The price was a bit steep, but Charlot didn’t object. Smiling, he asked, “Would you accept a short-term trial?”
Mrs. Nancy quickly agreed, “I would.”
Sylvie Martin’s weekly salary was also 85 centimes, but Sylvie had graduated from Behemoth National Academy, so her high wage was justified.
For a coachwoman like Mrs. Nancy to command the same salary, there could be only one explanation: she was originally trained as a high-level coachwoman in a noble household.
Most people wouldn’t even consider hiring a female driver. Mrs. Nancy was likely a “personal requirement” of a noblewoman.
Given her expensive salary, it was naturally hard for her to find work again. Charlot himself had only recently earned a weekly wage of one flor and seventy centimes. Mrs. Nancy’s pay was close to half the income of a forty-first-ranked imperial civil servant.
Charlot chose an old carriage and a budget-friendly draft horse because overspending on such things was meaningless—aside from appearances, they offered no real improvement in comfort.
However, the comfort provided by a high-level coachwoman was a different story. Though Mrs. Nancy’s price was steep, Charlot was willing to trial her for a week.
After settling all expenses, Charlot happily climbed into his new carriage. Mrs. Nancy donned the coachwoman’s hat and, with a deft flick of her wrist, drove the Brabant horse smoothly out of the carriage market.
Her driving skills were indeed excellent—fast yet stable.
Charlot half-reclined inside the carriage, taking in the decor. This luxurious four-wheeled carriage appeared custom-made and was slightly longer than typical models, certainly exceeding eight pimis.
The interior was divided into two compartments. The front, roughly six pimis long, was the owner’s cabin. The rear, about two pimis square, was for servants and luggage. It featured a fully enclosed design, unlike ordinary carriages with open luggage racks.
On either side of the owner’s cabin were bright crystal glass windows, crafted using high-level alchemy—absurdly expensive. The broker’s claim that its original price was five écus and three flors was likely true.
In addition to two opposing rows of seats, the previous owner had whimsically designed a small “study” in the rear of the owner’s cabin. Though compact, it included a desk, bookshelf, sofa chair, and even a slot for a kerosene lamp.
Charlot particularly liked this design. Normally, nobles would have installed a soft bed in this space.
Charlot had intended to head home but changed his mind. Opening the communication pipe, he said, “Mrs. Nancy, take me to Gorgias University.”