In the spring breeze, willow catkins stick to the carriage. Half a li away from Huayuan, how many people are coming from afar?
Zhang Zhong's team finally arrived at a place half a li away from the county town of Huayuan after a bumpy journey. There was also an earthen wall made of mud and grass. In this season, there was also a spring rain, so there were weeds growing on the wall.
Zhang Zhong pointed the monocular clairvoyance that Zhang Xiaobao asked for at the three people standing outside the city gate. Two of them were wearing the uniform of yamen runners, and the other one was standing with his hands behind his back. They must be the people who were here to pick him up.
There were only three people. Compared to when Jia Shang arrived at Sanshui County, there were fewer people. Well, just a little.
Zhang Zhong put down the clairvoyance and hesitated whether he should send someone to inform the three people or go directly to meet them. It was impossible for the three people not to see such a large team from half a li away. Why didn't they come over?
Zhang Xiaobao didn't care about this kind of thing. Less than 300 meters away, he had already seen the three people. He lifted the curtain of the carriage and said to the people outside, "Continue to move forward."
The team, which had already slowed down, returned to normal. This short journey only took a few dozen breaths. When the team arrived outside the city, the three people looked at each other, and under the lead of the person with his hands behind his back, came forward to welcome them.
"Is the person in the carriage the new county magistrate? His surname is Zhang Zhong, Lord Zhang? I'm the Huayuan County's Cangji Officer. My surname is He. Due to the busy affairs in the county, I was sent by the deputy county magistrate and the chief minister to pick you up personally.
Thank you for your hard work, "the person with his hands behind his back came to the front of the carriage and said to the carriage with the most obvious sign. When Zhang Zhong heard this official position, he felt a little helpless. They actually sent a seventh class Cangji Officer to pick him up. Thinking of what County Magistrate Cheng said, Zhang Zhong still walked out of the carriage.
"So it's He Cang's plan. It doesn't matter. My home is nearby. It's just a few steps away. Since the county is busy, we should go and hand over everything first. It's faster to have more people to do things."
While speaking, Zhang Zhong didn't take the carriage anymore. He directly walked forward. The twenty borrowed guards immediately surrounded Zhang Zhong, frightening the two yamen runners who wanted to approach him. These twenty people were all wearing leather armor, with knives on their waists and leather bags on their backs. Without opening the bags, one could tell that they were crossbows just by looking at the outside.
The two bailiffs were secretly shocked. That He Cangji was quite knowledgeable. He smiled and said to Zhang Zhong: "Daren, the bodyguard of the Wang Mansion is really different. There are some things in the county that are not easy to deal with. With such a brave warrior, I think the county will be much more stable."
"Oh? Could it be that there were bandits here? The yamen runners in the county are not easy to deal with? "Zhang Zhong showed a surprised expression and deliberately exaggerated his question.
He Cangji quickly waved his hand: "Daren, what are you talking about? The new policy of the dynasty is peaceful. How could there be bandits near the capital? It's because there are too few yamen runners. They can't travel fast enough. The deputy county magistrate and the secretary are discussing whether to hire more yamen runners to listen to Daren's orders."
At this time, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also got off the carriage and squeezed beside Zhang Zhong. When they heard He Cangji say that they were hiring yamen runners, they looked at each other and smiled. They thought of what happened when Jia Shan came here in plain clothes. The yamen runners used one move and spent the last bit of money. Could it be that Huayuan County also wanted to learn this?
Zhang Zhong also thought of this point, but he didn't care. If he had money, he would spend it according to the way he had money. If he didn't have money, everyone had no money. He wasn't like Jia Shan who relied on the yamen's money. He had enough money at home.
At this moment, Weiwei nodded and didn't say anything about this matter. He Cangji also didn't mention it at the right time and talked about some trivial things in the county.
Zhang Zhong listened as they walked and occasionally asked a few questions. He learned this from County Magistrate Cheng and never talked too much about things he wasn't familiar with.
Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao followed with their little legs and looked at the situation in the county. The spring plowing in Sanshui County had already ended, but there were still a few people working here. Although it was not as prosperous as Sanshui County, there were still many people. There were shops and stalls on both sides of the street and the sound of hawking could be heard from time to time.
When the people in the county bought things, they bartered. Unlike in Sanshui County, they could carry a few coins with them. There was also a difference in their complexion. They were not as rosy as the people in Sanshui County. This was not only a matter of food, but more of a matter of mentality.
"It's not bad. It's easy to get results in this kind of place. We just need to improve a little." Wang Juan pulled Zhang Xiaobao and moved her lips.
Zhang Xiaobao also felt the same. "What we need to solve now is the problem of team unity. It's more convenient to do things when the government is unified. It depends on what the original people want. They sent a mediocre official and two absent-minded yamen runners to welcome us. How can such yamen runners want to do things?"
"Maybe there are people who are willing to do things?" Wang Juan looked at the bright side.
"Who cares? Only a fierce dragon will cross the river. Since we're here, we don't plan to start everything smoothly. We'll go to the yamen later. We'll live behind it and repair the house."
As Zhang Xiaobao was talking, he saw a seven or eight-year-old child holding a chicken. He stuck a straw stick on the chicken and left the crowd. He jumped over and asked, "How much is the chicken?"
The child looked at Zhang Xiaobao first. When he saw Zhang Xiaobao's clothes, his eyes lit up and said, "70 coins. I won't sell it for less."
"70 coins is a bit expensive, but this chicken seems to be able to lay eggs. Why are you selling a chicken that lays eggs? Isn't it better to keep it to lay eggs and sell them? "
Zhang Xiaobao was not like other rich young masters who didn't know how much things cost. In Sanshui County, he could give an accurate price according to the quality of things. A chicken like this in Sanshui County was usually 58 to 62 coins, depending on the size.
Wang Juan also came over and asked, "Yes, keep it to lay eggs. Is it because this chicken doesn't lay eggs? It shouldn't be. Is it because it lays soft eggs? Don't worry, go to the river and get some river snails for it to eat. The eggs will be hard. "
"My mother is sick. I'll sell the chicken to buy medicine for my mother. 70 coins can buy three sets. I'll buy some meat for my mother with the rest of the money." The child gently touched the chicken's neck with his hand. The chicken cooed twice at its owner.
Zhang Xiaobao stared at the child's eyes for a while and nodded. He told Erniu, who had been following him for a long time, "Give him 200 coins and cut a piece of meat from the cart."
When Er Niu heard the order, he turned around and went to get it. Zhang Xiaobao said to the child, "Take the chicken back. I will give you money to get the medicine. Hold on for a few months. After a few months, life will get better."
After saying that, Zhang Xiaobao pulled Wang Juan and turned to walk back. The child suddenly asked, "Why are you so good to me?"
"No reason, I'm willing." Zhang Xiaobao said without turning his head.
This scene was seen by Zhang Zhong and He Cangji. Zhang Zhong didn't do anything and let his son do whatever he wanted. He Cangji, however, asked Zhang Xiaobao,
"Little Young Master, even if you can help him, so what? There are too many things like this in the county. Why don't we make Huayuan County like Sanshui County? The lives of the people will naturally be better. "
"I don't understand these things. I just know that they are the people of Huayuan County. Great love helps one side, small love helps one person. If I don't have the thought of small love, how can I say great love? I'm still young and don't have the ability to love, so I'll do small love. "
Zhang Xiaobao raised his head and said to He Cangji.
He Cangji was shocked when he heard that. He looked at Zhang Zhong. He felt that this must be what the new county magistrate taught the child. Otherwise, how could such a child know so many things?
"Lord Zhang really loves the people as his own children. He actually teaches the child such words of love. I admire him." He Cangji cupped his hands and said to Zhang Zhong.
"Well said, well said." Zhang Zhong laughed. He didn't teach his son such things.
At this time, Erniu had already handed the money and the meat to the child. The meat weighed five kilograms, so it was very difficult for the child to carry it. With the addition of the money, the child had no choice but to hang the money on his shoulder and cover it with his clothes. He held the meat with both hands and let the chicken follow him.
He didn't leave directly. He wanted to know who was so good to him. He squeezed forward and happened to see an official of the yamen bowing to another person. He mustered up his courage and asked the guard beside him, "Who is the child who gave me the thing?"
"The young master of the new county magistrate's family. Go back quickly to get the medicine for your mother. You will have a good life in the future." The guard didn't take any precautions against the child and said casually.
"Oh, I know." The child carefully looked at Zhang Xiaobao and Zhang Zhong, turned around and left. He said to the chicken, "Hua Hua, let's go home. I won't sell it to you." The hen cooed and followed behind, pecking at the ground from time to time.
"Lord Zhang, the deputy county magistrate and the registrar shouldn't have returned to the yamen yet. Do you want to go to the restaurant to eat first, or …?" He Cangji asked Zhang Zhong. His tone seemed to be more respectful.
"There's no hurry to eat. Let's wait at the yamen and see where we will live in the future." Zhang Zhong had brought a few carriages this time. He had to distribute the meat on the carriages as soon as possible. Otherwise, it would spoil after a long time.
He didn't prepare much meat. Each yamen runner could get about 20 kilograms. The rest was to be frozen and used to cook at home in the next few days.
He Cangji didn't say much about this matter. He led the way and arrived at the yamen.
Sure enough, it was as dilapidated as he had imagined. The beating drum was gone, and the side of the drum was cracked open. The door of the yamen was half closed and half open. Not only was the paint peeling off, the wood was almost rotting. One of the copper rings on the door was broken, and the other one was missing.
People didn't want to enter this yamen. He Cangji blushed and said, "Sir, the yamen doesn't have much money. We also need to help the people in the county. Therefore, we don't have enough money to repair the yamen."
"Okay!" Zhang Zhong grunted and looked back at his son. Zhang Xiaobao didn't seem to feel anything. He still seemed to be curious.
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