Every year, the night was like this. What was different was the mood. This year, the people of Huayuan finally had a good New Year. There was a lot of food at home. They even dared to make dumplings with meat fillings. The table was not like last year, when there were only a few simple things.
The adults and the children had new clothes made and bought firecrackers. When the firecrackers sounded, it was accompanied by the children's laughter. The cold night seemed to be full of joy.
Many people first kowtowed in the direction of the yamen before they started to eat the dumplings. The dumplings with pork and onion fillings were taken out of the pot and piled on the plate. They were dipped in garlic sauce and took a bite. The fragrance was overflowing, and the children grinned as they ate.
The adults were also happy. From time to time, they told their children to remember County Magistrate Zhang. Without County Magistrate Zhang, there would be no good days now. They would not be able to eat meat dumplings with white flour, set off firecrackers, and receive candies from every family during the New Year.
Some people even set up a longevity tablet for Zhang Zhong, praying that the Zhang family would be safe and sound forever.
Zhang Zhong did not know that the people treated him like this. He was leading a few yamen runners to visit the poor families in the county. When he visited a family, he would chat with them for a while, ask about their lives and trifles at home. He would also eat a dumpling.
After making a big circle, the sound of firecrackers gradually subsided. Zhang Zhong began to regret that he ate too much at home. After eating a circle of dumplings, his stomach was full. Some people did not like to be jealous. They only had soy sauce, so they were sick of it. There were all kinds of fillings.
When he returned to the yamen, he ate a lot of Shancha pills. After a while, he felt better. He talked with the people of the Wang family about the future and waited for dawn.
*****
When the firecrackers of the new year gradually faded away, the people returned to their normal lives. The affairs of Chengzhou also began. The imperial court sent many officials and promoted some from several counties. However, the six county magistrates all wrote memorials, saying that they still wanted to be county magistrates. The county affairs were not settled yet.
Li Xun ran over early in the morning. He was very excited. He found Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, who were still training people. He said to the two of them, "Let me tell you something good. I'm sick. According to a local prescription, I need to soak in the sea and eat more seafood to get better."
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan immediately understood. Li Xun had convinced his family to follow them. Zhang Xiaobao shook his head helplessly. "Why bother? It's not easy to travel back and forth. If you don't get used to the food and lodging and get sick, it'll be troublesome. "
"I'm not afraid. You're not afraid. I'm an adult, what's there to be afraid of? As long as I follow you, I won't have to worry about food and lodging. Your family knows how to enjoy life. How can it be bad? "
Li Xun had made up his mind to follow them. He was not worried about any danger. When he talked about following them, he suddenly said to the two of them, "Guess where Xiao Bao's father will go? Assistant Minister Lu is quite capable. He found a group of people to write memorials saying that your father should be punished.
He said that your father should be placed in a better place. He said that Lu Zhou's place is not bad. In addition, your family found people to do some work. The Emperor is the same. In two days, he will send an edict. It's a lower province. Your father can be the Provincial Governor. "
"Oh! As expected, he was sent to Lingnan. Fine, Lingnan it is. As long as he can be the head there, he can have the final say. Is my family's ship ready? Send it over quickly. There are other ships that need to be used for transportation. This time, there are many things. If you don't want to live a hard life there, you have to bring more things over. "
Zhang Xiaobao did not expect Lv Yanzuo to be so ruthless. He really sent them to Lingnan. Since the matter was decided, he had to make preparations here. Once the imperial court's edict was issued, his father would bring his family to the capital. After seeing the Emperor, they would set off for the capital.
Li Xun patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I've already prepared. I've also modified a ship. In addition to the ship company's original ship, I'll bring three ships this time. Your family will have ten ships. What do you think? Is the group big enough? "
"Ten ships won't be enough. My family bought so many things from the surrounding counties. Ten ships won't be enough. We'll bring five more ships. We'll trade along the way. I won't go on land. It'll be torturous. We'll take the waterway and then enter the sea. We'll walk along the coast. It'll be faster than going on land."
Zhang Xiaobao calculated and firmly chose to take the waterway. Otherwise, they would have to climb mountains all the way. When they reached the destination, even if they did not die, they would lose a layer of skin.
Li Xun also thought so. He had never seen what the sea looked like. This time, he would like to see it. He nodded and said, "Well, find five more ships. It's also fine to take the waterway. Your father is not exiled. As long as there's no delay in taking office, it's fine to dig from the ground.
It's a fourth-rank official. In just one year, how many people want to be a fourth-rank official? Your father is so young, but he's sitting there. Shouldn't you treat me to something to celebrate? "
"It's my father's ability to be a fourth-rank official. Moreover, it's a fourth-rank official in such a remote place. Ask the officials in the capital, how many are willing to go there? Well, I'll treat you to something to eat. It's scrambled eggs with chives. " Zhang Xiaobao was indeed happy. Other people were not willing to go outside to be an official, but he was willing. That place was truly a place where the emperor was far away.
He and Wang Juan were tinkering with something, so they did not have to worry about being targeted by others. There were many benefits. As he spoke, he let the 56 people continue their training. He really pulled Li Xun to make scrambled eggs with chives. The newly harvested chives were just in time to be delicious.
*****
Zhang Zhong's departure was a foregone conclusion. Five days later, the imperial court sent a decree, telling him to go to the capital first. He had to see the Emperor and take the seal to take office.
Li Xun mobilized a large ship to the capital and waited there. The goods here had to be sent over by small ship. The farmers of the Zhang Family and Wang Family also knew about this matter. Even if they already knew about it, they were still reluctant to see their master leave. Many people came to see them off. They also promised to look after Zhuangzi and wait for their master's return.
The people of Sanshui County also knew about this matter. Many people also came to see Zhang Zhong, the person who brought them a good life. Needless to say, the people of Huayuan County also came. Even the people of the other six counties also came.
Cart after cart of goods were transported to the docks. There was no need for the Zhang family to find people to do the work. The people who came stepped forward to help move the goods.
Some of the people in the eight counties looked like a black mass from afar. There were at least 10,000 people. The goods were loaded and moved. The Zhang Family and Wang Family arrived in the capital first. At this time, they began to board the ship.
No one knew who was the first to shout, "Lord Zhang, have a safe journey. I kowtow to you. Lord, if you feel uncomfortable outside, please come back. We, the people, will listen to you."
Following this person's example, the other people also shouted blessings and kowtowed to Zhang Zhong. Except for the people of the Zhang Family and Wang Family who stood at the bow of the ship, the others all knelt there, kowtowing to Zhang Zhong with their heads bobbing up and down.
This scene stunned Li Xun, as well as the old man who had just come down with the flow.
Zhang Zhong also did not expect that so many people would come to see him off. It was just the beginning of spring, and the river had just frozen. With so many people kneeling on the ground, it must be very cold. Zhang Zhong could not help but cry drop by drop. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, took the simple loudspeaker from Zhang Xiaobao, and shouted to the people around him, "Everyone, get up and live a good life.
If you have any trouble, go to the Zhang family to find the housekeeper, or go to Between the Clouds and the Water to find the shopkeeper. As long as you do not commit crimes, the Zhang family will definitely help you. Get up quickly, the ground is cold. "
When he cried, the people also cried. They were reluctant to let Zhang Zhong go. With Zhang Zhong here, they had a backbone. However, they also knew that Zhang Zhong was promoted and would go to a place far away.
"Lord, please think of a way. If you do well there, you can come back to our Yaozhou to be the provincial governor. We can be together again. A few days ago, I bought two horses to transport goods to make money. If you have goods, I will do it for free."
A person in the crowd shouted loudly. He was smarter and knew how to keep Zhang Zhong here without affecting his future.
With him taking the lead, the other people also talked about their family's plans. Their voices were in a mess. Zhang Zhong could not hear them clearly, but he still stood at the bow and waited. The people also knew that their lord could not hear them, but they still wanted to finish their words. It was as if if they said it, their lives in the future would be better.
The old man stood at the bow and listened. He said to his son beside him, "Do you see that? It's actually easy to be a good official. In the future, if Zhang Zhong really comes back to Yaozhou to be the provincial governor, as long as he issues a decree, he will not be obstructed. He can use the people's hearts."
This was the first time Bi Kang saw so many people sending him off. In addition to the people who were already here, there were also people who were coming from afar. When he heard his father's words, he agreed.
"Yes, it's amazing. Wherever Zhang Zhong is, the people can live a good life. The people of Lu Zhou are blessed. Zhang Zhong is satisfied with his life. Just like what Xiao Bao said, he wants his father to stand in the center of 10,000 people and feel the glory. If one day I can do that, I will die without regrets."
After the people finished talking about their plans for the new year, their voices gradually subsided. At this time, Zhang Zhong should also set sail. In addition to the people from the inner court of Zhang Family and Wang Family, there were also some other people, including doctors, craftsmen, Fang Liu 'er's family, and the family who made the boat their home.
After the group of people boarded the boat, Zhang Zhong's boat first came to the old man. He greeted him and said something before turning the boat around and heading in the direction of the capital.
The rest of the people who were sending them off stood there and watched. Even if the boat had become a small dot, they still looked around until the dot could no longer be seen. Many people cried again. As they cried, they helped the Zhang family load the goods onto the boat.
On the boat, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also cried just now. Their eyes were red. Zhang Xiaobao stood at the bow and said against the wind, "The provincial governor of Yaozhou? Good, the next official position will be here. "
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