While the Zhang Family and the Wang Family were enjoying the lion dance in Zhuangzi, the county town of Sanshui County was livelier.
Chen Yong, the military attaché, was still having a headache when he was awakened by the noise outside. He was invited by County Magistrate Cheng to join in the fun. When they came out, the streets were already crowded with people. Countless lanterns lit up the county town like it was daytime.
County Magistrate Cheng divided the 200,000 sounds of firecrackers into several portions and set them off once in a while, making the county town even noisier. There were also several lion dance groups and various acrobats, causing exclamations from time to time.
Chen Yong and the others didn't want to participate in the fun at all. Listening to the various sounds, they only felt a splitting headache, but they had to grit their teeth and persevere. When the cold wind blew, their stomachs convulsed and they retched a few times. Their noses and eyes were uncomfortable.
"Sir, look, isn't this auspicious place more lively than usual?" County Magistrate Cheng looked at these people and knew that they were forcing themselves to persevere. Even so, they didn't plan to let them go and asked at the side to consume their energy.
Chen Yong forced a smile on his face and said, "County Magistrate Cheng is right. The people are so happy because of the Emperor. Oh, County Magistrate Cheng, you've done a lot."
"Sir Chen, you flatter me. It's my duty to govern the county and make the people live a good life. Come, set off another 50,000 sounds of firecrackers." County Magistrate Cheng said modestly and called someone to set off the firecrackers.
The crackling sounds rang in everyone's ears. Those who drank too much felt that they were about to vomit. At the critical moment, someone handed over a cucumber. Everyone hurriedly took a bite and finally felt comfortable.
But before they could calm down, someone else presented wine. County Magistrate Cheng picked up a bowl and bowed in the direction of the capital city. He said, "My lords, the people are so happy today because of His Majesty's great kindness. I would like to propose a toast to His Majesty."
As soon as his voice fell, he was the first to finish the bowl. When the others saw this, they didn't want to drink, but they didn't dare. They could only raise their heads and drink. After this bowl of wine entered their stomachs, they all gritted their teeth and didn't let the food in their stomachs come out. This wine was for the emperor. What did it mean to vomit?
Someone served a cucumber and dipped it in some chili sauce. It made them feel better after eating it. County Magistrate Cheng waited for everyone to calm down before raising his bowl again. "My lords, today is the full moon. I wish the people of my dynasty a happy family reunion."
He drank it. Chen Yong and the rest hated him to death. They took two deep breaths and raised their heads again to drink the wine. They resisted the urge to vomit and looked at County Magistrate Cheng, afraid that he would pick up the wine again. Fortunately, County Magistrate Cheng did not pick up the wine this time. Instead, he began to chat with the crowd.
After chatting for a quarter of an hour, just as Chen Yong was about to suggest that they go in, a few people came out from the happy crowd. Some were holding bowls, while others were holding wine jars. When they came closer, an old man with white hair and beard walked out. He ordered people to pour the wine and held a bowl in front of the crowd.
"I am an ordinary person in Sanshui County. Everyone says that it is thanks to all of you that this place is stable. I, on behalf of the people of Sanshui County, propose a toast to all of you." After he finished speaking, he drank the wine.
County Magistrate Cheng took a bowl of wine and drank it without thinking. When the others saw this, they knew that County Magistrate Cheng knew this person. The wine was not poisonous. Otherwise, County Magistrate Cheng would definitely not drink it. Since it was a toast from the people, they should drink it. Therefore, at this time, three bowls of wine were poured into their stomachs.
Seeing that it was about time, County Magistrate Cheng let them go. He suggested that they return to the yamen to enjoy the moon or rest. The group of people turned around as if they had been granted amnesty. When they returned to the yamen, they all declined County Magistrate Cheng's invitation to drink and enjoy the moon. They went back to their rooms and fell asleep.
The people in the yamen followed County Magistrate Cheng's instructions and lit a lot of incense in each person's room. The doors and windows were tightly shut.
These people who had drunk too much were not sleeping well. Their stomachs were churning. When the incense was lit, it did not take long for them to start vomiting. Once they started vomiting, they could not control it. Someone helped them drink water. After drinking, they vomited again. Even after they had vomited everything in their stomachs, they were still vomiting.
County Magistrate Cheng was not feeling well either. When he returned, he also vomited everything. However, after vomiting, he did not lie down immediately. He had someone boil a bucket of hot water and soak in it. Someone even rubbed his head. He drank the hot soup mouthful by mouthful. After sweating and urinating a few times, he finally felt better.
Only then did he fall asleep while others massaged his back and legs. From time to time, someone would wipe his face with a warm towel.
On the sixteenth day of the first month, County Magistrate Cheng woke up in the morning. He shook his head but did not feel a headache. He drank some millet porridge, ate some cucumber pickles, and two meat buns. Knowing that Chen Yong and the others were still unconscious, he went back to sleep for an hour. At noon, he ordered someone to prepare the carriage and personally went to wake them up one by one.
After a night of hangover and starvation, these people from the provincial center felt as if their heads were about to split open when they opened their eyes. They wiped their faces with hot towels and followed County Magistrate Cheng to the Waterview Pavilion in a daze.
After getting off the carriage and seeing this place, they knew that it was time to eat. Originally, they did not want to eat, but they could not resist the hunger. They also knew that the more they did not eat, the more uncomfortable they would feel.
As they waited for the dishes to be served, they realized that today they were eating a chicken banquet. All sixteen dishes were chicken cooked in various ways. County Magistrate Cheng urged them to drink again. He had recovered. This time, they ate less. Originally, they did not want to drink anymore. However, they could not resist the situation and drank bit by bit. When they ate the chicken, they realized that it was sweet and greasy.
They still hadn't recovered from yesterday's drunkenness. A few of them drank more as they drank. They ate the dishes and drank the wine. They even looked at the others and offered a toast to those who drank less. The meal lasted for nearly four hours. Other than the people in the yamen who were accompanying them, everyone else collapsed.
County Magistrate Cheng did not send them to the yamen. Instead, he put them on the carriage and drove them to the real Luoshui River. The ice there had almost melted and a boat had been prepared.
Sitting in the carriage and bumping, these people continued to vomit. After tossing and turning like this until midnight, they finally reached the river. One by one, they were dragged onto the boat and the night passed.
Song Jinggong also followed them. He memorized the poem that the young master had written for him and prepared to start another round of hospitality tomorrow.
*****
On the 20th of the first lunar month, the spring thunder roared and the first spring rain fell.
"It's been five days. It seems that County Magistrate Cheng has delayed those people. In a few days, they should leave, right?" Wang Juan listened to the sound of rain hitting the window and said in a relaxed manner.
"Almost. Didn't the news say that the people there are drunk every day? Song Jinggong should be famous now. That's good. In the future, when he has a reputation, it will be easier to do things. The rain outside is not heavy. Maybe there will be a drought here.
When it stops, we should go out and see if there is a suitable place to dig holes in Zhuangzi and store more water. This year, the east of Taihang Mountains and Henan are full of locusts and drought. It will be troublesome if we are like that. "
Zhang Xiaobao was still worried. That was what was written in the history books. But who could guarantee that the people who wrote it really wrote it out? The real situation could only be known by experiencing it for oneself.
"Well, even if it is not a drought, we can keep some water to store things. I have a map here. I drew it according to what they said. I don't know if it is accurate or not. When the weather is warm, you can walk around Zhuangzi with me. I am good at drawing. Come and take a look."
Wang Juan said and took out her map. She had drawn it for the purpose of inserting a torch. She looked at it and pointed at a place, "Here it is. My house is not far from the river. We can dig a ditch and draw it there. Let's take advantage of the melting snow."
Zhang Xiaobao looked at the side and nodded. It was settled. As for whether it was suitable, he had to go there personally to see it.
*****
On the 25th of the first lunar month, the weather was clear and the spring breeze was gentle.
The district magistrate, Cheng Lingxiang, was still waving his hand at the group that was moving away. He only put down his hand when they were out of sight. He heaved a sigh of relief and turned around to look at the people in the yamen. A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. His body swayed and he almost fell.
He had finally completed his task. He had dragged the people here until they left. It had been 10 days. These 10 days felt like 10 months. Every day, he had to arrange new things, eat, drink, and play. Only the district magistrate was left in the yamen to deal with the government affairs.
During this period, Military Attaché Chen Yong and the rest had mentioned several times that they wanted to go to Zhuangzi to take a look at the auspicious sign. He had thought of ways to delay them. In the end, they drank too much and forgot about it. The only person that he did not expect was the Registrar, Zhao Xiang.
At first, he was worried that Zhao Xiang would do his job impartially and bring people to Zhuangzi. He did not expect that when he drank too much on the sixth day and could not get up, Zhao Xiang would help him entertain people. Zhao Xiang had a high tolerance for alcohol. He drank all the alcohol and acted like nothing had happened. He had never heard that Zhao Xiang could drink, nor had he ever seen him drink.
"Jifang, it's all thanks to you this time. Otherwise, they would have gone there. I really want to know why you helped me." County Magistrate Cheng felt weak all over, but he still forced himself to ask the Registrar, Zhao Xiang.
When Zhao Xiang heard the district magistrate call him by his courtesy name, he frowned uncomfortably. However, he did not say anything about his name. He said, "Sir, I also want to eat cucumber."
After saying this, he did not say anything else. He turned around and walked back first. The others were stunned. This Zhao Xiang, who had always been rigid, actually knew how to joke today.
The crowd also walked back. Zhao Xiang walked in front, but he knew in his heart why he did not expose the Zhuangzi. He had a younger daughter and two sons. His younger daughter was five years old and had a weak body. When she was born, they ate poorly, which caused her to fall ill. He always wanted her to eat more, but his daughter was very picky. In winter, there was nothing to eat. However, after eating the cucumber, his younger daughter ate half a bowl more than usual every meal. This made him feel grateful to the Zhangjia Zhuangzi.
Of course, this was not the only reason. The most important reason was that he thought that if that place leaked the recipe and no new things were produced in the future, it would be a great loss to Sanshui County. These days, that place had produced a lot of things. Since that was the case, he wanted to help.
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