On the second day after the Administrative Secretary's Yamen announced the appointment, all the Juzis either went to their new posts, went to the capital, or returned to their hometowns. All of them scattered like birds and beasts. Xu Boyi did not stop to rest. He immediately packed up his luggage and rushed to Gourd County.
While waiting for the Administrative Secretary's Yamen to announce the arrangements, all the Juzis invited each other and held banquets and parties. In this era, the relationships between people from the same hometown and those of the same year were important parts of the official network. They were both from the same hometown and the same year, so they were naturally closer to the other officials. In the future, they would take care of each other and form an unbreakable network.
However, Ye Xiaotian did not receive any invitations from the other Juzis. Firstly, he was not born as a scholar and had no previous contact with these people. Furthermore, his temperament, speech, and actions did not seem like a scholar. He did not fit in with these people.
More importantly, he had offended Cui Xiangxian, a leader of the scholarly community, and Wang Haoming, a big shot in the official circles. Although there were no signs of them suppressing him, it was better to stay away from them. Although it was important to have connections in the official circles, it was even more important to stand on the right side.
These Juzis were like carps leaping through the dragon's gate. They pulled their heads out of the "Zhi Zhi Ye" of the sages. Naturally, they were grounded in reality and the things they thought about were more realistic.
Ye Xiaotian could not be bothered to deal with them. He did not have anyone to guide him, so he did not know much about the rules and regulations of the official circles. Therefore, when he received the appointment from the Administrative Secretary's Yamen and saw that the appointment date was clearly stated, he immediately rushed to the carriage shop to rent a carriage. However, the long-distance carriages had already been booked.
Ye Xiaotian had no choice but to leave unhappily. As he walked, he thought that the Administrative Secretary's Yamen's deadline was so tight. Not only did he not have time to go to Red Maple Lake, he could not even book a carriage. It seemed like he could only buy a few horses. However, the journey was long, and without a carriage, it would be a big problem to bring Yaoyao, Fuwa, and A Big Man.
Although Ye Xiaotian seemed unruly, he still knew what was important. His unbridled behavior at Perching Cloud Pavilion and his angrily beating up Xie Chuanfeng in front of the magistrate's Yamen were not related to the most fundamental things. If anyone wanted to punish him based on their own likes and dislikes, unless he did not want to fight, he would always have a reason.
However, this was an official order from the government. If he disobeyed or exceeded the time limit, then whatever punishment was given to him would be justified. He had no reason to defend himself. He did not want to lose this hard-won official position. If his father and mother knew that they had an official, they would be very happy. Such a big event that brought honor to his ancestors, and he was only a young man in his twenties. He was not an old man who had seen through the world of mortals. How could he not care about it?
As Ye Xiaotian thought about it, he could not help but let out a long sigh. He was very happy to return to Gourd County. Not only were there unforgettable memories, but there was also the first friend he had made after leaving the capital. However, he was also a little reluctant to leave. Time was so tight, and it was really difficult to go to Red Maple Lake.
As Ye Xiaotian thought about it, he became a little absent-minded. When he stepped out of the Four Seas Carriage and Horses, he happened to bump shoulders with two people who were walking towards him. That person suddenly stopped and called out to Ye Xiaotian, "Brother Ye?"
Ye Xiaotian heard the voice and stopped. He turned around and recognized that this person was Zhao Wenyuan, who was in the same subject as him. At the Perching Cloud Pavilion, this person had explained to him the debate between Li Qiuchi and Xu Boyi. Later on, when he fought with Xie Chuanfeng in front of the magistrate's office, this person also came out to mediate. Ye Xiaotian had a good impression of him.
Ye Xiaotian quickly cupped his hands and said, "So it is Brother Wenyuan. My apologies, my apologies." As Ye Xiaotian said this, he quickly glanced at the tall and beautiful woman standing next to Zhao Wenyuan. He thought to himself, "Could this woman be Zhao Wenyuan's wife?"
Sure enough, Zhao Wenyuan laughed and said, "Ah ha, it really is Brother Ye. Madam, this Brother Ye is from the same year as me. This time, we will be going to Gourd County together. From now on, we will be colleagues. Brother Ye, this is Lady Jingqian. "
Ye Xiaotian quickly cupped his hands and said, "Little Tian greets Madam."
Qian Qingqing bowed to him and said, "Brother Ye, you may rise."
Qian Qingqing once sang and danced with Bai Xiaoxiao in a tent at the Sacred Water Lake in the Miao Birth Forbidden Area. But there were many maids and dancers in the tent that day, and they were all wearing heavy makeup, so it was a far cry from the current appearance.
Although Ye Xiaotian didn't suffer from face blindness, he didn't have a good memory like 'remembering half a face'. Ever since that day, the only person he had interacted with was Bai Xiaoxiao. This Qian Qingqing had never shown his face again, so he didn't feel familiar with him.
Zhao Wenyuan said, "Brother Ye, are you also here to rent a carriage?"
Ye Xiaotian smiled bitterly and said, "Yes. Unfortunately, all the long-distance carriages have been rented out. The deadline for reporting to the magistrate's office is near, so I was planning to go to the horse market to buy some horses."
Zhao Wenyuan said with a smile, "This trip to Gourd County is far away and I have luggage to accompany me. How can I afford to ride a horse? I have already booked a carriage. Because I am leaving early tomorrow morning, I came to collect it today. Since Brother Ye has not booked a carriage, why don't you travel with me tomorrow? "
Ye Xiaotian quickly declined, "That's not right. Although I don't have much luggage, I have a lot of family members. It will be inconvenient for me to travel with brother." Since the other party had a woman, the journey was long and arduous, how could he squeeze into the same carriage with the other party's woman? Although the customs of Guizhou were different from those of the Central Plains, this was still a very rude behavior. Naturally Ye Xiaotian had to decline.
Zhao Wenyuan laughed and said, "Brother Ye, you don't have to be so polite. I have rented three carriages. It doesn't matter if I add you. If there is a woman, she can share the carriage with my wife. You and I can squeeze together, so we can have a companion on the road. "
Ye Xiaotian said, "This …"
Zhao Wenyuan said with a smile, "Brother Ye, you don't have to be so polite with me. We are in the same year, we have just entered the government service, and we are working in the same county. In the future we will have to come into contact with each other. Today we can get to know each other better, so that we can take care of each other in the future. "
Ye Xiaotian thought, "This is forming a clique. That's good. When Xu Boyi goes to Gourd County, he will certainly make things difficult for me. One more friend, one more path." Thereupon he said, "Thank you very much, Brother Wenyuan."
Zhao Wenyuan said with a smile, "Brother Ye, please wait here for a moment. I am going inside to get the carriage. You come with me and find out where I live first. Come here early tomorrow morning and we will set off together."
Ye Xiaotian nodded his head in agreement. Zhao Wenyuan asked his wife to wait outside the door to accompany Ye Xiaotian, while he walked toward the carriage.
When Qian Qingqing first saw Ye Xiaotian, she was still a little worried. But when she saw that Ye Xiaotian did not recognize her, she felt relieved.
In fact, they all thought that Ye Xiaotian was a pawn of the Xia family in Gourd County. They also believed that Ye Xiaotian knew about Zhao Wenyuan's background. Even if he recognized her, it was not a big deal. After all, they did not intend to wash away the Yang family's mark in Bozhou. But since Ye Xiaotian did not recognize her, it would be more convenient for her to act in Gourd County.
Qian Qingqing's eyes turned and she suddenly said sweetly, "Brother Ye, what is your official position in Gourd County?"
Ye Xiaotian bowed and said with a smile, "Oh! The Administrative Secretary's Office has appointed me as a Warden. "
Qian Qingqing softly said, "A Warden? You are in charge of justice and prisons. That is a very prestigious position. Alas, it is a pity that my husband is only a courier, doing a useless job of receiving and escorting visitors. "
Ye Xiaotian secretly frowned and thought, "As a wife, how can she criticize her husband in front of outsiders? It seems that Zhao Wenyuan's wife must be very domineering at home."
Ye Xiaotian smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you are wrong. We are both courier officials, but the Gourd County's courier officials are not the same. You must know that Gourd County is the North Gate of Guizhou, the most important point of the courier routes. Anyone who can be a courier official there must have great authority. Have you ever seen a deputy from another place, other than the couriers, who can also send out soldiers? But this Gourd County's courier official has more than a hundred soldiers. "
Qian Qingqing said, "Ah! So it is like that. I am a woman's woman. Brother Ye, have you ever married? Do you have any family accompanying you to Gourd County? "
Ye Xiaotian said, "Little brother is not married yet. On this trip to Gourd County, I only have a five-year-old little sister, two brothers and an elder."
Qian Qingqing smiled like a flower and said, "That's great. Tomorrow, let your little sister ride with me. That way I won't be lonely on this trip."
As the two were talking, a few handlers came out of the main gate, pulling a carriage. In order to make it convenient for large carriages to enter and leave, this carriage shop did not have any steps or thresholds. The main gate was also wide.
The handlers pulled the carriage in front while the manager of the carriage shop accompanied Zhao Wenyuan. When they arrived at the door, they politely said, "Many thanks for your patronage, have a pleasant journey." Zhao Wenyuan pulled Ye Xiaotian and boarded a carriage. Qian Qingqing boarded the second carriage. Zhao Wenyuan gave the address and let the handlers set off.
This Zhao Wenyuan was very talkative and good at creating topics. He talked and laughed along the way, and the more he talked, the closer he got to Ye Xiaotian. As the carriage was moving, a large courtyard suddenly appeared on the side of the road. It was made of green bricks, with two lions guarding the gate, and a flagpole on the wall.
Ye Xiaotian casually glanced at it and saw the large words "Xia Residence" on the gate. He couldn't help but be shocked and hurriedly asked, "Xia Residence? Is this the residence of the Xia Clan of Red Maple Lake in Guiyang? "
Zhao Wenyuan was stunned and thought, "You're going to be the son-in-law of Red Maple Lake soon, how come you haven't even been to the Xia Residence?" But he replied, "That's right. Other than the Xia Clan of Red Maple Lake, which other Xia Clan could build such a large residence?"
The carriage slowly moved forward, and after a long time, the Xia Residence's walls were still spread out on the side of the road. Ye Xiaotian looked at the tall walls of the Xia Residence and his heart was filled with mixed feelings, "Ai! Thinking back to when my big brother said he needed a wife, all it took was a matchmaker to make a trip and the parents of both sides met and the marriage was set. I was born from the same mother as my big brother, and I was only born a joss stick later than him. Why is my luck so bad that it's so hard to find a wife? "
Ye Xiaotian felt remorseful for a while, but his optimistic nature made him quickly find a reason to feel at ease, "It's not the same. How can Wu Shuiwu compare to my sister-in-law? Even if her father wasn't killed, she was destined to have a hard time because of her engagement."
As for Yingying, there was no need to talk about her. She was a person like the daughter of the Seven Immortals. Although the Seven Immortals followed a cowherd, there are thousands of cowherds in the world. I can be the luckiest one among them. What a blessing!
What's more, even if I'm the daughter of the Seven Immortals, isn't there still the Queen Mother of the West? I've only changed from mother-in-law to father-in-law. Although the Milky Way is hard to cross, as long as I'm willing to work hard, I can build that magpie bridge!
