Chapter 11 Is the Xie family god real or fake?

Xiong Jiushan didn't know the other person, and the other person was not wearing any official clothes.

But the other party could come out of the best room in the post station, and his demeanor was extraordinary, so he must not be an ordinary person. Xiong Jiushan replied with one word tactfully.

"have."

After saying that, he turned around and left with his men.

The other party did not try to keep them, but just stood on the outer corridor and watched them all the way back to their camp.

"Boss, why is that guy suddenly asking about the Xie family?"

The old yamen runner next to Xiong Jiushan looked back and happened to see the other party being respectfully invited in by the official of the post station, and muttered to himself.

"Stop asking questions and rest for a while before the whole team sets off."

Xiong Jiushan also felt that the other party's inquiries were strange and he didn't know where they came from, so he simply left early to avoid trouble.

Many people lay down and fell asleep in the shade of the forest to replenish their energy, while some stared at the officials drinking water, their mouths dry and their bodies and minds unbearable.

There was not much water delivered from the post station, and some prisoners could not bear it any longer and went to the officer to ask for water.

The yamen runner bent down, lowered his head, tapped his chin lightly, and tapped a few times with his fingertips.

"If you really want to drink some water, it's not that I can't help you, I'm just saving a few sips out of kindness, but it's not easy for me to travel thousands of miles."

The prisoner was very clever and took out a small jade pendant the size of a fingernail from his body.

"This thing is so finely carved, it's worth a few ounces of silver. Could you please give me a few sips of water?"

The yamen runner took it, weighed it in his hand for a few times, felt not very satisfied but thought it was okay, and signaled to his brother next to him.

"Give him some reward; he looks so pitiful. Consider it a good deed for you today."

The prisoner drank a large bowl of wine in silence, and then tentatively asked if he could bring some for his wife and children.

The yamen runner might be in a good mood today. He waved his hand without refusing and let him take a big bowl back.

The prisoner carefully brought back the bowl of water. His thirsty wife and two children drank it all in one gulp, and then he returned the bowl.

Many prisoners around him looked at him enviously.

With his example, the others were also tempted, and one after another five or six prisoners came forward to change the water.

No one in the Xie family moved because they had water bags. One was on Ruan, which was stuffed into the package by Ruan's parents when they saw her off. The other two were specially prepared by Xie Zhen when he came. More than 20 people took turns to drink a few sips, which could relieve their hunger and thirst for a while.

But most prisoners are not as lucky as them.

Many people have been thoroughly interrogated by the prison officers the moment they are convicted and thrown into prison, so they don't have any extra money to pay tribute to the officers.

We slept by the river last night, and not everyone had the chance to fetch water from the river. Even if we drank water yesterday, we had been walking for most of the day without a break along the way. After several hours under the scorching sun, we would have died of thirst.

Zhang Dayi watched the prisoners beside him exchange clean water for his family. He couldn't help but pursed his dry lips and looked down at his elderly mother lying beside him resting, feeling extremely guilty.

My mother originally lived a leisurely life in the mansion, with maids and old women serving her, but I lost my temper in the court and angered the king. Now I have to let my white-haired mother suffer such hardship with me. How unfilial I am.

The old lady heard her son sigh and knew that he was upset again, so she sat up.

"Wealth and glory are but fleeting clouds. Since my son feels that it is wrong, he must have his reasons. Mother is fine. It's only three thousand miles away. When your father left, I took you south to escape the famine and find your relatives. Didn't we survive it?"

Zhang Hanlin looked at his mother with guilt, "Mom, it's different. Back then, you were still young. Now you should be enjoying your retirement, but I made you and your son suffer."

The old lady felt envious when she saw the family next door who had water to drink.

"Let the past be the past. Give me one more chance. You won't do anything against my will."

No one knows a son better than his mother. The old lady had been frightened before. She almost thought her son had offended the emperor and was beheaded. She was so scared that she almost fainted. Later, she heard that her son was not dead and the old lady was alive again.

I've lived through most of my life and have experienced all kinds of ups and downs.

Seeing his mother being so understanding, Zhang Dayi felt even more guilty.

Sudden--

A water bag was handed to him.

Zhang Dayi was stunned for a moment and raised his head.

"Thank you, General?"

Xie Yuchuan shook his head slightly and said respectfully, "I am no longer a general. You can call me Yuchuan or Liulang. I dare to speak up for justice in the court. Sir Zhang is so righteous. Here is a water bag. I hope you don't mind it."

When he saw Zhang Dayi confiscated it, he gave the water bag to Zhang's mother.

Mother Zhang looked at her son. Zhang Dayi's eyes were slightly red. He bowed and said, "Thank you very much, Sixth Young Master!"

Xie Yuchuan didn't talk much with outsiders. Seeing that Zhang Dayi didn't refuse, he nodded and said nothing more. He turned around and was about to go back, but was stopped by Zhang Dayi.

"Now that you and I are both prisoners, Master Xie, please don't call me sir anymore.

Xie Yuchuan was smart, "Then Yuheng will be called sir from now on."

Given Zhang Dayi's knowledge, it was pleasing to the ear for Xie Yuchuan, his junior, to call him "Sir".

The two had never had any contact before. Zhang Dayi was an honest official and seldom interacted with children from aristocratic families like Xie Yuchuan. Xie Yuchuan practiced martial arts when he was young and was determined to join the army, so few of the people he interacted with were civil officials.

The two were silent for a while and then went their separate ways.

Zhang Dayi looked at the water bag in his mother's arms, his heart burning.

Seeing her son's face looking much better, Mother Zhang couldn't help but smile. "Well, fortune and misfortune go hand in hand. You were convicted because of the Xie family, and when you were in trouble, the Xie family came to your aid."

Zhang Dayi's face turned red when he saw that he was being lectured by his old mother even though he was already old.

"Mom, drink some water! Drink some water!" Mr. Zhang hurriedly changed the subject.

The mother and son finally recovered thanks to a water bag given by the Xie family.

When Xie Yuchuan came back, Madam Xie asked him, "Is Mr. Zhang's mother in good health?"

"The old lady seems to be in good health and looking strong."

Madam Xie nodded. "The Emperor ordered Zhang Dayi to compile history. He argued for his views and was convicted. He was also implicated in our Xie family's affairs. Otherwise, he would have been demoted, not exiled to the frontier."

"That's what Grandma said."

Xie Yuchuan turned to Xie Zhen and said, "Second sister's water bag, Yuheng is offering it to the Buddha."

"We are one family, but we have different opinions." Xie Zhen said with a smile.

The Xie family is the most numerous among the exiled prisoners, and many of the Xie family members practice martial arts, so other prisoners dare not provoke them easily.

But Zhang Dayi and his mother are different.

Now he is no longer the high and mighty official in the Hanlin Academy in the capital. The hand that holds the pen is not strong enough to even tie a chicken. The mother and son are weak in the team, but now they have a full water bag.

How much can two people drink? There is still half a bag left.

There were a few people around who looked unfriendly and could not afford to pay the officials to exchange water, so they couldn't help but think of Zhang Dayi and his mother.

Xie Yuchuan turned his head and took a look, and noticed the unusual movement over there.

He said to Xie Wuying beside him, "Go and talk to Master Zhang later. Let's go this afternoon so we can be closer to our Xie family."

Xie Wuying said, "I'll do it right away."

Those people were just about to go and "ask" Zhang Dayi for some water to drink, but unexpectedly Xie Yuchuan left and another person came.

Xie Wuying pretended not to notice the plans on those people's faces, and sat down cross-legged next to Zhang Dayi and his mother. He swept his cold eyes around, silently and intimidatingly.

Seeing this, some people stopped and stepped aside.

Someone was getting more and more unhappy the more he thought about it. He rolled his eyes and suddenly said loudly to the person next to him:

"I heard that the Xie family is blessed by a god. I wonder where the god is? It sounds so convincing. If he's really that powerful, why doesn't he send some rain to quench our thirst? I think the story about the Xie family is completely fabricated. Their exile is not unjust at all."