Chapter 146: The Over-100-Year-Old Magistrate of Chuanbei County

Su Zhenzhen then subtly probed for information, "General, please don't rush. Tell me, why don't the people in this city move to other places? I'm really curious."

As the lead soldier searched for his belongings, he replied with a regretful tone, “We can’t leave. Our ancestors have lived here for generations. How can we just move away? Besides, if we stay in Chuanbei City, the houses and farmland are ours. If we go to another city, we’ll have to start all over again. Where would we find the freedom we have now? Although life is a bit poor, everyone is poor, so we don’t really feel anything.”

Su Zhenzhen finally understood why the city was so impoverished, and why neither the city guards nor the old landlord from last night had any intention of robbing her.

Having lived in poverty and isolation for so many years, they have long since developed an optimistic nature.

Being poor doesn't matter, everyone's poor anyway, life is just like this, so we might as well go with the flow, or as the 906s would say, just give up.

While they were talking, the lead soldier had already flipped through all the official documents and books on the desk, raising a thick layer of dust.

Su Zhenzhen couldn't help but rub her nose. How long has it been since anyone came to this place?

Thinking this in his heart, he also spoke the words aloud.

"General, why does it look like no one has been here for a long time? Doesn't the magistrate usually work?"

The leading soldier searched for something in another place, and replied in a natural, slightly familiar tone, "What official business are you doing? You never have anything proper to do all day long. A few years ago, there were even neighbors arguing and bickering, but now people don't even greet each other when they see each other. Everyone is busy with their own affairs. Besides, the county magistrate is old. I haven't seen him for a long time, and I don't even know if he's still alive."

Su Zhenzhen: "..."

No, isn't this era supposed to be very concerned about matters of life and death? Why can the people of Chuanbei City speak so casually?

"How old is the magistrate? Seventy or eighty?"

The lead soldier rummaged through the bookshelf, which was probably in disrepair, making a creaking sound every time he picked up a book.

Su Zhenzhen was afraid the shelf would suddenly collapse, so she quickly went forward to help support it. Just then, the leading soldier pulled out another book from a shelf, and the dust he kicked up got into his nostrils.

"Cough cough cough!" Su Zhenzhen coughed uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Hensheng quickly went over and gently patted Su Zhenzhen's back.

The leading soldier was also quite embarrassed. "Young lady, why did you suddenly come here? It's dusty here. Why don't you wait outside? I'll find the official seal and stamp it for you."

"It's alright." Su Zhenzhen also calmed down. "This general is very kind and helpful. I enjoy chatting with you, unlike my husband, who is usually quiet and we can't talk to each other at all."

Although he knew these words were just an act, Kehansheng couldn't help but feel his cheeks burning, and he felt speechless.

The leading soldier laughed heartily, "Young lady, your husband is so handsome, and even though he doesn't talk much, it's still very pleasant to be with him. Besides, he's a grown man, and he follows your orders in everything, and you manage the money too. It's clear that your heart is completely tied to him. Don't judge a man by what he says, but by what he does."

Su Zhenzhen really didn't expect that there would be such an open-minded and enlightened person in this era. She didn't know that such great wisdom could be born in an environment of giving up.

However, Su Zhenzhen did not forget the previous topic, "General, you still haven't told me how old the county magistrate is."

"He's over a hundred years old. I don't know his exact age, but it's an extremely rare longevity. That's why people outside think that our Chuanbei City is something special, that we can raise such an old monster. So many people, yet no one comes to bully us."

Su Zhenzhen became even more curious. In this era, it was extremely rare to live to be over a hundred years old. No wonder people considered him an old monster.

Remembering her main objective, Su Zhenzhen quickly called for a halt to the lead soldier who was continuing to search for the items.

"General, could you take us to visit the county magistrate? My wife and I would like to share in his good fortune of longevity."

The leading soldier increasingly felt that the couple was not short of money. In prosperous times, longevity was a blessing, but in chaotic times it was a torment.

"Ahem." The leading soldier cleared his throat. "Well, technically speaking, I'm on duty right now, so taking you to see the magistrate is outside my job duties..."

Su Zhenzhen immediately understood and quickly handed over a small piece of silver.

Greed is not shameful, and the fact that he was so poor yet still tried to negotiate with them politely instead of robbing them outright shows that he was very moral.

The leading soldier took the silver with a beaming smile, "Come on, I'll take you to see the magistrate! We'll come back for the official seal later."

Su Zhenzhen: "..."

Actually, there's no need to be so honest. I don't have a household registration or travel permit to stamp for you.

Fifteen minutes later, the three arrived at a dilapidated courtyard, which looked even more run-down than the old landlord's house from yesterday.

"The county magistrate lives in a place like this?" Su Zhenzhen asked incredulously.

"Yes," the lead soldier replied.

"Didn't you say you'd help the magistrate repair his house? Besides, there should be plenty of empty rooms in Chuanbei City, right?" This was Su Zhenzhen's tempting point. With so many empty rooms, it wouldn't be a problem to just give one to the magistrate, would it?

“That empty house belongs to someone else.” The leading soldier said with a serious face, “How can an official have the nerve to take things from ordinary people? Don’t they care about their reputation? Besides, the county magistrate is already this old, it doesn’t matter where he lives, he can just make do.”

Su Zhenzhen's worldview shattered completely.

The lead soldier seemed oblivious to Su Zhenzhen's strange expression, and pushed the door open, shouting without any restraint, "Magistrate, are you still alive? Some travelers from out of town want to see you?"

This courtyard was not only dilapidated on the outside, but even more so inside once the door was opened. You could see everything at a glance, with the walls bare and revealing the bricks underneath.

In the center of the courtyard, an old man with completely white hair was lying in a rattan chair, basking in the sun. The rattan chair must have been quite old, as its original color was no longer visible.

The old man opened his eyes at the sound, revealing two small slits on his wrinkled face, which looked extremely eerie. His face was so wrinkled that it looked like a pile of flesh. Even with Su Zhenzhen's strong mental fortitude, she was frightened when she first saw it. She almost thought that this white-haired old man had no facial features, and that he was truly an old monster.

Su Zhenzhen greeted him politely, "Greetings, Magistrate. My wife and I heard from this general that you are over a hundred years old, so we wanted to come and share in your longevity."

The magistrate's gaze swept past Su Zhenzhen and went straight to Hensheng behind her. Then he stretched out his hand, which looked like it was about to fall apart, and beckoned Hensheng to come closer.