Chapter 413 An Unexpected Person

The spring breeze in February is like a pair of scissors.

It's a sunny day, a perfect time for a spring outing.

Sunlight streamed down, casting dappled shadows through the woods.

A young couple strolled through the woods, occasionally startling small animals hiding in the grass, which made rustling sounds.

Wan Qiqi looked up and peered at the sun through the gaps between her fingers. She said helplessly, "The sun is shining brightly, but why is there no warmth in its rays?" She shivered from the cold.

"Why didn't you listen when I told you to wear more clothes?"

As Chen Yongnian spoke, he was about to take off his cloak and give it to Wan Qiqi, but she immediately stopped him.

"I said there was no warmth, not that I was cold. Aren't you cold? You idiot..." Wan Qiqi scolded, but she wasn't harsh. Instead, she exuded a charming femininity.

"Those who practice martial arts are not afraid of the cold." Although Chen Yongnian said this, he did not continue to take off his clothes.

He took out the snack bag hanging from his waist, opened it and handed it to Wan Qiqi, saying, "I bought it this morning. It's not as good as yours, but it's still passable."

Wan Qiqi was taken aback. Looking at the candied fruit in the snack bag, she burst out laughing and said, "You really think we came out for a spring outing and prepared snacks for us? I'm not a child."

Even so, she still took the snack bag, grabbed a piece of dried plum, and popped it into her mouth.

The next moment, her brows furrowed, she hissed, shrank her neck, and said, "The people who make this candy really don't put in any sugar; it's so sour it makes my teeth ache!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yongnian immediately snatched the snack bag back, his ears turning slightly red, and said, "Then I won't eat it!"

"Mmm." Wan Qiqi nodded repeatedly, walked to the rock in front, sat down, closed her eyes facing the sun, and asked, "Did you find anything here?"

She was planning how to deal with Tang Qiwen, but unexpectedly, Chen Yongnian sent her a letter asking her to come to Yunhe County and telling her to keep it a secret, making it all very mysterious.

"As usual, but I want you to meet someone." Chen Yongnian stopped beside Wan Qiqi, leaning against a rock, wanting to get close to her but also hesitant.

"Meet someone?" Wan Qiqi turned her head to look at Chen Yongnian, her eyes showing a hint of surprise.

As far as she knew, she had met and knew almost everyone Chen Yongnian knew at the county government office.

Who would have Chen Yongnian choose to meet on the outskirts of Yunhe County?

Wan Qiqi filtered through everyone, finally settling on Xie Xing.

But Wan Qiqi's intuition told her that it couldn't be Xie Xing.

Chen Yongnian nodded, "Second brother is worried about you."

Wan Qiqi was startled again, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but it disappeared in an instant, and she returned to her composure.

Wan Ziyan was taking the imperial examination at the time, and not wanting to distract the other party, she did not mention Tang Qiwen in the letter she sent.

Unexpectedly, even without saying anything, the other party found out and even sent someone over.

Wan Ziyan's network of connections seemed to be even wider than she had imagined.

"I wonder how his exam went. If I remember correctly, it should be in the next couple of days, right?" Wan Qiqi's tone carried a hint of sigh and worry.

With such connections, Wan Ziyan must have many people watching him.

Talented people will be appreciated, but they will also be feared.

Wan Ziyan could send people to help her from thousands of miles away, but she had no ability to help Wan Ziyan.

For Wan Qiqi, this was truly tragic.

"Don't worry, Miss Wan, Young Master Wan is in good condition."

A male voice suddenly came from the woods.

Wan Qiqi looked up at the sound and saw a middle-aged man in his thirties walking towards her.

He was dressed in camel-colored casual clothes, and his face was slightly square, with a ruggedness that resembled that of a martial artist, yet he also appeared clean and tidy.

Like Chen Yongnian, he also wore a county government badge on his waist.

Wan Qiqi squinted and stared for a long time before finally finding the person's identity in her memory.

The County Commandant of Yunhe County was a ninth-rank official, below the County Magistrate and the County Assistant Magistrate. He, like the County Assistant Magistrate, assisted the County Magistrate in managing various affairs in the county.

However, the county magistrate was in charge of documents, grain, storage, finances, and other matters, while the county lieutenant was mainly responsible for various security and stability tasks within the county.

The battle of Lianshan was fought by the county magistrate Pang Zhao, who led the troops to encircle and suppress the enemy.

In Wan Qiqi's memory, Pang Zhao was not a smart person; he was somewhat foolish and impulsive.

Looking at the person in front of me again, his eyes were bright, and he had a sly smile on his face. He was completely different from before.

"Miss Wan, is it strange that you saw me? Do you doubt my identity?" Pang Zhao spoke frankly and directly about Wan Qiqi's doubts without any hesitation.

"No way! I'm just a little surprised." Wan Qiqi smiled.

By all accounts, Pang Zhao doesn't seem like the type to play dumb to outsmart others.

No matter where you are, showing your talent will attract attention, but knowing when to keep a low profile is the key to stable development.

Pang Zhaoyou made a contribution in suppressing the bandits in Lianshan, but there was no news of any reward for him afterwards.

In many cases, people will even overlook the existence of this person.

Even if he is there, people will lower their guard and think he is just an impulsive brute with no brains.

Wan Qiqi, however, doesn't see it that way now.

Such people are often down-to-earth and may seem to have little presence, but they are more stable than anyone else.

Yunhe County is now one of the most stable counties in Liangzhou in terms of public security, which is undoubtedly due in no small part to the efforts of this county magistrate.

Pang Zhao smiled faintly and said, "I was quite surprised too."

"Hmm?" Wan Qiqi frowned slightly, not quite understanding the meaning behind Pang Zhao's words.

"It's unexpected that Miss Wan has such a caring brother." Pang Zhao smiled, his face full of wrinkles, making him look somewhat old.

But at this moment he seemed very relaxed, as if he had no wariness towards Wan Qiqi.

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