Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Asking for help

After a short rest, the people of Jinnan Road learned that the military unit was recruiting soldiers.

In the past, recruiting soldiers was the thing that every household feared the most. Being a government soldier was miserable. You had to prepare your own equipment for fighting, your military pay was embezzled, you didn't have enough food to eat, and you risked your life.

Which male is willing to go?

But this time it was different, people flocked to sign up.

Being a county lord's soldier means you can eat meat! They're willing to go to war just for that meat. And they don't even have to carry their own equipment.

Jinnan Road covers a large area and plans to recruit many people.

Due to the dramatic increase in the number of applicants, Bai Zhishou, who was in charge of registration, was almost smoking from writing.

Yin Sheng, Nan Shuang and Nan Qiao have to look at hundreds of registration forms every day.

Nan Shuang and Nan Qiao only looked at it for ten minutes and didn't want to look anymore. The two sisters leaned back on the recliners.

"I think I'm a little tired."

"Sister, me too."

"But what should we do with so many registration forms?"

Having said that, Yin Sheng understood the reasoning. "The two coaches, please go and rest. I'll take care of this."

Then Nan Shuang and Nan Qiao happily went out to have some snacks.

Yin Sheng looked at them one by one, picking out the registration forms that initially met the requirements. When his eyes got tired, he drank some tea and closed his eyes to rest.

Yin Sheng would rather spend the whole night looking at the registration form at the base than go home, for no other reason.

Just because he was already nineteen years old, the marriage age stipulated by the county lady, his mother always urged him to go on blind dates.

Yin Sheng evaded the question, saying that the situation had not yet stabilized and he had no time to think about these things.

Yin's mother glared at him, "It's just a blind date, not a wedding. What's wrong with going there? Your sister has been on four or five dates."

Yin Sheng was extremely reluctant and didn't even want to go home.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to get married, it’s just that... he only wants to marry that person.

Yin Sheng worked overtime to finish reading the registration form and screened out the candidates for the initial test.

Nan Shuang and Nan Qiao were very happy to participate in the next selection. As long as they didn't have to deal with words, they would do anything.

Because there are so many applicants, the selection will take several days.

Zhang Ying originally wanted to participate after hearing the news, but when he heard that the age limit was fifteen years old, he instantly felt like a frost-bitten eggplant.

When Zhang's father and mother learned of his idea, they burst into tears.

"You finally got home, and you want to go to war again?"

"That's right, what do you want us to do?"

Zhang Ying was very helpless. He didn't know how to explain that the Buqu team was different from the Song bandits' army.

"Isn't it because of the age restriction that you can't go?"

"You can't go even when you turn fifteen next year!"

Zhang Ying had no choice but to agree and work honestly with his father in the salt mine.

It was hot yesterday, and before we started working in the morning, we were told not to work in the afternoon. The supervisor, Bai Zhi, said that if we continued working in the afternoon, someone might die, so we asked everyone to rest at home in the afternoon.

After the work was done, the supervisor said that it would be very hot even in the morning tomorrow, so we would have a day off.

The people looked at each other, and finally Zhang Ying spoke up: "Master Overseer, if we get up earlier tomorrow, it won't be so hot. If we don't work today, we'll lose a day's wages."

The people all had the same idea, but no one dared to speak out. Seeing Zhang Ying bravely stand up, they all followed suit.

"Yes, if we start earlier tomorrow, we can still bear it."

"Yes, these ten or so coins a day are very important to us."

Ding Shui: "I haven't said anything yet, don't worry. Considering the situation, everyone can rest at home tomorrow and still get a basic wage of six cents. We can continue working the day after tomorrow when it's cooler."

After these words were spoken, everyone fell silent and looked at each other in bewilderment.

It’s so hot today, and I can rest at home and get this basic salary. What a great thing!

Zhang Ying was also a little surprised that the provincial government had become so good.

Zhang Ying and his father returned home before noon and drank a lot of water as soon as they got home.

Zhang's mother came over and said, "A-Lian came by just now and said that my son-in-law has passed his medical training and can continue to run the clinic. He just needs to study regularly every six months to keep improving."

Zhang Ying wiped the sweat off his face and said, "That's good."

The family had lunch and stayed in the house to talk.

Mother Zhang counted the money in the money box and said in a firm tone, "When I save enough money, I will buy cotton cloth and we can wear cotton clothes to avoid the prickly linen clothes."

Zhang Ying nodded. "I see those white men coming from Xihe Road are wearing cotton clothes. They are breathable and comfortable in the summer."

Mother Zhang looked out the window. "The Li family down the lane bought a piece of cotton cloth and have been showing it off all morning. When I buy cotton cloth, I'll show it off in front of her too. Not only will I buy cotton cloth, I'll also buy the dye to dye it."

Father Zhang smiled and said, "Okay, okay, whatever you say."

After a while, Liu Yong came to Zhang Ying panting, and Zhang Ying hurriedly opened the door to let him in.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Liu Yong entered the door, he looked very sad and lifeless.

"This troupe's selection is truly filled with talented individuals. Why didn't I see so many talented individuals when I was recruited by the Song Bandits before? I wasn't even selected."

Zhang's mother was shocked. "So many people are going? This unit is going to fight and die, so why are you all willing to sign up?"

Liu Yong explained: "Aunt Zhang, this unit can eat meat every day. It's a heavenly life. Moreover, this unit has some firearms, which are really powerful. Just throwing them can kill the enemy. They also have rattan armor to wear, which is not the same as fighting with bare hands."

Zhang's mother couldn't bear to think that eating meat every day was a good life, but she still retorted: "That would also mean fighting a war, so it's not safe anyway."

"Well, I had the same idea as Aunt Zhang originally, but today when I went to the selection site, I listened to the team members' speech. They said that they were charging to the front to protect their families and the people so that they could have enough food and clothing. I suddenly felt a little sad. You said that if we all stay at the back, who will rush to the front?" Liu Yong's expression was rarely complicated.

When Zhang's mother heard this, she was stunned, and Zhang's father didn't respond for a long time.

Only Zhang Ying replied: "If I were not old enough."

Finally, Zhang's mother quietly asked, "After eating the meat, will there be any wages?"

"Of course there are, otherwise why would so many people want to go. After you get in, you'll have to undergo quality education, and you'll have to learn to read and write."

Zhang's father was shocked. "Do you need to be able to read to be a soldier?"

Zhang Ying also scratched his head. "The requirements of the Buqu team are so many. What if I can't learn them?"

"Then it can only be considered as failing the probation period."

Liu Yong's eyes were filled with regret: "If I had known yesterday, I should have run a few more laps. I wouldn't have been overtaken by that kid in the obstacle course."

Zhang Ying and Liu Yong went to the inner room to talk alone. They agreed that if there were still recruitment next year, they would go to sign up together.

Liu Yong secretly made a decision, "I must live a life where I can eat meat every day!"

*

Liang Nian and Zuo You are both in Lingzhou, but because of their busy official duties, they have not seen each other until now.

Registration for the new elementary school had just closed, and Liang Nian was busy reviewing the class divisions, schedules, and selection of head teachers. She was so busy she didn't even have time to drink a sip of water.

Not to mention remembering his daughter Liang Nian.

So, when she heard the name Wang Nianzhen, she was taken aback. Who is this? Such a strange yet familiar name.

She pondered for a long moment before finally remembering that during her teenage years on the Liangzhe Road, she had a friend named Wang Nianzhen, who was something of a mortal enemy. But why would she travel all the way to Lingzhou?

Zuo You had no choice but to postpone the meeting and only met Wang Nianzhen after all the chores in the primary school were done.

Wang Nianzhen never expected that Zuo You had been following the Princess of Anping County, and Liang Nian was a woman disguised as a man.

When she found out about these things, she took a whole day to accept it.

It turns out that the perfumes and soaps that were popular in various provinces and worth more than gold originated in Li County.

Fortunately, she had thought that Zuo You, who had been stranded in a barren land, would not be able to enjoy these novel things, so she saved up a few of them, planning to find an opportunity to give them away so that she could show off.

But in the end, I couldn’t bear to keep it because it sold so well. Otherwise, wouldn’t I be humiliating myself and becoming a laughing stock?

After seventeen or eighteen years, the old enemies met again. The air seemed to be stagnant, and only a silent awkwardness was left.

Wang Nianzhen was particularly affected; her face flushed slightly. Her visit was not to visit an old friend, but to ask for something from Zuo You. She should have lowered her attitude.

She was just thinking about how to start, but Zuo You had already sized her up and down, his eyes sincere and his words tinged with wonder, "Zhenzhen. I haven't seen you in over ten years, and you haven't changed at all."

Wang Nianzhen felt a tightness in her chest, feeling both ashamed and annoyed.

Zhenzhen? Can you call her that nickname casually? And you still say she hasn't aged at all? She looks in the mirror every day, how could she not be aware of the new fine lines around her eyes?

It's clearly a squeeze on her!

She suppressed her emotions and uttered, "You're... the same as before." Then she paused, lowered her posture, and spoke with earnestness, "To be honest, I came here to ask for a favor."

Zuo You thought about it and felt that as someone in charge of education, the only thing she could help with was the issue of schooling and enrollment, but that only required submitting an application form.

Could it be that you want to be assigned to a better class?

Zuo You then retreated and said, "As for the school, as long as your relatives have a temporary residence permit, they can enroll. As for the class division, all are taught uniformly, without distinction of superiority or inferiority. This is the fair education policy set by the county lord."

Wang Nianzhen shook her head. "No. I want you to talk to Ah Nian and ask him to help me find someone."

Zuo You was even more confused: "Who?"

"Xie Wenniang," Wang Nianzhen said, emphasizing each word. "She used to be a prostitute at Fengyue Tower in Lingzhou. She was my long-lost cousin. She was abducted and sold many years ago, and there has been no news of her since. She has not been found to this day."

This clue came by accident, a kidnapper stumbled into Wang Nianzhen's hands. After several rounds of rigorous interrogation, she finally discovered that Xie Wenniang had been sold into a brothel in Lingzhou.

She rushed to Lingzhou City anxiously and used her connections to inquire around, but was flatly rejected by Bai Zhi.

Bai bluntly stated, "Due to their special circumstances, the current residences of all the brothel girls liberated by the county lord are private and must not be disclosed at will, so as not to disturb their hard-earned peaceful lives."

Wang Nianzhen was desperate. The only person she could get in touch with in Lingzhou was her childhood rival Zuo You.

Zuo You then remembered that he and Liang Nian were both in Lingzhou but had never met each other!

After Xie Wenniang came out of the brothel, like most people, she chose to start a new life in Li County.

There will always be someone in Lingzhou who knows them. Since they want to start over, they must avoid unnecessary trouble.

Xie Wenniang came from a relatively wealthy family. As a child, she was well-educated and had traveled extensively with her family, gaining considerable experience. After arriving in Li County, she first attended night school and later started her own supplementary learning program.

This interest class not only supplements academic knowledge, but more importantly, it broadens children's horizons and allows them to learn more about ancient books that they cannot learn from textbooks.

How could ordinary people like them get ancient books? This is also the reason why Xie Wenniang's interest class is so popular.

Every afternoon, the room was filled with primary school students, who listened attentively to Xie Wenniang talk about history, geography, wonders and celebrities.

On this day, the parents were waiting in front of Xie Wen Niang's yard gate. After taking their children away, Xie Wen Niang was about to close the door.

A trembling, disbelieving voice called out from behind him. "Mrs. Wen... is it really you?"

Xie Wenniang turned around in confusion.

Wang Nianzhen was looking at her with tears in her eyes.

"Sister Nianzhen?!" The door bolt in Xie Wenniang's hand fell to the ground.

"It's me! Wen Niang! It's me!" Wang Nianzhen couldn't hold back any longer, tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly stepped forward and tightly grasped Xie Wen Niang's hand, her voice choking with sobs, "You've suffered so much... You've suffered so much over the years!"

Xie Wenniang burst into tears and wiped the water from her face. "No matter how hard it was, it's all over. Now, thanks to the county lady, I can still make ends meet."

The two hugged each other and cried, telling about the grievances that had accumulated over the years. After crying for a long time, Wang Nianzhen gradually stopped crying. She was considerate and did not ask about the past, but only carefully wiped away her cousin's tears.

"Wenniang," she held Xie Weniang's hand, her tone filled with anticipation, "Come back with me? You lost your parents when you were young, and were raised in my home. Your mother and father miss you every day."

Xie Wenniang sniffed, but her eyes were firm. "Sister, I don't want to go anywhere. The Anping County Master is doing very well, and I just want to stay here. Besides, I have to go to Jinnan Road in a couple of days. The brothel girls there have just been liberated, and the county master has chosen a few of us to go there to comfort and enlighten them."

"Okay, okay, if you don't want to go anywhere, I won't force you. I'll bring my father and mother to see you later. I just saw a lot of young men and women in your yard. What's your business?"