Chapter 31 Don’t Let the Old Send the Young
The people do not fight against the officials. With the words of the soldiers, Zhou Yunshu and others had no choice but to join them in delivering the water to the county government office.
Fortunately, Manager Liang is a down-to-earth man. He said that he would make up for the four buckets of water requisitioned by the county government today and give Zhou Yunshu a replacement.
When Zhou Yunshu and Manager Liang were leading their men in a cart heading towards the county government office, they learned from the officers and servants leading the way that the county magistrate was entertaining distinguished guests today and there was not enough water in the government office. Zhou Yunshu and her companions happened to bump into the officers and servants who were carrying water, so the water had to be requisitioned.
Zhou Yunshu and others entered through the side door in the backyard of the county government office.
The officers and soldiers had already returned to the county government office through the front gate. Zhou Yunshu and her companions were accompanied by only a few servants, who were now instructing Zhou Yunshu's men to unload water into the kitchen.
During this time, a man who looked like a butler came over and shouted that he wanted to find a few strong people to move the wooden utensils specially customized for Qushui Liushang in the mansion to the banquet. He also asked for three of Zhou Yunshu's people and called Zhou Yunshu in addition.
It was just because Zhou Yunshu looked like a scholar, and it was more elegant for her to carry the tray and pour water into the wooden container.
Because of this indescribable literary atmosphere, Zhou Yunshu followed the housekeeper, carrying a tray and leading her people, through the corridor, stepping through the moon gate, passing the rockery, and walked towards the garden where the banquet was held, accompanied by the melodious string music and graceful opera singing.
There is no grass growing outside the county town, but flowers are blooming inside the county government office.
Zhou Yunshu remained silent as she watched the maid casually pour the water, which no one outside could drink, into the soil in the garden.
The candlelight flickered, the air was filled with the aroma of wine, and waves of laughter rose one after another. The square pool in front of the banquet was sparkling with lights, and on the opposite stage, actors in gorgeous costumes were waving their long sleeves and singing the most famous opera "Peach Blossom Fan".
Peach Blossom Fan...
Zhou Yunshu raised her eyes to look at the actors singing and dancing on the opposite stage. Across the banquet pool, she and the heavily made-up actor looked at each other in the hazy and dreamy lights.
"I once saw the orioles singing in the Jade Palace of Jinling at dawn, and the flowers blooming early in the Qinhuai Waterside Pavilion. Who knew that the ice would melt so easily?"
The actors waved their sleeves and sang in a mournful voice, "I watched him build a red building, I watched him entertain guests, and I watched his building collapse."
Zhou Yunshu listened to the lyrics and looked at the county magistrate who was entertaining guests. She didn't know whether he had heard the content of the opera.
"Here on this pile of green moss and blue tiles, I once slept in a carefree sleep, witnessing the rise and fall of fifty years..."
Amidst the slow and melodious singing of opera, the county magistrate, who had been chatting happily, immediately stood up and led the people around him to the east to meet the people after hearing the housekeeper whisper a few words beside him.
Zhou Yunshu had just filled the Qushui Liushang vessel with water. She looked at the Qingyi actress who was performing a one-man show on the stage, then turned to look in the direction of the flattering laughter coming from not far away.
When Zhou Yunshu saw the man in the red robe that she had encountered several times since entering the city, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.
It turns out that these Red Lotus Messengers were the distinguished guests of the Anshan County Magistrate.
"What are you standing there for? Let's go!"
Zhou Yunshu turned her head to look at the little maid who patted her arm. The little maid blushed as she looked at Zhou Yunshu under the light.
It's strange. This person is not very good-looking, but why are his eyes so attractive?
"Okay, let's leave now."
When Zhou Yunshu turned around, she saw the token on the ground, which belonged to the housekeeper.
She squatted down to pick it up, and the sound of opera from the stage came into her ears.
"A good marriage is hard to renew. The fierce battle on the rooftop leads to the hell at the bottom of the prison..."
Yes, isn’t that just sinking into hell?
…
For each trip of water, everyone, including Zhou Yunshu, received a reward of two taels of silver.
Two taels of silver as a reward may not be a big deal in the capital, but in a county town in Luzhou, it is a huge amount.
On the way back, Du Lao Er held the two taels of silver and said with a smile: "That's good, I earned enough money to pay for the city entrance fee."
Someone listened to Du Laoer's words, clutched the silver in his hand, looked at Zhou Yunshu and asked, "Sir, does this money have to be counted as kilometers?"
He earned it himself and didn't want to hand it over.
Zhou Yunshu smiled and said, "Everyone can just take the money."
After Zhou Yunshu finished speaking, the people around her smiled even more.
Before, I thought that although coming to the city was dangerous, it might be a good job. Now it seems that it is indeed a good job. I haven’t spent the money I brought with me yet, and I have already deposited two taels of silver into my account.
Because there was no curfew, after coming out of the backyard of the county government office, Manager Liang took Zhou Yunshu's men to transport water.
But Zhou Yunshu didn't go again this time. She had already gone there once, and there would be no problem with Du Laoer leading her.
After Zhou Yunshu separated from Manager Liang and the others, he walked towards the inn in the dark with someone.
She was a little worried about the news that Du Mazi and the other man had gone out to find out.
As they were walking through an alley, the man following Zhou Yunshu just realized something was wrong when a machete was swung quickly and fiercely behind him, and then the white and slender hand holding the handle fell on his neck.
After a long time, he dared to swallow his saliva and move to the side. Behind him was Du Mazi, whose eyes were wide open in fear, as if he was scared silly.
The sharp blade was less than half a finger away from his neck, and for a moment he felt that his head was about to fall to the ground.
Zhou Yunshu looked at the frightened Du Mazi and the other man, retracted the knife in her hand and said, "You scared me."
Du Mazi and the other two: "..."
Is she serious when she says this?
Du Mazi swallowed hard, looked at Zhou Yunshu with fear in his eyes and said, "Yes, I'm sorry, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Yunshu calmly accepted Du Mazi's apology and then asked, "What are you two doing sneaking around back there?"
Du Mazi and the other man wanted to cry. "When we saw Lao Jiu, we wanted to fight..."
Du Mazi's voice became smaller and smaller under Zhou Yunshu's gaze until it disappeared.
Well, he wanted to scare them, but who knew that they would end up scaring themselves.
"This is just the first time." Zhou Yunshu smiled gently and said, "Next time I might not be able to control the knife in my hand."
Du Mazi swallowed hard. He could still feel the chill of the knife on his neck.
"Don't let your family lose their loved ones when they are old, what do you think?"
Du Mazi nodded repeatedly.
Although Zhou Yunshu's tone of voice was always gentle and calm, he could clearly hear the threat in her words.
"Let's go back to the inn."
"Okay, Mr. Zhou."
If Du Mazi and his companions still had some grievances against Zhou Yunshu before, the knife just now had completely severed the rebellious string in his mind.
When they passed the main street of the county town, they looked at the bright lanterns on both sides of the street and the Red Lotus Messengers lined up in two teams, and silently retreated to the dark alley.
Zhou Yunshu's hand groped for the hilt of the knife, and she looked at some people from Anshan County kneeling in front of the Red Lotus Messengers not far away, crawling on the ground with their palms facing upwards to receive the water sprayed from the porcelain bottles in their hands.
Du Mazi saw Zhou Yunshu looking at him intently, and whispered beside her, "Mr. Zhou, I heard someone say that's the Red Lotus Cult's holy water."
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