Chapter 823 Road
Old Zhou lowered his head and thought for a moment, "It seems there are three. Besides the official road, there are two other roads that can lead to Luojiang County, but one is quite far from our Qili Village, and the other is right next to the official road, not far away. After the official road was repaired and became more accessible, no one used that road anymore, and it's been overgrown with weeds and abandoned for years."
"Twelve years ago, if you wanted to drive into Luojiang County, which road would you take?"
Old Zhou thought for a moment and said, "Back then, the main road from Qili Village to Luojiang County hadn't been built yet. There were two ways to get back. One was the shorter route, which was a bit bumpy but faster. The other was the abandoned route I mentioned. Merchants used to use that route, so it was relatively easy to travel."
Qian was silent for a moment before she said, "My sister-in-law had just come from Shangzhou and was exhausted from the journey. The second son is always sympathetic, so he might choose to take the easier route."
County Magistrate Tang asked, "Does that road lead to the mountain where Zhou Yin and his wife were found?"
Old Zhou and the other man nodded together.
County Magistrate Tang invited Manbao and Baishan, "Shall we go and take a look together later?"
Old Zhou immediately said, "Master Tang, that road is not easy to travel. How about letting my fourth son go with you? He knows the way."
County Magistrate Tang smiled and nodded, "That would be the best."
As they were talking, Nanny Liu brought in two bowls of porridge. Bai Shan asked her to put the porridge on the table next to where he and Manbao were sitting.
Madam Liu understood immediately and said with a smile, "You've been feeling restless all morning. You haven't eaten enough, have you? Then go to the side room and eat."
Then he said to Aunt Liu, "Go to the kitchen and get some side dishes and steamed buns. Young people are growing and need to eat a lot."
County Magistrate Tang looked at Manbao with a smile. He had eaten breakfast at the same table with Bai Shan that morning, and he didn't think Bai Shan was hungry.
Qian thought about it and understood. When they left, Manbao had not yet arrived at the compound for breakfast, but she didn't say anything in front of outsiders.
Manbao glanced at County Magistrate Tang, then at his parents, making sure that they would not sneak away without them while they went downstairs for breakfast. He then took his bowl and went to the next room with Bai Shan to have breakfast.
Bai Shan wasn't very hungry, so he didn't move. After she finished half of the bowl, he gave her half of the meat porridge in his bowl and asked quietly, "You think we have the same idea. Do you think we can find something?"
Manbao said, "Let's try it."
Nanny Liu brought over another basket of steamed buns and a plate of pickles.
Manbao thanked him and continued eating. Bai Shan also felt a little hungry after seeing this. After finishing the porridge in his bowl, he also ate two small steamed buns.
Nanny Liu couldn't help but smile when she saw this, and she also advised: "Master and Miss Man, eat more. We are going to climb the mountain soon, and there is nothing hot to eat in the wilderness."
Manbao and Baishan nodded together, and Manbao added, "Pour some hot water into the water bag. It should still be warm by noon."
Nanny Liu smiled and replied "yes", and prepared dry food and other things for them to take with them.
But this time, not only Daji and Zhou Silang would follow, but also Liu Gui, the son of Liu Ma. He didn't bring anyone with him and stood quietly beside the car alone.
County Magistrate Tang was about to get into the car when he saw him. He couldn't help but pause and asked, "Who is this person?"
Madam Liu explained, "This is a family servant. He has been secretly searching the mountain with his men since four years ago, but he still hasn't found anything. He's very familiar with the mountain, so let him take you along."
Only then did County Magistrate Tang nod.
He got on the car in the Bai family's courtyard. No one saw him except the Bai family's servants and Old Zhou and his wife.
After they left the house, Bai Shan and Man Bao climbed onto the cart. However, they did not get into the carriage. Instead, they sat on the shaft with their legs swinging. When a villager saw them, they asked, "Man Bao, where are you going?"
Manbao said: "Let's go for a walk and take a look at the county town."
The villagers were used to it and just asked curiously, "Why didn't the Second Young Master go with us?"
Bai Shan said without thinking: "He hasn't woken up yet."
"Oh, oh," the villagers understood and laughed, "You were too noisy last night and couldn't get up, right?"
Bai Shan was right. Bai Erlang hadn't gotten up yet. When he got up from the bed and went to play with his friends, he found that his two friends were missing again. When he asked, he found that they had gone to the county town.
Bai Erlang turned around unhappily and went to play with his other friends.
The temple fair was still lively today. A group of teenagers loved to join in the fun, so they encouraged Bai Er to go to the temple fair with them.
Bai Erlang hesitated and said, "My father won't let me go. He said I can go on a regular day. There's no need to go today."
"It's the same whether you play at home or outside, why do you have to separate them?" Someone said, "Didn't Bai Shan and the others go out to play too?"
"I also saw the servants of Bai Shan's family going to Dali Village. It seems that they are going to deliver something to Daohe Taoist priest. If your father asks, you can say that you are going to deliver something for Bai Shan and his family."
Bai Erlang was so moved by the encouragement that he couldn't help but nodded: "Okay."
At this time, Bai Shan and his companions' carriage had just driven onto the official road. Zhou Silang was standing on the shaft of the carriage and looked for a long time before he could figure out where the road was. The place was already overgrown with weeds, and it was basically impossible to tell that it was a road.
Daji took a look at the "road", pulled the carriage off the official road, found an open space near the small road to stop, and then unloaded the carriage.
County Magistrate Tang also got out of the car. Since they were the only ones around, he didn't need to hide.
He stepped forward to look at the road that still vaguely resembled what was once a road, and asked, "Does it connect directly to the official road?"
"No, this is an extended section. If you come from Yizhou City, you can take the straight path inside and go directly to Luojiang County." Zhou Silang took out a sickle to clear the way, and Liu Gui followed to help.
County Magistrate Tang followed them in and asked curiously, "Why is this road deserted?"
"Now that the official road has been repaired and no longer charges tolls, naturally no one uses it anymore." Zhou Silang tilted his head and thought carefully, then said, "It seems like when I was a kid, soldiers would set up roadblocks on the official road and collect tolls. The official road was shabby and rundown, so naturally people didn't want to use it. There's a side road next to it. Although it's a bit small, it can still accommodate a carriage. If a carriage comes, you just have to move aside and it can pass. It's better than the official road, so everyone uses this road."
"I don't remember when it was, but the adults started to withdraw the soldiers who were setting up the roadblocks and made us do labor to repair the official road. No one used this path anymore, and it became like this after eight or nine years."
County Magistrate Tang nodded, turned around and asked Liu Gui, "Have you come here to investigate?"
Liu Gui said, "I've walked here before, but couldn't find anything."
The next update will be around 9pm
(End of this chapter)
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