Pan Kui frowned and demanded in dissatisfaction, "Tell me! Why do you always push the remaining prisoners onto us Heqin Guards?"
"Please calm down, sir. I'm only following orders and responsible for guarding the prisoners. I don't know anything else." The prison warden bowed and scraped, fearing to offend the dark-skinned man, who was as strong as an iron tower. He smiled and explained, "Your question is actually about the prison rules. How can I make the decision? As a rule, after the prisoners are brought to the prison, we deal with them several times a month. We send them to the army and farm as soon as possible. Those who don't find a place to stay by the deadline are sent north."
Pan Kui was even more dissatisfied after hearing this. He glared at them and asked angrily, "Who made this rule? It's so unfair! The war in the north is still going on and we're desperate for new recruits. You should have let us pick the young and strong prisoners first!"
"Yes, sir, what you said is very true. I will remember it and will report your opinion to my superiors." The steward bowed carefully again and again.
Pan Kui shook his head, "Humph!"
A centurion was on duty, accompanied by a team of soldiers.
Because one of his men deserted, Qian Xiaoshuan was dismissed from his position as general and demoted to a common soldier. Another general, Tian Bo, was not with us today because he was recovering from a beating with a military stick.
Among the guards was Ding Yuan, who was whipped at the post station for admitting to molesting a female prisoner.
Young people recovered quickly, and Ding Yuan's whip wounds had healed. He surrounded Pan Kui and strode towards the prison living room.
Suddenly, several women came out of the kitchen carrying hot water and medicine in a panic. When they met head-on, one of them almost splashed the medicine on Pan Kui.
"Ouch." Xiao Tao stepped back hastily, and the medicine splashed out, burning her so much that she screamed.
"How dare you! What are you running around for? Be careful not to hurt our masters! Get out of the way!" Ding Yuan, who was nearby, tried to stop them, but when he looked closely, he was stunned and asked in surprise, "Is it you?"
"Why is it you?" Xiao Tao stood still and instantly recognized the tall and thin Bian Jun in front of her. Her face suddenly changed and she cursed: "Bah, you lecher!"
Ding Yuan blushed and was at a loss in front of the pretty girl. He answered hesitantly: "Girl, I, actually I--" He gripped the hilt of the knife tightly and stammered.
A strong sense of shame and anger surged in Xiaotao's heart. She couldn't help but roll her eyes fiercely, turned her waist and walked away.
Pan Kui's expression changed too! His eyes lit up, and his angry face turned into a pleasant one. He quickly stopped the other person, looked down and asked, "Hey, are you the maids of the Guo family?"
Several maids looked at each other, cowering and lowering their heads. Xiao Tao, who was older, answered dryly, "Yes."
Pan Kui's mind raced as he asked, "When did you arrive in Xicang?"
"A while."
Pan Kui rubbed his stubble, looked around, and asked curiously, "Where were you assigned to be sent to the military and cultivate the land?"
Once bitten by a snake, Xiao Tao was alert and cautious, and replied reluctantly: "I am just a servant, I don't know the arrangements of the superiors."
"Oh my," Pan Kui said bluntly, "You're all exiles now. What's the point of distinguishing between master and servant? Why don't you see Guo Honglei?"
Xiao Tao could no longer bear it and replied stiffly, "The Guo family has been so kind to me. No matter what they do, I am happy to follow them! Now that the old lady is ill, our young master is busy serving the elders."
"Oh? So his mother is sick." Pan Kui's eyes turned along with his heart, and his eyes were shining.
At this time, Jiang Yushu, who had been waiting for the medicine for a long time, hurried over. When she met Pan Kui, she was immediately worried and thought to herself: Oh no! As far as I remember, this Lord Pan was a captain of the Heqin Guard. He must have been ordered to come and receive the new convicts.
Heqin is located in the northernmost part of Xicang, close to Yongzhou which was occupied by enemy troops. Smoke of war was everywhere, and there was no peace, which was not conducive to farming.
The Guo family was still unsettled. Would they be sent to Heqin? If that happened, my mother-in-law and the others would definitely not accept it. They were afraid of being sent to the north... In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Jiang Yushu's mind, and she was filled with worry.
at the same time
Pan Kui turned his head and asked in a low voice, "Where were the Guo family members assigned to?"
"There's still no news." The prison warden leaned closer and whispered, "This morning I sent someone to ask Second Master Guo, and he said to wait a little longer."
Pan Kui thought for a moment, "I see."
If it is a blessing, it is not a disaster. If it is a disaster, it cannot be avoided. Jiang Yushu calmed down and quickly cheered up. She decided to test the waters, so she slowly walked forward and asked with a smile: "Isn't this Master Pan?"
"What a coincidence!" Pan Kui replied cheerfully. He glanced behind her and asked in surprise, "Why isn't your husband here? Is his injury still not healed?"
Jiang Yushu urged first: "Xiao Tao, hurry up and send the old lady's medicine in."
"Yes." Xiao Tao nodded and led the little girl back to the house.
Then, she sighed and answered solemnly, "He was seriously injured and tired, so his recovery is slow. Besides, my mother-in-law is ill, and my family is busy taking care of her."
Pan Kui admired Guo Honglei's composure and martial prowess and was interested in recruiting him, but he didn't want to appear overly aggressive, lest he lose his prestige and become unpopular. So, with his hands clasped behind his back, he spoke slowly, "A noble son is truly precious. This simple flesh wound hasn't healed yet. Didn't you give him any medicine?"
How is that possible? Jiang Yushu was stunned. While observing everyone's expressions without revealing any trace, she replied, "It's been treated with medicine, but the wound is too deep to heal in a short time."
"Tsk, I guess the medicine is bad!" Pan Kui said lightly without allowing any arguments, "Xiaoshuan, show them our Heqinwei's unique golden wound medicine."
"Ah?" Qian Xiaoshuan opened his mouth in confusion.
Pan Kui glanced sideways and asked, "Hmm?"
"Oh, yes!" Although Qian Xiaoshuan was confused, he did not dare to disobey the order. He quickly took out the medicine that every border soldier carried with him and wanted to hand it to Jiang Yushu.
"Give it to me." Cuimei rushed to take it. It was hard to change the etiquette she had followed since childhood. She thought: This guy is so rude, he stretched out his hand and approached the girl so rudely!
Qian Xiaoshuan pretended not to notice the maid's disgust and lowered his head to return to his original position.
Jiang Yushu observed his words and immediately understood! She thought to herself and said politely, "Thank you for your generous gift of medicine. I will apply it to him later."
"Hmm." Pan Kui racked his brains and asked sternly, "What's wrong with your mother-in-law?"
Family disgrace should not be made public. Jiang Yushu said calmly, "I'm not used to the local climate."
"The customs at the frontier are very different from those in the capital. It's not surprising that you can't adapt for a while. You'll get used to it after staying there for a while." Pan Kui continued to rack his brains.
Jiang Yushu agreed: "That's what the doctor said."
She stared intently, seeing everything clearly, understanding his intentions. She thought with emotion, "As expected, Captain Pan really appreciates Honglei." When he learned we were members of the Guo family, he angrily scolded us, but he never deliberately made things difficult. Now, offering medicine and exchanging pleasantries, he was clearly trying to find something to talk about. He was just saying, "You! Go get Guo Honglei to come back to Heqinwei with us!"
The two parties had only met once and were so unfamiliar with each other that they had no topic to talk about.
Pan Kui clenched his fists behind his back, maintaining a suave expression. He cleared his throat and casually asked, "By the way, I heard from the steward here that all the prisoners will be relocated today. I wonder where the Guo family has been assigned to serve as soldiers and farmland?"
Jiang Yushu was prepared and replied with a smile: "We are still waiting for news."
"What news are you waiting for? Whose news are you waiting for?" Pan Kui was shocked and his eyes were as big as copper bells.
Jiang Yushu was about to answer when she saw the servant rushing over and reporting in a panic, "The eldest young master's wife has hanged herself!"
"What?" Jiang Yushu was shocked. She said "Excuse me" and left quickly.
Pan Kui watched them leave from where he stood, wondering, "After toiling away for three thousand miles, she made it to Xicang, only to seek death. Is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Guo family an idiot?"
The soldiers nodded one after another, and the prison warden smiled apologetically without saying anything.
Inside the simple house, a rope made of a trouser belt hung from the beam and was still swinging.
"Why did you save me? Why did you save me again?" Wang Qiaozhen lay on the bunk bed, her hair disheveled, sobbing uncontrollably. She pounded the bed and wailed, "Let me die! No one can stop me, let me die! It's better to die than to suffer in life."
Jiang Yushu sat on the edge of the bed, leaning over to exhort, "Sister-in-law, you saw it with your own eyes. All the prisoners who died in the prison were thrown into mass graves by the stewards and the servants. They said that the bodies would often be eaten by wild dogs and rats. Are you afraid?"
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Wang Qiaozhen shuddered, pounding her bed in anger, sobbing, "Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month, and no one has come to pick us up yet. I couldn't bear being sent to the north." She looked up, surveying the surroundings, and said in despair, "Humph, this kind of house, this kind of furniture, this kind of bedding, this kind of clothes and food... Oh my God, I never dreamed I would have to endure this kind of hardship for the rest of my life!" She collapsed onto her bedding, overcome with grief, and burst into tears.
In fact, we're likely going to the north. Jiang Yushu sighed, not wanting to provoke the man who had attempted suicide, and comforted him, "There's always a way out. Sister-in-law, no matter where we're assigned, as long as we work together, we can always survive."
"Enough!" Wang Qiaozhen burst into tears. "What's the point of living in such a miserable state?"
Jiang Yushu replied solemnly: "While you are alive, Yu'er has a mother; if you die, Yu'er will lose both his parents. Your own flesh and blood is only three years old. How could you bear to abandon your child and commit suicide? It's simply too cruel."
"Yu'er, Yu'er." Wang Qiaozhen sobbed, her eyes red and swollen, her gaze fixed, and she murmured, "You're right, I really shouldn't have left my son. Yu'er has been loved since he was born, with rich servants and maids, fine clothes and delicious food. He's only three years old, and he'll have to endure a lifetime of hardship... Why don't I take the child with me?"
Jiang Yushu was stunned, her scalp tingling. She shouted flatly, "Are you crazy? Yu'er is still young and innocent. He doesn't know how to worry about poverty and wealth. He is happy when adults coax him. He jumps around all day long. He is fine! Sister-in-law, please don't be confused." After speaking, she stood up and instructed, "Watch her closely until she wakes up. Also, don't let Yu'er enter this room to play, so as not to scare the child."
"Yes." Several maids took the order and stayed close to Wang Qiaozhen, keeping a close eye on her.
The sun is scorching, the afternoon is hot and humid, and the cicadas are chirping loudly, making people feel annoyed and distracted.
There were many troubles. Jiang Yushu had no time to rest. She hurried to find her family to discuss countermeasures. Frowning, she asked, "How is the old lady?"
Xiao Tao answered truthfully, "The Second Young Master and the others are taking care of her. After much persuasion, she finally drank the medicine."
"Well, as long as you are willing to take the medicine." Jiang Yushu was walking when her vision suddenly went dark and she couldn't breathe. The world was spinning and she staggered and fell.
"Miss? What's wrong with you?" Cuimei was frantic and supported him. Xiaotao said nervously, "It's probably heatstroke! Come on, help Madam back to her room to rest."
Jiang Yushu's face was pale and she felt weak all over. She fell down on the steps and said weakly, "It's okay. I'll sit down and rest for a while. I'll be fine after drinking a cup of summer heat tea."
"I'll make it right away!" Xiaotao hurried to make tea.
Cuimei stayed by her side, and tearfully advised, "Now that things have come to this, there's no point in getting anxious. Calm down, young lady, or you'll ruin your health."
Under the shade of the tree, Jiang Yushu waved her hands, undaunted. "Things haven't reached the final stage yet. There's still room for maneuver! I'll think about it again. I have to come up with a solution."
At this time, a middle-aged man in the uniform of a seventh-rank official walked into the prison gate with a calm expression, accompanied by several officials.
Jiang Yushu looked in the direction of the voice, holding her dizzy head, and said casually: "That person looks familiar, I seem to have seen him somewhere."
"Oh!" Cuimei looked at him and clapped her hands, saying, "Isn't it just the shorter, white-skinned Master Pan?"
really!
The next moment, Pan Kui quickly came to greet him and asked from afar, "Brother, how are you? The prefecture didn't blame you, did it?"
Pan Rui dismissed the guards, his brows knitted into the shape of a "川" character, and angrily said, "How can I not blame you? Humph, this time the reprimand is extra harsh!"
"Did you get any food?" Pan Kui asked sympathetically. The cousins stood side by side, one tall, one short, clearly distinguished by their appearance.
Pan Kui was very frustrated and replied with a sigh, "No. Everyone knows that the war in Heqin is frequent. The people are fleeing in panic. The prisoners can't cultivate the land. The harvest is poor and the people are living in dire straits. As the county magistrate, I can only ask the higher authorities to allocate grain to help the victims. Who knew that the capital was also short of food? In fact, this time, even grain seeds are missing. Corn and wheat are pitifully scarce, but they gave 20,000 kilograms of bean seeds!"
"Beans?" Pan Kui asked doubtfully, "What kind of beans? Soybeans? Black beans? Red beans? Green beans—"
Pan Rui interrupted with a wry smile, "Potato!"
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"Hey, what kind of bean is potato? I've never heard of it."
Pan Rui explained, "I heard it's a fresh tribute from an overseas foreign country. It's pale yellow and looks like a sweet potato. I guess the imperial court saw the abundant grain harvest in the south and couldn't bear to occupy the fertile farmland, so they allocated it all to the northwestern border."
"Hahaha." Pan Kui suddenly understood, crossed his arms, and said teasingly, "In the end, the prefecture was reluctant to occupy the fertile farmland in other counties, so they just gave it all to Heqin. Right?"
"Go away!" Pan Rui waved his hand like he was shooing away a fly, his face filled with worry. "The court has issued an order, ordering local authorities not to neglect the work, but no one has ever grown potatoes before. It's such a headache! Oh, if the harvest keeps failing, I'm afraid I'll lose my job."
Under the shade of the tree, Jiang Yushu gritted her teeth and made a quick decision. She supported Cuimei and walked forward, asking sincerely, "Sir, may I take a look at the grain seeds? Perhaps I can tell you how to plant potatoes."
The author has something to say:
Our Yushu's farming plan starts with potatoes [strong applause for her] (＾o＾)/～
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