"That's not necessary." Huo Jincheng stopped the clan leader's ridiculous idea. The governor personally came to Dingjia Village. For the county magistrate and the town lord, they could set up clan schools in the rural areas under their jurisdiction. Such a popular thing could be regarded as their political achievements. How could they take it easy?
Wei Dong also said, "Let's keep it the same as before. There's no need to make a big fuss. I'm telling you this just to give you two a heads up so you won't be caught off guard when the time comes."
The village head and clan leader were already panicking. Since Dingjia Village was founded, the most prominent official they knew of was the town master. Now, suddenly, not only was the county magistrate about to arrive, but even the prefect was coming. How could they not be overjoyed and panic?
"That's right!" The village head slapped his thigh and pointed at a young man in the clan, saying, "Quick, go find Ding Lao Si and make him come here no matter what. Go!"
The village head thought that Ding Youtian had at least been to school and knew a few words, so it would be better for him to be the representative to receive the county magistrate and the prefect than for them to be illiterate.
The man had just agreed to go when a villager came running to the village head and reported, "Uncle, a group of people have arrived from the town, carrying drums, and are telling everyone in our village to rush to the village entrance. They say the county magistrate will be coming to our village soon. Hurry, call for help!"
The village head was now convinced that he was not dreaming. He turned around twice and heard the sound of gongs and drums coming from the village entrance.
The news that the county magistrate and the prefect were coming to Dingjia Village spread like wildfire to every corner of the village in a short time. When Old Ding and Mrs. Meng heard about it, they ran to the village entrance as fast as they could.
The fifth son, Ding Fu, the eldest son, followed with Xing'er, who was less than two years old, on his back. Everyone in the family thought his father had gone out to gamble again, and his mother was so angry that she ran away. Ding Fu coaxed Xing'er as they walked, "Be good, don't cry. Wait until the county magistrate comes, and I'll ask him to arrest Dad and put him in jail. Let's see if he dares to gamble again!"
Ding Fu hated his father and also blamed his mother for abandoning them. He was only seven years old, and he had to take care of his younger brother and sister. His grandparents didn't help him, and the situation was now chaotic with his eldest and third uncles. His two aunts cried all day, one for Sister Zhu'er and the other for Brother Ding Gui. They had no time to care for them. Only his second uncle and his aunt offered a helping hand.
Xing'er cried even harder on his back, calling for her mother. Ding Fu sighed, "Xing'er, don't cry anymore. If you cry any more, I'll cry too..."
Ding Fu carried Xing'er to the village entrance. Perhaps the crowds had attracted her, and she finally stopped crying. Ding Fu sighed, carrying her to the front. Seeing Ding Youtian standing with the village head and the clan leader, he uttered a "Pah" and walked towards his grandparents, carrying Xing'er on his back.
"Here they come, a huge crowd..." The villagers who had been scouting ahead came back, waving their hands. The clan leader turned and shouted to the people in the town who were carrying the big drums, "Quick, beat the drums! Beat them louder! Beat them faster!"
The deafening drumbeats suddenly began to roar again. These people were summoned by the town lord, who had rushed back from the county the previous night with two constables. Fortunately, he had returned just in time. Yang Wuqi had rested up enough in prison, and upon waking up, he tricked the jailer into coming to him, twisted his neck, took the key, and escaped. He also injured the two constables who stayed behind, but they caught him before he could escape the town yamen.
The two constables that Zhenjun brought to the county already had some martial arts skills, and later learned a few grappling techniques from Constable Ma. If they had not dragged Yang Wuqi and fought for a while, the man would have disappeared by the time Weidong and Ma Fuquan arrived.
On such an important day as today, if the county magistrate and the prefect knew that a prisoner had escaped from the town government office, the good days of the town lord would be over.
At this moment, the town lord, the county magistrate, and the prefect were walking all the way from the town to Dingjia Village, followed by a group of onlookers.
The idea of walking was suggested by the prefect, and they chatted and laughed all the way. Jian Ning and the Tian and Chang families were also among the crowd watching the excitement at the village entrance. She had met County Magistrate He before, but not the prefect. She was curious about what high-ranking officials in ancient times looked like. Seeing that Ding Yang, Ding Jian, and the others were getting a little impatient, she ordered a break and led them over to see the excitement.
"Oh my God, he's walking here, he's really the Lord of Heaven!"
"Which one is the prefect? Which one is the county magistrate?"
"I think it's the one on the left. He looks older and should be a higher official."
The villagers craned their necks to look at the group of people approaching on the road ahead, chattering among themselves. Jian Ning nudged Tian and pointed at the man to the right of County Magistrate He, saying, "That's the prefect. His official uniform is crimson. The one in green is the county magistrate."
Jian Ning didn't expect that the prefect was actually younger than County Magistrate He. He looked only a few years older than Ding Youtian, no more than thirty-five.
In the past, the ancient officials she had seen in TV dramas were mostly middle-aged men. She was a little surprised to see such a young prefect. Although this man had an ordinary appearance, at least he did not look vicious. However, the way he walked seemed to her like a show.
Like the Grand Tutor, the Prefect Fang was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. He knew Huo Jincheng and Weidong. He smiled and bowed to Weidong and Huo Jincheng. This made Huo Jincheng's status in the eyes of the village head and the clan leader even higher. They only thought he was a successful businessman who was so familiar with the Prefect Fang.
Lord Fang was very approachable. After the town lord introduced him, he bowed to the village head and the clan leader, two elders, and said, "I am sorry to bother you and all the villagers. I am deeply troubled!"
After saying this, he raised his hands and bowed to the villagers.
The head of the village and the clan leader were so frightened that they didn't know how to respond. Some villagers even knelt down with weak legs. The prefect actually bowed to them with a smile on his face. They shouted "Master" or "honest Master" one by one. They were so surprised and happy that they didn't know how to express their gratitude.
At this moment, Ding Youtian calmly stepped forward. Kneeling was unnecessary in such circumstances. He bowed and said with a smile, "Your Excellencies' visit to our humble place is truly a blessing to the villagers. I'm sure you must be tired after all this travel. Please rest in the ancestral hall for a while."
Seeing that he was well-mannered and well-spoken, with a refined and elegant appearance, Lord Fang thought he was just a country scholar. If he passed the imperial examination, he might become a colleague in the future. The smile in his eyes deepened, and he turned his gaze from Ding Youtian's face to Huo Jincheng standing beside him, "Who is this..."
Without waiting for Huo Jincheng to speak, Ding Youtian bowed again and said in a clear voice: "I am just a commoner, my surname is Ding, my given name is Youtian, and I have no courtesy name."
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