The oxcart entered the back streets of Shoukangfang, where several houses stood side by side. Compared to the ornateness of the front street, they were somewhat simpler, yet possessed a natural simplicity, a realm of great skill yet simplicity itself. Two women stood at the street corner, their expressions anxious, and upon seeing them, they hurried over to meet them.
"Have you brought it back?" The older one was Aunt Cao. While asking, she took the reins from Cao Dali and led the ox cart to her doorstep.
"I'm back, and Manager Xu is with us." Cao Dali winked at his wife, who understood and hurried to the back to lead the donkey for Xu Jiang.
"Hello, sister-in-law, thank you for your trouble." Xu Jiang got off the donkey, said hello, and then handed the rope to her.
Cao Dali's wife was a reserved and reserved person. She just smiled at her and led the donkey away.
The ox cart stopped in front of the Cao family's courtyard. Mrs. Cao brought a footstool, Xu Jiang held the door, and the father and son of the Cao family worked together to move Lu Zhen out of the cart.
After Cao's wife had settled the donkey, she came out with a thin blanket and wrapped the child in it. Xu Jiang followed beside her and saw her eyes filled with tears.
She patted the Cao family's wife on the shoulder and said softly, "The child's name is Lu Zhen. He's a well-behaved and obedient child. All his family members died in the flood, and he himself was seriously injured in the disaster. It was fate that saved his life by meeting us. However, I really can't get around, so I have to cause trouble to my sister-in-law and aunt. I hope you will forgive me."
"I'm such a loser, I've made a fool of myself." The Cao family's wife wiped her tears with gratitude. "My father-in-law told me that you're a kindhearted man, helping those in need. It's a blessing from a previous life that this child met you."
Xu Jiang shook his head and smiled, "It's all fate."
"Yes, it's fate." The Cao family's wife said tearfully, "This encounter is the fate of him and the master, and also the fate of the Cao family and him. So the master doesn't have to worry about it, because this is also my wish."
Xu Jiang sighed inwardly, said no more, and walked into the courtyard hand in hand with her.
Cao's house is a two-courtyard house, common in the capital. It faces south and is spacious. The courtyard is well-arranged, clean and tidy. Melons, dates, persimmons and vegetables are planted in the corners of the walls, with a mixture of red and green, which is very pleasing. It shows that the owner takes good care of it.
The Cao family members lived on the left and right sides of the inner courtyard, with Lu Zhen's room on the right, next to the bedroom of Cao Dali and his wife. The Caos carried the child into the house and gently placed him on the couch. The two women hurried over to take a closer look. Seeing the child covered in bruises and purple, and his injured leg swollen and embarrassing, their hearts ached.
"Does it hurt, kid? Poor thing, you must have suffered a lot."
Lu Zhen glanced at Xu Jiang, who was standing behind the crowd, and smiled at Aunt Cao, "Grandma, it doesn't hurt anymore."
When Aunt Cao heard the word "Grandma," her heart ached and softened. She quickly hugged Lu Zhen in her arms, filled with affection. The Cao family's wife sat on the edge of the couch, took Lu Zhen's hand and caressed it non-stop, her loving heart evident. Lu Zhen opened his mouth to address her, but didn't know how to address her, and his face flushed.
Seeing this, Cao's wife coaxed her softly, "Just call me Aunt Zhuang."
Lu Zhen actually saw through the identity of the person in front of him, but it was difficult for him to change his words and recognize his mother. He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her say this, and softly called out "Aunt Zhuang."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang touched his head and smiled gently.
Seeing the harmonious atmosphere in the house, Xu Jiang completely put aside the worries in her heart. Seeing that it was getting late, she said goodbye to her family and led the donkey to the county government office.
After an autumn rain, the sun was bright, but the strong wind chilled people. The donkey snorted loudly, and Xu Jiang could not help but wrap herself tightly in her thin clothes. She and her donkey walked through the cold wind for about an hour before reaching the county government office. The county government office was located in Guangdefang, outside the imperial city, adjacent to the West Market, presumably to facilitate official travel for the yamen guards and to facilitate communication with various departments within the imperial city. Xu Jiang tied the donkey to the willow tree next to the government office, bowed to the guard, and entered the secretarial office through a side door under the pretext of obtaining property deeds and household registration.
Strangely enough, the yamen was quite deserted today. Not only were there few people coming to do business, but even the chief clerk and the chief editor, who handled the paperwork, were nowhere to be seen. Only a skinny chief clerk was guarding the secretariat, absent-mindedly reviewing documents with a bamboo brush in hand. Seeing Xu Jiang enter, he gathered his composure, lowered his voice, and met her gaze with a calm expression. "What brings you here, woman?"
Xu Jiang bowed first, then took out a wooden plaque with a number on it and handed it over respectfully. "I am Xu Jiang from Yonghefang. I have come to ask for the land deed and household registration. Thank you, sir."
The chief clerk took the wooden plaque, verified it, and stood up, walking to the shelf behind him. He accurately pulled out the one belonging to Xu Jiang from the pile of deeds. He carefully compared the deed with the household register, checking the name and characteristics of the householder, and after confirming that they were correct, he handed it to Xu Jiang.
"New households will have their household registration reviewed and registered one year later, and every three years thereafter. Don't miss the deadline. If you're late by one month, you'll be fined one guan (approximately 10 yuan). If you're late by three months, your household registration will be cancelled. Do you understand?"
Xu Jiang took the land deed and household registration and bowed, "Thank you, sir. I will save you some money."
After finishing his work, the chief clerk wanted to send the person away. "This is an important place for the government office. You can't stay here for long. If you have nothing else, please leave quickly." After saying that, he glanced outside the door anxiously, and sat down again with a lot on his mind.
Xu Jia remained standing, "Sir, I have something else to report."
"What's the matter?" The chief clerk glared at her, his tone rather impatient. The child, abducted by the kidnappers, had not yet been found, and the entire yamen was in a state of panic, fearing that the Censorate would catch him again. Even the county magistrate personally led people to look for the child, but there was still no news. He wondered if the child had been drowned in the cold rain last night. The chief clerk was terrified at the thought of the Jingzhao prefect's cold face. He had just happened to run into this tactless little woman, who had caused him to get angry for no reason. He was already annoyed, so why was he here to cause trouble?
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