Jiang Zhi's second New Year's Eve in Xujia Village passed quickly, and she was unable to fulfill her promise to go down the mountain to pay New Year's visits the next day.
With rain and snow mixed, the mountain road was slippery and difficult to go up and down, so they had to give up. Instead, the two families on the mountain exchanged greetings.
Nini and Caixia both received lucky money. This time, everyone wore their best clothes that they had kept hidden away, except for Peiqi, who couldn't wear her hair in braids like she did last year.
Because it has grown fangs around its mouth.
Since the onset of winter, Peiqi has stopped playing with the children, fearing they might hurt someone. The adults in the family also forbid the children from getting close to the increasingly irritable wild boar.
Peggy is elusive and her whereabouts are unpredictable. She can only be seen in the woods outside the house when smoke rises from the chimney. She will also come back to sleep in the cabin at night.
However, as long as Jiang Zhi is home, it will stay there all day and wander around in the woods near the house.
Unable to descend the mountain, Jiang Zhi still led the wild boar around to check if the medicinal herbs that had been intentionally left behind and planted in the forest were growing well.
It's still Chinese New Year, and everyone's on vacation, so we can't let Peiqi do any work.
Jiang Zhi simply let it carry the small burlap sack that used to hold barley, so that it could easily put anything it found into its sack.
The bag was too small; when placed on the pig's back, it looked like a handkerchief, which was strangely comical.
Peiqi didn't care at all and walked steadily ahead.
Jiang Zhi usually walks around the places where it grows medicinal herbs several times a day, and has long since worn out small paths. The master and the pet just stroll around like this.
Time flew by and it was already the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. The rain and snow finally stopped, and the ground gradually dried and began to show signs of white. Jiang Zhi prepared to go into the village once the roads were clear.
Just as they were thinking this, Li Laoshi suddenly came up the mountain, accompanied by Xiang Dejin.
The old mule was carrying two large bags of salt, oilcloth, tobacco, alcohol, and tea—all necessities for the mountain—which were being delivered to Dejin.
Whoosh! Both families came out to greet them!
Xiang Dejin was still in his official uniform. Upon seeing Grandpa and Grandma Xiaoman, he quickly bowed and said, "Grandpa and Grandma, the county government was too busy before the New Year to deliver the holiday gifts. I only have the chance to come now. Please don't be angry!"
How could Xiaoman be angry? He smiled and invited him inside to warm himself by the fire and rest.
After exchanging pleasantries and showing concern, Xiang Dejin was very pleased with the changes on the mountain.
He hadn't been up the mountain for over a year, and had heard Jiang Zhi mention it before, so he was even more eager to see it for himself now.
Seeing that the shack where she had stayed to recover from her injuries had become a pigsty, Xiaoman felt a little embarrassed and explained, "Your old shack is gone. Peiqi comes and ruins it every day, so we can only raise pigs here. We plan to build a few more rooms next year so you and Sister-in-law Suqing can stay when you come."
He had previously said that he would stay here and that Xiang Dejin and Wu Hongmao could come back to live here anytime. He had said it, but now it had become a pigsty, and he felt very embarrassed.
Looking at the domestic pigs that had grown to half-grown size in the shed, and then remembering the wild boars that came to defecate every day, Xiang Dejin laughed and said, "It's good to use it. Even if we don't build a pigsty, it will still be filled with pork belly and manure. Your sister-in-law and I can stay anywhere we want, no need to trouble ourselves."
He had known for a long time that pigs were raised here. Wild boars used to build manure piles nearby, and over time, the place became uninhabitable, making it perfect for raising pigs.
Xiang Dejin revisited the old place and discussed his business with Xiaomanye.
Jiang Zhi was busy changing and getting ready. She was going down the mountain with Xiang Dejin and the others because Magistrate Zhang was coming!
"Where's Sister Jiang? Hurry up, don't keep the magistrate waiting!"
In the short time it took to change his clothes, Li Laoshi was already yelling like he was being pressured to the death.
Jiang Zhi glared at him, thinking, "He's such a blabbermouth, he can't even keep a peep out of nothing."
Magistrate Zhang will handle his affairs at the post station; he has no time to wait for others.
Despite her thoughts, she quickly put on a clean apron and instructed Errui, who had just unloaded his things, to come down the mountain with her.
Xiang Dejin had only had a cup of tea when the group hurriedly left.
Fortunately, the descent was quick. Half an hour later, Jiang Zhi entered the village and was about to head straight for the post station when she was stopped by Wu Hongmao, who was with her.
“Aunt Jiang, the magistrate is not at the post station; he is at the scholar’s house right now.”
The scholar's family?
Jiang Zhi's heart skipped a beat. Xia Xiucai's illness was unpredictable; she hoped something might go wrong.
Li Laoshi wiped his sweat: "I told Lao Wu before I left that if I went into the village, I should go to Xiucai's house. He must be there by now."
At this point, everyone in the village knew that the officials had arrived, but they all remained calm and went about their business as usual, neither crowding around nor hiding.
They had seen the granary officials when they sold grain in the village, and they had also seen Zhao the clerk when they were building houses. Xiang Dejin and his group had come before, and their attitudes were all very good, so the villagers were not afraid of the officials.
Upon seeing Jiang Zhi arrive, Pi Shi jokingly said with a grin, "Aunt Jiang, that high-ranking official came to my house to look at the property, and I even treated him to a meal."
"A high-ranking official?" Jiang Zhi was taken aback and almost burst out laughing.
Magistrate Zhang probably never expected that he would change his surname because of his height.
But Tian Gui and his companions were different. They were caught selling grain and taken to the county government office. They were deeply impressed by Magistrate Zhang, who only fined them.
However, Magistrate Zhang was now dressed in plain clothes, and several officials were standing in the village. They could not pass on messages, but could only instruct people not to run around or shout.
At this time, in Xia Xiucai's house, the bamboo windows were high, a charcoal fire was burning brightly, and Magistrate Zhang and Xiucai were playing chess face to face.
But these things clearly don't belong to a scholar's family.
The two remained silent, their chessboard a battleground of black and white pieces, evenly matched, poised to decide the outcome with a single move.
Xia Yuan watched with her little eyebrows furrowed tightly.
The scholar's wife brewed tea and poured water, making a red date and ginger soup to dispel cold and warm the stomach.
When Jiang Zhi arrived, Magistrate Zhang didn't even look up. He simply placed the white chess piece he had been holding for a long time into the empty space and sighed, "It's been a long time since I've had such a satisfying game. Shu Yan wouldn't even give me half a piece. I'm so glad I managed to hold onto this vital point!"
Unexpectedly, as soon as he placed his chess piece, Xia Xiucai burst into laughter: "You're wrong! Watch this move!" He raised his hand and placed his piece, and a large number of Magistrate Zhang's white pieces were immediately wiped out.
"Enough! I've lost today!" Magistrate Zhang shook his head and laughed, tossing down the chess piece before looking up at Jiang Zhi: "I never imagined that your little village could be such a wonderful place!"
Before Jiang Zhi could speak, Scholar Xia said, "The wise find joy in water, the benevolent find joy in mountains. The wise are active, the benevolent are tranquil. The wise are joyful, the benevolent are long-lived. This place is truly blessed with outstanding people and beautiful scenery!"
Magistrate Zhang laughed heartily: "Well said!"
Jiang Zhi felt relieved to see that Xia Xiucai hadn't gone mad, as she was very worried that he might lose his composure.
"I live in the mountains, and I'm sorry to have kept Magistrate Zhang waiting!" Jiang Zhi quickly came over and bowed.
“It’s alright. Social engagements in the city are so tedious. It’s rare to steal half a day of leisure. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to drink tea and play chess in a bamboo house with tiled roof. It’s just a pity that we missed it because of the snow a few days ago!” Magistrate Zhang stood up and stretched.
The accompanying servant quickly put away the chessboard and pieces and returned them to his own carriage.
Jiang Zhi already knew from Xiang Dejin why Magistrate Zhang had come.
Magistrate Zhang came to inspect the repairs of the official road and post stations, and while he was there, he stopped by his own village to see the grand scene of the whole village building new houses.
The word "splendid scene" was uttered by Magistrate Zhang himself!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com