Jiang Zhi is going to the county government office!
For ordinary farmers, this was no less significant than meeting the emperor.
The way Xiaoman's grandparents looked at Jiang Zhi changed, revealing an unspoken admiration.
Xiaoman's grandmother said, "Errui's mother, you should take a closer look at those officials and see if they have purple smoke coming out of their heads?"
"Purple smoke? Why? Is it on fire?" Jiang Zhi laughed.
"In operas, it's said that scholars who become officials are the reincarnation of the God of Literature, standing on auspicious clouds and with purple smoke rising from their heads," said Xiaomanye with great conviction.
The highest-ranking officials they met were the town's pavilion chief and tax collector, and the most learned people were the two scholars from Pear Blossom Town.
The scholars walked with a swaying gait, and even in the dead of winter, they would carry fans, saying that only in this way could they feel the breeze and the bright moon on their faces, and their minds be filled with brilliant ideas...
Asking too many questions is like putting too much stuff into an article, like a farmer's granary, where the brain feels bloated and needs to be cooled down.
Those high-ranking officials and emperors on the stage, with their minds filled with the most literary works, not only had to emit smoke when they appeared on stage, but also needed two people with large banana leaves to fan them.
Hearing these simple words, Jiang Zhi felt her stomach hurt from holding back laughter, and nodded with great effort: "Okay, I will definitely take a closer look tomorrow to see if the purple smoke is coming out of the county magistrate's ear or his hair."
Grandma Xiaoman sighed contentedly, "Errui's mother has good eyesight, she will definitely see it clearly, and I will have no more worries." She had been thinking about this issue her whole life.
Xiaoman and Xu Errui were so excited that they punched and kicked each other. This time when they went to the county town, the two of them would go out with them.
For the two young people, whose furthest destination was the town, the county government office was an unimaginable black hole.
Xiang Dejin and several other wounded soldiers were also visibly agitated.
These wounded soldiers lived on the mountain and didn't have much contact with Jiang Zhi on a daily basis. They only knew that she was a few down-to-earth and honest farm children.
I enlisted for various reasons, and now I've survived a serious injury. In a few days, I'll recover and we'll all go our separate ways. I feel honored to be able to do something important before I leave.
This time, Xiang Dejin secretly provided a lot of assistance. He is smart and loyal, and Jiang Zhi felt that he was a promising helper and was also considering keeping him around.
Jiang Zhi planned to borrow Zhang Juntou's services when she went to the county government office, but she needed to discuss it with Xiang Dejin first.
As soon as she spoke, Xiang Dejin agreed.
“Aunt Jiang, I’m honored by your high regard. I’ll go with you.”
Xiang Dejin is now completely convinced by Jiang Zhi. Although his injuries have not fully healed, he can move around without any problems.
Wu Hongmao, standing nearby, muttered, "I'll count myself!"
The others wanted to express their opinions, but Jiang Zhi stopped them: "Alright, I know what everyone is thinking. It's just that the journey is inconvenient. With Dejin and Hongmao, it will be fine. Now that the refugees are scattered, we need a few more people to take care of things on the mountain."
He led his people on their way, and the refugees also gathered oak berries all over the mountain, even though it wouldn't take them long to reach the mountain two hours away.
He also left a few protective items for Qiaoyun, Chunfeng, and Xu Dazhu, just in case.
Li Laoshi remained squatting silently to the side. When he saw that Jiang Zhi was going to see the county magistrate with Zhang Juntou, his mind started to wander again: This backer seemed to be even more powerful.
Hearing that Jiang Zhi was worried about the refugees and wanted a few wounded soldiers to help guard the mountain, he immediately perked up: "Don't worry, Sister-in-law Jiang, I'm an honest man and I'll tell you the truth. I'll help you guard the house, and not a single blade of grass will be lost. You must believe me... Oh!"
Before he could finish speaking, he was knocked over by a wild boar that darted out from the corner of the house, falling flat on his back and causing everyone to burst into laughter.
Jiang Zhi stroked the little wild boar's increasingly slender back: "Even Peppa Pig doesn't believe what you're saying."
Now, if there are wild boars at home, even Xiang Dejin and his family can't just take anything out of the house unless the owner makes a sound. They will definitely chase after them, biting and bumping them.
Leaving aside the night's rest, the next day Jiang Zhi put on the thin jacket sewn by Qiaoyun, and then put on a 60% new outfit, which was also the only decent clothes the original owner could wear.
A blue shirt, black trousers, an embroidered apron, a blue cloth wrapped around the head, and a hairpin inserted—this is the elaborate attire of a married woman in a rural family.
When they get older, they will wear blue headscarves like Xiaoman's grandparents to prevent headaches and pains caused by the dampness and fog in the mountains.
Because they were going out, Xiaoman and Xu Errui got up before dawn to sweep, fetch water, and even carry firewood to the kitchen.
Before leaving, Xiaoman was called into Xu Dazhu's room for a detailed explanation: when traveling, she should be obedient and put away her impulsive nature.
Xiaoman readily agreed. During the days he spent setting up his bed in the medical shed, he received numerous instructions every time he returned, which had some effect.
Xiang Dejin and Wu Hongmao didn't need Jiang Zhi to say anything; they had already tidied themselves up and were waiting.
The group packed some dry food and water and descended the mountain as dawn broke.
The descent was quick; even with the detour, it only took an hour.
At this point, Zhang Juntou had finally settled the affairs of the medical tent.
"Squad Leader Zhang, could you lend me some of the children's wages?" Jiang Zhi was about to go out, and she couldn't go without money.
She weighed the loose silver the little wild boar found with a steelyard, and it only amounted to six qian (approximately 30 grams).
Normally it would be fine, but with prices rising now, and taking several young men out, we always have to go to the city to buy some pancakes.
Zhang Juntou took out one tael of silver directly: "I'll lend it to you first, and we'll settle the rest after the kang (heated brick bed) is finished!"
No problem, Jiang Zhi will accept it.
Xiaoman and Xu Errui carried some medicinal herbs in their baskets, which they could exchange for money once they found a pharmacy.
The distance from Xujia Village to Pingchuan County is sixty li, which in modern terms would be just a short drive.
In ancient Ba County, most official roads were only slightly smooth, wide stone slab roads suitable for carriages, and they sloped up and down the terrain. (See the Cuiyun Corridor of the ancient Shu Road, which was essentially a highway at the time.)
Cuiyun Corridor, a section of the ancient Shu Road, was first built during the Han Dynasty when Liu Bang was enfeoffed as the King of Hanzhong. It was also the special road used to deliver lychees from southern Sichuan to Yang Guifei.
Speed... What is speed?
The mule cart carrying the medical shed traveled along the rugged official road, and Jiang Zhi, who was riding in it, soon became dizzy.
Beside her, Xiaoman and the others walked instead of taking a car, and they felt more comfortable walking.
Only Zhang Juntou and his two companions were on horseback, moving with a light, easy stride.
Even now, groups of exhausted refugees still walk along the official road.
Near the riverbank, where the terrain is slightly flatter, tall reeds, more than a person's height, stretch out on both sides of the road like a wall.
The pale pink spikes of flowers stand tall, whistling in the wind, and remain as lush as a forest even in late autumn.
From afar, it appears like clouds and mist, stretching endlessly, and when illuminated by the sunlight, it looks as magnificent as if it were on fire.
This is also the most convenient place for bandits to rob travelers.
One can imagine that when the leaves are green in summer, a few people could easily hide inside, rob and kill someone, and then disappear without a trace.
With able-bodied men and soldiers protecting her, Jiang Zhi had no worries in this regard.
She held a "horse" made of reeds that Xiaoman had picked for her, and was already planning how to make a request when she met the magistrate of Pingchuan County.
Do you want money? Land? Or a plaque of commendation from the county government?
The Pingchuan County government office had just experienced a coup and was now barely back to normal, with its granaries completely empty.
A new broom sweeps clean, and the newly appointed magistrate, who has submitted to King Zhou, will certainly be eager to find ways to save the people.
There's a story of someone spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones; maybe if I make these requests, they'll be able to fulfill them!
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