When Jiang Zhengqing returned in the evening, he quickly went to the guest room to pay his respects to Daoist Guangcheng. He had visited Fusang Temple once before and thus knew Daoist Guangcheng, but at the time he did not think Daoist Guangcheng was very capable. Since Yuan Qi returned, he has been constantly surprised and delighted, and he realized that Daoist Guangcheng was very capable. Otherwise, he could not have taught such a powerful disciple as Yuan Qi.
Therefore, Jiang Zhengqing's attitude towards Guangcheng was different this time. He personally accompanied Guangcheng to dinner and had the kitchen prepare a large table of exquisite vegetarian dishes.
Seeing the table full of delicious food, Daoist Guangcheng decided to stay at the Jiang residence for a long time.
The two chatted happily, praising each other to the skies, making Yuan Qi feel like he was the best. Yuan Qi was in a great mood and thought the vegetarian dishes on the table were actually quite good.
The next day, Yuanqi set up a stall under the big locust tree, while Guangcheng Daojun took Yuan'an to another Taoist temple to catch up with old friends.
Lord Qian, whom they hadn't seen for many days, suddenly came looking for them, bringing with him his son who had been found.
Lord Qian sat opposite Yuan Qi with a broad smile on his face and said with a chuckle, "Young friend, I've come again."
Yuan Qi noticed the young man behind Lord Qian and asked, "Has your son remembered things from his childhood?"
Lord Qian's smile faded, and he said with a hint of regret, "No, not really. But it felt familiar. I took him to some places he used to frequent when he was a child, and he saw some of his childhood playmates. He seemed to remember one or two things, but it was also like he didn't remember anything at all. But none of that matters. He's already used to living here."
The young man also bowed to Yuan Qi with a half-smile, showing great humility and politeness.
"That's good, congratulations, Lord Qian." Yuan Qi noticed that the young man was much bolder than when he was in Yangzhou, and he was no longer so timid. He had the air of a noble young master.
Bai Youhui spotted Lord Qian from afar and came over to join in the fun: "Seventh Sister, another business opportunity? You said you'd take me to broaden my horizons, can I come along this time?"
Yuan Qi looked at Lord Qian: "Lord Qian, is there something you need from me?"
Lord Qian recognized Bai Youhui and had a good relationship with the Bai family. After exchanging a few polite words, he said, "Young Master Bai, if you don't mind the bad luck, please come along. I'm here on behalf of one of our students to find you, young friend. He is the prefect of Jiyang. A strange thing has happened in a village under his jurisdiction. Ten years ago, a plague broke out in the village, and everyone in the village died. The village was abandoned, but many people have heard that it has recently become prosperous again. Scholars like to go there and are so engrossed that they never return. He sent people to check, but they didn't come back either. So he went to look for it himself, but there was no one there at all."
Mr. Qian was very puzzled: "It's really strange. He mentioned this matter to me twice in his letters, and that's why I took it seriously. So I would like to ask you to take a look. I wonder if it would be convenient for you?"
Yuan Qi was feeling bored in Kyoto and hadn't left the city for a while, so she asked, "We're going to Jiyang, why don't you come?"
Bai Youhui chuckled and said, "Go ahead. My grandfather was very satisfied with the last job and gave me several days off. I have nowhere to go, and Feng Zhaolin and Mao Hongji haven't had time to go out either, so I'll go with you."
After saying that, he sent the servant behind him to inform Old Master Bai.
He then said to Lord Qian, "Uncle Qian, please don't find me annoying."
Qian Hou was also very easygoing: "Nephew, you're too kind. Let's get in the car together."
Yuan Qi packed up his stall and climbed into the carriage with Bai Youhui.
Bai Youhui was a chatterbox, and he started talking to Qian Wenbing, who didn't like to talk. In terms of family background, Bai Youhui was much better off than Qian Wenbing, but he didn't put on airs at all. He treated Qian Wenbing like his own younger brother. Before long, the two became familiar with each other, and Qian Wenbing started talking more, telling Bai Youhui about his childhood in Yangzhou.
Lord Qian watched with satisfaction as his son became more talkative, and he was also very grateful to Bai Youhui. To be honest, ever since his son returned from Yangzhou, he had been very quiet. Although he called his father and mother and respected them very much, he could never get close to them. He also didn't have any friends and felt lonely.
This is the first time I've ever spoken so much to someone at once.
Yuan Qi then used the magic of shrinking the earth to an inch, and the journey from Kyoto to Jiyang was only four or five hundred li, but by noon he had arrived at the gate of Jiyang city.
Bai Youhui and Qian Wenbing had already made plans to play together after they got back.
Bai Youhui was overjoyed: "Seventh Sister, how did we get to Jiyang so quickly? Did you use some kind of magic?"
Yuan Qi nodded: "Yes, that's called shrinking the distance to an inch, a little trick."
Bai Youhui patted Qian Wenbing on the shoulder: "Brother, did you see that? This is my seventh sister. Isn't she amazing? I don't know if you've ever seen this before, but this is the first time I've ever seen such magic in my life."
Qian Wenbing was quite smug. He said arrogantly, "When Miss Qi went to Yangzhou to find me last time with my father and mother, I experienced it on the way back. It was really amazing. The journey of a thousand miles was completed in half a day."
Bai Youhui snorted: "That's not very nice of you, you didn't even invite me."
The three entered the city gate and headed straight for the prefectural government office.
Jiyang is a very prosperous city, surrounded by mountains on three sides and the sea on the other. It is rich in seafood, with all kinds of fish, shellfish, dried fish and kelp. Qian Wenbing and Bai Youhui saw many things they had never seen before.
"Seventh Sister, look at all this delicious food! Let's go out and eat seafood later, it's my treat." Although Bai Youhui came from a wealthy family and had eaten many good things, there were still many things he had never seen or eaten before, and he was very excited.
Yuan Qi, being a foodie himself, immediately agreed.
Qian Wenbing was also very excited: "Yangzhou also has seafood, but it's different from here. I've never seen that octopus-shaped one before."
Before long, they arrived at the prefectural office of Jiyang.
Yuan Qi thought that Lord Qian's disciple would be at least ten or twenty years younger than Lord Qian, but to his surprise, he was about the same age as Lord Qian, in his thirties, and even had a beard, making him look quite mature.
The prefect of Jiyang was named Zhang Jing, and he looked very shrewd and capable.
"Teacher, what brings you here? I was unable to come out of the city to greet you; I am truly sorry." Zhang Jing said politely as he led his teacher inside. Yuan Qi could tell at a glance that he was a seasoned official, his polite words were impeccable.
They also inquired about the situation of Yuan Qi and others.
Zhang Jing did not look down on Yuan Qi because of his young age. Since the teacher had specially brought him along, it meant that Yuan Qi had real skills.
Bai Youhui and Qian Wenbing followed quietly at the back, looking around at the Jiyang Prefectural Government Office.
Along the way, Yuan Qi also discovered that Jiyang was a very good place. There were no evil spirits appearing in broad daylight, and the government offices were peaceful and harmonious.
Zhang Jing's face also indicates a promising official career, and although he is shrewd, he is a good official with no trace of malevolence.
"Please come in, teacher; please come in, Taoist priest." Zhang Jing politely invited the two into the house. After a simple lunch, he told Yuan Qi about the strange incident.
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