The weather has been sunny recently with very little rain. There are no fallen rocks or mud on the mountain road, so the walk is quite smooth.
Among Su Wanti's group were the frail Zhang and younger siblings, so they walked more slowly.
They walked for a whole day until dark before they reached the county town.
Before entering the city gate, I saw several teams of soldiers walking out of the city gate with nervous and serious expressions, and then dispersed in different directions.
Su Wanti and Shang Xingjian looked at each other.
"They may be going to search for you outside the city." Su Wanti leaned closer and whispered.
Shang Xingjian carefully examined the soldiers' uniforms and asked, "Judging from their uniforms, aren't all of them soldiers from the county?"
Soldiers' uniforms may vary slightly depending on the region.
Su Wanti said: "There are soldiers from the county, and there are soldiers from Luzhou."
An Jing whispered to Shang Xingjian, "Sir, there are several experts among these soldiers."
He had been practicing martial arts since he was young, and had sharp eyes and keen senses. When a group of soldiers passed by him, he could sense something unusual.
"Well, remember not to make a fuss if something happens, act carefully, and make a long-term plan after you arrive safely in Luzhou." Shang Xingjian said.
The guards entering the city were much stricter than usual. When they encountered a young man, the soldiers guarding the gate would open the portrait in their hands and compare it.
The portraits in their hands are those of Shang Xingjian and An Jing.
Fortunately, both of them had changed their appearance. The soldier guarding the gate glanced at them, waved his hand, and let them in.
The atmosphere in the county town is different from before. The usually leisurely and relaxed county town is now depressing and tense, as if something big is happening.
Su Wanti has the original owner's memories, so she is very familiar with this county town.
She first found an inn with a good location, reasonable price and food to settle her family, and then went to the carriage shop with Shang Xingjian and An Jing to rent a carriage.
There were yamen runners patrolling the streets, staring at the young man.
The three of them were walking on the street, listening to the chatter of the yamen runners, and only then did they realize that the soldiers who had just left the city were going to search the villages under the county town.
"What are you searching for? Could it be that some wanted bandit has made his way to our little county?"
The shopkeeper who was familiar with the yamen runner asked.
The county yamen runners were not strict in their rules. They would glance at the people passing by on the street and tell everything with just a few words.
"It's said that a high-ranking official from the capital has disappeared near us. A lot of people have been sent to look for him. They've searched the mountains, waters, and rivers nearby, but they can't find him."
"Now we've started looking for people in nearby counties and villages."
"What high-ranking official?" asked the shopkeeper.
The yamen runner said, "I only know that he is a high-ranking official who is here to inspect water conservancy projects. As for his identity, I have no idea. He is a young man. I have his portrait with me. Look, he is quite handsome."
As he said this, he took out the portrait from his waist and unfolded it for the shopkeeper to see.
The shopkeeper said with a sigh, "He's so handsome! He must not have come to our county. I've never seen such a handsome man in our county."
Shang Xingjian listened attentively to the other person's words and unknowingly moved closer.
It was dark, and the street lights were dim. Illuminated by the dim candlelight from the street stalls, his face looked dark and yellow, and dirty.
The bailiff glanced at him and pushed him away impatiently, "Go away, you country bumpkin, stay away and don't dirty my clothes!"
He rolled his eyes and brushed off the non-existent dust on his clothes.
When An Jing saw the young master being scolded, he subconsciously took a step forward.
Shang Xingjian glanced at him expressionlessly. He paused, then stepped back, lowering his head with an honest look, but his fists hidden in his sleeves were clenched so tightly that they made a crackling sound.
Su Wanti was afraid that the bailiff would cause trouble again, or that An Jing would lose control of his temper, so she hurriedly pulled the two of them away.
After reaching a secluded place, Shang Xingjian asked, "Miss, are all the county yamen runners like this?"
Su Wanti said, "What's the point? Is he always like this to common people? Not really. If you dress brightly, spend generously, and act respectably, he'll treat you well."
"If you were his relative or acquaintance, he would be somewhat polite to you."
"If you were like you and me, wearing cloth clothes and straw sandals, with a sallow complexion and the appearance of not having enough to eat, he would not be in a good mood."
Shang Xingjian was slightly startled and said, "But no matter what our status is, rich or poor, we are all citizens of Daning. Yamen runners are the servants of the government office, doing work for the government office. How can we categorize the people into different classes and treat them differently?"
He was born in the upper echelons of the world and was raised in luxury in the imperial palace since childhood. Emperor Ning and the Empress were kind and loving to him, and the princesses, princes, ministers and nobles below him all treated him with smiles.
When he went out of the palace to do business, he was protected by guards on both sides and accompanied by officials. They hugged him from front to back, and he could call the wind and rain, and was extremely noble and dignified.
He had never experienced such a situation where he was looked down upon or even insulted because of his low status.
Su Wanti pursed her lips, her eyes clear as she looked at him as if he were a fool.
Shang Xingjian read the meaning in her eyes and quickly realized it himself.
Being divided into three and four, despising the poor and loving the rich is also part of human nature. He has read about it in books...
When they see powerful people, they bow their heads and try to get close to them.
When they see poor people, they become arrogant and look down on them.
In the past, he had no idea of this because he was born into the highest position of power.
Shang Xingjian frowned deeply, as if thinking about something.
"Young Master, when I first met you, I could tell that you came from an extraordinary family. If you feel uncomfortable, we can go buy some new clothes and dress more decently. Then we can find a high-end inn and live better. This way, others will treat us with more respect." Su Wanti said.
Shang Xingjian waved his hand, "No need to change, this is fine."
Only by being in it can you truly understand what kind of life the ordinary people who have no power and influence live.
Only by experiencing it yourself can you avoid being deceived by officials and truly understand what they encounter and go through in life.
He knew what his father and mother expected of him, and he didn't want to be an ignorant and incompetent ruler who would ask, "Why don't you eat meat porridge?"
Su Wanti nodded. "Alright, it's better for us to blend in with the people on the way from the county town to Luzhou. We can change our clothes when we get to Luzhou."
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