Chapter 164: A strange disease breaks out in the city
When Li Baisong returned to the county town, he discovered something was wrong as soon as he arrived at the city gate.
There was a lot of noise at the city gate. The yamen runners were blocking the door, as if not letting the people inside out. People outside seemed to be able to go in, but most of them turned around and left in a hurry with their burdens on their shoulders.
Wang Sheng was puzzled. "What's going on? Are we going to collect another entrance fee? What if I don't have any copper coins? Bosong, did you bring any? You live in the city, so there shouldn't be an entrance fee, right? Why didn't you tell me in advance? You didn't even prepare anything."
"I'm afraid it's not about the entrance fee." Li Baisong frowned, with a serious look between his eyebrows. Perhaps something happened in the county town.
"Brother Wang Sheng, don't go into the city today. Wait for me at the foot of the wall. I'll go find out what happened."
Wang Sheng then became nervous. "Okay, go ahead. If I can't get in later, you have to help deliver the meat. Then you have to tell your mother that I came to deliver the meat, not that I didn't come!"
"Don't worry, my mother is not that kind of person. Just wait here and don't wander around." After giving the instructions, Li Baisong hurried towards the city gate.
It happened that Tian Fang was on duty today. Seeing Li Baisong coming, he took the time to whisper to him, "Don't come back into the city now that you're out of it."
"What happened in the city?"
"I don't know the details, but I heard someone died from a strange disease. The county magistrate is investigating the source of the disease in the city and has banned anyone from entering or leaving."
Strange disease, how can there be a strange disease.
Li Baisong asked two more questions, but when he really couldn't get any answer, he turned and left.
Wang Sheng waited anxiously. Passersby cursed and swore, but no one had any useful information. Seeing Li Baisong approaching, Wang Sheng hurried forward to ask, "What's going on? It doesn't sound like we need to pay a city entrance fee."
"There's a murder case in the city, and the authorities are investigating the suspects. Go back and tell my mother not to let anyone go out for the time being, and to put a halt to the family business. I'll go talk to the business in the city, and I'll go back once the case is over. Tell everyone at home not to worry."
When Wang Sheng heard about the murder case, his legs went weak.
It is common for ordinary people to fight and quarrel with others, but no one really kills others.
Wang Sheng looked around and said, "Bai Song, do you think the murderer has escaped? Will it be dangerous for me to go back?"
Li Baisong took out five coins from his pocket and handed them over. "Go back with someone, don't go alone. This matter hasn't spread yet, so don't tell anyone when you go back. If everyone gets worried and causes trouble, the government will investigate and put you in jail. My brother is a very capable official, don't worry."
Wang Sheng nodded repeatedly, took the five cents and held it in his hand, feeling much more at ease.
"Then I'll go back first. Bosong, take care of yourself," Wang Sheng suddenly remembered the in-law relationship between the two families and reminded them, "Go in and follow your master and senior brother closely. Don't run around. Make sure nothing happens to you."
Otherwise, the Li family would be finished and their way of making money would be gone.
God bless you.
Li Baisong took Wang Sheng's backpack and watched Wang Sheng find an acquaintance from a nearby village and leave together. Then he walked back to the city gate.
Tian Fang glared at him, "What are you doing here again? Didn't I tell you to go back? Now that you're in the city, it won't be easy to get out again."
"Thank you, Brother Tian. Please let me in."
The city was crowded with people who wanted to leave, and no one could get out. People outside the city who originally wanted to enter the city turned around and left one by one.
Li Baisong was particularly eye-catching when he walked in alone with a basket on his back.
Two shifty-looking men at the back of the crowd also saw Li Baisong carrying the basket on his back. They looked at each other and squeezed forward when Li Baisong walked out of the congested section of the road near the city gate.
"Young Master Li, are you delivering dried meat to our building today?"
Li Baisong carefully scanned the two people and found they were indeed from the brothel. He smiled politely and asked, "Why are you here? What's going on?"
"Well, it's because something happened in the city. We can enter but not leave. The manager is worried that you won't come in. All the dried meat in the building has been eaten. If you don't send it in, the building will be out of stock. Manager Tian asked us to wait here. If the person who sent the dried meat from your family doesn't dare to come in, ask us to bring the dried meat in."
The two smiled and looked at Li Baisong's backpack. "Young Master Li, you've worked so hard. It's hard to get out now that you're in. Why don't you talk to the gatekeeper before you get too far? If you want to go out again, you can bring it back in two days and we'll pick you up at the city gate."
Li Baisong maintained a polite smile. "I was just about to tell you this. I heard something happened in the city, and I thought people were panicking. The brothel probably won't have as many customers these days, so we won't have to deliver meat for a while. Remember, the money is for you. We've delayed a few shipments recently, so I'll postpone them a few times next month. This way, you can save some money. After all, business is not easy for anyone."
Their faces froze slightly.
Li Baisong continued, "Although we are from the countryside, we do business with sincerity and conscience. I know that your opinions don't count in this matter, so I won't embarrass you. I'll go back and change my clothes, and then I'll go to the flower house and talk to your Tian Guan in person. I won't embarrass you."
Dong Yi and Xi Er looked at each other and winked at each other.
Xi Er grabbed Li Baisong's backpack and said with a smile, "Young Master Li, you're joking. No matter how chaotic the city is, there will be fewer customers everywhere, but we have plenty. Guests are used to having two pieces of dried meat with their drinks. If there are not enough, there will be a commotion, which will delay things. Our manager Tian is also a conscientious businessman. He ordered it in advance. Even if the brothel business fails, he will not break his promise to you. Young Master Li, please give us the dried meat and send a message home. We will hand it over at the city gate from now on."
As they were talking, the two men rushed over to grab Li Baisong's backpack.
Li Baisong dodged nimbly by moving sideways. "Hey, hey, hey, let's talk it over. Don't hit me. I really don't have any dried meat in my backpack. I didn't lie just now. I was with the person who delivered the dried meat. When we got to the city gate, we heard something was wrong and sent them back. The things in the backpack were what my mother asked me to bring to my master."
"Manager Tian is so honest and conscientious that I feel ashamed of myself. So, let's say we're short of meat this time. I'll make the decision and pay you double back later. Wait for me to send someone back home to tell my family that I'll send you meat next time. What do you think?"
Li Baisong dodged and didn't let anyone touch the backpack.
Pan He expected his young disciple to come back today, and was afraid that what happened in the city would scare people, so he specially asked his servants to rush to the city gate to pick him up, and he arrived just in time.
"Young Master, Young Master." Xichuan waved from afar.
Li Bosong quickened his pace and ran towards Xichuan, "Xichuan."
"The master was worried about the young master, so he asked me to pick him up at the city gate. Am I not too late?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
