Time flies, and March 29th has arrived.
Before dawn, the family, filled with joy, dressed in their finest clothes, each carrying a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), and boarded a donkey cart to head to the county town.
The county town is much farther than Jizhen, taking two hours to walk there. So we had to set off before dawn, without time for breakfast, and could only eat roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) on the road to tide us over.
Once we get to the county town, we can buy some snacks and eat them as we walk, so we definitely won't go hungry.
After locking the gate, Zhang, carrying a large floral cloth bundle, went to the edge of the donkey cart, lifted her skirt, and sat down on the side of the cart.
"Let's go, let's stop at the foot of the mountain for a while!"
Tian Laosi saw the package in her hand and knew what she was going to do, so he started driving the donkey.
Tian Laosi was afraid of hurting Zhang Shi, so he walked quite steadily on this stretch of road.
"Mother, what are you going to do with the package?"
Today, Tian Sangui wore a light orange floral dress and a matching small floral headscarf. Her long black hair was braided into two pigtails and then pinned into two small buns that hung on either side of her neck.
Zhang noticed that she seemed more mischievous and playful today, her cuteness replaced by intelligence and wit, making her appear to be no easy girl to fool.
"Hehe!" Zhang couldn't help but reach out and touch her little braid.
“Your Aunt Wang is helping us watch the mountain today, so I’m taking some fish and meat up to her.”
“We’ve helped them, so it’s not right to let them go home to eat. Although it’s not convenient for me to cook for her, I can still do my best to bring her some food.”
"Oh, Mother is so thoughtful. There's a stove and water on the mountain. If Aunt Wang wants to go through all that trouble, she can take the vegetables home and cook them."
As they were talking, they reached the foot of the mountain. Zhang got off the donkey cart and turned back to call out to Tian Laosi.
"Wait a moment, I still have something to tell Sister Wang."
"Okay, take your time, no rush, the kids and I will wait for you here!"
Tian Laosi's words made Zhang sigh with relief, and then she walked up the mountain with peace of mind.
After a while, Zhang came downstairs looking relaxed, her face full of smiles.
No one knows what Aunt Wang said to her that made Zhang so happy. Tian Sangui saw it and was delighted.
Those were intimate words between Zhang and Aunt Wang, and Tian Sangui wisely refrained from asking her about them.
Seeing Zhang Shi smiling broadly, Tian Laosi's eyes also reflected her happiness.
After Zhang got into the cart, Tian Laosi suddenly cracked his whip on the donkey's chubby rump, and the cart's speed increased instantly.
The four donkey hooves clattered rhythmically as they ran along the road.
Hearing this made me incredibly happy.
Everyone took out their roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and started eating, the aroma following them all the way.
As the sky darkened, they arrived in town. There were no students in class that day, and the streets were deserted and quiet.
The car stopped as we passed the place where I used to work.
Fearing that the donkey would travel too far, Tian Laosi specially found some water for it to quench its thirst before continuing its journey.
When the foreman saw that it was Tian Laosi, he quickly patted him on the back and greeted him with a smile.
Tian Laosi had a good relationship with him. When he opened his business, he even gave him a few roujiamo (Chinese hamburger). He remembered the foreman and became his brother.
Upon hearing that some water was needed for the livestock, the foreman found him a water-holding bowl without saying a word, scooped a ladleful from the pool, and handed it to Tian Laosi.
When the water was presented to the donkey, the donkey nodded happily and fawned over him before drinking it all in large gulps.
When they arrived in the county town, it was already broad daylight. Under the bright morning light, the family strolled around, finding everything novel and fascinating.
Tian Sangui truly experienced what it means for a country bumpkin to come to the city; she was that country bumpkin.
The further you walk, the more prosperous it becomes, and you can even see scattered peach blossom branches hanging outside the gate and next to the eaves.
Add to the festive atmosphere.
After walking for a while, the city gate with its high walls and gates came into view. Upon closer inspection, each blue brick was as tall as a person, which gives you an idea of its thickness.
On each side of the gate stood more than twenty people dressed in light red uniforms with white trim, and wearing armor made of bamboo blocks over them.
One by one, the officers and soldiers with arrogant expressions, not looking at anyone directly, stood at the front of all the officers and soldiers. They were slightly plump and a little short.
He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Today is a festival in the city, and there are many people. It is not appropriate to let cattle, sheep, or donkey carts into the city. If you want to enter the city, tie your livestock to the stakes outside the city."
Soldiers are stationed here to guard the area, so there's no need to worry about losing anything. Please abide by the rules; anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the county jail. Don't be so arrogant!
The people gathered at the entrance, though they had complaints on their faces, dared not speak out and obediently led their cars to find a spot.
Tian Sangui's family was no exception.
"Wife, you and the children wait here for me. I'll go tie up the cart and feed the donkey some hay, then I'll be right back!"
"Hey, don't argue with people, just give way when you should!"
"I know, please don't wander off!"
"Why!"
Old Tian kept turning back as he walked away, leading his donkey to find a spot.
Zhang wasn't afraid of others being powerful, but the county town was different from the countryside. Causing trouble under the noses of the officials and soldiers meant being arrested and imprisoned regardless of right or wrong.
It's better to endure it for a while than to suffer an injustice.
She glanced at Tian Sangui standing beside her. This girl had the fiercest temper, and she needed to give her a good talking-to.
"San Gui, when we come to the county town, we must abide by the rules. We can't argue with people like we do at home. If we give in a little, we won't suffer any losses, understand?"
Zhang's biggest worry is Tian Sangui. He has been like this since he was a child, and it will probably be difficult for him to change in a short time.
Seeing Tian Sangui's perfunctory attitude, Zhang felt a pang of guilt.
Well, given how my daughter is, I'll let her, as her mother, take good care of her.
"Tian Da, Tian Er, you two keep a close eye on your sister. Make sure nothing happens to her, understand?"
"Oh, Mother, don't worry, we'll keep an eye on Third Sister, nothing will happen!"
It was also the first time that Tian Da and Tian Er had come to the county town. They were attracted by the colorful flags hanging on the city wall.
Zhang couldn't help but slap the two brothers on the head, seeing that they didn't take her words to heart.
"Oh dear, what's wrong, Mom?"
"You all ignored me, you deserve a beating!"
Zhang looked at them sternly, her eyes filled with authority.
The two brothers exchanged a glance, both seeing a blank look in each other's eyes, as if they didn't understand what Zhang had said.
"Mom, don't be angry. It's all because the city wall is too beautiful. What did you just say?"
"What were we supposed to be watching again?"
The two brothers asked Zhang Shi with serious expressions.
Zhang was so angry that she wanted to beat them up in the street, but then she remembered that this was a county town, and only then did she manage to calm herself down.
"I'm asking you to keep an eye on my sister and make sure she doesn't get into any arguments, so that nothing untoward happens!"
"Oh, I know. Don't worry, you can relax and go shopping with peace of mind, leaving Third Sister to us!"
The two brothers patted their chests and confidently assured Zhang.
That made sense, and Zhang was somewhat relieved.
Tian Sangui looked away as if he was paying close attention, but in reality, he listened carefully to everything Zhang said.
Her mother is really worried sick today!
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