Chapter 29 Misdiagnosis, Rumors, Ancient Town Prosperity

Liu Mingan took a step to the side, exposing Jiang Ning completely to his uncle and granduncle.

The two old men heard Liu Mingan speak: "Uncle, granduncle, don't you remember? She is the girl I picked up from the street. At that time, it was you, uncle, who brought her back from the town in a bullock cart. Later, you, granduncle, helped her wash her body. Have you forgotten?"

Liu Mingan turned around and winked at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning understood, stepped forward, and thanked the two old men: "Uncle, granduncle, thank you for your care."

The two old men looked at each other and stood there in a daze.

"Girl, you are not... not..." Granduncle came to her senses and hesitated to ask something, but in the end she didn't ask.

Liu Ming'an knew what Third Uncle wanted to ask, so he didn't keep her in suspense and said directly: "Third Uncle, Third Aunt, her name is Jiang Ning. In fact, her hands and feet are not broken, but she just has superficial injuries. It looks so serious that people think her hands and feet are broken. Now the external injuries are almost healed, and she is fine."

"Oh, so that's the case!" Third Uncle suddenly realized.

Third Aunt didn't say anything, but looked at Jiang Ning with suspicion in her eyes. She helped Jiang Ning wash her body, and she clearly remembered that Jiang Ning's hands and feet were a little strange in shape, as if they were broken. But it turned out to be just superficial injuries?

But Third Uncle thought again, isn't the girl standing here just fine? What reason does Liu Ming'an have to lie to her?

The third uncle's wife stopped worrying and nodded to Jiang Ning with a smile: "Jiang girl, I'm glad you're okay, I'm glad you're okay."

Jiang Ning nodded slightly to the old man to show her gratitude.

The third uncle laughed and said: "Ming'an, I have to hurry to deliver firewood to Fusheng Restaurant. I won't talk to you today. Let's go!"

The third uncle looked at Liu Ming'an and wanted to say something, but she was thinking about Jiang Ning. In the end, she swallowed her words and just said: "Ming'an, Jiang girl, we're leaving first."

The goal had been achieved. Liu Ming'an smiled and said to the two elders: "Third uncle, third uncle and third uncle, take care."

"Yo!" The third uncle shouted again, and the ox cart rolled forward slowly, leaving Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning behind in a short while.

Liu Mingan waited until the two elders walked away, then turned to Jiang Ning and said, "Let's go too." His voice was clear and he was smiling brightly.

Afterwards, the two of them met several villagers who were going to the gathering. Liu Mingan repeated his old tricks, took the initiative to greet them, and repeated Jiang Ning's words.

Jiang Ning knew that for such a village in ancient times, every family lived in the same place for generations, and there were no secrets to speak of to a large extent. Liu Mingan seemed to have only revealed her situation to four or five people, but within two days, everyone in the entire Lotus Village would know that she was a healthy person.

Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning left the village and walked along a straight road. They passed through a group of mountains, a large bamboo forest, and a stone bridge over a small river. They walked from dusk to dawn, and finally saw the three big characters "Lingshan Town" on a stone archway.

"Huh~ We're here."

Liu Ming'an let out a long breath. After walking for two hours, he was still a little tired. He raised his sleeves and wiped the thin layer of sweat on his forehead. Looking to the side, he saw that Jiang Ning's face was not red and he was not out of breath. There was no sign of fatigue at all, just like a person who had nothing to do.

"Jiang Ning, aren't you tired at all?" Liu Ming'an was puzzled.

Jiang Ning was watching the people coming and going with great interest, some carrying loads on their shoulders, some carrying backpacks, men and women, young and old, just in line with the saying "people hunched over, carrying things, coming and going in an endless stream".

Hearing Liu Ming'an's question, Jiang Ning retracted her gaze and replied lightly "not tired". It was only a four-hour hike, and the intensity was not worth mentioning.

"Do you feel tired?" Jiang Ning asked back.

"A little bit." Liu Ming'an told the truth.

Then, Liu Ming'an heard Jiang Ning say seriously: "That's because you are too weak."

Liu Ming'an: "..."

It was so blunt that it was embarrassing.

"Do you want to rest for a while before you go?" Jiang Ning asked again.

"No need," Liu Ming'an refused firmly and strode forward: "I'm not tired at all, I was just joking."

Jiang Ning followed Liu Ming'an doubtfully and followed the crowd into Lingshan Town.

After passing the boundary marker of Lingshan Town, the streets are no longer muddy roads, but are all paved with stone slabs. Over the years of people and cars coming and going, the edges and corners of the stone slabs have been smoothed, leaving the marks of time and wind and frost. The

streets are getting wider and wider, and the streets are crowded with vendors on both sides. The shouts and bargaining sounds are endless. It looks like a bustling and prosperous town.

But when you walk to a certain place, all the vendors disappear, and the pedestrians are in a hurry. Even if they talk, they lower their voices, like a noisy river that has been cut off by a knife.

Jiang Ning followed Liu Ming'an on the suddenly deserted street, feeling puzzled until she saw a large mansion with four large characters "Baoji County Yamen" written on a vermilion plaque. Jiang Ning finally understood.

This is the government office. The Yamen is quiet and does not tolerate noise. In this era, people fear officials. Officials are a privileged class for ordinary people, so they naturally have to stay away from them.

Two constables with swords stood on the left and right outside the Yamen. There was a big drum at the door. Jiang Ning only glanced at it and retracted his gaze. He followed Liu Ming'an out of this section of the road and stepped into the noisy market again.

"Isn't this Lingshan Town? Why is the Yamen of Baoji County located here?" Jiang Ning asked the doubts in his heart.

"Baoji County governs six towns, namely Lingshan, Lingshui, Lingyun, Lingfeng, Lingxing, and Lingyue. According to the laws of this dynasty, the county government cannot be fixed in one place. Each town will take turns to stay there for five years. Now it is our turn in Lingshan Town. In two years, we will move to Lingshui Town."

Jiang Ning understood. This system still exists in modern times. It is to prevent officials from staying in one place for too long and forming their own power. The people only know the county magistrate, not the emperor.

"Then is the gathering every five days only in the town where the government is?" Jiang Ning asked again.

"No, the custom of gathering is passed down from generation to generation. Not all the people you see now are from Lingshan Town." Seeing Jiang Ning's confused expression, Liu Ming'an patiently explained: "The towns in Baoji County are not far from each other, and some businessmen will visit each other. In order to facilitate transactions and avoid time conflicts, the gathering time of each town is staggered. The six towns gather on the third, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth day respectively, and our Lingshan Town gathers on the fifth day."

Jiang Ning wanted to ask a few more questions, but Liu Ming'an stopped and pointed to a blue flag fluttering in the wind and said to her: "Jiang Ning, we have arrived at Fusheng Restaurant."