Chapter 13
The wind was cold and chilly, everything was frozen, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, like a black cloth covering the sun. The sky was low and cloudy, and it seemed that a snowstorm was brewing.
In the house on the back street of Fengsheng Lane, Xie Chen was helping Lin Shuge move his luggage. In the past few days, he had purchased supplies, cleaned and decorated the house. The whole house looked brand new, and the house was clean and tidy, with a warm layout.
As there were more houses, Lin Shuge finally didn't have to squeeze together with Lin Qingyuan, Xie Chen and the others. However, since the house without a fire was like an ice cellar in winter, everyone would usually stay in the main house during the day and go back to their own rooms to sleep at night.
Lin Shuge's room was very spacious, and even had his specially made bookshelf. There were a few bamboo scrolls piled on the table, and a red plum blossom was inserted diagonally on a pottery jar. It had a refreshing and subtle fragrance, and bloomed proudly in the snow and frost. Xie Chen picked this up from somewhere and took it out from behind him like a magic trick on the day he moved in.
He was very excited. The winter in the northwest was empty and desolate, and this touch of red seemed like spring blooming in the barrenness. Lin Shuge has seen various kinds of plum blossoms in modern times, but none of them is as beautiful as this one.
He was so absorbed in watching that he didn't hear Xie Chen's footsteps coming in.
After Xie Chen helped him load the luggage onto the carriage, he wanted to come in and see if there was anything else he needed to take. Although he would only be gone for a few days, he still had to bring all kinds of supplies.
Unexpectedly, when I came in, I saw such a scene. Lin Shuge was not wearing official uniform today. He was wearing a light-colored dark robe with a few green bamboo leaves embroidered on the cuffs. His eyebrows were gentle, with a faint smile on the corners of his mouth, and his eyes were clear. He was looking at the plum blossoms on the table. The scene was almost like a painting.
The scorching sun is not bright, the white jade is not clean.
He stared blankly at the scene in front of him. He wanted to go closer but was afraid of disturbing the moon in the clouds and the flowers in the mirror. So he just stopped, as if he and his wife were the only ones left in the world.
"Brother, brother, someone from the county government is here to urge you to come. Have you packed up?" Lin Qingyuan rushed in and looked at the scene in front of him. He asked curiously, "Erlang, why don't you go in? Where's brother?"
Xie Chen had a blank expression on his face. "Brother, someone is coming from the county government."
Lin Shuge turned around and saw that Lin Qingyuan had an anxious and confused look on his face, but Xie Chen was normal, with even a smile in his eyes.
"Are you urging me already? I've packed everything and let's go now." Lin Shuge wrapped up several wooden tablets and prepared to take them to the car.
Xie Chen reached out and took it, "Brother, what are you going to do with this?"
"I need to remember something, this is very convenient."
It's not easy to make the trip to the county magistrate's office, so I have to write down everything I see and hear along the way to make it easier for me to act later.
Xie Chen nodded, "Then I'll get it for my brother."
"good."
Lin Qingyuan was behind the two of them, feeling as if he couldn't get a word in for some reason. He stomped his feet in defiance and followed.
Outside the courtyard, Lin Xuan stood at the door, next to Wang Ji who was already waiting by the carriage. When he saw Lin Shuge coming out, he bowed and said kindly, "Mr. Lin, the carriage is ready. I am here to pick you up on the orders of the county magistrate."
Seeing that it was Wang Ji, Lin Shuge was surprised and said, "Brother Wang, it's you. I haven't seen you for a long time. Are you... going with us?"
"I haven't seen you for a long time. I was right. It hasn't been long and you've already become the county magistrate."
When Wang Ji saw that his advice was favored by the county magistrate and he was soon promoted to the magistrate's official, he felt that this boy was extraordinary. He had been away from Ganzhou County during this period, and when he came back he heard that Lin Lingshi had become the magistrate of Lin County. He is truly a young talent, incomparable.
Lin Shuge smiled and said a few humble words.
Wang Ji restrained his expression and said, "Lin County Magistrate, it's time to get in the car. The weather is bad today, and the county magistrate probably wants to leave early."
"Please wait a moment. I'll give my younger brother and sister-in-law a few more words of advice."
He turned around and looked at the three people with different expressions. "Brother, you will be back soon. The three of you should study at home during the day. We just moved here and we are not familiar with the neighbors yet. Try to go out as little as possible. If you have anything, go find Zhou Erlang."
"Brother." Lin Qingyuan couldn't hold back any longer and cried until his eyes were red. Lin Xuan also had tears in her eyes. When she saw Lin Shuge looking at her, she quickly wiped away her tears.
Only Xie Chen changed his usual clingy attitude and said seriously, "Don't worry, brother. I'll be fine at home."
Lin Shuge patted his shoulder and said, "Zhongxuan, if you encounter any problems, just do it. I'll be there for you if anything goes wrong."
"Got it, brother. Take care."
Lin Shuge waved to them, said "take care," and got on the carriage.
Since traveling through time, he has been living with his younger brother and sister-in-law. It is really difficult for him to go on a long journey out of the blue. Lin Shuge suppressed the sadness in his heart.
Wang Ji drove the carriage forward, the sound of horse hooves gradually faded away, the three of them watched the carriage go farther and farther away until they could no longer see it.
Xie Chen looked into the distance with an inexplicable expression. Suddenly, he felt a chill on the tip of his nose. He looked up and saw large flakes of snow floating in the sky. He said to the twins, "Ayuan and Xuan, it's snowing. Let's go back."
Snowflakes were flying, and soon a thick layer of snow accumulated on the ground. The three of them walked home on the snow, looking back every few steps.
The dark clouds in the sky gradually dispersed, and the sky cleared up after the first snow. The air was still moist with snowflakes. The horses neighed, and the servants loaded the luggage onto the carriage one by one.
We walked for a distance yesterday, but the snow kept getting heavier and heavier, making it difficult to move forward. We had no choice but to speed up and rest for a night at the nearest post station.
Seeing that the weather had cleared up, Magistrate Li ordered to set off immediately. When Lin Shuge entered the carriage, Magistrate Li was already inside, flipping through a book. When he saw Lin Shuge coming in, he said, "Come and sit down. If the journey is fast, we should be able to reach the prefectural governor's mansion today."
"Thank you, sir."
"We will go to the posthouse to rest when we get to the county governor's mansion, and then go to see Envoy Wei the next day."
After saying this, Magistrate Li lowered his head and continued to flip through the scrolls. "Aren't you going to ask Envoy Wei what he likes?"
Lin Shuge smiled faintly and said, "Since you didn't tell me about Envoy Wei's hobbies and taboos in advance, I guess he is not a difficult person to get along with."
"You are quite clever. Envoy Wei has been guarding the border for more than ten years. He is well-known and highly regarded by the court. He is fond of talented people. I am sure you will be attracted to him."
"Your Excellency, you are so complimentary."
After walking for a long time, Lin Shuge opened the curtain and looked outside. What came into view was an endless Gobi Desert with sparse grass and trees, and a sense of vast loneliness.
The carriage shook, and Magistrate Li closed the book. "When the time comes, just tell him what you think."
"Yes, sir."
As we walked further and further across the Gobi Desert, we came into view of rows of trees. The leaves had fallen in winter, but it was clear that this place was not as desolate as the desert outside the Great Wall in other seasons.
That is because the meltwater from the snow-capped mountains flows through this place, nourishing all things. Although this place is located in the northwest, it has abundant water resources and rich vegetation, and can be called the Jiangnan of the Great Wall.
Lin Shuge saw a city in the distance and could vaguely see the towering city gate standing in the distance, like a sharp blade guarding the frontier, piercing straight into the heart of the city.
The group drove into Dingyuan City. The guards stopped the carriage. Wang Ji took the certificate from Lin Shuge and handed it to the guard. "It turns out that Magistrate Li has arrived. I am sorry for the rudeness. Someone, take Magistrate Li to the posthouse."
Dingyuan City is the largest city in the northwest. It is dusk now, the sun is setting in the west, casting an orange glow on the earth. Some businesses in the city have already lit up their lights, and the lights are weaving together, creating a sense of peace and tranquility.
"Sir, we have arrived at the posthouse."
Lin Shuge followed Magistrate Li down from the carriage. The official in charge of the post station had already arranged a room for them. Magistrate Li told Lin Shuge to have a good rest tonight and go to the county magistrate's mansion tomorrow, and then he followed the clerk.
"Lord Lin, please come this way," said the clerk in charge of Lin Library.
"Thank you."
When we arrived at the inn, although the house was small, it had a heated kang. It seemed that kang was very popular in Dingyuan City.
The clerk brought the food, a dish of delicious chicken, a dish of fried meat with water shield, and a bowl of millet rice. It was quite rich, Lin Shuge thought.
"Enjoy your meal, sir. I'll bring you some water for washing later." After saying that, he closed the door and went out.
Lin Shuge finished his meal quickly and went out to wash up. It was already dark, and a bright moon hung in the sky. The moonlit night was quiet, with the occasional sound of birds singing.
He closed the door and prepared to go to sleep. He was exhausted from the long journey and wondered how Zhongxuan and the others were doing. As I was thinking, I fell into a deep sleep without realizing it.
Dingyuan City is very lively in the morning, with people coming and going on the streets, and the sounds of hawking and talking are endless. Lin Shuge was awakened by the hawking sounds. He sat up and woke up for a while, then prepared to get up.
Before the others got up, he went to the kitchen to fetch some water and washed up, then went to look for the culprit who had woken him up. After all, the "flavored and crispy butter cake" that the boss ordered sounded very delicious.
He came to the street and saw a lot of people gathered around the butter cake stall. He waited for a long time before he bought a few. When he was about to pay, he heard someone say, "Young man, you look unfamiliar. You are not a local, are you?" The voice was frivolous and greasy, and the people who were buying butter cakes around him avoided him.
Lin Shuge looked back and asked, "What do you want?"
The man was dressed in silk and satin, with a white jade belt around his waist. He was fanning himself with a folding fan in the cold weather, looking like a playboy. "Young Master, you are so handsome. I feel like we have known each other for a long time. I would like to invite you back to my house for a chat."
His eyes were as wet and greasy as a snake's. He looked Lin Shuge up and down, and finally stopped at Lin Shuge's face. His triangular eyes were full of greed.
Seeing his disgusted look, Lin Shuge understood that he had run into a hooligan who was coveting the man's short-sleeved shirt.
"Please move aside, I have something else to do." Lin Shuge said coldly.
"Young man, don't go. I really want to make friends with you." The man raised his hand to stop Lin Shuge.
The crowd of onlookers whispered, "Alas, someone else is going to fall victim to the evil hands of this evil bully. What a pity for such a handsome young man."
Another person replied: "Who says it's not true? This bully bullies men and women. When he meets a young man or woman who looks good, he will use both soft and hard tactics to get what he wants. How hateful."
"Who told me that he is the most favored youngest son of the Gongcao of the County Magistrate's Office?"
Gongcao was an official under the county governor's office, in charge of the finances of the county governor's office and was considered one of the county governor's confidants.
The evil bully listened to the discussions of the people around him with complacency, not feeling angry at all. He even thought that if the young man heard his identity, he would follow him immediately.
"Did you hear that, young master? Since you know my identity, why don't you follow me? I guarantee that you will have a life of luxury and wear gold and silver." He glanced at Lin Shuge's clothes with a look of disdain on his face.
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