In early June, the temperature rose, but it was still bearable, not too scorching. Jiang Yue tied her straw hat tightly and put on her mask, fearing that her face would be sunburned beyond repair.
She pulled Jiang Nian and forced him to put on the straw hat. "You have to wear it even if you are thick-skinned!"
"It's hot!" He frowned. His clothes on the back were already soaked. He wanted to take off his coat and only wear the short vest that Jiang Yue made for him.
Jiang Yue didn't indulge him, "You have to wear it no matter how hot it is! What if you get sunburned?"
Jiang Yue knew what he was going to say before he even opened his mouth. She narrowed her eyes and stopped him from talking. "You're not afraid of getting sunburned. I don't like to see you get any darker!"
After a while, his skin color became slightly lighter than the pure wheat color. Jiang Yue was the type who could easily turn white again after getting tanned, but he was the type who needed two months of sun care after just half an hour.
She reasonably suspected that if he didn't wear sun protection during the journey, he would turn into a black man.
Jiang Yue's words were too threatening. Jiang Nian pursed his lips, stopped talking, turned sideways, and let her put on the straw hat.
This time, the two of them did not take the wrong path and went straight on the official road.
In the first year of the disaster, there was a constant stream of refugees on the roads. In the second year, the number of refugees gradually decreased. And this year, there are very few refugees left on the roads.
The fields on the roadside where crops should have been grown are now overgrown with weeds, and in another month the weeds will be wilted by the sun.
Occasionally, you would see a few acres of land with sparse crops planted on it. An old farmer with a hunched back would draw water from the river and irrigate the crops bucket by bucket. He would not even lift the head of the mule cart, only caring about the three-mu field in front of him.
The warm wind blew across her cheeks, and Jiang Yue once again sighed that farming was not easy.
They came all the way from the far inland and took three days to bypass a small mountain range. Jiang Yue felt a sense of sudden enlightenment and could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
There was a salty and damp smell in the air, indicating that they were not far from the seaside.
Jiangnan is a land of fish and rice, and according to legend, it was the most prosperous place in every dynasty. First, it had salt, and second, it had grain, and its products were abundant.
Jiang Yue didn't have a map, so he didn't know if this place could be considered Jiangnan, but the number of streams and rivers had obviously increased.
She saw a strange sight: quite a few ragged refugees, lying in groups of three or two on the ground or hiding under trees. It turned out that all the refugees on the road had come here.
The rice planted in the fields not far away has already formed ears of rice, and it is estimated that the harvest will be ready in a month. The old farmers have built huts at the edge of the fields to provide shade, and they stay in the fields day and night, glancing at the refugees warily from time to time.
The mule cart moved slowly forward. Jiang Yue looked up at the tall city in front of him. Even the city gate was more than twice as big as the city itself.
The guard at the door glanced at them and stepped forward to stop them. "Do you have a pass?"
"without."
The guard's face was expressionless. "Anyone without a pass will be considered a refugee. Refugees are not allowed to enter the city. Do you see those people a mile away? They are not allowed to enter the city or gather at the city gate."
Since fleeing, Jiang Yue had never been asked for a travel permit. Perhaps order had been restored now that the disaster had subsided? Or perhaps they were trying to get some money?
Before she could decide whether to go into the city or directly into the village to find out the news, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Is it Madam Jiang the Hunter?"
Jiang Yue looked back and suddenly felt that her network of connections had expanded. It was true that the world was a circle.
The plump and fair steward Wang has now become dark and thin, but he still looks in good spirits. He is sitting in the carriage, and I wonder if it is the master Wang in the carriage.
She lifted her straw hat, revealing a pair of eyes, and replied, "It's us, Steward Wang. Long time no see."
If it really was them, Butler Wang was just suspicious at first, because only that couple would wear such strange masks.
Hunter Jiang was still so quiet. Steward Wang got off the carriage and asked Madam Jiang with a smile, "Do you two want to go into the city?"
Jiang Yue nodded, walked closer and whispered, "I want to get some information."
Butler Wang had just understood the situation from the back. He stood by the window and said to the people in the carriage, "It's the benefactor who saved the master before."
Jiang Yue didn't hear what was said inside. She only saw Butler Wang respectfully answer "yes" and then walked forward to talk to the guard with a smile, "These two are relatives of our Wang family. Please make some allowances."
Jiang Yue saw him quickly stuff a silver ingot into the guard's palm.
The guard's expression softened considerably. "Since you are a relative visiting, please go in. Just don't wander around."
If any trouble arises, he will be in trouble as well.
"Yes, yes, thank you for your understanding."
Although the Wang family is rich, they are now just outsiders and have to bow down to low-ranking officials.
“Cough cough cough…”
A sudden cough was heard from inside the carriage. The servant who was originally responsible for driving the carriage hurried into the carriage to serve, but Butler Wang seemed to be used to it.
He took the reins and said, "You are not allowed to drive fast horses in the city. You two don't have a place to stay yet, so why don't you follow me back to the Wang family first?"
"good."
Jiang Nian also led the mule cart inside.
Entering the city, Jiang Yue discovered that the natural disaster had had a significant impact on the area. There were very few shops in the city. The grain shops sold grain, with one liter of rice costing ten taels of silver.
"Selling steamed buns! Would you like to buy a steamed bun? Or a steamed bun with wild vegetables?"
Seeing the strangers with cars, a peddler smiled and shouted to Jiang Yue and the others.
Jiang Yue shook her head. She had just heard that a mixed flour steamed bun cost 200 wen, and a wild vegetable bun cost 300 wen.
It can be seen that there is food in this city, but the price has skyrocketed.
But they are better off because the mainland has neither money nor food.
Butler Wang led them through three streets and it took them more than half an hour to arrive.
A three-courtyard house with a typical Jiangnan garden layout, much more low-key than the previous Wang family house.
They went in through the main gate, and the doorman ran over with a low stool and put it away.
A graceful young man stepped down from the carriage, stepping on a stool, looking very elegant. He was wearing a sky-blue robe and a jade crown on his head. He could not have been more than twenty years old.
However, he seemed to be unwell and kept coughing.
Butler Wang introduced, "This is our master's eldest son, named Wenxuan."
Prince Wang nodded slightly, his expression gentle and his voice clear, "Please come in and talk in detail. My father will be very happy to see old friends."
"Thank you, Prince Wang."
They handed the mule cart to the servant to take away and feed the mules, and followed the eldest son of the Wang family into the hall.
A wealthy family is a wealthy family. Even in such difficult times, they have servants following them everywhere.
I don't know how powerful they are locally...
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