There is also the carefully brewed chestnut soup, bubbling in the pot and exuding a rich chestnut aroma.
When these soft and chewy chestnuts were served on the table, everyone couldn't wait to reach out and pick them up.
With a light bite, the soft and glutinous texture spreads in your mouth instantly, and the unique sweet taste of chestnut fills your entire mouth, making your mouth full of fragrance.
The villagers were so happy eating the chestnuts that they kept praising them, saying, "Mmm, these boiled chestnuts are so sweet and delicious!"
"Oh, these roasted chestnuts are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They smell so good!"
"And this chestnut soup is so rich and fragrant, it's really good!"
Everyone was praising the food one after another, and laughter echoed in the camp. This chestnut dinner really made everyone satisfied.
The next day, just after dawn, everyone set out on the road ahead with their dreams for the future.
Along the way, everyone slept in the open air, traveled day and night, and before they knew it, they had walked for a full eight days.
Just when everyone was gradually feeling tired, suddenly, in the distant front, a towering city wall appeared vaguely in everyone's sight.
The city tower is tall and solemn, like a silent giant, standing there quietly, guarding the county behind it.
The moment they saw the city wall, everyone's hearts, which had been a little heavy due to their hurried journey, suddenly became excited.
Many people couldn't help but have tears in their eyes, muttering to themselves: "Finally leaving Ping'an County..."
But then, worry came to everyone's mind again, and everyone was wondering, what kind of county town is this?
I don’t know if those people who might have been tracking me have followed me. Are they waiting here?
To be on the safe side, the village chief made a prompt decision and asked everyone to stop and rest where they were.
The village chief looked around and finally his eyes fell on his son Su Yuandong and Su Wencheng. He said seriously, "Yuandong, and Wencheng, you guys, go to the county town ahead and find out the situation.
Keep an eye out for anyone pursuing us. Once we've found out, we can decide whether to continue on our journey via the official road. Be careful."
After hearing the village chief's instructions, Su Yuandong, Su Wencheng and others nodded seriously, and then walked towards the county town to find out what was going on.
Soon, they arrived at the gate of the county town.
I saw that the city gate of Guangshun County was open, and the crowds of people coming in and out were bustling and lively. Most of them were refugees with ragged clothes and haggard faces.
These refugees were either carrying worn-out bags or supporting their frail family members. They were in a hurry but with a look of relief on their faces. They were coming in and out of the city gate. The refugees coming and going were endless, forming a continuous flow of people.
Su Yuandong and the others couldn't help but look at each other, their eyes full of surprise and confusion.
Su Yuandong frowned slightly and lowered his voice to the person beside him, saying, "This situation is really strange. In the county towns we have seen before, have we ever seen a city gate open like this and allowed refugees to come and go freely?"
Su Wencheng nodded in confusion, stroking his chin and muttering to himself, "Yeah, is the Guangshun County Magistrate really that kind-hearted? He's so magnanimous, allowing these refugees to come and go freely without any precautions. Is there something fishy going on here?"
Others echoed this, and everyone began to wonder in their hearts. Standing at the city gate, looking at the constant flow of refugees, they fell into deep thought.
Su Yuandong hurried a few steps and reached out to stop a few people who were hurriedly preparing to enter the city with tattered bags on their backs. With an anxious and curious look on his face, he asked politely, "Excuse me, sir. I want to ask, is it possible to enter and exit Guangshun County freely now? Don't you have to pay the entrance fee?"
One of the men who was stopped had gray hair and a face full of traces of the vicissitudes of life. He sighed heavily, his voice filled with helplessness and emotion, and said, "Alas, young man, you don't know yet, this county town has been in chaos for a long time. It's now occupied by refugees. There is no county magistrate to take care of these things, let alone collect entrance fees."
When Su Yuandong heard this, his eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly asked, "Ah? When...when did this happen? How did it become like this?"
The old man stopped, slowly put down the bag on his shoulder, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand, and said, recalling, "It happened three days ago. Guangshun County had been keeping the city gates tightly closed, refusing to let anyone in. As a result, a group of refugees gathered together, and no one knew who instigated them, but they suddenly rushed into the city.
After entering the city, the refugees, hungry and thirsty, scrambled for food and water, then fled. The wealthy residents were terrified by this situation, fearing for their lives and wealth. They quickly packed up their belongings, including the county magistrate, and fled. Now Guangshun County is practically a deserted city.
As the old man spoke, he slowly shook his head, his face full of regret, as if he was sighing deeply for the dilapidated state of the county town today.
After listening to the old man's story, Su Yuandong and his companions looked at each other, with complicated emotions in their hearts.
After saying goodbye to the old man, Su Wencheng and his friends did not rush into the city.
Su Wencheng frowned and said cautiously to his companions, "We can't just go in like this. We still have to observe the situation carefully first, just in case there is any danger."
The others nodded in agreement.
So, they walked back and forth near the city gate, their eyes sharp, not missing any corner.
They carefully checked the city walls, both sides of the city gates, and even the surrounding bulletin boards. Only after confirming that there were indeed no wanted portraits of villagers at the city gate did they breathe a sigh of relief.
But Su Wencheng still felt uneasy. He thought he had to find someone to talk to and ask clearly whether those people in Ping'an County who might be tracking them had been here.
Then, they looked for suitable people to ask among the people coming and going.
When he saw a passerby who looked kind and easy to talk to, Su Yuandong would take the initiative to approach them, with a flattering smile on his face, and politely ask, "Brother/sister, I want to ask you something. Have you seen a group of men on horseback who looked a bit menacing?"
They continued to ask several people in succession, each time feeling nervous, hoping for an answer that would reassure them.
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