Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 418 Hong Sifang

On July 20, Meng Changqing and others arrived at a county under Hongzhou.

Seeing that it was getting dark, Bafang said hello to Meng Changqing and went ahead alone to look for a place to spend the night.

He walked along the official road for a long time, but did not see any official post station, inn, or empty houses. Just as he was thinking about finding a sheltered place to spend the night, he saw a small village ahead.

He left a mark on the pipe and rode to the village to inquire.

As soon as I arrived at the entrance of the village, I saw a child leading a cow coming from another place.

Bafang dismounted and spoke to him, "That kid, are you from this village?"

The child was afraid of strangers and hid himself behind the cow.

Bafang took out some preserved fruit from his pocket to coax the child, "I am a merchant passing by here, and I just want to ask for a bowl of water. Are you from this village? Is your adult at home?"

The child timidly said something, but his accent was so thick that no one could understand him.

At this moment, a middle-aged man walked out of the house closest to the village entrance.

He came over and put the child behind him, and asked who Bafang was in a very unstandard official manner.

Bafang explained, "I am a businessman from Liangzhou. I followed the order of the county government to go to the capital to discuss business. Now I am on my way back to Liangzhou. I passed by here. It is dark and it is difficult to travel. I would like to stay here for a night."

Bafang deliberately slowed down his speech so that the other party could hear him clearly.

The middle-aged man was still in the same defensive state as before. He asked, "Are you going to the capital alone to discuss business?"

"It's not just me. There are four of us in our group, and there are three more people behind us." Bafang replied.

The middle-aged man asked again: "You carry a knife when you discuss business?"

Bafang turned sideways to make it easier for the other party to see the style of the knife, "Brother, this is the official knife issued by the government."

"I don't recognize it."

Bafang took out the pass with a seal from his pocket and walked slowly to the man. "Look, this is a pass issued by the government. It has the seals of Beishan County and Liangzhou Prefecture."

The man could only recognize a few words on the paper, and he couldn't understand the two seals, but he knew that if the other party was a robber, he wouldn't prepare these things. "We are a country family, and the place is simple. We can't entertain you well."

When Bafang heard him say this, he knew there was a way. "We are from the countryside, and our house is just like this. If you are willing to do us a favor, we will certainly be grateful."

The man looked Bafang up and down several times again, "Where are the rest of the people?"

"I'll be there soon."

When the man saw the copper coin in front of him, he agreed.

When Bafang was about to follow the man into the courtyard, he turned around and saw the child leading the cow away, "Brother, isn't that your child?"

"No." The man replied simply, obviously not wanting to say anything more to Bafang.

Not long after, Meng Changqing and others arrived.

After thanking the man again, they took the time to feed the horses and rest.

For the sake of the money, the man asked his family to prepare dinner for Meng Changqing and others. Although it was not the best food, it was worth the money they paid for the accommodation.

Meng Changqing held the bowl of rice and thanked the hostess again and again, and asked about the situation at home.

She is talkative and thick-skinned. People don't want to talk to her, but after she talks back and forth, their wariness gradually disappears.

They were talking excitedly when Meng Changqing suddenly fell silent and even put the bowl and chopsticks on the table.

The hostess was puzzled, but she saw Meng Changqing pointing to the distance, "Is that a person?"

There was a dark shadow swaying next to the tree trunk.

It should be a person, but I don't know what the situation is.

Meng Changqing said, "Master, please go over and take a look."

(End of this chapter)