Outside, in the darkness, the two sat by the campfire and chatted!
"You're not resting so late, and you still have to manage the family's affairs tomorrow. Your body will collapse sooner or later!"
Zhang Quan waved his hand dismissively, a simple smile on his honest face, with two dimples that were hard to spot if you weren't looking closely.
"I'm still young. While I can still work, I'll save more money!"
Fan Zehao nodded. This was the truth.
When Zhao Jiaqi came out and heard this, she said, "If you don't have good health, won't all the money you earn be spent on medical bills!"
Fan Zehao chimed in, "Work and rest in moderation!"
Zhang Quan knew they meant well and were concerned about him, but he still maintained his indifferent smile!
"I know you care about me, but my parents are like this, and the family is poor. If I don't save more money before the New Year, what will I do if one day I can't work anymore? I'll end up begging on the streets!"
Although he said it with a smile, the bitterness in his eyes still conveyed his helplessness to the couple.
Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao exchanged a glance, remaining silent.
Seeing that the campfire was burning brightly, and they weren't very cold, their hands would still freeze if exposed. After staying with Zhang Quan for a while, they couldn't bear it any longer.
The couple returned to their room and lay on the bed, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.
"Tomorrow, we'll go to town to buy some grain and meat, and then we'll go to the county yamen to see what's going on here, why it's like this!"
Fan Zehao grunted, but in his heart, he harbored resentment towards Songling Jiang Prefecture: "Let's sleep. Tomorrow we'll go to the county town, and we'll know what's going on once we ask!"
He didn't elaborate further. Such a situation occurring in his territory was a great loss of face.
They didn't sleep soundly all night, plagued by nightmares.
Outside the window, Zhang Quan endured the cold wind for more than half the night. Only after he finished carving did he return to his room to sleep.
It could be said he slept later than a dog and woke earlier than a rooster.
As soon as it dawned, Zhang Quan had the morning meal ready. He was a little embarrassed and said to the couple with a smile, "This is just thin porridge this morning. When I buy some grain back at noon, we'll be able to have thick congee!"
Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi both waved their hands, "No need, this kind of food is very good and healthy!"
After Zhao Jiaqi finished, he added with a smile, "We're both country folk. We used to eat like this. It's only because our business improved later that our lives became more comfortable!"
"However, my family's fortune began when I married my wife. They say men are like rakes outside, and wives are like boxes inside. A family cannot be without a wife!"
This rough man, as soon as he spoke, it was about wives. Zhao Jiaqi felt a bit shy and pinched him under the table!
"Don't show off!"
Public displays of affection almost made her want to burrow into the ground. If it were with people they knew well, it would be fine, but these were all honest country folk. How could they be so unrestrained?
Conversely, Zhang Quan's parents and himself were not angry or embarrassed, but readily admitted it.
Zhang Quan's father said with a smile, "That's right. It's just that we old folks have been a burden to our child, which is why this family is so poor. No one is willing to marry their daughter into poverty!"
Zhang Quan's mother also chimed in, "Yes, yes. It's mainly because we don't have extra money. If we could offer three to five taels, we could get him married. When I save enough money later, I'll find my son a good wife to manage the household!"
This was a wish, and with a goal, they naturally worked towards it. However, what was unexpected was that in the territory he governed, there was such a poor place.
Before the New Year, in Nanlan Village, they thought it was the poorest village. Today, looking at it, it wasn't at all.
One should not always think optimistically. It wouldn't be too late to say this after he had inspected the entire inner city and seen it with his own eyes.
After breakfast, they went to the county town together. Zhang Quan started to get busy again, while the couple agreed to meet at the county town entrance in the evening and then left.
Not long after they left, the special envoy appeared before them.
"Your Highness, your subordinate investigated the current situation of this county last night, and it is indeed as you said!"
"Songling Prefecture simply does not want this county. It is said that on the map, this place is in Yun Country, while Yun Country insists that this county has always been part of Songling Prefecture, so they also do not want it!"
He had already heard these words last night, so he asked, "Is there anything I don't know!"
Special Envoy: "Yes, Gang Shang Village is not part of the inner city, but belongs to Yun Country!"
This time, not only was Fan Zehao surprised, but Zhao Jiaqi was also astonished. Zhao Jiaqi was even more confused by this phenomenon.
"Coming from the inner city, one passes through Gang Shang Village first, then Gang Xia Village. Gang Xia Village is the closest village to Yun Country. Yet Yun Country bypassed Gang Xia Village and directly claimed the upstream Gang Shang Village as its territory. What is the logic behind this!"
The special envoy lowered his eyes, opened his mouth, and after a long while, said, "Because there are two gold mines in the back mountains of Gang Shang Village, while Gang Xia Village has nothing but dirt. Therefore, no one wants such a village!"
At this, Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao were both stunned.
These two villages used to be one. How could the feng shui change so drastically once they were separated?
This was indeed somewhat unbelievable and not only incomprehensible but also quite infuriating. He had to discuss this matter thoroughly with Huangfu Xi.
Fan Zehao immediately asked the special envoy to lead him to that village: "I want to see what is so special about this village, and who is mining the gold!"
The three of them changed their direction and were originally going to the magistrate's office, but now they were heading to Gang Shang Village.
The three of them were walking because both villages were in the same county and very close to each other. Walking was for inspection purposes, and it also made it convenient to ask questions.
Previously, passing by the village entrance, they hadn't noticed anything amiss. But after entering the village, they discovered a hidden gem.
There was also a very grand archway in this village. The village name on the archway, written with powerful strokes, clearly indicated it was not the work of an ordinary person.
As soon as they entered the village, someone jumped out to stop them from proceeding.
"Who are you people, and what are you doing in our village?"
The one who stopped them was a young man, about twenty years old, with a fierce look on his face. Despite his young age, the fleshy folds on his face seemed to pile up to his jaw.
This fatness, how much good food did he have to eat to become like this?
Fan Zehao, always ready for some excitement, said to Zhao Jiaqi, "See that? This physique alone could be worth two Zhang Quans!"
Zhao Jiaqi couldn't help but roll her eyes at him after hearing this. At such a time, he still had the leisure to joke around.