161 Flower Festival
After Murong Run arrived at the courier station, the first thing he did was to get the servant to change the carriage.
Although she was just a girl, Murong Run inexplicably felt uncomfortable and did not want to ride in the carriage that she had contaminated.
Actually, Murong Run had never seen that girl before, but he could hear the scheming in her voice.
He had listened to too many scheming words from a young age. That girl’s scheming could only be considered the lowest level.
If not for the fact that those bandits’ words were too disgusting, he would not have cared.
Who asked their family to have so few women? They were all doted on. He could not stand others bullying women since he was young.
“I didn’t expect to encounter such bad luck on the way home.” As Murong Run took a shower, he was still very depressed.
If not for the fact that he wanted to protect those fruits, he would have long ridden home with his servant on a fast horse and not encountered such a thing.
Murong Run touched his face. Could it be that he looked too attractive?
Sigh, being too handsome was so troublesome.
After setting off again, Murong Run instructed the servant, “Next time you encounter such a thing, don’t interfere anymore! I have to find something to block my ears. Otherwise, it’ll be annoying.”
The servant smiled and acknowledged.
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was the third day of March. This was also the annual Flower Festival of the Great Chang Nation.
Just like the Spring Festival, the Flower Festival was a grand event in the Great Chang Nation.
At this time of the year, everyone had to stop their farming activities. Those who were conscripted could also go home and reunite with their families on this day.
Other than that, there would also be lively celebrations in cities, counties, towns, and other places.
Viewing peach blossoms, eating peach blossom cakes, drinking peach blossom wine, and dancing was also a year-round activity in Yongding County.
In Yongding County, colorful strips had already been hung up on the streets. There were also peach blossom silk flowers made of cloth at the entrances of various shops. The rich and imposing shops had even made an entire peach blossom tree.
Zhang Zhan walked on the street with his servants. When the surrounding commoners saw him, they greeted him warmly.
“Lord Zhang, you’ve also come out for the Flower Festival?”
“Yes.”
There were also enthusiastic vendors who handed the things in their hands to Zhang Zhan. “Lord Zhang, this is just a small trinket. Take it and play with it.”
“There’s no need for that. I just came out to take a walk.” Zhang Zhan wanted to refuse.
“Lord Zhang, don’t refuse. This is not worth much. It’s made by our family.” The vendor’s face was red, and his voice rose as he spoke. “If not for you, I would still be living on the streets with my family, wondering how tomorrow will be.”
When the others heard this, they surrounded him, their mouths filled with gratitude.
“That’s right. If not for Lord Zhang enforcing the law impartially, how could we have recovered from the disaster so quickly?”
“If not for the disaster relief food distributed by Lord Zhang, my family would have starved to death.”
“Lord Zhang is the Lord of the Heavens!”
Zhang Zhan originally thought that he would only stay in Yongding County for two months before returning.
However, he did not expect that the disaster relief mission and all kinds of worldly matters would delay his stay until the Flower Festival.
However, after the Flower Festival, he would leave.
This was the last time he would come out to see the Yongding County that he had sorted out.
In the past, in Wanning City, Zhang Zhan had never done so much, nor had he been loved so much by the commoners.
However, when he walked into the crowd and saw everyone looking at him gratefully and saying sincere words, Zhang Zhan’s heart surged with warmth.
He suddenly understood why most of the people in the Imperial Court had risen up from the positions of small local officials.
Perhaps it was because they had seen too much of this scene and could not bear to let the people down.
Some people were afraid and terrified when they heard that Zhang Zhan was about to leave. They cried in front of him.
“Lord Zhang, can’t you stay and be our county magistrate?”
“That’s right, Lord Zhang, just be our county magistrate! If you leave, our Yongding County will have one less Lord!”
If not for Zhang Zhan coming over, they would not have known that the county magistrate had embezzled so much from them.
Not only was their taxes heavier than other places, even the things distributed by the Imperial Court were embezzled by the county magistrate.
Perhaps the country officials were doing better, but the commoners were naturally suffering.
Zhang Zhan said, “When I return, I will actively recommend Lord Qinglian to take office here. Don’t worry, everyone.”
Later on, unable to resist the enthusiasm of the commoners, Zhang Zhan could only return to the county office in advance.
The servant walked over. “My Lord, your things are ready. When are we leaving?”
Zhang Zhan said, “There’s no hurry. Call County Lieutenant Cao first.”
After County Lieutenant Cao arrived, Zhang Zhan said to him, “I’ll leave Yongding County today. Before the new county magistrate takes office, I’ll leave the matters of the county office to you.”
County Lieutenant Cao: “My Lord, you’re being too serious. This is my duty. What you said really terrified me!”
“I won’t say anything else. You’re an experienced official here. I hope I didn’t misjudge you.” Zhang Zhan patted County Lieutenant Cao’s shoulder and said earnestly, “Does your Cao family want to fish Cao Hua out?”
Seeing County Lieutenant Cao’s expression change slightly, Zhang Zhan patted his shoulder again. “I know that you’re a loyal person. You must know what to do and what not to do. Previously, when you judged Shanyang Village, I’ve never interfered. I respect your right as a county lieutenant. Please continue to maintain it. Remember how the previous county magistrate died.”
County Lieutenant Cao’s face was covered in cold sweat as he nodded.
He was naturally an upright person, but the Cao Family behind him might not be the same. He was the one who ordered Cao Hua to be captured and imprisoned.
There were also people from the Cao Family who quarreled with him. They wanted to wait for this Imperial Envoy to leave before doing something.
...
Fortunately, he never wavered.
Before Zhang Zhan was about to leave, he asked about Qin Huai.
The servant told him about Qin Huai moving from the village to Nanhe Town and even said that he had gone to attend some school.
Zhang Zhan found it funny. “He went to a school somewhere? If his former teacher found out, he would probably be jealous.”
The servant lowered his head and did not answer.
Zhang Zhan waved his hand. “Forget it, I don’t care about his matters. In any case, I’m going back to Wanning City now. I definitely can’t bring him back. Let his own family worry!”
“Leave his people behind and a few of ours behind. There’s no need to deliberately interact with his people. We just have to ensure that this little ancestor is safe.”
“Yes.”
At this moment, Qin Huai, who was in Nanhe Town, was looking at the little girl in front of him.
Little Ah Yu’s head was covered in peach blossoms, covering her original hair.
The dress she was wearing had colorful fabric hanging on it, making her look like a walking little peacock.
...
This was the rule of the Flower Festival. Whenever she met someone she liked, she would wear a peach blossom on her head or a ribbon on her body.
This liking had nothing to do with love. As long as it was someone she liked, it was fine.
Little Ah Yu was only at their house, but she had already been led around by the family.
From her house to Qin Huai’s house, people tied ribbons and put peach blossoms on her along the way.
Qin Huai held the blossom branch in his hand but could not find any space on Little Ah Yu’s head.
“Big Brother Ah You, Ah Yu wants your peach blossom. Put it on Ah Yu’s ear!” Little Ah Yu took the initiative to lean over.
Qin Huai pursed his lips, a little unwilling.
Other people put it on her head, so why did he have to put it on her ear?
But there was no other way.
Qin Huai bent down and placed the blossom branch on Little Ah Yu’s ear. He was still very careful, afraid that he would hurt her ear.
Suddenly, he felt a pain in his scalp. It turned out that Little Ah Yu had stuck a peach blossom on his head when he was not paying attention.
The peach branch poked his scalp.
“Big Brother Ah You, why aren’t there any peach blossoms on your head? It must be because you’re at home that no one knows! Let’s go out and let them wear peach blossoms for you.” Little Ah Yu covered her mouth and smiled especially slyly. “The first flower was given to you by Ah Yu.”
With that, Little Ah Yu pulled Qin Huai’s hand and dragged him out of the house.
It was already lively outside the house.
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