Without further ado, Xu Chunjun and his wife had a smooth journey and arrived in Chenzhou a few days earlier than expected.
Zheng Wuji and Xu Chunjun discussed: "Anyway, it's still early before the date set by the court, so why don't we divide it into two ways."
"What do you mean, sir, let them take the main road with their luggage, while we take the small road?" Xu Chunjun understood.
"I'm not used to you calling me that," Zheng Wuji couldn't help laughing, "Just call me husband."
Xu Chunjun shook his head after hearing this: "No, you are now a parent official, and everyone in front of you must be called so, and I am no exception.
Although official prestige does not need to be deliberately promoted, the due solemnity is still indispensable."
"Okay, okay, Madam is right." Zheng Wuji quietly held her hand and said, "I also want to see the customs and sentiments here before I officially take over."
"Your Excellency is thoughtful, as it should be." Xu Chunjun said, "What others say is not as good as what we see with our own eyes. Although we only watched along the way this time, what we saw was mostly superficial.
But after all, it is better than being aloof and only listening to reports from subordinates."
"You are my female Zhuge. With you by my side, I won't be afraid no matter where I go." Zheng Wuji said while gently scratching Xu Chunjun's palm.
Xu Chunjun pursed his lips and smiled and said no more.
After the two people decided, they divided everyone into two groups.
Mr. Wu also came this time. It was Xu Chunjun and Zheng Wuji who specifically requested him to come out and become Zheng Wuji's master.
Although Mr. Wu is used to being free-spirited, he also has a desire to govern the world.
What's more, Xu Chunjun and Zheng Wuji have always regarded him as their teacher, unlike those who work as an aide in other places and are not respected.
Zheng Wuji asked Mr. Wu to take everyone and their luggage and take the main road to the government office first.
Then he, Xu Chunjun, Ah Ban and several other maids followed him ashore and hired carriages and horses to take the dry road.
There are seven counties in Chenzhou, and the place where they landed was in Tongqiu County.
Zheng Wuji planned to go from Tongqiu through Yangxia, Shangshui, then to Dancheng and Kuxian, and finally to Huaiyang where the Zhizhou government office was located.
Zi Ling was still a little worried and wanted to follow.
Xu Chunjun said: "My child is still young, so don't bother with me. If you go directly to the government office, you will arrive several days earlier than us."
This journey has been hard, if not hard, and besides, you have gone ahead of time and made arrangements for me, so you are always more considerate than others."
Zi Ling nodded after hearing this and said to Xu Chunjun: "Girl, you must be careful and don't go to too remote places. Let them prepare clean food and drinks. You must bring your own clothes no matter what.
The bedding in the inn is useless."
The weather was hot at this time, and it was very hard to travel.
At noon, we happened to come to a small village.
Zheng Wuji said: "Have a rest! Ask someone for a drink of water."
"The house with the gatehouse in front looks pretty good. I'll call the door now, little one." Ah Ban said and walked away.
But Xu Chunjun stopped him: "Let's go to the farmhouse on the left! We want to see what kind of life this ordinary farmer's family lives like."
This family has three thatched houses and a large yard, where they raise some chickens and ducks.
There are two large pear trees planted in the front yard. The crowns of the trees are like umbrella canopies, providing a large area of shade.
The yard was swept clean, and the person who answered the door was a young man about twenty years old.
"Please come in if you don't mind. We have nothing to entertain you here, so we'll make you laugh." The young man said and opened the wooden door and invited everyone in.
Then an old couple walked out of the house and also smiled and called everyone in.
A young woman's face flashed by the window, then she hid herself again.
Xu Chunjun guessed that she should be the daughter-in-law who had recently married into this family.
When Xu Chunjun and others entered the room and sat down, the old woman came in with two bowls of water.
He said with great embarrassment: "I'm really sorry, I don't even have tea at home, so I have to treat my guests to drink plain water."
"Thank you very much, mother-in-law. We are very thirsty right now. May I ask your mother-in-law's name?" Xu Chunjun smiled and took a few sips from the bowl, not dissing it at all.
Zheng Wuji also drank the bowl of water in one gulp, and their actions made the family no longer so cautious.
"My grandma's name is Che, haven't you eaten yet? We don't have anything delicious at home. If you don't mind, I'll spread out some pancakes for you." The old woman said while wiping her hands with her apron.
"That's even better, we're hungry right now." Zheng Wuji said with a smile, "We won't eat in vain, we will leave some money to buy rice for you later."
"Hey, what did this uncle say? We are very happy if he doesn't dislike our poor family. What's the point of having something to eat?" The old woman waved her hands quickly, "Please stop saying thank you."
"Grandma Che, who lives in that house?" Xu Chunjun asked with a smile.
"The people living here are my son and his daughter-in-law. They have been married for less than three months." The old woman explained on behalf of her daughter-in-law. "My young daughter-in-law is thin-skinned and dare not show her face to strangers. Please don't be offended."
"Then can I go over and talk to her?" Xu Chunjun asked with a smile.
She knew that the reason why the new daughter-in-law refused to come was because of men like Zheng Wuji and Ah Ban.
"Of course that's good. You are such a fairy-like figure, and she will definitely be happy if you talk to her." Grandma Che said, and let Xu Chunjun into the room opposite.
The new daughter-in-law blushed and greeted Xu Chunjun vaguely.
He wanted to look at her but didn't dare, so he glanced secretly and lowered his head.
"This house is really neatly kept. You and your family are all hard-working people." Xu Chunjun saw that there was not a single decent piece of furniture in the house, but it was clean and not dirty at all.
The clothes worn by the new daughter-in-law are also patched, but there are fewer patches than the rest of the family.
The daughter-in-law blushed even more after being praised, and she didn't know how to respond.
"It's fate that I'm here today. I have nothing to give you. Let me give you a handkerchief." Xu Chunjun said, "I embroidered it myself. It's just a gadget. Don't dislike it."
It was a hot day and she brought several handkerchiefs with her, and gave one embroidered with willow branches and two swallows to her daughter-in-law.
It's a small meeting gift.
My wife has never seen such soft and slippery material.
The flowers embroidered on it are even more vivid, and the silk threads are shining with pearlescent light.
Xu Chunjun said a few more words to her, nothing more than asking where her natal family was from and who were there.
What do you do for a living and how do you live your life?
Grandma Che over there has already prepared rice. In addition to pancakes, she also fried a plate of eggs and cut a plate of air-dried bacon.
Xu Chunjun knew that they would be reluctant to eat these, because when he just talked to the wife of this family, he knew that the eggs they raised from the chickens and ducks had to be taken to the market to be exchanged for rice and money.
