Li Changan came back from the fields, and other chief ministers also gathered together one after another.
"Sir Councilor, we have finished traveling to Yunyang County, where should we go next?" Xue Shiqing stepped forward and asked.
"It's getting late, let's go back to Zewu County to rest for the night." Li Changan looked at the sunset slowly setting in the west, "I'm going to Fufeng County tomorrow."
"Yes." The others quickly lowered their heads and responded.
The group of people set out on the road again.
This situation has long become the norm.
…
And at this time,
Zewu County,
Niu Dachuan and Gou Ermao were standing at the gate of the collapsed city, looking anxiously.
"Dachuan, Master Li and the others should have returned by this time, right?" Gou Ermao stepped on a stone and tiptoed, wanting to see further.
"Don't worry, you should be back soon." Niu Dachuan also stretched his neck.
"Maybe I walked a little far today, so it's normal to come back later."
"Do you think Master Li is just like us and only needs to work nearby? He has traveled throughout Yunyang County step by step."
Gou Ermao beat his aching legs, "Is it possible that Mr. Li will not return to Zewu County today and go directly to another place?"
Niu Dachuan was stunned for a moment, "It shouldn't be possible, right?"
"I heard from other adults yesterday that it should be two or three days before we go anywhere else."
"I will definitely come back today."
Time passes little by little,
The sun in the west has completely set.
The last bit of afterglow disappeared into the horizon.
Soon,
A man ran over holding a torch and asked hurriedly, "Dachuan, Ermao, have you seen anyone come back?"
Niu Dachuan rubbed his shoulders, "Not yet, Mr. Li and the others may be a little busy today."
The person holding the torch said worriedly, "Is it possible that Mr. Li won't come back today?"
Two people in a row asked this, and Niu Dachuan himself was a little unsure, "...Then why don't you ask other officials?"
The man holding the torch shrank his neck, "How dare I?"
"What if you chop off my head?"
Gou Ermao smiled and said, "I see your head was kicked by a donkey."
"It's been so many days. Although those adults look scary and stern, but which one of them isn't doing their job seriously?"
"Besides, we haven't committed anything. With Mr. Li here, who dares to chop off our heads casually?"
While talking,
The sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance.
"Coming, coming..."
Niu Dachuan grabbed Gou Ermao, who was still talking loudly, "Let's go and invite Mr. Li."
Then he said to the man holding the torch, "Leave the torch. Go back and inform the others quickly. Don't delay."
"Okay." The man put the torch into Niu Dachuan's hand, turned around and ran towards the county town.
Niu Dachuan and Gou Ermao held torches and stood at the gate of the city, waiting for the sound of horse hooves getting closer and closer.
Li Changan saw flickering fire not far ahead.
After getting closer, I realized that they were two acquaintances. I dismounted and asked,
"Niu Dachuan, Gou Ermao, what are you two doing here?"
"Master Li." Niu Dachuan and the other two stepped forward and saluted and said, "Master Li, Uncle Fan wants to invite you, so let us wait for you here."
"Uncle Fan? What does he want from me?" Li Changan asked in surprise.
Uncle Fan was the first old man he talked to in Zewu County.
"We don't know this very well, but it's important to listen to Uncle Fan." Niu Dachuan said with a naive smile.
"Okay, you lead the way." Li Changan nodded.
Niu Dachuan and Gou Ermao grinned widely and led the way, "Masters, please join us..."
Li Changan nodded to the others, "You also come with me to have a look, and we will return to the county government office together later."
The county town is a little quiet today.
Li Changan looked both ways and said with a smile, "Everyone went to bed very early today. It seems that everyone is very tired today."
"If it weren't for you, I would have thought there was an ambush here."
Niu Dachuan and Gou Ermao, who were walking in front, heard this and waved their hands quickly.
"How, how is it possible!?"
"Master Li has been kind to us. Who has no conscience and wants to do something that is scolded by our ancestors?"
Li Changan smiled and waved his hand, "I'm teasing you, just to see how anxious you are..."
The group of people followed Niu Dachuan and the two of them, walking on the streets that they had walked countless times in recent times, leaving early in the morning and returning home late in the evening.
The street was very quiet, except for the clatter of horse hooves, which could be heard far away in the darkness.
Arrive at the private house where Li Changan lived for three days.
"Squeak..."
The courtyard door was opened from the inside.
The next moment, torches were lit.
The fire burned brightly.
Suddenly there was light in front of my eyes.
Li Chang'an and the chiefs and clerks of the Southern Patrol Division stood there blankly, their breathing trembling unconsciously.
The flames of the torches are still spreading outward.
From the alleys behind the courtyard, people came out one by one holding torches high in their hands and lined up along the street for a long distance.
The street leading Li Changan and others from the city gate to the house was all lit up.
It's like a river of stars falling into the world.
Uncle Fan walked to the door of the courtyard with a hunched body, stretched out his hand to guide inside, "Master Li, all gentlemen... please come inside."
Li Changan opened his mouth, his voice was a little hoarse, "Uncle Fan, is this...?"
Uncle Fan grabbed Li Changan's hand and led Li Changan inside, just like an ordinary grandfather leading his grandson, mumbling,
"We have a rule here."
"My family has been working hard outside for such a long time, and we always need something hot to eat when we come back."
family?
Li Changan's head couldn't help but tremble.
A warm current flows in my heart.
In the courtyard, tables are lined up two feet long.
In addition, the courtyard and three houses were full of people.
Everyone is holding a bowl in their hands, and there is also a bowl upside down on top.
“Serve!”
Uncle Fan waved his hand.
The people in the courtyard carefully placed the bowls on the long table one by one, and then took away the bowls that were upside down.
There were bowls of steaming dishes.
Now I don’t even feel full after eating.
These people had to spend almost all of their money just to be able to provide each household with a bowl of food.
"Crack."
"Crack."
…
Bowls of dishes quickly filled the long table.
Niu Dachuan and Gou Ermao, together with the children, held empty bowls and chopsticks and handed them to Li Changan and other people in the Zhenfu Division.
Li Changan held the bowls and chopsticks and looked at the dishes on the table in front of him. His heart seemed to be blocked by something, his nose slowly twitched and his eyes kept blinking.
Behind him, the officials from the Southern Patrol Division were also in similar condition, their bodies all trembling slightly.
Especially Feng Buyi, Zeng Shicai and Song Siren, their eyes were red and they were trying hard to control the tears from flowing out.
"Master Li...eat quickly..." Uncle Fan looked over with an eager look on his face and motioned for everyone to eat quickly.
"My lords...eat..."
"Otherwise it will be cold..."
The people in the yard walked out of the yard to make room for Li Changan and others, but everyone leaned forward at the door and looked eagerly into the yard.
"Master Li...eat..."
"My lords...eat quickly..."
The fervent calls were like grains of sand blown into the eyes and into the heart.
Li Changan walked to the long table, picked up a dish with trembling chopsticks, and put it into his mouth.
Two lines of clear tears could no longer be held back and fell down her cheeks.
There was a burst of cheers outside the yard,
"Master Li, eat quickly, there is still a lot, otherwise it will get cold..."
"My lords, eat quickly..."
"I made that braised pork dish."
"I made that bowl of vinegar cabbage."
"Try that meatball, it must be delicious."
...
Feng Buyi strode to the long table, picked up a large piece of fat meat that he had never touched before, stuffed it directly into his mouth, and burst into tears.
While crying, he ate the food on the table.
Someone took the lead, and others came to the long table one after another.
Under the cheers of the people, they stuffed chopsticks into their mouths mixed with tears.
Taste is no longer important.
They just want to eat as much as possible.
Try to take a bite of each dish as much as possible.
because,
In this life,
Such a meal,
Most likely only once.
At this moment, the blisters on my feet after walking in the fields for so many days were all worth it.
"Sir, Sir..." Feng Buyi cried while eating, "This meal... I will remember it forever..."
"For the first time, for the first time...people...treat us as family..."
While Xue Shiqing was eating, he suddenly bent down towards Li Changan, his tears falling heavily to the ground, and he could not utter a single word.
Other principals and clerks of the Southern Patrol Division also bowed to Li Changan and saluted.
If it weren't for Li Changan.
How could they possibly eat this common people's meal?
In the sky, there is a faint blue-purple luck, falling like snowflakes and falling on everyone.
It's like a layer of clouds.
Li Changan took a deep breath, looked up at the sky, held back tears, and spoke slowly, his voice hoarse,