bookcurios Chapter 358 Don’t tell me that these people in line are all getting water
Chapter 358 Don’t tell me that these people in line are all getting water
After handing the key of the courtyard to the prefect, the two set off again.
This time he deliberately brought an extra carriage and loaded some food on it.
The idea was that if Chizhou County was short of food, they would have a source of food to use.
On the evening of the third day, the carriage finally arrived at Chizhou County.
Outside Chizhou County, there were also rows of refugees just like in the provincial capital.
A porridge stall was set up at the city gate, and refugees lined up to get porridge.
Qin Wan stood on the shaft of the cart and saw several familiar faces among the officials distributing porridge.
"Brother, look, Uncle Xu is personally distributing porridge, and Uncle Wang is also here."
"With so many refugees, I'm afraid all the people from the county government have come. I heard from Aunt Xu that the Duke of Zhenguo originally planned to transfer Uncle Xu back to the capital before the New Year.
If the drought continues, I wonder if Uncle Xu will be able to be transferred back to the capital before the New Year."
"Of course!" Qin Wan said firmly.
The city gate was full of refugees queuing up to get porridge, and a horse-drawn carriage parked on the side was very conspicuous.
The officer who was maintaining order was about to ask the people on the carriage to line up. When he saw the brother and sister, his eyes lit up:
"Hey, isn't this Miss Su and Mr. Su? No, it should be Miss Qin and Mr. Qin now, you guys should go back to Chizhou."
The brother and sister did not recognize the officer, but the officer obviously knew them.
After saying that, he shouted loudly in the direction of the porridge stall:
"My Lord, Lord Wang, Master Qin and Miss Qin have returned to Chizhou."
The officer's shout did not attract the attention of the county magistrate and others, but it did attract the attention of the people in the queue.
Qin Wan quickly stopped the official who was about to continue shouting, "Big brother, stop shouting. Just take us directly to see the county magistrate and Uncle Wang."
"Okay, both of you follow me."
After passing through layers of crowded crowds, the two were finally led by the officials to the porridge stall.
"Sir, look who's here?"
The official shouted excitedly to County Magistrate Xu who was busy in the porridge stall.
Magistrate Xu looked in the direction of the sound and saw two children standing next to his men.
"Jingnian, Wanwan, why are you here?"
County Magistrate Xu handed the porridge spoon in his hand to the person next to him and walked over excitedly.
"Are you thirsty? Can Uncle Xu take you to drink some water?"
Since the drought, the greeting between people in Chizhou County has changed from "Have you eaten?" to "Are you thirsty?".
When County Magistrate Xu saw the two children coming to Chizhou, he subconsciously asked this question.
Qin Wan smiled and shook her head:
"We are not thirsty for Uncle Xu."
Magistrate Xu wiped the sweat off his head and said, "It's hot in the porridge stall. Let's go to the county government office with Uncle Xu to rest for a while."
Qin Wan waved her hand: "Uncle Xu is very busy, we won't disturb him."
Qin Wan pointed in the direction of the carriage.
"Uncle, is Chizhou County short of food? We brought a cart of food with us when we came here. Uncle, please give it to the refugees."
County Magistrate Xu patted their shoulders with satisfaction.
“Originally, there was a shortage, but after the drought, the imperial court issued some relief grain.
In addition, the villagers of Taohua Village donated the high-yield sweet potatoes they grew, which is just enough for the refugees to eat for a while.
But there may be more and more refugees in the future, and of course the more food the better. Uncle thanks you on behalf of the people of Chizhou."
Qin Wan looked into the pot of porridge and discovered that it was sweet potato porridge.
Thinking of the kind deeds of the villagers of Taohua Village, Qin Wan puffed out his chest with pride.
As expected of villagers of Taohua Village, they have a high level of awareness.
"Uncle Xu, then please ask someone to unload the grain from the carriage. My brother and I still need to go to Taohua Village to take a look."
"Okay, uncle will ask someone to unload the grain right away."
Magistrate Xu called two officials to unload the grain, and took out the magistrate's token from his bosom.
"Taohua Village has a precious water source, and many people from the surrounding area go to the village to fetch water. My uncle was worried that someone might cause trouble, so he sent a team of soldiers to protect the village.
When you enter the village, take this token with you, and the officers guarding outside will let you in."
"okay, I get it."
Qin Wan took the token, got on the carriage and entered the county town.
The carriage first went to the shops owned by their family in the city and found that the shops were still open and business was even better than before the drought.
Probably because there are many outsiders coming to Taohua Village to fetch water, the restaurants in the county town are doing good business.
Because the two saw many water trucks coming and going on the streets of the county town.
Judging from the direction, they are all going to Taohua Village to fetch water.
The brother and sister did not disturb their uncle and aunt who were busy with their business, and drove the carriage out of the city and back to Taohua Village.
And then found out...
"His!"
Qin Jingnian couldn't help but take a breath.
“Sister, don’t tell me that these people are going to Taohua Village to fetch water?
If I remember correctly, the county town is about ten miles away from our village."
The main road leading to Taohua Village was crowded with people and cars fetching water.
Only a small space is left on the right for people or cars to pass through after getting water.
Because the queue for water was long, some people even brought bedding and sat on the ground.
Some even brought pots and pans for cooking.
Qin Wan closed her jaw which was slightly open in surprise:
"Brother, let's get off the carriage and walk back to the village. If we have to queue up, when will we be able to enter the village?"
The two men got off the carriage and took a shortcut back to the village.
But at the fork in the road leading to the village, he met the official guarding there.
"Stop! Are you new here? Didn't I tell you to follow the rules if you want to get water? You are not allowed to take the side roads!
Everyone, line up on the main road.
If you don’t follow the rules, don’t even think about getting water!”
Before the brother and sister could say anything, they were scolded by the officers.
Judging from the officer's skill in scolding people, he had scolded quite a few people.
No wonder I didn’t meet anyone fetching water along the way along the path. It turns out there is such a rule.
There is no order without rules. With so many people coming to fetch water, Qin Wan agreed with the rule established by County Magistrate Xu.
But they were not coming for water.
Qin Wan took out the token given by County Magistrate Xu.
"We are not here to get water. We are from Taohua Village. We are here to visit Taohua Village."
The official recognized the county magistrate's token and changed his previous impatient attitude. He quickly said politely:
"So you are my Lord's men. Please come in, please come in."
The officers made way for him, and at that moment the head of the village came out of the village.
The moment he saw the brother and sister, the village head's eyes widened instantly and he shouted in surprise:
"Jingnian, Wanwan, why are you back?
Why didn't you tell the village head that you came back so I could send someone to pick you up?"
The brother and sister were warmly invited into the village by the excited village head.
The officer who had just blocked the road looked at the three people's backs, and one of them suddenly spoke up:
"Hey, did you hear what the head of Taohua Village called those two kids just now?
Jingnian? Wanwan? Why do these two names sound so familiar to me? "
Another officer suddenly slapped his forehead and suddenly realized:
"I remember now. Prince Fuxing Ding of Taohua Village has a pair of twins, a boy and a girl. Aren't they called Jingnian and Wanwan?"