As the County Magistrate of Huaiping County, and someone who actually got things done, County Magistrate Gao knew the several villages under his jurisdiction all too well.
Shangliu Village, Xialiu Village, Zhengjia Village, Tongkao Village…
If it had only been Shangliu Village, it would have been fine. County Magistrate Gao could still say it was a coincidence, but once the several villages that followed appeared, he knew that it was definitely talking about their Huaiping County.
County Magistrate Gao had never thought that the Sky Screen would have anything to do with him. When he saw the Sky Screen early that morning, he knew things were going to become chaotic. He did not even have time to eat breakfast before ordering the people in the government office to closely monitor the common people’s reactions. If necessary, suppress them harshly.
Sure enough, rumors of heavenly punishment soon came from Yangshu Town, and there were also people taking the opportunity to cause trouble.
County Magistrate Gao immediately took the people under him and hurried toward Yangshu Town. Other places would have been fine, but quite a number of refugees had been settled in Yangshu Town a few years ago, making it a mixed crowd of all sorts of people. He had no choice but to take it seriously.
What was troublesome was that Yangshu Town was somewhat far away. By the time he received the news and set out, it was already very late.
When Scholar Guo rushed to the county government office to look for him, County Magistrate Gao had only just traveled a short distance beyond the city gate.
At this moment, County Magistrate Gao had still not finished dealing with the matters in Yangshu Town. He had somewhat of a headache and was especially shocked. That child on the Sky Screen had actually been living in Shangliu Village all this time. So this so-called Sky Screen hadn’t appeared suddenly for no reason. Was it because of this child?
Even more obvious was that the household in Shangliu Village that had adopted Zhaozhao had abused her.
Therefore, he didn’t know whether the appearance of this Sky Screen was a blessing or a disaster for the Great Qi Dynasty. He even suspected that the possibility of it being a disaster was greater.
“My lord, what do we do now? Should we go back first?” The constable[1]捕快 (bǔ kuài) – a traditional term for a local government law-enforcement officer in imperial China. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3351055_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3351055_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); who had come with him slowly closed his stunned mouth. After coming back to his senses, he anxiously asked in a low voice. He naturally also knew where Shangliu Village was.
County Magistrate Gao hesitated. After a moment, he still said, “I have to finish dealing with things here first.”
The Sky Screen was already hanging there. Whether it was a blessing or a disaster, they could not avoid it. But if the matter in Yangshu Town was not dealt with, they feared that it might implicate the lives of many innocent people. The most urgent matter was to suppress things here first and talk about the rest afterward.
“However, this matter also has to be reported to His Majesty as soon as possible. I will write a memorial now. You go back to the government office first and have someone send it to the capital at full speed. Also, find two people to go to Shangliu Village and inquire about the specific situation.”
“Yes.”
County Magistrate Gao looked at the Sky Screen again and took a deep breath. In the end, he still withdrew his gaze.
The many common people of Huaiping County also knew of Shangliu Village.
They were also dumbfounded at this moment. Who could have thought that the little immortal child they had been curious about and discussing all this time actually lived in the same place as them?
Shangliu Village, Shangliu Village…
Those whose minds turned quickly forcibly suppressed the uneasiness in their hearts and had already set off for Shangliu Village to inquire about the news.
For a time, Shangliu Village experienced a peak in visitors.
Yue Chai, as the village chief of Shangliu Village, was even blocked at his doorstep by the lizheng[2]里正 (lǐzhèng) – a traditional local official responsible for managing a village or group of households. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3351055_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3351055_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); and wealthy gentry who hurried over from various places.
The homes of the other villagers were also livelier than they had ever been. Relatives from their maternal families, married elder and younger sisters-in-law, all came.
As villagers of Shangliu Village who had witnessed the entire process, they naturally spoke eloquently when talking about this matter. Telling it once was not enough, so they told it a second time. Afterward, they even had to clearly explain every little detail of Zhaozhao’s life in Shangliu Village over these past two years. The people from outside the village listened in amazement again and again. With the villagers spreading the word, these people became increasingly convinced that the scenes on the Sky Screen were indeed the immortal realm.
The Jiang family was also disturbed by people coming to their door. So many people came to the Jiang family that Third Brother Jiang, who had originally been perched on the wall watching the Zheng family, had no choice but to come down and eat the food brought by his good brothers.
Hu Laifu and Madam Zheng had been keeping an eye on him all along. Seeing this, they knew the opportunity had come.
“We won’t wait until tonight. Let’s leave now.” Taking advantage of the large and chaotic crowd, even if they ran away, it would not be too conspicuous.
Madam Zheng hurriedly brought out the things she had packed long ago and anxiously took Hu Baodun’s hand. The latter looked dejected. Although he was very unwilling, he obediently let himself be led out the door. It was just that when he walked, it was obvious that he was limping.
Hu Baodun had been beaten. He was young and somewhat foolish, so he could not figure out what was going on. Especially when he saw Zhaozhao in the Sky Screen, he immediately cursed at the Sky Screen and told her to come down and serve him. Hu Laifu and Madam Zheng did not pay attention to him at first. It was not until Zhaozhao started eating wontons that Hu Baodun began making a fuss, rolling around on the ground and even throwing stones toward the Sky Screen.
Hu Laifu and Madam Zheng were already anxious and confused. Seeing their son like this, they truly could not endure it any longer. Hu Laifu, who had always spoiled his son excessively, picked up a rattan for the first time and struck Hu Baodun with it.
This rattan had once been used to beat… Zhaozhao.
Madam Zheng felt heartbroken at the sight, but in the end, she did not stop him. Hu Baodun still knew what pain was. After being beaten a few times, he no longer dared to make a fuss.
Now that he was being pulled out the door by his father and mother, he did not say a single word anymore.
The family of three quietly slipped out of the house. Originally, Yue Chai had followed Scholar Guo’s instructions and found people to watch their household, but too many people had come to the village, and their attention was diverted.
In just this short amount of time, the three members of the Hu family quickly left Shangliu Village.
The Sky Screen in the sky was still continuing to play. Madam Zheng secretly spat with a “pei” and then headed toward Zhengjia Village.
Most of the people in Zhengjia Village were members of the Zheng clan, but nowadays, many people were not there either. Even Madam Zheng’s maternal family, after confirming that the child on the Sky Screen was indeed the Zhaozhao they knew, had also run off to look for Hu Laifu.
It’s just that, in order to avoid the crowds, the three members of the Hu family took a remote and winding long route, and thus missed them.
However, for Madam Zheng, this was an enormous advantage.
When Madam Zheng saw that only the elderly lady with inconvenient legs and the Zheng family’s eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Zhou, who took care of her, were at home, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Upon seeing her younger sister-in-law come to the door, Madam Zhou was also very shocked. She did not even have time to ask why they were carrying such large baskets on their bodies, with large and small bundles as if they were moving house. At this moment, she was more concerned about the Sky Screen, so she hurriedly pulled her along and questioned her, “Why did you come over at this time? We have all seen the Sky Screen. Your brothers are already hurrying toward your place.”
“Sister-in-law, don’t be anxious yet. We came over precisely because of this matter. Where’s Mother? We have something very important to tell Mother.” Madam Zheng gave a few hurried replies and then ran into the room to see the elderly lady, also saying that she wanted to speak with the elderly lady alone.
Madam Zhou and the elderly lady both thought that the matter she was talking about was related to the Sky Screen. Seeing how secretive she was being, although Madam Zhou was somewhat unwilling, she still used boiling water as an excuse and left.
The room door closed, and the elderly lady even took a piece of pastry for Hu Baodun. Then, leaning against the pillow, she had just asked, “Quickly tell me, that Zhaozhao, is she really that immortal child? I remember that ring you gave me last time was obtained from her. Is it an immortal object?”
As soon as her words fell, Madam Zheng suddenly pounced forward.
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