At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Nanhai County had six inspection departments: Jinli, Wudukou, Shen'an, Sanjiang, Huangding and Jiangpu. Each inspection department had one inspector and fifty archers. Among them, the Wudoukou Inspection Department's office is located in Pingzhoubao, twenty miles away from Foshan. The closest to Jiujiang is Jiangpu Inspection Department, also known as Ding'anzhai, and its office is located in Longjiangbao not far away.
Since the Senate took over the power of the Ming Dynasty in Guangdong and Guangxi, the functions of the Inspection Department have been replaced by the National Army and township police stations. The National Army is basically stationed in county towns and some important inspection departments, while grassroots police stations are set up in inspection departments and several larger markets.
During this inspection, Zhang Xiao reminded that there was no need to give advance notice along the way, firstly to prevent the local government from "doing homework" in advance, and secondly, to reduce the burden on grassroots institutions. Judging from the ability and number of local cadres in the Senate, they are already unable to do their job well. Another "visit for inspection" will cause chaos and interfere with local work.
"Woo..." The long whistle sounded through the sky, and the big boat slowly docked at Caspian Market.
Today is the market day of the Jiujiang Market. Although the villagers in the market can often see Australian steamships passing by on the river, this is the first time a steamship has docked in Jiujiang recently, and they are all shocked by this. Attracted by the sound of the whistle, they slowly gathered towards the entrance of the market.
Under the command of the captain, the soldiers of the Ba Dao Team holding miniguns quickly ran off the boat and lined up on the shore. Their majestic aura suppressed the curiosity of the villagers, and no one dared to approach. Zhang Xiao and others stepped off the boat under the escort of the special agents of the Veterans Guard General Administration.
"I don't know what these people do..."
"Keep your voice down!" Many onlookers whispered to each other.
Zhang Xiao suddenly felt that he was entering the enemy's country. This atmosphere was not very good, so he cleared his throat and shouted to the villagers: "Fellow folks, don't panic! I am Nanhai, newly appointed by the Senate of the Song Dynasty. County Magistrate Zhang Xiao, I am here today to understand the sentiments of the people..."
After listening to what Zhang Xiao said, the crowd of people watching didn't seem to understand. At this time, Zhang Jiayu reminded: "Chief, the Lingnan dialect is separated from the village like a mountain, so why not let me convey it."
Just as Zhang Jiayu was about to speak, a sharp police whistle sounded from behind the crowd. Five men with short hair, wearing Australian police uniforms, holding a baton in one hand and a revolver in the other pushed aside the crowd of onlookers and squeezed over. Obviously, these police officers at the grassroots police station thought something had happened here.
The policemen did not know Zhang Xiao, but the temperament of the group of people in front of them was extraordinary, and they were escorted by the National Army. Their sharp eyes quickly recognized their immediate boss from the visiting team, so the short and stocky policeman in the lead immediately stopped them. Gun, stood at attention, performed a standard Fubo Army military salute, and shouted: "Chief Mo Yu of the Jiujiangxu Police Station, say hello to the chief!"
The rest of the police followed suit and saluted. Looking at their crooked salutes and unspeakable police uniforms, Zhang Xiao secretly sighed in his heart, motioned for them to take a break, and said, "Comrades, it's a blessing! We are too conspicuous like this. Let's settle down first before talking."
So Mo Yu led the police to clear the way and led this large inspection team to the police station.
Although Jiujiang Market is a large market, it is far less prosperous than Guangzhou City and Foshan at this time. There is no hotel here that can accommodate so many people, so the expedition team brought marching tents. A suitable site was chosen on the edge of the market, and a large-scale camp was quickly set up with all functions available.
Zhang Jiayu had just settled down and looked a little depressed sitting on the camp bed of his small tent. Along the way, Chief Zhang was either asking about water conservancy issues or agricultural issues. Just when he wanted to take advantage of the local people's advantages to make a small contribution, he was also asked about The police interrupted, and it turned out that he was "a useless scholar."
He felt stuffy, so he left the tent and walked around the camp to relax.
Zhao Hening packed up his things and walked out of the tent. Seeing Zhang Jiayu looking a little unhappy, he stepped forward and asked, "Pretty boy, why are you so decadent?"
Seeing that it was Zhao Hening, Zhang Jiayu couldn't help but his heart beat faster. He lowered his head slightly, saluted, and said, "The student prides himself on being a local and familiar with the people's sentiments, but he failed to solve the chief's worries and doubts along the way. I'm really ashamed."
When Zhao Hening heard this, he felt that Zhang Jiayu was a bit dull, so he comforted him: "Teacher Zhang is famous for his erudition. Just follow and study hard."
"Miss Zhao is right!" Zhang Jiayu agreed.
Zhao Hening couldn't get used to the word "Miss" and said: "I come from a poor family. If you are not a young lady, just call me He Ning."
"This..." Zhang Jiayu hesitated for a moment and said, "Then it's better to be respectful than to obey."
"I'll call you Jiayu!" Zhao Hening still spoke in a nonchalant manner.
"As you wish."
"The name Jiayu feels a bit earthy."
"It's really not as nice as He Ning."
"Of course, He Ning is the name of the palace of the Song Dynasty..."
The distance between boys and girls often closes in the blink of an eye. A handsome man like Zhang Jiayu will either be ostracized by everyone in Fangcaoyao, or become the dream lover of thousands of girls. Zhao Hening couldn't help gossiping and asked quietly: " Jiayu, do you have a girlfriend?"
"What is a girlfriend?" Zhang Jiayu naturally didn't know the concept circulating in Fangcaoyao.
"My girlfriend is my sweetheart, giggle..." Zhao Hening snickered.
Before getting married, aboriginal women generally stay close to home, which literally means "waiting in the boudoir". Except for rare opportunities such as temple fairs, they never have contact with men. Zhang Jiayu naturally has no dealings with women in the boudoir. Based on his experience, he didn’t know what Zhao Hening meant when he asked about this, and said: "Since ancient times, marriages have been subject to the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. Now that I have neither a career nor fame, I have never considered getting married."
The economic conditions of the Zhang family were relatively poor, and the Senate's seizure of Guangzhou interrupted his original path to the imperial examination. Naturally, for a poor scholar with no future, no one was willing to date him.
"So boring, like a piece of wood." Zhao Hening muttered. There were very few men in this era who had not yet gotten married when they reached Zhang Jiayu's age. Either their families were so poor that others looked down upon them, or they were disabled or weak. flaws, so it was hard for her to get to the bottom of it.
By the time everything was arranged in the camp, it was already evening. During this period, many nearby wealthy families heard that the new Australian county magistrate had brought a team of cadres to the countryside. They sent their clan officials to come and wanted to invite the parent official to stay temporarily in the clan's mansion or ancestral hall. Treat them well and express your feelings by talking to them, and build a closer relationship with Australians. However, Zhang Xiao and Li Yaoer declined the kindness of the squires on the pretext of being tired from the journey, leaving only the melons, fruits, fish and poultry sent to them.
At night, the bonfires in the camp crackled, and the National Army patrols were still moving around. Zhang Xiao clasped his hands behind his back and looked at the crescent moon in the sky. He had just finished arranging the next day's work for the accompanying cadres, and before he fell asleep, he walked to the edge of the camp.
There is no neon light pollution in the old city, nor sulfur and nitrogen pollutants and dust emitted from the huge chimneys in the industrial town. The stars in the sky look particularly clear and bright, and they complement each other in the contiguous fish ponds, making people feel like they are in the city. In the sea of stars, it is like looking up at the Milky Way in the sky when I was a child, and I was mesmerized.
"The starry sky tonight is so beautiful!" Zhang Xiao said to himself. The memories of the old time and space ran through his mind like an old movie. He touched his pocket with his hand, took out a ten-hole harmonica, moistened his lips, and a melody he knew by heart slowly sounded.
Zhao Hening had just finished brushing his teeth. Hearing the slightly sad melody coming from outside, his curiosity aroused. He quietly ran out of the tent and came to the tent where Zhang Jiayu was. He whispered: "Jiayu, Jiayu, come with me to see look."
Zhang Jiayu lifted the door curtain, a little surprised, and asked: "You're still up so late, what are you looking at?"
"Shhh... listen." Zhao Hening put his finger to his mouth, motioning for him to keep his voice down.
"Bang!" There was an unusual sound coming from behind.
"Who!" Zhang Xiao turned around alertly, one hand subconsciously touched the holster of his gun, and after gazing at him for a moment, he relaxed and said, "What are you two kids doing so sneakily?"
It turned out that Zhao Hening, who had followed the sound, accidentally stepped on a dry branch that fell to the ground. Zhao Hening was a little embarrassed and walked over slowly and said, "Teacher, I was attracted by the beautiful and slightly sad sound of the piano."
Zhang Jiayu thought that Zhang Xiao would reprimand the two of them for not being close to each other, and it was even more shameless to go out to the camp together at night. However, Zhang Xiao said: "Go to bed early, we are not here to travel. We have important tasks behind."
"Teacher, this piece of music is really nice. I've never heard you play it before. What's its name?" Zhao Hening asked.
"'Ru Yi Yu'er Song'." Zhang Xiao couldn't do anything to her, so he replied calmly.
"Yu'er... Yu'er..." Zhao Hening paced back and forth, pretending to think, and suddenly stopped beside Zhang Jiayu and said, "Could it be this - Yu'er!"
"It's nonsense!" Zhang Xiao said pretending to be angry.
Zhang Jiayu said: "I heard this song is melodious and touching, full of affection. It seems to have the meaning of 'On a moonlit night on the twenty-fourth bridge, where can the beautiful lady teach me how to play the flute?' It must be that the leader is thinking of an old friend."
Hearing what Zhang Jiayu said, Zhao Hening's heart for gossip was immediately aroused, "Teacher, who is this old friend of yours?"
"This is not a question for a child to ask."
"Oh, don't ask if you don't ask..." Zhao Hening was a little frustrated, but then said: "It's rare that the teacher is in a mood tonight, why not play "Where the Stars Are" again? You taught us before, and I will sing it!"
"Okay." Zhang Xiao agreed readily.
As the prelude of the harmonica played, Zhao Hening stepped on the beat and sang the lyrics: "The shadow of the king, the shadow of the star. The melting of the morning, the elimination of the shadow..."
The stars tonight are lonely footnotes.
