The weather was gloomy, with thick clouds covering the entire sky low, and a cold wind mixed with a low whistling sound coming from the west, as if it would bring extremely cruel weather at any time.
Xu Pingyi looked at these horses carefully, full of surprises, and smiled involuntarily. His smile was very restrained, with only the corners of his mouth curled up, but those who had been around him in the past six months knew that he would only show such an expression when he was in a very good mood.
The average number of officials and guards in Longzhou has one horse per person. Now with these horses, in addition to ensuring one horse for each person, there is also a lot left over.
Thinking of this, there was a bit more joy in his quiet eyes.
Before setting off from the city, he had noticed that the weather was not good today. Looking at the clouds getting lower and lower, he knew that he had to return to the city as soon as possible.
He arranged for his guards to tidy up the horses so that they could be escorted into the city. Then he went into the house to look for the two men. After bowing to Zhu Shang, he said, "Mr. Beijiang, let's set off as soon as possible. It will be difficult to travel after dark and strong winds."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Shang adjusted his sleeves, stood up slowly, and then reached out to pull Hu Ling. After going out, he ordered the secret guards to restore the temple to the dilapidated and deserted state before entering.
As soon as we set off, a strong wind blew up. The sand on the ground was blown up by the strong wind, and the fine sand kept flying into our eyes.
The horses were a little restless, and some of them ran wildly in the other direction, and they vigorously pursued them.
The secret guard automatically joined the guards and surrounded the horses to prevent them from getting separated.
After traveling more than half the distance, the wind weakened, the sand and dust dispersed, and snowflakes began to drift in the sky.
The goose-like snow fell heavier and heavier, and the ground and leafless tree trunks along the road were soon covered with snow, and the black clothes of everyone were dyed silver.
Only Xu Pingyi remained unchanged in his white robe.
The frosty wind blew across his face, but he didn't care at all. He just stared ahead and moved forward quickly.
His appearance in the vast white snow did not weaken at all, but became more beautiful, and the clarity in his eyes did not weaken, but became sharper.
A frail scholar also has his own unique prowess when shouldering responsibilities.
The group of people protected their horses and moved forward quickly, hoping to reach the city before heavy snow blocked the road.
Zhu Shang followed Xu Pingyi on horseback. He could see that the secret guards he had trained personally, who had followed Xu Pingyi for more than half a year, had been impressed by Xu Pingyi's character. They followed Xu Pingyi sincerely, and they were not at all the same as when they first received the mission. Show contempt.
When these people first received the promised mission, they all had mixed feelings. They believed that a small general judge was not worth using so many top secret guards, and the protection of two people was enough.
In the subsequent interactions, their reluctance and contempt dissipated unconsciously. Instead, they began to appreciate Xu Pingyi and were willing to do things with him.
Zhu Shang never thought that Xu Pingyi, who kept the lady from Bianjing awake all night with his appearance and followed her to wait outside the academy gate, could have such power.
His power turns into spring breeze and rain, making people convinced.
Coming out of the mountain road and walking onto the gentle official road, the people in the front slowed down, and the people and horses behind them also slowed down.
Hu Ling reached out to catch the snowflakes, looked at Zhu Shang with a red nose, and asked him: "I wonder if there is snow in Bianjing, and whether my grandfather is in good health?"
"On the second day after I came out of Xiping Mansion, I wrote a letter to Xu Liuniang. She must have received it. In a few days, we will receive a reply." Zhu Shang approached Hu Ling, held her hand, and smiled. He opened his eyes a little, and his smile was full of indifference.
Hu Ling's hands were as cold as the snowflakes falling from the sky, and he held them tightly.
Feeling his strength, Hu Qing turned his head and smiled secretly.
Zhu Shang stared at Hu Ling, without any shrewdness in his eyes. He found that his once hard heart became a little softer.
It is his blessing to have Sanniang in this life.
The heavy snow covered the footprints of the group, and also covered the fierce and bloody night a few days ago.
Arriving in Longzhou City, Xu Pingyi arranged for the secret guards around Hu Ling to have a meal, while he personally cooked noodles for the two of them.
"Da Lang, why are you cooking by yourself now?" Zhu Shang asked. He had never seen any gentleman cook by himself. No matter what situation he was in, he would always find someone to wait on him.
"Mr. Beijiang, I live here alone. I don't need to find someone to cook for me. I just do it myself. My cooking skills are pretty good. You can try it later."
Xu Pingyi said with a faint smile, not taking it seriously as he was used to such a life.
Zhu Shang noticed Xu Pingyi's demeanor and praised him even more. Looking at the young man busy in front of the kitchen table, he said: "You have done a good job in Longzhou's trial. Longzhou has taken on a new look, and both the court and the government think highly of you."
He knew that the magistrate of Longzhou did not do anything, and the improvement of Longzhou was all due to Xu Pingyi.
"Mr. Beijiang, thank you for the award." Xu Pingqi said while cutting vegetables.
What he made today was his improved Qishan Sauce Noodles. He didn't like the noodles being too small, so he cut various vegetables into large pieces.
He stir-fries fungus, mushrooms, diced meat, potatoes, and carrots, then boils them in water to make sautee.
The noodles are pulled. The noodles he pulls are very long and thin. After the noodles are pulled, they are put into boiling water. One noodle fills a bowl.
Hu Ling sat next to the stove, drooling at the sight, and said, "Da Lang, if your mother could eat a bowl of noodles you made, she would be so happy that she would cry."
"When I return to Bianjing to report on my work, I will make bowls of noodles for my mother." Xu Pingyi handed the two bowls of noodles to the two of them, then went out and brought in a porcelain basin.
As soon as he opened the door curtain and entered, he saw Hu Ling approaching with chopsticks.
Seeing Hu Ling staring at the porcelain basin in his hand, he put the porcelain basin on the food table and said with a smile: "This is the mutton from Fengyi County. I asked someone to stew it when I went out to find you. It's just right to eat now." ”
Hu Ling was about to pick up the meat with chopsticks, but she heard Zhu Shang say: "Who did you invite to stew it? Don't you live here alone? Is there someone else? Is it a young lady?"
Xu Pingyi's face turned red and he quickly denied it, saying, "I'm just a friend who has no place to live. He stayed here with me recently."
Hu Ling didn't care and quickly ate the "most tender" mutton in Fengyi County. The mutton was extremely tender and tasted just right, fresh but not fishy, not smelly in the mouth, and he couldn't stop eating.
After eating, Hu Ling drank the mutton soup and said with satisfaction: "You still know how to eat. Liu Niang may have stayed outside for a long time when she was a child. She actually likes to eat pork, even the pig's feet, but she doesn't like it." I wonder if this mutton is the most delicious.”
Xu Pingyi frowned. When eating at home, the dishes were all arranged by Lu. They rarely ate out together, so he didn't know the eating habits of Xu.
After hearing this, Zhu Shang put down the chopsticks in his hand.
Xu Liuniang followed Fang Jing during the years when she was away from the Xu family. Zhu Shang knew Fang Jing's eating habits very well. Fang Jing only ate mutton and beef, never pork, but how could he let Xu Liuniang eat pork?
Moreover, when Xu Liuniang worked for him as a dealer, he remembered that she also ate mutton and beef, and had fights with people because of eating meat. Why did Hu Ling say that Xu Liuniang liked pork?
Zhu Shang then thought that Fang Jing had not appeared for a long time. Logically speaking, he would not leave Xu Xu alone like this.
With doubts in his mind, Zhu Shang immediately put down his chopsticks and walked out.
Hu Ling was enjoying the mutton soup and didn't notice the change in Zhu Shang's expression at all, but Xu Pingyi noticed it.
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During the Northern Song Dynasty, when nobles ate meat, their first choice was mutton, followed by beef, and they did not eat pork;
The royal family basically only eats mutton, but "rich families don't want to eat it, and poor families don't know how to cook it."
