On the second day, after changing carriages, Lu Yuan took Zhou Qing and continued on their way.
This is already the border of Luling Prefecture and even Yuzhang County.
From here to the west, it only takes less than thirty or fifty miles to reach the county boundary.
Seeing that we were getting farther and farther away from home, the carriage rumbled and the carriage shook.
Zhou Qing, who had been silent these days, finally couldn't help but be curious and asked aloud: "Brother Lu, where are we going?"
Lu Yuan glanced at the driver who was driving outside the carriage. At this time, he was about to leave Luling Mansion, the territory of Iron Sword Gate, which made him feel quite relaxed.
Of course, even though he was relaxed, he still had the necessary vigilance.
So he lowered his voice and said in a volume that could not be heard by the driver outside: "I have a good friend in Dongting County, and he is an official there. Aren't we going to take refuge?"
Fortunately, my friend and I haven't seen each other for more than two years, so I can go join him this time. "
The so-called friend is naturally Sun Siwen.
Since preparing to flee that day, the first place Lu Yuan thought of was Dongting County.
First of all, there and Luling Mansion belong to two separate counties, and they do not belong to the same rivers and lakes forces. Going there can effectively avoid the pursuit of the Iron Sword Gate.
Secondly, Sun Siwen was an official there. Although he was only a minor official, if he defected to him, he would get some official support.
Thirdly, it was natural that Lu Yuan had been separated for two years and missed his friend a little. Going to see him this time was just in time to fulfill the promise he made back then.
Zhou Qing nodded, and after learning the destination, he didn't ask any more questions.
Lu Yuan didn't pay attention to him at this time. He looked at the scenery receding outside the car window, his thoughts wandering.
"I wonder what Brother Sun has become now after two years of absence?"
He thought of the scene when the two of them got together again some time later, a smile flowed from the corner of his mouth, and he felt happy.
…
Dongting County is mountainous, and you can see rugged hills everywhere. The hills are dangerous and gentle, steep and flat. Some of them can pass vehicles, and some of them don't even have pedestrian trails.
There are countless streams running through it, with different water flows. Some can be used by boats, while others can only be built by suspension bridges.
Lu Yuan took Zhou Qing through the mountains and rivers everywhere, riding a carriage, boating, or walking, experiencing the different scenery everywhere. He only felt that the heaven and earth were majestic and the human power was majestic.
These scenery made him so addicted that he even slowed down a bit.
Fortunately, after more than twenty days of stopping and going, we finally arrived at our destination, Changning County, where Sun Siwen worked.
Changning County is located in the west of Dongting County. Even within Dongting County, this line belongs to the lowest level of poor counties.
Lu Yuan felt this deeply the first time he entered the city.
The crowds on the street were sparse. Many of the pedestrians walking through had patches on their clothes, and only a few wore brocade clothes.
There were also barbarians wearing foreign clothes or animal skins, mixed in the crowd, and they seemed to be quite a few.
He and the surrounding crowd seemed to have long been accustomed to the appearance of these barbarians, and he was skilled in talking and doing business with them without any discomfort.
The dialect here is also quite interesting.
In Yuzhang County, whether inside or outside the city, local people communicate in Dai Viet Mandarin, and people from various prefectures and counties can communicate with each other without any obstacles.
As for Changning County, although there are some people speaking Dayue Mandarin along the way, there are very few people, maybe only 20 to 30%. The rest speak a local dialect, or a derivative of dialect and Mandarin.
This strange language, as well as the large number of barbarians wearing foreign clothes in the city, mixed together, giving Lu Yuan a strange feeling of being in a foreign country for a moment.
Although it makes people feel a little uncomfortable, they are also full of interest in this exotic customs.
But now Lu Yuan is carrying Zhou Qing and a large cart of luggage, and he is full of burdens. Now is not the time for them to have fun.
The most urgent task is to find Sun Siwen quickly and settle down.
Fortunately, today happens to be in the middle of the month, which is the time when the Yamen officials take a nap. Lu Yuan gave the coachman his address and headed to Sun Siwen's home.
…
Changning County is not big, with only five or six streets.
After walking through two alleys, we soon arrived at Changningfang in the west of the city.
All the wealthy officials in the city live here. As a scholar, Sun Siwen has a residence arranged by the government, and he lives here now.
Coincidentally, when Lu Yuan just followed the address and came here, he happened to see Sun Siwen wearing a light Tsing Yi, coming out of the house, looking like he was going somewhere.
He immediately shouted: "Brother Sun!"
When Sun Siwen heard a familiar voice, he turned around and saw Lu Yuan standing next to a carriage, looking at him with a smile.
He was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and ran over with a look of surprise on his face: "Brother Lu."
Sun Siwen took his friend and took a closer look. He found that his style was still the same and he said happily: "Since we said goodbye two years ago, I have been thinking about when Brother Lu can come see me again? If I wait today and night, finally It’s time to wait.”
Lu Yuan laughed: "I have said in the past that I will come to see you when I have free time. Isn't this why I am here?" After saying that, he joked: "But Brother Sun is now an official and will not dislike me. Are you a poor friend coming here to eat and drink?"
Sun Siwen pretended to be angry and said: "Brother Lu, who do you think I am? You and I met when we were poor, and we are like brothers. Our friendship is nothing, but being an official and being white does not mean anything. Come with me quickly, I have already reserved a place for you at home." Room ready."
With that said, he walked to the back of the carriage and prepared to help carry the luggage.
However, when he opened the compartment door, he realized that there was another person sitting inside, looking very sick, and he couldn't help but be slightly startled.
"I knew Brother Sun wouldn't change."
Lu Yuan laughed loudly, walked to the carriage, helped Zhou Qing down, and then introduced to Sun Siwen who looked confused next to him: "This is Zhou Qing, the child of a good friend of mine. Now that my friend has passed away, I Promise him to help take care of it."
Sun Siwen was stunned for a moment, then realized who the friend Lu Yuan was talking about was. Looking at Zhou Qing, he said with a sad face: "Dr. Zhou had treated my late father in the past. I knew he was a good doctor with good hands and kind heart. I didn't expect that he passed away."
Don't worry, Young Master Qing. Since Brother Lu has inherited your father's ambition, he will help take care of you. As a friend of Brother Lu, I will naturally regard you as my nephew.
From now on, you will be my family, and you can live in my home with peace of mind. "
When Zhou Qing heard that Sun Siwen was Dr. Zhou's old friend, he suddenly thought of his father again. His originally calm mood became sad again, and his eyes suddenly turned red.
But after all these days, the pain has long passed, and he can hold back the tears.
"Okay, we have arrived at a new place, let the past be bygones."
Lu Yuan patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, then turned to Sun Siwen and said, "Brother Sun, help me lift him up and salute him. I want to help Xiaoqing, so I can't carry so much."
"good."
Sun Siwen responded, took the salute, and led the way.
