After leaving the noodle shop, Chen Ding asked Ding's mother: "The noodles just tasted really good! Are you full?"
Ding Niang whispered: "I'm full."
Zhang Yan looked at the sky and said, "Let's go find Erlang quickly. If we can't find him before dark, we'll have to spend our accommodation money in vain."
Nowadays, farmers are not very poor, but the place is small and there are few meat sellers, so they can't eat more than a few meals of meat throughout the year. Moreover, the food cooked by farmers is bland and they are reluctant to add salt or oil. The dishes and noodles in these restaurants are actually delicious to them. Compared with later generations, people in the city who are used to eating outside are not the same thing.
While the three of them were discussing where to go and ask, they heard the sound of horse hooves. People on the street hurried to the side of the road and stared curiously at the crowd coming from the city gate. Chen Ding looked up and saw several flags standing in front of him, a senior official behind him, and many soldiers surrounding him.
When the crowd passed, Chen Ding couldn't help but ask the people around him: "Who is here? What a big scene!"
The man smiled and said: "This is the envoy Wang Kuan! Compared with others, Wang Kuan has always disliked ostentation, that's why he is like this. If it were any other envoy, whoever dared to raise his head would be beheaded!"
Chen Qing stuck out his tongue and didn't dare to speak for a while. I never thought that I could meet such a big shot in Xinye. Now Wang Xiaolie controls several states, and in the streets and fields, there are stories of his victory over the Jin Army twice in a row this year. The more rumors spread, the more evil it became. Wang Xiaolie was described as being tall and strong, with a strong back and waist, capable of firing a five-stone bow and shooting eight hundred steps. Chen Qing saw him today and couldn't help but feel suspicious.
After Wang Xiaoxie passed by, the three of them dared to take a step forward and walk around the city. After taking a breath, Chen Qing couldn't help but stop. Said: "Walking around like this is not an option! It's better to ask someone who knows where to find it!"
Zhang Yan sighed: "We have asked several people to ask, but who dares to say it? If we ask too many questions, some people will think that we are Jin Lu Xizuo!"
Chen Ding looked at himself and Zhang Yan, and said angrily: "Jin Luxi looks like this? People in this city have no brains!"
The weather was hot, and Ding Niang was anxious about walking. He whispered: "Since you are looking for an officer, you should ask a soldier. Or if there is a yamen in the city, go to the yamen and ask. Most people don't dare to tell, but they will definitely tell."
Chen Qing slapped his thigh: "My daughter is still smart! The people in the city have obviously been ordered not to tell anyone about the army. We might as well go to the government office and ask. If Erlang is an official, will the government office not know his name?" "
The three of them agreed to go straight to the Yamen in the city. When I arrived in front of the Yamen, I looked left and right, confused. After asking a passerby, I found out that there is a place dedicated to receiving people here.
After entering the door, I saw an official sitting behind the table, looking down at a book on the table, not knowing what it was. Seeing the three of them, the official raised his head and said, "What do you three want?"
Zhang Yan hurriedly stepped forward and said, "This official, we are here to look for him. Because we don't know where his son is, we came here to ask."
The official said casually: "What is your son's identity? Which army is he in?"
Zhang Yan said: "The younger son's name is Zhang Chi. Last time he wrote home, he said he was a commander of the cavalry."
"Ah, that's it! Please sit down quickly." After hearing this, the official stood up quickly and offered his seat to the three of them.
Seeing that the official's attitude suddenly became so respectful, the three of them felt anxious and sat down on the stools.
The official poured tea and asked Zhang Yan and Zhang Chi in detail when he joined the army, what battles he participated in, and what military merit awards he received.
Zhang Yan was a little annoyed by the questions. Suddenly his heart moved and he took out a letter from his arms. He said: "This is a letter from my Erlang to my family. I don't know whether it has an address or not. We asked people to ask, but no one knew where it was."
The official took the letter in his hand and looked at the cover. He smiled and said, "I should have taken out this letter earlier. It has an address on it!"
After carefully reading the address on the letter, the official said: "According to the rules of the army, if someone comes to visit relatives, they should be sent back by someone from the headquarters. Your son is the commander, so naturally everything can be said easily. You guys sit down and I will send someone to inform you. There will be people coming from your army."
After saying that, he returned the letter to Zhang Yan and hurried out the door. After a while, he came back again. He said: "We have already met with the army. Please wait a moment."
Zhang Chi and several officers in the camp were chatting about military affairs when deputy commander Cui Pingan came in hurriedly. Said: "Commander Zhang, I just came from the Yamen to report that your family members are here to look for relatives. Guess what they are doing here to look for relatives?"
Zhang Chi said: "What can you do! I haven't been home for nearly a year, and the journey is not far. You just came to see me."
Cui Ping'an shook his head repeatedly: "How can it be so simple! I heard from the person who sent the message that your father brought a young lady to Xinye City for a blind date! Moreover, the young lady is good-looking and extremely docile! "
After hearing this, several officers made a noise together and congratulated Zhang Chi one after another.
Zhang Chi blushed. Said: "Don't talk nonsense! For such a big thing, my family should have written to me before coming. I didn't receive the letter!"
Cui Ping'an said: "Most of the people are not used to writing letters, so it is normal to ask them directly. No more words, you come to the city with me quickly. If it is really a blind date, you will be in the city Stay for two more days and accompany the little lady to see the surrounding scenery. If it works out, remember to invite us people to drink! Since joining the army, we have been together, a life-long friendship. Let's celebrate together!"
Zhang Chi said: "It's good to be so natural. Just control over there——"
Cui Ping'an said: "I will tell the commander. You just go! I am on duty today and will give you a holiday!"
Zhang Chi was anxious to see his father and his blind date. Although he said he was doubtful, in fact, several letters from home stated that he had talked about starting a family several times. After listening to Cui Pingan's words, I had already believed it in my heart.
After returning to his residence and changing into casual clothes, Zhang Chi and Cui Ping'an got on their horses and headed towards Xinye City. We arrived in the city in less than half an hour.
In the yamen, Zhang Yan and the other three drank a lot of tea and were anxious about waiting. It's just that the official's attitude was gentle, and he found something to say from time to time, so he could barely sit still. Looking at the past noon, Zhang Yan became even more anxious.
At this moment, I heard footsteps rushing towards here. Before anyone entered the room, a loud voice said: "Zhu Kongmu, I heard that Commander Zhang's family came to visit? Where are they?"
Following the words, two big men entered the room. One is in military uniform and the other is in casual clothes.
After hearing this, Ding Niang was curious and secretly looked at it with the corner of her eye. The one in military uniform is in his thirties, and the one in casual clothes looks to be in his twenties, with a light beard just growing on his lips. Not handsome, but he looks decent.
Zhu Kongmu saw the two people coming in and hurriedly stepped forward and said: "It's over here. The three of them entered the city and didn't know where to look. Fortunately, someone told them and they came to my place. They sat here for more than an hour, It seems a little anxious.”
Zhang Chi saw a middle-aged man beside his father, and a young lady sitting next to him. No need to ask, this is just for a blind date with yourself. Dingniang was originally from Shaanxi. At the beginning of the year, Wang Xiao moved the people near Shaanzhou south to Xiangyang. He has fair skin, clear features, and looks very docile. He is slender and a little taller than ordinary people.
He stepped forward and saluted. Zhang Chi said: "It's hard work, Dad. When you come to Xinye, why don't you tell me first?"
Zhang Yan said: "If I write a letter, I don't know when I will get to you. We farmers have a lot of work to do at home. We took advantage of the hot weather and the slack time for farming, so we came here in a hurry."
After speaking, he pointed to Chen Qing beside him and said: "This is Father Chen, and this is his daughter Qingniang. Come and see me."
Chen Qingzao saw from the side that when Zhang Chi's identity was mentioned, the officials there changed their faces and became much more enthusiastic. He knew in his heart that Zhang Chi's status in the army was not low. Seeing Zhang Chi coming to greet him, he hurriedly grabbed him and became extremely affectionate.
After saying a few words, Zhang Chi said: "It's hard to talk in the yamen. Dad, let's go outside."
After finishing speaking, he said to Cui Ping'an: "Deputy Commander, my father came to look for relatives, so I have to take leave these days."
Cui Ping'an waved his hands repeatedly: "Just go, just go! I'll give you five days off first, and we'll talk about it when the time comes!"
Zhang Chi thanked him. He took his father, Chen Qing, and Dingniang with him and hurriedly left the Yamen.
Looking at the backs of the three of them, Cui Ping'an said: "This little lady is pretty and very well-behaved. Zhang Chi is very lucky!"
Zhu Kongmu said: "That little lady has a very good temper. She entered the room and sat there without moving at all. She didn't drink the water and didn't say a word. If you ask me, I'm afraid this matter will be done."
Cui Ping'an smiled and said: "If it happens, of course we will have a wedding drink!"
