Standing at the gate of the fence, Sun Ji said loudly: "Is Father Pan at home?"
A man in his forties came out with a spoon in his hand and looked at Sun Ji carefully. Said: "Yes. The official is——"
Sun Ji breathed out. He quickly walked into the yard and said: "I'm Sun Ji. It's Luoshan County who came here to collect medicinal materials. There is a letter here, saying that it is to be delivered to Pan's father in Zhongyuan, which should be your home. - Yes Now, may I ask if your wife’s name is Yingniang?”
Dad Pan said: "Yes. My eldest sister is called Ying Niang. She met the Jin Man a few years ago and was kidnapped to the north. Alas, what a miserable child."
Sun Ji said happily: "It's really your home! Dad, there is a letter here, written by Ying Niang. I sent it to you from Luoshan specially!"
Pan's father was full of doubts, so he took the letter and opened it to read. He didn't know much about literacy, but he could understand the general meaning.
After reading the letter, Pan's father said in disbelief: "It turns out that Yingniang has already made a promise to someone else. Is the person she is marrying an official?"
Sun Jidao: "Yes, yes. The husband she married is an official, so the government will do things for her like this. I came to the mall many days in advance to deliver the letter to your family. For God's sake, it was finally delivered."
Pan's father said: "Thank you for your hard work, officer. - By the way, please sit down quickly and I'll treat you to tea."
Sun Ji sat down on the bamboo bench in the yard. Pan's father took a bamboo tube from the house and poured tea leaves from it. You can tell by looking at the many pieces of foam in the tea that it must be the cheapest tea you can buy. This place was originally a tea farm with Xinyang Jun. Influenced by that place, I started drinking loose tea in the past two years.
He set up a fire next to him, filled an earthen pot with water, and put it on top of the fire.
Pan's father said a little embarrassedly: "Guardian, wait a minute, we don't have hot water at home."
Sun Ji hurriedly said: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."
After boiling the water, Pan's father made tea and invited Sun Ji to drink it.
When the tea reaches your mouth, it has a strong astringent taste, and even a musty taste that has been stored for a long time. Sun Ji slightly frowned and pretended not to care.
After inviting tea, Father Pan said: "People in the mountains don't have much, so don't be surprised, officials. It's dinner time now. I'll kill a chicken, and the officials will stay for dinner. This is a small village, there is no tavern. There is no place to get a drink. I have wronged the officials."
After saying that, he got up and walked to the big chestnut tree outside the yard, caught a chicken, and killed it by the river.
Sun Ji looked at the sky and saw that it was indeed getting late. So I sat in the yard and waited for the chicken with peace of mind.
Watching the sun slowly setting in the west, Mr. Pan and his wife brought out a clay pot containing chicken stewed with mushrooms. There was also a wooden basin of rice. He took a rice bowl that was still intact even though it was chipped, and filled a large bowl for Sun Ji.
Sun Ji looked at the couple and saw that the bowls were all broken and could only be used. It was difficult to say anything, so I had to eat.
He picked up a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth, chewing it for a while. It smells good, but I always feel like something is missing. After swallowing the chicken, I realized that it was too bland.
Unable to bear it any longer, Sun Ji said to Pan's father, "Dad, is there no salt in the chicken? It's too bland!"
After hearing this, Pan's father hurriedly said to his wife: "Hun, if you are entertaining guests today, you should put a little more salt in the meat!"
Sun Ji suddenly woke up. This is deep in the mountains, and the salt tax is heavy. How can people in the countryside be willing to eat salt? In the area under Wang Xiaolie's rule, the salt tax was already very low, and even the poorest families could afford it. Many people even use salt to pickle pickles. Sun Ji was used to that kind of life, and for a moment he forgot that it was different here.
After dinner, Pan's wife put away the dishes. Holding a bowl, he suddenly turned around and asked Sun Ji: "Officer, what kind of official position does Ying Niang's husband have?"
Sun Ji hurriedly said: "I heard that he was originally the chief secretary of Xiping. Later, he was kidnapped by the Jin people and went north, where he met Ying Niang. I really don't know what official he is in Luoyang now. But he came back after delivering a letter. Magistrate Qin is very attentive."
"Oh -" the woman nodded. Not sure if he understood, he walked towards the house.
Seeing that the sun was about to set, Sun Ji said goodbye and left. Pan's father repeatedly asked him to stay, but Sun Ji just refused.
After leaving the valley, Sun Ji turned to look back and sighed. Although the scenery here is beautiful, to the people who live here, it is not a fairyland, but just a poor ravine. Without money, where would the wonderland come from?
When they arrived at the village, Sun Ji saw that the gatekeeper had been changed. He hurriedly stepped forward and said: "I am from Luoshan selling herbal medicine. I have already paid. When I went out just now, I specifically told you not to charge me again!"
The guard looked at Sun Ji and said, "Brother Tian has said that you don't need to pay any more, just go in."
Seeing that the guard did not give him any trouble, Sun Ji hurriedly thanked him.
Just as he was about to enter, the sound of horse hooves suddenly came from behind. In the blink of an eye, we arrived at the village gate.
The guard recalled in a hurry, grabbed the reins of the horse and said: "To enter the village, each person will pay five cents! If you ride a horse, you will have to pay another ten cents for the horse!"
"What a shame!" With a sharp shout, the whip was thrown at the guard's face.
The knight picked up the reins of his horse and rushed straight into the stockade.
The guard covered his face and said to his companion: "He didn't pay, why didn't you stop him!"
Before he finished speaking, more than a dozen riders rushed over from behind. When he arrived in front of the village gate, he looked at the guard and said, "Does your village have horse feed?"
The guard covered his face, not daring to resist or answer, but just stared at the knight.
The knight was so impatient that he raised his whip and struck it down on the head. Cursing in his mouth: "Is this guy mute? I asked you but didn't answer!"
After a few whips, the guard on the side said hurriedly: "Hero, spare your life! We are a small place here, but there are merchants coming and going, and we have some horse materials. But I'm afraid you won't be able to raise more than a dozen horses."
The knight put away his whip and said to his companion: "This is a bit troublesome. There is a prison town in the shopping town next to it. It is difficult for us to go there, so we can only live here. Forget it, let's go collect some horse materials tomorrow. There are many mountains around, so first Just keep it in the mountains."
My companion had no choice but to say yes.
The knight ignored the guards and entered the town without dismounting.
Sun Ji saw it from the side and couldn't help but complain secretly in his heart. These knights were obviously not normal travelers. Could they be bandits from the mountains? Should I enter the village now, or not? Look, it's getting dark. Where can I sleep if I don't go into the village?
When I was in trouble, I suddenly thought of Mr. and Mrs. Pan. I thought in my heart that now I have no choice but to spend the night at their house.
While he was hesitating, he heard a chaotic sound coming from the village. He knew in his heart that these knights must not be kind people, so it would be better for him to leave as soon as possible. It would be unjust to lose one's life accidentally.
(End of chapter)
