The beloved baby has a space

Chapter 160 Celebrating the Flower Festival
Upon arriving at the next post station, Murong Run's first action was to have his servants change the carriage.

Although she was just a little girl, Murong Run felt inexplicably uncomfortable and didn't want the carriage that had been touched by her.

In fact, Murong Run had never met the girl, but he could tell from her voice that she was full of scheming.

Having been exposed to too much from a young age, that's only the most basic level.

He wouldn't have bothered if those bandits hadn't spoken such offensive language.

Because their family had few women, and they were all pampered, he couldn't stand seeing others bully women since he was a child.

"I never expected to encounter such bad luck on my way home." Murong Run was still feeling very depressed while taking a bath.

If it weren't for protecting those fruits, he and his servant would have ridden home at full speed long ago, and this wouldn't have happened.

Murong Run touched his face, wondering if it was because he was too attractive.
Sigh, handsome men have so many troubles.

After setting off again, Murong Run instructed his servant: "Next time you encounter something like this, don't get involved! I need to find something to plug my ears, otherwise I'll be in for a lot of trouble."

The servant smiled and agreed.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's the third day of the third lunar month, which is also the annual Flower Festival of the Great Chang Kingdom.

Like the Spring Festival, the Flower Festival is a grand event in the Great Chang Kingdom.

On this day, everyone stops farming activities, and those who are engaged in corvée labor can also go home and reunite with their families.

In addition, there will be lively celebrations in cities, counties, towns and other places.

Enjoying peach blossoms, eating peach blossom cakes, drinking peach blossom wine, and dancing peach blossom dances are all activities that take place throughout the year in Yongding County.

In Yongding County, colorful banners have been hung on the streets, and each shop has a peach blossom made of cloth in front of it. Some wealthy shops have even made an entire peach tree.

Zhang Zhan walked down the street with his servants, and the people around him greeted him warmly.

"Lord Zhang, you've come out to celebrate the Flower Festival too?"

"Ah."

Some enthusiastic vendors handed Zhang Zhan their wares, saying, "Lord Zhang, here are some little trinkets for you to play with."

"No need for that, I just came out for a stroll." Zhang Zhan tried to decline.

"Lord Zhang, please don't refuse. This is nothing, it's all homemade." The vendor blushed and raised his voice. "If it weren't for you, I would still be homeless with my family, not knowing what tomorrow would bring."

Upon hearing this, the others gathered around, their words filled with gratitude.

"Yes, if it weren't for Lord Zhang's impartial enforcement of the law, how could we have survived the disaster so quickly?"

"If it weren't for the disaster relief grain distributed by Lord Zhang, my family, young and old, would probably have all starved to death."

"Lord Zhang is a truly upright and just official!"

Zhang Zhan originally thought that he would only stay in Yongding County for two months before returning home.

Unexpectedly, this disaster relief effort, coupled with various mundane matters, caused the Flower Festival to be delayed.

However, he will be heading back after the Flower Festival.

This is his last visit to Yongding County, which he has reorganized.

In the past, Zhang Zhan had never done so many practical things in Wanning City, nor had he ever been so loved and respected by the people.

However, as he walked among the crowd and saw the grateful looks on everyone's faces and the sincere words they spoke, a warm feeling welled up in Zhang Zhan's heart.

He suddenly understood why most of those in the imperial court who were dedicated to serving the people had risen through the ranks from minor local officials.

Perhaps it was because they had seen too many such scenes that they couldn't bear to disappoint them.

Some people, upon hearing that Zhang Zhan was leaving, were filled with fear and dread, and wept bitterly in his presence.

"Lord Zhang, can't you stay and serve as our county magistrate?"

"Yes, Lord Zhang, please be our magistrate! Our Yongding County is missing a just and upright official!"

If Zhang Zhan hadn't come over, they wouldn't have known that the county magistrate had embezzled so much of their property.

Not only were the taxes and corvée labor heavier than in other places, but even the supplies distributed by the imperial court were embezzled by the county magistrate. Perhaps the gentry lived a little better, but the common people naturally suffered terribly.

Zhang Zhan then said, "After I return, I will actively recommend an honest and upright official to take up this post, so you can all rest assured."

Later, unable to resist the enthusiasm of the people, Zhang Zhan had no choice but to return to the county government office ahead of schedule.

A servant approached and said, "Sir, everything is packed. When shall we depart?"

Zhang Zhan said, "No rush, call County Magistrate Cao over first."

When County Magistrate Cao arrived, Zhang Zhan said to him, "Today I will be leaving Yongding County. Before the new magistrate takes office, I will entrust all matters of the county office to you."

County Magistrate Cao: "Your Excellency is too kind. This is my duty. Your words truly frighten me!"

"I won't say much else. You're a veteran here, and I hope I haven't misjudged you." Zhang Zhan patted County Magistrate Cao on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Is your Cao family trying to get that Cao Hua out of trouble?"

Seeing the slight change in Cao County Lieutenant's expression, Zhang Zhan patted him on the shoulder again, "I know you are an upright man, and you must know what you should and shouldn't do. I never interfered with your judgment on the matter of Shanyang Village. I respect your rights as a county lieutenant, and I ask you to continue to do so. Remember how the previous magistrate died."

County Magistrate Cao was sweating profusely from what he was being told, and repeatedly agreed.

He is undoubtedly an upright person, but the Cao family behind him may not be. After all, it was his order to arrest Cao Hua, and his decision to imprison Cao Hua was also made by him personally.

Some members of the Cao family also made trouble for him, thinking that they would try to influence things after the imperial envoy left.

Fortunately, he never wavered.

Before Zhang Zhan was about to leave, he asked about Qin Huai again.

The servant then told him about Qin Huai moving from the village to Nanhe Town, and that he had gone to some kind of school.

Zhang Zhan found it amusing: "He went to a local school? If his former teachers knew, they'd probably be jealous."

The servant bowed his head and did not answer.

Zhang Zhan waved his hand: "Forget it, I don't care about his affairs. Anyway, I'm going back to Wanning City now, and I definitely can't take him back with me. Let them worry about it themselves!"

"Leave his people here, and also leave a few of ours here. There's no need to deliberately contact his people, just make sure this little tyrant is safe."

"Yes."

At this moment, Qin Huai, who was in Nanhe Town, was looking at the little girl dressed in bright colors in front of him.

Little Ayu's head was covered with peach blossoms, so much so that her original hair was no longer visible.

The dress she wore was covered in colorful fabric, making her look like a walking little peacock.

This is a custom during the Flower Festival: when you meet someone you like, you put a peach blossom in their hair or tie a colorful ribbon around their neck.

This liking has nothing to do with romantic love; it's fine as long as there's a connection.

Xiao Ayu was already covered in peach blossoms by her family members just by staying at their home.

From home to Qin Huai's house, people tied colorful ribbons and put peach blossoms on my head along the way.

Qin Huai held the peach branch in his hand, but couldn't find any other place to attack Xiao Ayu on her head.

"Brother Ayou, Ayu wants your peach blossoms, can you put them on Ayu's ear?" Little Ayu proactively brought her little ear closer.

Qin Huai pursed his lips, looking somewhat reluctant.

Everyone else puts it on their head, why does he put it on his ear?
But there is no way.

Qin Huai bent down and carefully tucked the peach branch behind Xiao Ayu's ear, being careful not to hurt it.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain on his scalp. It turned out that Xiao Ayu had secretly stuck a peach blossom in his hair when he wasn't paying attention.

The peach branch poked my scalp.

“Brother Ayou, why don’t you have any peach blossoms in your hair? You must be at home and no one knows! Come on, let’s go out and let them put peach blossoms on you too.” Little Ayu covered her mouth and smiled mischievously. “The first flower was a gift from Ayu to you.”

After saying that, Xiao Ayu grabbed Qin Huai's hand and pulled him out of the house.

The area outside the house was already bustling with activity.

(End of this chapter)