I was divorced because I got pregnant during the lean years, so I went back to my parents’ home and

Ji Xiaobei felt that he was being unreasonable, so he bowed awkwardly and said, "Excuse me, Master, when can I burn incense?"

"Wufang Temple burns incense and worships Buddha on the first and fifteenth day of every lunar month!"

Seeing that the man in front of him admitted his mistake with a good attitude and had a kind face, the old monk did not blame him.

Ji Xiaobei turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by the old monk.

"Young donor, what do you want to ask for?" asked the old master.

Ji Xiaobei thought for a moment and said, "I pray that my family is safe, my mother is healthy, and my child and his father are doing well."

A dark shadow flashed past the window of the main house.

Ji Xiaobei saw it.

The old monk tilted his head slightly, frowned in dissatisfaction, and said with a trace of panic in his eyes: "Young donor, please go out quickly and come back on the first day of the new year!"

As he spoke, the old monk walked quickly towards the door and opened it.

Ji Xiaobei felt that the old monk looked a little abnormal, and his legs and feet became much more flexible.

I saw him staggering when he came out of the room just now.

Ji Xiaobei did not hesitate and followed the master to the door.

After leaving the room, the old monk slammed the door shut and locked it.

Ji Xiaobei felt depressed, so he rode the little white horse back along the road.

On the way back, she took a look at the path, which meandered into the distance and disappeared at the end.

Over there, Fu Jichang led his men to the gate of the government office.

The guards stopped them, and Fu Jichang explained his purpose, took off his badge and handed it to the guards.

When the guard saw the golden badge, he was shocked. He had never seen a badge of this size before, so he turned around and ran inside.

After a while, a burly man with a big belly in official uniform came hurriedly over, followed by a few people.

The prefect of Yongchang was named Dai Xingchen, who was a Jinshi in the same year as Fu Jichang's father Fu Yannian.

Fu Jichang had heard of him but had never met him.

Judging from his official uniform, this fat man is definitely Dai Xingchen.

Fu Jichang was a Tongpan (general), and because of his contributions in the Northern Frontier expedition, his rank was higher than Dai Xingchen.

Because of his father's relationship, Fu Jichang took a step forward, bowed and said, "Greetings, Master Dai!"

Dai Xingchen had a bright smile on his chubby face, and hurriedly supported Fu Jichang: "Nephew Fu, you can't do this!"

Dai Xingchen's smile faded, and a trace of sadness appeared on his face: "Nephew Fu, I heard about your father's story a few years ago. He was such a talented man who died young. Look at your talent. You are really better than your father! Please come in quickly!"

Fu Jichang didn't expect Dai Xingchen to call him that as soon as they met. Well, it just brought the two of them closer.

Dai Xingchen did not invite Fu Jichang to the lobby, but took him directly to the reception room.

After the two of them sat down, Dai Xingchen asked about Fu Jichang's family situation. When he heard that the old lady had also gone there, he said a few words of comfort.

Fu Jichang explained his purpose, saying that he came to the northwest to establish farmland.

The smile on Dai Xingchen's face faded a little. What happened in the capital a while ago had just reached him.

He heard that Tongpan Fu Jichang failed to protect the emperor and was ordered to go to the military farm.

I didn't expect that he would come to the Northwest and come so quickly.

"The New Year is coming soon, my dear nephew, you should live in Yongchang and wait for the New Year to pass peacefully before going to Ye County." Dai Xingchen looked a little unnatural when he said this.

"Thank you, Lord Dai. I brought people here. In the past, we stayed at the Xiangfu Inn in the south of Yongchang City. When we came again this year, the innkeeper said that he had not received any notice from the government office..."

Before Fu Jichang finished speaking, Dai Xingchen smiled and waved his hand and said:

"I didn't know it was my nephew who was coming. This is easy to handle. Just eat and drink at Xiangfu Inn and wait for Lu Xiong to come to the government office to settle the bill!"

Fu Jichang was stunned: If someone else comes, won’t they be given a place to stay?

It seems that he is very familiar with Lu Xiong!

"Master Dai, you just need to ask Xiangfu Inn to provide food and accommodation according to the standards. There is no need to discriminate against us," said Fu Jichang.

Dai Xingchen saw that Fu Jichang had a cold expression and spoke indifferently. He touched his chin and said, "It's almost time for lunch. I asked the kitchen to prepare some good food and wine. Let's have a few drinks today."

Fu Jichang felt that he was a little too intimate and frowned uncomfortably.

I've never heard my dad mention him before, which means he and I don't have a very good relationship.

He had never met him before, and he felt uncomfortable seeing him being so close to each other on their first meeting.

"No need, Lord Dai, I will go back to Xiangfu Inn for lunch. I have a few more things I want to ask you." Fu Jichang straightened up slightly.

Dai Xingchen felt that his warm attitude had been met with a cold shoulder, and said awkwardly, "Go ahead, nephew!"

"I heard that there is no water in the nearby villages and counties. Villagers have to run a long way to the mountains to fetch water. Are there any places that sell water openly?" Fu Jichang asked.

"There is no such thing as selling water openly." Dai Xingchen sat up straight.

"This place in the northwest is dry and rainless. In spring, yellow sand rolls on the ground, and we look forward to more rain in the summer. This year is also strange. Since the crops were planted, it has rained once. Until now, except for some ice foam falling a few days ago, there has been no rain. Yongchang Prefecture is low-lying, and the wells are dug deep. There is still water at present..."

Dai Xingchen complained a lot, the gist of which was that the Northwest was a place where even rabbits wouldn't shit.

Whoever comes to this place will be unlucky.

Fu Jichang couldn't help but look at him.

There is not a single wrinkle on his chubby white face, and he looks much older than his peers in Beijing.

He sneered in his heart: You don’t look like a person who suffers.

"What's the situation in Ye County?" Fu Jichang asked.

Dai Xingchen dodged his gaze for a moment, rubbing his hands and saying, "That place is under the jurisdiction of Jinchang Prefecture. I heard that it's not good either. A lot of refugees have come out."

"Those people fleeing famine outside the city, don't they dare to come in?"

Fu Jichang asked again.

Dai Xingchen said in embarrassment: "My dear nephew, you come from the capital and don't understand the situation. It's not that we don't allow them to come in, but after they come in, Yongchang Prefecture will be burdened too much..."

Fu Jichang had governed Anzhou, and he understood Dai Xingchen's difficulties.

The situation in Anzhou was different from that in Yongchang. He didn't say much, but just nodded in understanding.

Fu Jichang came out of the government office, and Ye Tianguan followed the people from the government office to Xiangfu Inn.

He and Heita strolled on the street. Some shops were closed, with notices posted on the doors telling people to go home for the New Year.

Today is the twenty-seventh day of the lunar year.

"During the Chinese New Year last year, Aunt Lin's family bought a pig, and the stewed meat was so delicious!" Heita sniffed and glanced towards the butcher shop.

Fu Jichang turned around and glared at him.

Fu Jichang and Heita came to a market place where there were so many people that from a distance they looked like heads.

Various aromas filled their noses, and both of them couldn't help swallowing.

The two bowls of noodles I ate last night, one with meat and one with vegetables, were as good as nothing. They didn't satisfy my hunger at all. I even woke up once in the middle of the night. The food in my stomach had long been eaten up.