The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

I don’t know if it was their illusion, but they felt much warmer after entering the city.

Guazhou City has a long history and has experienced many hardships. Its layout and architectural style have a sense of heaviness and simplicity that is unique to the Northwest.

The garrison commander, General Xu, who welcomed them, took them directly to the post station in Guazhou City for settlement.

Knowing that they had been sleeping in the open air all the way, he considerately arranged for someone to bring in hot water for them to wash up one by one, and ordered people to light the kang and prepare wine and food.

They had originally wanted to send someone to notify the Guazhou prefect to come and greet him, but Zhang Ping'an declined in advance. They were now physically and mentally exhausted and were too lazy to deal with a group of officials in a perfunctory manner. It would not be too late to meet again tomorrow.

General Xu was a very flexible person. After hearing what Zhang Ping'an said, he did not insist. Anyway, the prefect would receive the news later and he would be able to meet him tomorrow.

Although the inn was not luxuriously decorated, it covered a large area and had many rooms, enough to accommodate nearly two hundred people.

By the time I settled down, washed up, and had my meal, it was already more than half an hour later.

General Xu was not in a hurry and waited for them in the hall. There were braziers in the four corners of the hall, so it was not cold.

"General Xu, sorry for the wait!"

Zhang Pingan and the others changed their clothes and came over. When they saw General Xu, they spoke politely.

"You gentlemen have come from afar to supervise the military affairs in the northwest. You have worked harder than me. What's the harm in waiting for a while?" Although General Xu looks big and strong, he is actually quite good at talking.

Just a few words can soothe a person's heart.

"It's too late now, and I don't have any delicious dishes to treat you adults. These are just common home-cooked dishes in our northwest region. I hope you adults don't mind."

This man is quite interesting, Zhang Pingan thought, then smiled and waved his hand, saying, "General Xu, there's no need to be so polite with us. Sleeping in the open was common during the war. It's our honor to serve the court."

"Haha, General Xu, to be honest, we have been eating dry biscuits for most of half a month. They are cold and hard, and almost broke my teeth. Now it's good to have hot meals and hot dishes. Why should you complain about it!" Qian Jie smiled heartily, and then asked everyone to sit down.

Zhao Renzhi showed a rare calmness. After exchanging a few polite words with General Xu, he ate and drank quietly, neither overly enthusiastic nor cold.

Zhang Pingan and Qian Jie couldn't help but look at him twice more. There must be something wrong when things are abnormal. No one knows what trick this person is planning.

General Xu seemed oblivious to the strange atmosphere between the three men. He treated them all with equal enthusiasm, but was a bit more respectful to Zhang Pingan.

Later, as the conversation got more intense and lively, everyone started talking more. Zhang Pingan mentioned Lin Junhui and the others. "I heard from my good friend Brother Lin in a letter that they had some trouble in Guazhou. He said that a general named Xu who was guarding the city helped them. I guess that was General Xu, right? Oh, right, they are imperial merchants who came from the capital to do business. They are about to go outside the Great Wall. They should have just passed through Guazhou not long ago."

General Xu paused in his drinking, as if pondering something. After a moment, he slapped his head and asked, "Oh, them? A few months ago, a group of imperial merchants came from the capital. The leader seemed to be surnamed Lin. I'm a big shot, and to be honest with you gentlemen, I forget a lot of things the moment I turn my head. I often lose things. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to stay in this position guarding the city gate for more than ten years. After what Lord Zhang said just now, I thought for a long time, and it seems that only this group of people fits the bill. I didn't expect that they are friends of you, Lord Zhang. It's really fate! But, to be honest, I didn't do them any favors. I just did my job. You're too polite!"

"It's not easy to do your job well, and it's only natural to say thank you," Zhang Pingan said with approval.

General Xu felt a little embarrassed by the compliment. After finishing his drink, he smiled and said, "Haha, it really is fate. There's a brother named Xu in the team, and he and I are from the same family. I met him a few years ago when he was writing letters and selling calligraphy and paintings at a stall in Guazhou. I know he's a good guy, and since they're in the right, why wouldn't I help them?"

The brother surnamed Xu is Zhang Ping'an's fifth brother-in-law Xu Kezhang.

I went to Guazhou a few years ago when I was making a living in the northwest.

After going around in circles for several years, I didn’t expect to come here again and meet old friends.

After the meal, Zhang Ping'an had a basic understanding of this person.

I just mentioned Lin Junhui and his group on purpose to see his reaction.

General Xu knew that these people came to the Northwest for important matters, and that they were hot potatoes, so he was actually not willing to have much contact with them.

After finishing his meal, he said goodbye. Before leaving, he said, "If you have any instructions, please send the servants at the post station. If you want to go to the Guazhou camp, I can also help escort you. Feel free to send me!"

"Then I won't be polite. You go back and have a rest first. We'll talk tomorrow," Zhang Ping'an smiled.

After General Xu left, Zhang Pingan and the others didn't talk much and went back to their rooms directly. They were indeed very tired.