After our homes were confiscated and we were exiled, the women in my clan and I raised a million sol
Chapter 26: The Yamen Runners Extorting Money at the City Gate
As the sun slowly sank, the clouds in the sky were dyed golden, and Zhang Liang and his party finally arrived outside a city.
The city has towering walls and tightly closed gates, making it look solemn and mysterious.
As long as they pass through this city and walk for a few days, they will be able to enter the territory of the Southern Barbarians.
Zhang Liang stood outside the city gate, gazing deeply into the distance, but a trace of doubt arose in his heart.
He recalled his father's evaluation of Song Wen during his lifetime - a good official who was honest and upright and spoke up for the people.
However, the Song Wen mentioned by the bandit Huang Ergou was actually a corrupt official who exploited the people and levied heavy taxes.
Two completely different images intertwined and collided in Zhang Liang's mind, making it difficult for him to judge which one was the real Song Wen.
After Zhang Liang and his companions took a look at the prosperous city, they headed towards the city gate.
Since Zhang Liang and his group were wanted nationwide, the inspections in and out of the city gates were extremely strict.
There was a long queue at the city gate, and everyone entering the city had to be carefully checked by the yamen runners.
However, Zhang Liang and his companions were not worried about being recognized.
This is thanks to the amazing makeup skills of fourth sister-in-law Zhao Ruoruo.
After her skillful dressing, Zhang Liang and others now look drastically different. Even if their biological parents come, they may not be able to recognize them.
After waiting for a long time, it was Zhang Liang and his team's turn to be examined.
The yamen runners held the wanted warrants and carefully looked at each of Zhang Liang and his companions, trying to find features on their faces that matched the description on the wanted warrants.
However, the expressions on Zhang Liang and the others' faces were very calm, and there was no sign of any flaws at all.
After taking a look at them, the yamen runners didn't seem to notice anything unusual and looked away.
They walked up to Zhang Liang and his companions' carriage and began to inspect it carefully.
While checking, he also asked: "Where are you from? What are you doing here?"
There was a hint of scrutiny and suspicion in his tone.
Zhang Liang and his men had already prepared their response, and they calmly replied, "We are merchants from the north, and we are in the city to purchase some goods."
His voice was calm and natural, revealing no nervousness or anxiety.
After hearing this, the yamen runners did not seem to fully believe it, but they could not find any conclusive evidence to prove that they were lying.
Then they glanced at Zhang Liang again, with a hint of greed in their eyes.
Obviously, they hope to gain some benefits from these "businessmen".
Zhang Liang noticed the change in the eyes of the yamen runners and sneered in his heart.
He knew that these yamen runners just wanted to take the opportunity to extort money, so in order to avoid trouble, he decided to spend money to avert disaster.
Zhang Liang smiled slightly, took out a silver ingot from his pocket and handed it to the leading yamen runner, saying, "Thank you all for your hard work. This is just a small gift, but it is not a token of respect. Thank you for your continued care."
After receiving the silver handed over by Zhang Liang, the yamen runners quickly took it.
They weighed the silver and felt its heavy weight, and immediately a satisfied smile appeared on their faces.
His attitude also changed and became friendly.
One of the yamen runners said with a broad smile, "Since you are a businessman here to do business, we naturally welcome you very much. We wish you a prosperous business and abundant wealth!"
Hearing the compliments from the yamen runners, Zhang Liang smiled and bowed, politely responding, "Thank you all for your kind words. We also hope to successfully conduct business here. Excuse me, may we leave now?"
The bailiff nodded, waved his hand and shouted, "Let them go!"
Following his order, the other yamen runners also made way and stopped blocking Zhang Liang and the others' way.
Zhang Liang bowed to the yamen runners again to express his gratitude, then led the team slowly into the city.
Zhang Liang originally thought that these yamen runners were just targeting rich people for extortion, but when he turned around, he saw a heartbreaking scene.
An old woman carrying a basket of wild vegetables and holding her little granddaughter's hand was being bullied by the yamen runners because she had no money to pay the toll.
The old woman's basket was snatched away, and the wild vegetables were scattered all over the ground. The little girl was so frightened that she couldn't stop crying and kept shouting, "Please, gentlemen! Let us go!"
The yamen runners ignored the little girl's cries and instead felt unsatisfied, so they waved their sticks and were about to hit them.
Zhang Liang couldn't bear to watch this scene. He immediately walked over and said to the yamen runners, "Sir, I paid the toll for these two people. They are both from poor families. It would be bad for them to get sick from anger."
Hearing Zhang Liang's words, the leading yamen runner grinned, revealing a mouthful of big yellow teeth, and looked at Zhang Liang with greedy eyes. They had felt that Zhang Liang was a big fat sheep from the beginning, and now it turned out to be true.
The yamen runner said to Zhang Liang, "That's great! You're such a kindhearted person! Why don't you two thank this gentleman?"
When the old woman heard the words of the yamen runner, tears instantly filled her eyes.
She held her granddaughter's hand tightly and was about to kneel down to Zhang Liang.
He kept saying, "Thank you so much, Master! You are such a kind person, you are like the Buddha in the world!"
Seeing that the old woman was about to kneel down, Zhang Liang quickly supported her arm and told her not to kneel down.
He said softly, "Old man, you are too kind."
As he spoke, Zhang Liang took out a few silver coins from his pocket and handed them to the yamen runner.
When the yamen runner saw the silver, his eyes immediately lit up.
He nodded with satisfaction, waved his hand and said, "This old guy and the little devil can leave now!"
After hearing what the yamen runner said, Zhang Liang took the old woman and the little girl away.
He looked back at the greedy yamen runners, his heart filled with helplessness and anger.
After walking a distance, Zhang Liang took out a few silver coins from his pocket and gently placed them in the old woman's hand.
The old woman looked at the silver in her hand, shook her head and said, "Master, I can't take this money. I've already made you spend a lot of money."
Zhang Liang smiled as he looked at the little girl. She was pale and thin, with dry and yellow hair, obviously suffering from long-term malnutrition.
Zhang Liang thought that they went outside the city to pick wild vegetables today, probably to fill their stomachs.
So he said gently: "Old man, take it. Even if you don't want to eat it, your granddaughter will."
Hearing Zhang Liang's words, the old woman pursed her dry lips, and a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes.
But in the end, she trembled as she put the silver away, bowed deeply to Zhang Liang, and said, "Thank you, sir. You are truly our benefactor."
Zhang Liang helped the old woman up and said softly, "Old lady, please go back quickly and be careful on the road."
After the old woman walked a distance holding her granddaughter's hand, she turned around again and bowed deeply to Zhang Liang.
Her movements were slow and solemn, her eyes full of gratitude and respect.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Liang waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to be polite, and then returned to the convoy.
Zhong Tian came to Zhang Liang with a trace of worry and helplessness on his face.
He sighed and said, "My Lord, there are so many suffering people in this world. How many can you help?"
Hearing Zhong Tian's words, Zhang Liang shook his head and said with a firm look, "I know this too, but if I can help anyone, then that's it."
However, after seeing that these yamen runners dared to extort money openly, Zhang Liang's impression of this man named Song Wen became much worse.
Then, Zhang Liang looked at Qin Youlan and the others, smiled and said, "Well, it's getting late now, let's find an inn to stay in first."
At this time, the little girl looked up at the old woman and asked, "Grandma, why are we living so poorly? Daddy is..."
Before the little girl finished her words, the old woman sighed and interrupted her: "Niuniu, don't say anymore, your father..."
Zhang Liang and his friends wandered around for a while and finally found a medium-sized inn.
The inn looked clean and tidy, with a wooden sign hanging in front of the door with four big characters "Yingbin Inn" written on it.
A smiling waiter was standing at the door. When he saw Zhang Liang and the others coming, he immediately came over to greet them.
"Dear guests, please come in! Our inn offers comfortable accommodation and delicious meals, guaranteed to satisfy you."
The waiter greeted warmly.
Zhang Liang nodded and led everyone into the inn.
A middle-aged shopkeeper sat behind the counter. Upon seeing Zhang Liang and his companions enter, he immediately stood up to greet them. "Dear guests, welcome to the Yingbin Inn! What kind of room would you like?"
Zhang Liang looked around and said, "We need a few rooms upstairs, and some hot water and food."
The shopkeeper nodded quickly and agreed: "Okay, sir, please wait a moment. I will arrange for someone to take you upstairs."
After saying that, he told the waiter beside him to prepare the room and food.
After a while, the waiter brought Zhang Liang and the others to the room upstairs.
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