Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

night.

The streets of the city were dark and silent.

An old servant, a thin horse, an old cart, and a gaunt young man carrying a food box.

Steam seemed to be rising from the food container.

After turning off the long street and passing through the alley, we arrived at the front of a small house.

After a few knocks, the courtyard gate opened.

A woman of similar age to the young man pushed open the courtyard gate.

The woman was simply dressed, but she had a very pretty face.

"Husband, you're back." The woman's face lit up with joy, and she stepped aside to let Jia Xu into the courtyard.

Jia Xu stood in front of the door, first straightening his clothes, then smiling humbly at his wife, bowing respectfully, like a refined gentleman.

"I'm so sorry, Madam. I had some social engagements, so I returned very late."

The women seemed to have grown accustomed to Jia Xu's polite and respectful manner, so there were no surprises.

He simply smiled and then greeted Jia Xu as he entered the courtyard.

"My husband must be hungry. The food is still in the pot. I'll go and prepare it for you right away."

"father!"

"father!"

"Dad, you're back."

Two children's voices came from inside a house not far from the courtyard gate.

Immediately afterward, two children dressed in old robes ran out of the house and headed straight for Jia Xu.

Jia Xu immediately smiled and then grabbed one of them with each hand.

"Mu'er, Ji'er."

Jia Xu smiled and looked down at his two-year-old son: "Have you been listening to your mother while your father is away?"

The two little guys nodded quickly.

Jia Xu reached behind him, took the food box from the old servant's hand, and said with a smile, "Look, what delicious food your father brought back for you!"

Upon seeing the food box in Jia Xu's hand, the two little ones cheered with joy.

.........

Inside the room, Jia Xu sat beside the desk, watching his two sons and his wife sitting together.

His wife is virtuous, and his son is sensible.

Jia Xu couldn't help but reveal a wise smile.

However, when his gaze fell upon the dim moving head lamp in the house, and upon seeing the tattered robes on his wife and children, Jia Xu's smile gradually faded.

Being an official doesn't necessarily mean you'll be rich.

Not to mention his humble origins.

The Jia family once produced a prefect in Liangzhou with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain).

But that happened many years ago.

By his generation, this branch of the Jia family had already declined.

He was only given the opportunity to be recommended as a filial and incorruptible official because there were so few gentry families in Liangzhou.

I thought that life would be better once I became an official.

However, after arriving in Luoyang, he discovered that it was not the case at all.

So it turns out, becoming an official still requires spending money.

Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of dollars that had to be paid at the beginning of his term.

They also had to show respect to their superiors, purchase real estate, and renovate their mansions.

Luoyang, right under the emperor's nose, has prices and housing costs far exceeding those of Liangzhou.

The money he brought with him to Luoyang was all spent in just over ten days.

If we stay in Luoyang any longer, we'll probably have to sleep on the streets.

Moreover, if the hundreds of thousands of dollars required for taking office are not paid, there will never be a vacancy for an official position.

He doesn't have hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Therefore, he had no choice but to claim illness and return to his hometown.

Luoyang is difficult.

Life in Liangzhou was also very difficult.

The court was corrupt, the borders were in turmoil, and the Qiang people of Liangzhou were embroiled in continuous warfare for years.

To protect their homes, they had no choice but to join the local powerful families.

Fortunately, he still had the reputation of being from a poor but noble family, so he joined Dong Zhuo's side.

But without a good reputation, how can one be given important responsibilities?

He was assigned to Niu Fu's office as a junior official, responsible for daily clerical work.

But the meager salary was barely enough to make ends meet.

His wife and children suffered as a result.

"Husband, have some too, this mutton is very delicious."

Jia Xu, who was deep in thought, looked up and shook his head with a smile: "You all eat, I've already eaten."

The woman took her chopsticks and divided the mutton in the bowl in front of her equally between her two sons.

Watching his wife's actions.

Jia Xu suddenly felt a pang of anxiety.

perhaps......

Duan Yu is right.

If I cannot protect my home, how can I serve my country?

He had a thousand plans in his mind, but not a single bushel of rice in his home.

Jia Xu lowered his head, his mind filled with Duan Yu's words at the inn.

He admitted that Duan Yu was right.

At the same time, he also found it very strange.

Why does Duan Yu think so highly of him?

The two of them didn't know each other before.

"Choose a wise ruler, serve as a virtuous minister, and leave your name in history..."

"Duan Yu, I hope you won't disappoint me," Jia Xu said to himself.

.........

At the home of Chen Ye, the magistrate of Jinyang County.

At this moment, candlelight illuminated the bright and spacious main hall, making it incredibly bright.

The main hall is furnished with tables arranged in a hierarchical order.

The table was laden with delicacies, including wild game, chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

Chen Ye, dressed in an official robe, sat in the main seat, holding a wine cup in his hand, and was toasting Wang Gai, who was sitting down.

"Young Master Wang, please drink this cup," Chen Ye said with a smile.

Wang Gai smiled slightly, picked up his wine cup, and said, "Magistrate Chen, you are too kind. This cup should be offered to you by me."

"You've really helped me a lot this time."

"If it weren't for Magistrate Chen's help, I might have lost face in front of Guo Li and the others this time."

Chen Ye smiled and shook his head, saying, "Young Master Wang is joking. My father is an old friend of my mentor, and our two families have been on good terms for generations. What is this little matter?"

“It’s just a small village, not worth the trouble of Young Master Wang.”

"If we had known that Young Master Wang only had such a trivial matter, we could have simply asked a servant for a word."

Chen Ye said in a very polite tone, "Now that Your Highness is in Luoyang, I wonder how your health is. After the autumn harvest this year, I will probably have to return to the capital. I have been in Jinyang for three years now, and I wonder where I will be going next."

Wang Gai smiled, understanding perfectly.

Aristocratic connections and official relationships.

You help me, I'll help you.

Everyone is happy.

Chen Ye helped him this time, so he should naturally repay him.

Money or something like that definitely wouldn't satisfy Chen Ye.

After all, Chen Ye wasn't short of money.

"Is Magistrate Chen returning to the capital?" Wang Gai said, feigning surprise. "That's perfect timing. I haven't seen my father in a long time. Why don't we go to the capital together? I'll introduce my father to Magistrate Chen."

“My father is currently in Lord Situ’s staff, so perhaps he can help Magistrate Chen make some moves.”

"Oh, I can't accept this, I can't accept this at all." Chen Ye quickly raised his glass and said, "I can't accept this at all."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

............

Early the next morning.

After breakfast, Duan Yu, along with Tie Shitou, Wang Hunu, and twenty young men from the village, checked out of the inn and headed to the county government in the city.

Within the county government.

The thief Cao Liu He was already waiting at the door.

Upon seeing Duan Yu arrive with his men, they immediately came out from in front of the county government mansion to greet him.

"Haha, Duan You's timing is perfect."

"Look at Duan You's subordinates, this campaign against the bandits is sure to be a great success."

Duan Yu looked at Liu He, a slight smile playing on his lips.