Divorced woman with child travels through time

The moat of Quanzhou has been dry for a long time, and the riverbed has exposed fine sand. When the river was still clear, people dug two dikes down from the bank and built a bridge over the river. The dikes were higher and wider, making it easier to go down into the river to fetch water.

Later, Quanzhou abolished taxes, and more and more people came to Quanzhou. Some even moved to the riverbank to save money, resulting in hundreds of vagrants sleeping on the riverbank, and some even sleeping directly on the riverbed.

After the patrol officers discovered this, they drove the people away, but most of them were poor and destitute and unable to pay the high rent. When Ouyang found out, he discussed it with Wang Erniu. Finally, Chen Wenfang suggested that they recruit vagrants to work in the desolate areas of the city and build a batch of ordinary houses. The houses were two-story buildings with large communal beds and small rooms. The communal beds cost three coins a month, and the small rooms cost ten coins a month. This greatly alleviated the problem of vagrants crowding together, because no matter how bad the houses were, they could still provide shelter from the wind and rain. After registering with the government and paying the fees, they could move in directly.

Moreover, one could easily earn three coins a month by begging outside, not to mention doing odd jobs, such as carrying bags at the docks or working for the government, sweeping the streets, repairing rivers and filling in pits. Any kind of work could earn twenty or thirty coins a day.

This greatly reduced the number of vagrants and solved many safety hazards. People were rarely seen under the riverbank anymore, since it was dark, damp, and gloomy. Who would live there if they had a house, unless they were people who couldn't stand the light of day?

Under the cover of night, two figures, completely covered in black, whispered to each other on the riverbank. Without careful observation, they were virtually invisible.

"Well? Have you found out?" the man in black asked.

“We’ve found out, but since our last failure, they’ve been accompanied by someone whenever they go out, which has made things much more difficult. We also don’t dare to get too close, for fear of being caught!” The man in black angrily slapped the riverbank, knocking off half a brick.

"I've found out that the Ouyang family's son is getting engaged in three days. Given the close relationship between the Wang family and them, they'll definitely attend. We'll sneak in and turn things upside down." The man in black spoke softly and ruthlessly, his words carrying a hint of bloodlust.

"Okay, I've prepared everything I need. We'll stay in touch here."

The two plotted for a long time before secretly leaving after confirming their plan.

The canal gangs.

"Second Master, I got off work late last night. When I got home, I saw what looked like two dark figures on the riverbank. They were acting suspiciously and didn't seem like they were up to anything. Didn't you say we should be careful of strangers? I've come to tell you." Er Gou was wearing a brand-new Chen Ji sky-blue robe, looking particularly stern.

"Oh, which riverbank? You're doing pretty well, kid." Cheng Xiang patted him on the shoulder, quite pleased.

"Hehe, it's the western moat area. I only got into Chen's because you're protecting me, big brother. I remember you love meat, so I'll bring you some of our new pig's head meat later. The taste is absolutely amazing!" Er Gou scratched his head and grinned, giving a thumbs up! This was completely different from his usual clever self. Perhaps it was only in front of him that he could show his true self.

"Okay, I got it. Do your job well and try to find a wife soon."

After Cheng Xiang finished speaking, he left. He listened to Chu Yi and came to the Cao Gang every day as usual to sit and collect information.

Cheng Xiang left the canal gang and found a patrolman on the road to inform Chu Yi. He then turned a corner and headed west of the city.

The western part of the city is a working-class area, with neat rows of two-story bungalows. The crossroads are like tofu cut with a knife, with clear order. Along the moat are small stalls selling soup noodles or pastries, which are steaming hot and create a very pleasant atmosphere.

Cheng Xiang walked down the long river embankment and looked at the exposed riverbed. There were many footprints in the sand beneath the riverbed, mostly children's footprints.

Cheng Xiang carefully examined the area, which was hidden beside the riverbank under the bridge. It had been a long time since any wanderers had stayed there, and the city's sanitation workers had kept it very clean. Apart from some newly grown weeds and moss, there was nothing else there.

Cheng Xiang squatted down and examined the shallow footprints on the moss. There were also some fine dust and sand nearby, but he couldn't make out anything.

Cheng Xiang stood up, looked around, and finally discovered that half of the bricks that were laid so smoothly on the riverbank were missing, as if someone had shaved them off with something.

"Brother Cheng!" Chu Yi led his group over from afar.

"Hey, here! I've found something!" Cheng Xiang shouted in response.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

“Look here, how could an ordinary person without internal strength chop down with one palm, and so neatly?” Cheng Xiang pointed to the broken embankment and said to him.

Chu Yi touched the knife-like cut and frowned. "It seems that the people who came are quite skilled in martial arts!"

"Someone, notify Qi Liu to investigate. Make sure you find out exactly where they are. Four groups of people have appeared in the past few days. Such a large gathering of people must be up to something big!"

"Yes!"

It seems we need to discuss this with Ouyang! On the first day, Chu Yi led his men to the prefectural government.

"Hehe, you've arrived on the first day of the lunar month, perfect timing. Jin'er's engagement is in two days, remember to come with your godmother and the others. I sent the invitations a long time ago." Ouyang Junyan was in high spirits lately, and he was in high spirits when he was happy. Who knew things would go so smoothly? Ouyang Jin and the eldest daughter of the Ning family from Zhangzhou, who came to visit relatives, fell in love at first sight, and the two families immediately arranged the marriage.

"Of course, Uncle Ouyang, I've come because I need your help with something else!" Chu Yi recounted the details of the discovery of the shadowy figure, since it was related to an assassination attempt, and the more people who paid attention, the better.

“Speaking of this!” Ouyang thought for a moment, flipped through the notes on the table, quickly found one, opened it and said to him, “The West Market you mentioned, this morning a patrolman reported that a vagrant suddenly died, the cause of death is unknown. I have already sent people to investigate. This place is very close to the Hexi area you mentioned, why don’t you go and make another trip there?”

"What you say makes sense, sir. I'll go!" Chu Yi finished reading in a few glances, nodded heavily, and left with his men.

Dozens of people rode their horses in a hurry, and as soon as they reached the West Market, they saw a scattered crowd of people shouting in surprise in the distance.

"Help! Murder!"

Someone was shouting, "Go get the soldiers! There are bad guys here!"

"Hurry, hurry, don't let them get away!"

"I'll go check it out first!" There were too many people, and it would be easy to bump into pedestrians while riding a horse. Cheng Xiang was anxious, so he jumped off the horse and ran away.

"Watch out!" Chu Yi only had time to shout before, "Everyone dismount! To avoid accidentally injuring pedestrians, quick! Maintain order!"

The crowd shouted from their horses, "The soldiers are here! Everyone move aside and hide to avoid getting hurt while we come to arrest you!"