Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

The main reason is that the new county magistrate's style is simply unbearable.

Upon assuming office, he organized a gathering of wealthy businessmen in the county, ostensibly to invite them to discuss the commercial development of Dafang County, but his true intention was to solicit gifts from them. He was simply insatiable.

As for his background, the county magistrate's surname is Xia, and he was sent from the capital. It is said that one of his uncles works in the Ministry of Rites, but his specific position is unknown.

This magistrate had never served in Fuzhou before; he got the position through connections.

This is the information that Zhou Yuhao and his team found out.

"Zixuan, let's go back to the county school for the night, and you can go back to the county school tomorrow! I've already made up my mind!"

"Really! Third Grandfather, you're not lying to me."

"It's true, I used to know some high-ranking officials in the Northwest, I even met Marshal Duanmu."

Hearing Zhou Yuhao say that, Zhou Zixuan breathed a sigh of relief.

The next day, Zhou Yuhao left home early.

He didn't want Zhou Zixuan to come along in order to avoid revealing his identity.

Zhou Yuhao first went to find his former brothers, and with a few others, he took his token before going to the county government office together.

Upon arriving at the county government office, Zhou Yuhao immediately presented his token, but to his surprise, no one there recognized him. He had no choice but to strike the grievance drum at the entrance.

The last few people were brought to the hall, where Zhou Yuhao showed his token again.

The county magistrate took the token and looked at it. It read "Tiger Might General," a nominal position of the fifth rank, a few ranks higher than him, but it had no real power!

What's so scary about that!

The magistrate pretended not to recognize the token.

"Gentlemen, I don't know if this token is real or fake. Besides, I've never heard of this Tiger Might General. You can stay at the county office for a few days while I write to inquire. As for the deserted village, don't worry. Once the bandits are caught, my subordinates will be back."

This county magistrate is really something else, and he's incredibly bold!

I guess they have a very strong backer!

One of Zhou Yuhao's brothers asked in a low voice, "Brother, what should we do? This corrupt official is trying to deny everything and probably still wants to harm us."

Zhou Yuhao gestured to them not to act rashly, lest they anger the magistrate and he turn on the villagers.

"Thank you very much, Magistrate. We'll be staying here for a few more days!"

Magistrate Xia laughed a few times. "Master, take these distinguished guests to the back room and make sure they are well taken care of."

After saying that, he gave the sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced clerk a knowing look.

"My lord, don't worry!"

As soon as Zhou Yuhao and his group left, Magistrate Xia immediately returned to the capital and sent a message by carrier pigeon to find out about Zhou Yuhao's background.

He was thinking that if this person had no powerful connections, he could just arbitrarily accuse them of a crime and lock them up.

He wasn't released until his term was up, by which time he was already gone, and who could control him then?

In the backyard, Zhou Yuhao and the others were led to a courtyard, where the clerk arranged for several servants to guard the entrance in case they escaped.

"Brother, what should I do!"

"It seems that the magistrate is assessing our value. It seems we still need to collect evidence and bring this magistrate to justice, otherwise who knows how many families will be harmed. Tonight, you two go to the prefectural city to explain the situation to Lord Sun. I will stay here as the driver to find evidence of this corrupt official's embezzlement."

"Brother, why don't you let Qiang go alone, and I'll stay and help you!"

"It would be better if both of you went, just in case something happens in the prefectural city."

"Row!"

Zhou Yuhao was in trouble, but Zhang Xixi had no idea; she was fast asleep in her tent.

The Chen family stayed inside the shop, waiting for her to return.

Zhang Xixi woke up to the sounds of insects and birds in the morning.

She stepped out of the tent and saw that it was already broad daylight. She quickly woke up Xiao Jin, packed up the tent, and headed towards the town.

"Xiao Jin, go back to the village first. If anything happens, lead the villagers up the mountain and find a secluded place to hide."

After hearing this, Little Gold nodded its big head and said, "I understand, Master!"

When Chen and the others saw Zhang Xixi arrive with a bag of steamed buns at Zhang's pastry shop, they breathed a sigh of relief.

"Daughter, are you alright?"

"It's alright, everything's taken care of!"

Wang Shi hurriedly asked, "How is the village?"

"We're still surrounded, but everyone in the village is fine, so you don't need to worry too much!"

The group sighed and lamented, wondering how such a thing could have happened!

"Let's have breakfast first! That magistrate only wants the factory; he won't do anything to the villagers, and he wouldn't dare."

Mrs. Chen also said, "What's the use of thinking so much? Let's fill our stomachs first."

After saying that, he handed the steamed bun to Madam Wang.

"Sister-in-law, please eat!"

After having breakfast, the group thought about it and decided to send Zhang Xixi to the county town to find Zhou Yuhao.

Having more people means having more helpers.

"I don't know anyone in the county town. I'd better contact Manager Qian and ask the Duanmu family for help!"

"Alright!"

Zhang Xixi went to the Duanmu family's contact point in town, told the shopkeeper about the matter, asked him to help send a message, and also gave him a beauty pill.

I went for a walk by myself, just in case anyone else came to buy fans, so I could explain it to them and avoid them making a wasted trip.

She breathed a sigh of relief after circling around for a while without encountering it.

It would be so embarrassing if the village ran out of stock!

But Zhang Xixi had no idea that the village's vermicelli factory had reopened.

Ever since they learned that Zhang Xixi had a way to transport the fans out, Zhou Yuping and his team started making fans, since they figured they could sell them anyway.

This little thing can't stop them from making money.

There was still no news the next day, and the Chen family members were getting impatient, urging Zhang Xixi to go to the county town.

With no other option, Zhang Xixi went to the county town.

However, when they arrived at the teahouse, they were told that Zhou Yuhao and the others had gone to the county government office the previous morning and had not returned.

"Madam, I hope nothing bad has happened!"

Zhang Xixi was also puzzled. What gave this man the confidence to storm the county government office alone?

"Don't rush. Have the waiter go to the county government office and spend some money to find out some information."

“I’ve already been there. They only said the owner was a guest inside, but they wouldn’t let anyone see him.”

"I'll try to find out tonight!"

That evening, Zhang Xixi specially chose to wear all black clothes and covered her face with a black cloth before setting off.

As soon as I arrived at the backyard of the county government office, I ran into someone.

It was pitch black and she couldn't see anything clearly, so she held the knife directly to the man's neck. "What are you doing!"

Zhou Yuhao recognized Zhang Xixi's voice and quickly said, "It's me, my wife!"

"Why did you come out!"

"Wife, can you put the knife down first?"

Zhang Xixi sheepishly put the knife away, "Sorry, I didn't see it clearly!"

"It's alright, let's get straight to the point."