Otherworldly Days

August is here, and the Mid-Autumn Festival of the year is coming soon.

There are very few boats passing by from south to north on the Fenshui River. The world is not peaceful. Even profit-seeking businessmen dare not go out to run business.There were fewer boats coming and going at the pier, and the men waiting for the workers on the pier went back home every day without receiving work. Even the bustling pier in the past was much cooler.

Most of the business in Cao Ji is based on people who come and go at the wharf. Now the wharf is deserted, and Cao Ji’s business is not very good. The store is still open for business every day, and it is more or less profitable, so it is easy to pass the customs the door.

The business of most of the shops in the town was not very good, and those who opened their doors for business did not make any money in a day.

In previous years, the grain in the fields had been harvested, and the town was very lively at this time, and those who had a little extra grain at home would be transported to the town to sell.It's just that this year's harvest is not good, and there is not enough food for the family, so there is no surplus to sell.

There are fewer stalls on the street, only sporadic people walking, and even fewer people shopping.

The food stores were all closed and empty inside.

Earlier Cao Xiangnan knew that the situation in the world was not good, so he went to buy a large amount of grain. When he bought it, the price was still as high as it is now. He was given by the old acquaintance boss or the acquaintance price. I think the boss regretted it now That's too late.

The carriage returned from the town, and Cao Xiangnan was short of salt and oil at home, so he bought some by the way.

"Is this enough? Is there anything missing at home?"

"There's nothing missing, that's all."

In two days it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival. In previous years, those who worked under him would receive a generous gift to go home for the festival. This year, Cao Xiangnan did not prepare a gift for everyone. When it is a festival fee.

The mooncakes made by Yipinzhai in the town are not as many as in previous years, and some wealthy households have ordered some. The common people have no money in their pockets, and they are reluctant to take it out to buy these snacks.Cao Xiangnan went to sit with shopkeeper Zhao and had a cup of tea. Shopkeeper Zhao sighed when he talked about the business in the store.But in comparison, those big and prosperous places in Nanyang will not be affected so much. After all, the people there are more abundant, and they are not short of a few dollars.

"That's fine too." After listening to Fu Lang's words, Qi Wanfeng thought it was okay.

At this time, no one's family has much food, and they can't be as lavish as they used to be. It's not good to be too rich at the moment.This year we have cultivated more land and harvested more grain than in the previous two years, but there are also more people eating.

"Why don't we just cook a few simple dishes and ask Bai Lian to bring a few small ones over for dinner. It's not like in previous years." The two discussed about having a meal during the holidays. In the past two years, they always invited their relatives at home. They come here with a few acquaintances. This year is not good, and they still have some money in their hands, but being too aggressive at this time will cause unnecessary trouble.

Not everyone can see that others are better than him, so it's better to keep a low profile at this time.When everyone is good, even if you are good and others are good, others will not see you as dazzling. At this time, everyone is not good, and only you are left, so others may not be able to see you.

"Well, that's it. I'll go and tell Bai Lian later that he don't cook at home that day, but come over to eat with us." Qi Wanfeng replied.

The two agreed on the holiday, and Qi Wanfeng went to ask Bai Lian to have dinner together.The two families used to have dinner together during Chinese New Year, but this year when Husband was not at home, Wanfeng came over and asked him to bring the children to dinner together on the fifteenth day, and Sun Bailian also said hello.

As soon as it gets dark at night, every house closes its doors.

A group of men with their faces covered appeared on horseback in the night, and the big knife in their hands flashed a cold light. It is unknown how many people's blood was touched on the knife.That night, bandits broke into the homes of many wealthy households in the town, robbed their gold, silver and jewels, moved their food, and killed many people.

By the time the yamen received the report, the bandits had long since disappeared.

This group of people robbed things and ran away without a trace.

"My lord, you must be the master for us..."

"It's so lawless!" Knowing about this, Prophet Zhao scolded, "Go and investigate, I must find and arrest those bandits!" Boldly snatch and kill human life.

"Yes!"

This world is in chaos, and there are always people who take advantage of the troubled waters to fish, hoping that the world will become more chaotic, so that they can make a fortune.

The yamen servants in the yamen are barely able to support their families with only a few dollars a month, and most men would not be willing to ask them to work hard.They don't know how many people there are in this group, and they don't have much chance of winning against them. Even if they find someone, it is impossible for them to encircle and suppress those bandits, unless he can borrow soldiers, and when the time comes, these people will be killed. Catch them all!

The closest thing here is to go to the Nanyang prefect to borrow troops, but now Nanyang is not peaceful, so what if he borrows people away from Nanyang?This is also impossible. After much deliberation, Prophet Zhao couldn't think of a solution. For the first time, he felt that he was at the end of his rope and didn't know what to do.

I thought of a person, yes, there must be a way to find him.

"Let's go to Cao's Village!"

Such a thing happened in the town that day, even the people in the town dared not open the door in broad daylight, and the streets were so empty that there was not even a single person walking around.The wind blows, blowing up a cloud of dust, and the day is indescribably cool.

Cao Ji didn't open the door for business today, and the work in the shop was on holiday, so Cao Dapeng took Sun Yanshan back to the village from the town in a carriage, and went to Cao Xiangnan when he came back, talking about the town.

"The blood was all over the place. I heard that people's heads were cut off by big knives, and the severed heads were rolled on the ground several times..." Cao Dapeng didn't see it with his own eyes, but also got it from other people's mouths. Hearing about this, and hearing that the rich man's door was open, and there were corpses lying inside, "Those people are really murderous."

"I don't think the town is peaceful, and the shop is also closed. Let's talk about it later." Cao Xiangnan also knows that the business of the shop in the town is not good. He said before that if he can't continue, he will Close the door of the shop first.It's just that Cao Dapeng still insisted on working for a few more days if he was capable, and how much money he could make.

But it seems that now that this incident happened in the town, the shop would like to close its doors for the time being.

Hearing what Cao Dapeng came to him to say, Cao Xiangnan's expression became serious.

What he was worried about still came, and what happened in the town was a signal.With the current situation of Caojia Village, the most feared thing is to become the target of bandits. There are only a few yamen servants in the yamen. I am afraid that they will be weak in the face of bandits. Is it possible to rely on those yamen to save lives?Thinking of this, Cao Xiangnan narrowed his eyes.

There was a knock on the door in the yard.

"Master." As soon as Liu Guizhong opened the door, he saw that the person who came was an official, with a sincere and fearful attitude.The old man had been to them a few times, and he recognized the old man, and was about to kneel down in a hurry to salute, "The grass people have seen the old man."

"You don't need to be too polite, I'm here to find your master." Zhao Xian knew.

Hearing the old man ask if their master is at home, he hurriedly replied, "Yes, our master is inside."

Hearing the voice from outside, Cao Xiangnan got up and walked over to take a look. He saw that it was Prophet Zhao, and rushed to meet him.Regardless of his private friendship with Prophet Zhao, he will always put on a good show in front of outsiders.

"Caomin pays homage to your lord..." Cao Xiangnan was about to kneel down to salute, but was supported by a hand.Prophet Zhao was dressed in private clothes, with a gentle smile on his face, he said, "It's my official who came to bother you, everyone, don't be too polite, please hurry up" Yes. "Everyone is up.

Seeing that even Mr. Guan came to Xiangnan, Cao Dapeng took a look at Mr. Guan, who has no white beard and looks better than his elder brother. He didn't dare to look too much.Knowing that Shiro's place is inconvenient, he didn't dare to stay here any longer, so he left and went back.When I left, I looked back and went back home.

After returning home, Cao Dapeng whispered to his daughter-in-law about the fact that Xiangnan even went to the old man. Chen Hong reminded Fu Lang again, mostly meaning to let Fu Lang follow Cao Silang to do things well.It was good luck for their family to follow Cao Silang, and now their family is one of the best in the village.

However, Chen Hong also felt uneasy about the bandits robbing the house. Fortunately, Fu Lang also came back from the town.

Cao Xiangnan led Prophet Zhao to go to the back, and the family servant brought tea and went down. There were only two of them left here, so it was convenient for them to talk.When dealing with Prophet Zhao, Cao Xiangnan always had some respect in his heart. After all, the other party is an official and he is a citizen, and he must not treat him slowly in terms of etiquette.

Needless to say, he knew why Prophet Zhao came to him.

The two talked about the robbers who robbed property and killed people in the town today. The goal of these people is also very clear, that is, to rob houses, but these people not only seek money but also kill people. This method is too cruel.

Prophet Zhao didn't stay with him for too long. The two talked a few words about the bandits. Cao Xiangnan had nothing to do to help Prophet Zhao on the ground. The biggest conflict between them now is that no one can fight against the bandits, or Even if some of them went to confront the bandits, they might not have much chance of winning if they met the brutal bandits.

But it's not completely helpless, Cao Xiangnan hesitated in his heart, the thought flashed by, and he didn't say it. "My lord, go slowly."

After sending Prophet Zhao away, Cao Xiangnan took Wanfeng's hand and asked someone to close the door of the house, and went inside.

After walking two steps, Cao Xiangnan remembered what he had forgotten just now, and ordered, "Boy Qiang, you go and do something." He gave the matter to the Liu family boy, and Liu Qiang took the task given by the master, and went out quickly went.