Chapter 83

"Why is this happening?" The new county magistrate's pupils shook as he rushed out without caring for the brush and ink on the ground.

After rushing two or three steps, he suddenly thought of something and mumbled to himself, "The news must have leaked out. Could it have been sent to the wrong person?"

The servants shrank their necks and dared not make a sound.

Pigeons are not human, they would not make such a foolish mistake. The message must have been intercepted.

The county magistrate really is incompetent.

It would have been better not to send the message at all.

"Oh no, this is terrible," Magistrate Xieyang leaned on one hand and was in deep anguish. "Wang Xi, hurry and send someone to welcome those children into the city. Quick, quick, you must ensure their safety!"

Wang Xi obeyed the order.

Although the previous Xieyang county magistrate was useless, several of the yamen runners were quite strong. Each carried a blade and rode in a carriage, appearing rather murderous.

At this time,

Fang Heng and Zheng Ruqian were each driving a carriage, galloping wildly while keeping watch in all directions.

"Big brother, there won't be any more bad guys right?" Jiang Sheng shrank into Xu Mo's arms and asked softly.

Xu Mo didn't dare answer.

These past five days they had been taking the main roads as much as possible, choosing times when there were many people, for fear that the gang of villains would attack again.

But he didn't want Jiang Sheng to worry, so he changed the subject. "Doesn't Jiang Sheng love the food her auntie makes? How can you bear to leave auntie in the city?"

Jiang Sheng tilted her head and rested it on Xu Mo's leg. She said softly, "Auntie is auntie's own person, not Jiang Sheng's. Auntie should have her own life, not keep revolving around Jiang Sheng."

Auntie should stay wherever she loves.

Jiang Sheng loves big brother, so she will always follow big brother.

Whether fleeing or facing danger, she is perfectly content.

The carriage gradually became quiet. The wide road was also silent.

Fang Heng forced his healing body to keep driving, his two eyes wishing they could split into eight to keep watch, terrified of encountering danger before entering the city.

Although entering Xieyang county didn't necessarily guarantee safety, with more people in the county city, the villains would at least be more cautious. If something really happened on this deserted road, they'd truly be helpless.

But the world is cruel, and what you fear most often comes to pass.

Just as Xu Mo was coaxing Jiang Sheng to sleep, the sound of many galloping horses and the shouts of strong men came from ahead.

Jiang Sheng was jolted awake.

The youths in and outside the carriages tensed up, and Fang Heng gripped his staff, ready to fight injured at any moment.

After about a dozen breaths,

Three carriages came galloping wildly from ahead, bearing over a dozen yamen runners wielding blades. They drove while shouting loudly.

Wang Xi followed behind, continuously nodding. "Yes, just like that! Louder, scare all those villains away!"

The yamen runners shouted even more vigorously, nearly splitting their throats.

Finally, the three carriages passed the one carriage and one donkey cart.

Fang Heng, who was ready to fight... "..."

Wang Xi reacted quickly and called for the carriage to stop before catching up to Fang Heng's. He came to claim credit, "Young master, we've come, we're here to protect you!"

Fang Heng was speechless.

This situation was too bizarre, he really couldn't find the words.

Xu Mo remembered the new magistrate's improper attitude, and frowned slightly. "Then we thank you officials."

"Don't dare, don't dare." Wang Xi continuously bowed with hands cupped. "This is what we should do."

What they should do?

No county mandated yamen runners to welcome and protect commoners traveling outside.

But remembering the new magistrate's piercing gaze, Xu Mo seemed to grasp some clues.

Finally entering the city.

Fang Heng's heart returned to his stomach. At the same time he was puzzled by the sudden appearance of the yamen runners.

As he passed the county yamen, he deliberately slowed down, wondering if they would stop.

The answer was no.

They actually escorted Fang Heng all the way to the small courtyard.

Fang Heng tethered the carriage and first carried the sleepy little Jiang Sheng down, then grabbed the gluttonous little Four and Five off the carriage as well. Finally he looked to Xu Mo. Xu Mo took out the key and opened the nearly rusty lock.

Zheng Ruqian also got off the donkey cart, planning to take down two pieces of cured meat to eat himself, and deliver the rest to the Leisure Residence.

Wang Xi's side glance caught this, assuming there was profit to be had. He immediately directed the yamen runners, "Brothers, move the meat!"

Over a dozen burly men swarmed up at once, swiftly emptying half the donkey cart's load of cured meat and carrying it into the courtyard.

Zheng Ruqian was dumbstruck.

After quite a while he anxiously stomped and shouted, "Don't move it, don't move it! I'm only keeping two pieces for myself, the rest are all to be delivered to the Leisure Residence."

Only then did Wang Xi realize he had done more harm than good. He touched his nose and quickly put the cured meat back.

By this point, Xu Mo finally understood these people likely didn't have malicious intentions.

Perhaps they even had the good intention of providing protection. Although he didn't know why, from now on their siblings should be much safer in Xieyang county.

Xu Mo was satisfied looking at his second brother.

Zheng Ruqian understood, keeping two pieces of cured meat for himself and also giving two pieces to each person. "Thank you sir for the protection. Our meager cured meat is not enough to show our gratitude."

He really knew how to handle people.

Wang Xi returned to the yamen, holding up two pieces of cured meat to report: "Sir, young master Fang's wounds are nearly healed. There was also a young master who gave us two pieces of cured meat. How does sir plan to eat them?"

The new magistrate glared at him. "Eat, eat, eat, that's all you think about. The Wang family already knows of A-Heng's existence, who knows what sinister schemes they're plotting."

Originally when they came, it was to protect Fang Heng.

But somehow, they had brought danger instead.

The new magistrate's eyebrows were about to fall out from anxiety.

As his personal servant, Wang Xi racked his brains to resolve his worries. "Sir, you are the magistrate of this county. The biggest boss of Xieyang. As long as you desire it, you can certainly protect young master Fang."

The new magistrate paused his hair-pulling and abruptly raised his head. "That's right, I'm the county magistrate! How could I forget, I'm the parent official of Xieyang county!"

The greatest power, commanding wind and rain as he pleased - that was all there was to it!

His ambitions were fully roused. He rolled up his sleeves and got to work. His lofty aspirations, he thought he could perfectly complete the task.

Until.

An approval document came from the city. It turned out they had sent news that for Xieyang county to not have a teacher while having a magistrate was improper. So they specially sent over a teacher.

Originally this wouldn't be an issue.

But looking at the new teacher's household registration, he surprisingly turned out to be a cousin of the Wang family's in-laws, the uncle of Fang Heng's aunt.

The new magistrate jumped three feet high. This was too much!