Novels online

Chapter 374: It's Good to Be Back

By the time Feng Jun had cleared the battlefield, arranged the laborers, and returned to Heyang County city, another day had passed. Back in the city, he noticed an unusual, sweet aroma wafting through the air, reminiscent of egg pancakes.

Every commoner he saw was radiant with joy.

Every shop and eatery owner along the street wore a wide smile, as if celebrating a festival.

His mood, already troubled, couldn't help but feel out of sync with the joyous atmosphere. He felt a pang of bewilderment. He grabbed a passing peddler at random. "Why does the city smell so fragrant?"

The peddler, startled, quickly bowed. "Reporting to Your Honor, Magistrate, in the two days you were suppressing bandits at Qichuan Ferry, a celestial egg pancake rain suddenly fell upon the city! Egg pancakes landed everywhere. According to Daoist Master Ma, this was food bestowed upon us by the Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan Tian Zun. We even celebrated a 'Heavenly Lord Cake Festival' for a day, which is why this sweet aroma pervades the city."

Feng Jun scoffed, "What? Egg pancake rain from heaven?"

He thought the peddler had gone mad from overeating, but then an aide from the yamen chimed in, chuckling, "I picked up two catties of egg pancakes to take home. Heck, that's enough to eat for days!"

Feng Jun was a little confused. "So everyone on the street is smiling because of these egg pancakes?"

"Not exactly," the peddler said, a hint of delight in his voice. "It's because everyone made a profit."

The peddler explained, "Yesterday, the Gao Family Village Militia returned victorious, passing through our county town. They stopped here for an hour, and they were so rich! Every soldier had plenty of money. They went to the streets and just bought, bought, bought. My goods, which I had prepared yesterday, were instantly bought clean. Everyone doing business on this street made a good profit. Yesterday was the best business day we've had in years."

Feng Jun's eyes narrowed slightly. "Bought? They didn't rob?"

The peddler laughed. "Those soldiers looked fierce, but they were actually very disciplined people. Every one of them spoke politely and never relied on their fists to get their way."

A wave of complex emotions washed over Feng Jun. For a moment, he didn't know how to express himself.

Could this Gao Family Village Militia be more disciplined than both the rebels and the government troops?

As for the rebels' sloppiness, there was no need to mention it. On the government soldier side, even the most disciplined elite troops couldn't avoid some demands for bribes, extortions, or buying things without paying, not to mention scoundrels like Wu Zimian and Li Ying.

It really surprised him that the Gao Family Village Militia could achieve such impeccable discipline.

Since his conversation with Bai Yuan yesterday, he had been hesitating whether to write a detailed memorial about the Gao Family Village Militia and submit it. Now, after hearing what the peddler and aide said, he had temporarily made up his mind on that matter: don't write the memorial for now.

However, even if the memorial wasn't written, there was one thing he absolutely had to do.

Feng Jun returned to the county office, took off his official robes, changed into plain clothes, and dressed himself like a merchant. He took a team of trusted household guards, left the county town, rode swiftly, and raced towards Chengcheng County.

He had to go see Liang Shixian!

Wang Er, leading a hundred Wangjia Village villagers, finally returned to his hometown.

Seeing the pond outside Gao Family Fortress, at least half of the hundred villagers behind him were in tears. "Our connection with Gao Family Village started from this very pond. Brother Wang Er led us to Gao Family Village to steal water back then... and we were given flour in return..."

San Shier, with the Gao Family Village management team, smiled as they came out to greet them. Behind them, there was a large group of villagers from the Zhong Family Village, Zheng Family Village, and Wangjia Village, a good half of whom were among the first batch of labor reform prisoners.

The two sides clasped hands, tears in their eyes, choked with emotion, unable to speak.

"Everyone's back! It's good to be back," San Shier said with a smile. "Hero Wang, the farmland of Wangjia Village has already received rain and has even been sown. You and your people just need to complete some formalities to reclaim your farmland, and soon you'll be able to settle down and establish a livelihood."

Wang Er looked back somewhat awkwardly at the hundred Wangjia Village villagers behind him. After years of constant wandering and fighting government troops everywhere, they had long since become...

He shook his head and sighed, "Forget the farmland. After so many years, the fields must already be cultivated by others. If we suddenly return and start disputing ownership of those fields, it wouldn't be good. Let them join the militia! These people can't farm anymore; fighting might still be an option. At least their eyes won't even blink when arrows fly at them."

"That makes sense," San Shier smiled. "Alright!"

Wang Er added, "I'm branded with the title of 'foremost rebel under heaven.' If I constantly show my true face, it might bring disaster upon Gao Family Village. I plan to change my name to Wang Tiger. What do you think of that name?"

San Shier: "Pfft!"

Wang Er: "???"

San Shier shook his head. "The Heavenly Lord has complained about your naming conventions multiple times. Can't you come up with something more creative?"

Wang Er: "Isn't this name quite good? Who is the Heavenly Lord?"

San Shier spread his hands. "You'll know once you stay here for a while. The one who gave you flour back then was the Heavenly Lord. He has always been watching you."

Wang Er felt a shock in his heart, looked up, but saw nothing.

"People act, Heaven watches; the Heavenly Lord is always watching," San Shier said. "Hero Wang's deeds have been righteous and sincere, and the Heavenly Lord has seen them all. That's why Gao Family Village has always kept a place for Hero Wang."

Wang Er, though he didn't know who the Heavenly Lord was, understood the meaning of San Shier's words. He cupped his fists towards the sky. "Wang Er is grateful for the Heavenly Lord's high regard."

San Shier said, "Hero Wang, please take your people to the barracks first. Look, over there is the barracks. Instructor He Jiu has been waiting for a long time. He will arrange a place for your people in the barracks."

Wang Er replied, "I've already witnessed Instructor He Jiu's methods at Qichuan Ferry; they are truly formidable. This time, I will definitely follow him and learn diligently."

He led the Wangjia Village villagers, striding towards the barracks. At the barracks entrance, Cheng Xu had long been waiting. Seeing the mask on Wang Er's face, Cheng Xu also pointed to the mask on his own face, then burst into laughter.

Wang Er instantly understood. "You too?"

Cheng Xu: "Me too!"

The two clasped their fists, everything unsaid.

On the other side.

Feng Jun, with a group of household guards, arrived discreetly in Chengcheng County. He had originally planned to go directly to visit Liang Shixian, but unexpectedly, at the county office, the gatekeeper told him that His Honor, the Magistrate, had gone to the City God Temple.

Feng Jun then took his household guards and followed the path to the City God Temple. He was still a street away from the temple when he saw a colossal statue towering in the distance. The statue was taller than all the buildings in the temple; half of its body extended above a cluster of low-lying structures. It was coated with a layer of gold dust, reflecting the sunlight, shining brightly, possessing a solemn and dignified appearance.