The fox minister in the late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 53 Su Qiaoniang

"Sir. They all told you, sir, can you not chase Qiao Niang away?"

The voice of the speaking figure was low and hoarse, it was a yellow and thin girl, holding a change of clothes and looking at Geng Qing uneasily.

"Qiaoniang knows how to do things, so that she can support her and have a bite to eat."

That plain white dress was put on by the members of the Golden Knife Gang when she entered Geng Qing's room that night, and then she was sent back to that dark room to be locked up. After three or five days, it became wrinkled. She was ugly, and her body was smelly, and the gray embroidered shoes under the skirt were stained with dirt. I thought I had scrubbed them in the morning, but I could still see a lot of black spots.

Geng Qingtan silently took the clothes from her hand and put them back into the basin, "You don't have to do this. When the yamen finds your home, I will send you back to your parents."

The girl lowered her head and did not speak, sobbed softly, hugged her wet clothes, and suddenly knelt down, "Mr. I. My relatives are gone. Qiao Niang has no home."

"Hey, what are you doing, girl, get up!" The blacksmith woman who came out with the food quickly stuffed the bowls and plates into Dachun's hands, wiped her hands on her apron, helped the girl up, and said a few words to smooth things over. If so, pull the woman and go to the front.

"If you have something to talk about, what are you kneeling for? Let's go and have breakfast first. Mr. Geng will go to the Yamen later to order."

The girl lowered her head and was pushed for a few steps, and then quickly helped the woman arrange the tables and chairs under the eaves, and then went to the stove to get the bowls and chopsticks and put them one by one, but she stood by the wall and did not take a seat .

"." Geng Qing looked at the thin and small body standing by the wall.

Sighing, he put down the bowl and chopsticks, got up and went to the stove to refill the bowl, took the chopsticks and stuffed them into the woman's hand, dragged her to the dining table, and sat down with her almost meatless shoulders.

"They are all from the village. There are not so many rules. Come and take a seat. After eating, rest here and wait for the yamen."

I was used to saying 'wait for news of her family', but I swallowed it when it reached my mouth, only to remember that the girl said just now that she no longer has parents.

"Qiaoniang, isn't it? Come and eat some food first. Dachun, help my aunt go outside and ask my man to come in for dinner."

The blacksmith woman next to her was enthusiastic, she picked up a chopsticks of food for Qiao Niang and put it in a bowl, comforted her a few words, and then asked her surname, Fang Ling, etc.
"My surname is Su. My name is Qiaoniang. I am fourteen years old." The girl with her head buried in the bowl raised her face timidly, and when she saw Geng Qing looking at her with a smile, she quickly lowered her head again, holding the chopsticks delicately between the rice grains and putting them on the table. She muttered slowly in her mouth, seeing that no one was laughing at her, so she began to talk about how she came from Feihu County again.

"... Half a year ago, I escaped from Yunzhou with my father and mother. I heard from my father that the Shatuo people were in trouble. Everyone in our village ran away. When we got here, we were separated from other villagers. Then we met those people, they I took my parents to the back of the hill
Before leaving, my mother held my hand and cried, and told me not to run away. They asked me to do things, just do them. Only in this way can I have a full stomach and not go hungry, and I can live.

Later, I never saw my parents again, and I was taken away by them and locked up. "

The crowded dining table was silent, the blacksmith woman sighed with red eyes, she held Qiao Niang in her arms and stroked her head, she also looked at Geng Qing, hoping to keep her.

"Let's see when the time comes." Geng Qing finished the last mouthful of rice in the bowl, and called Da Chun who had finished eating early and waited, "Let's go, take me to the Yamen first."

Gao Jun died yesterday, he always wanted to go to the county magistrate to show his face, and he needed to ask about the subsequent matters, otherwise it would be a waste of work.

Dachun went to the thatched shed on the side of the courtyard to pull a donkey trailer, Geng Qing got dressed and went out, when he went outside, he was stunned for a moment, and saw more than a dozen men from the Golden Knife Gang being led by Dou Wei in a row on the street In fact, these people are afraid that they will come at dawn.

"Mr. Qiao Niang sent you off."

Su Qiaoniang put down the bowls and chopsticks, followed from inside, and saw the figures standing apart outside, especially the one in the lead, she had seen it once by chance, and recognized him as a member of the Golden Knife Gang, her face suddenly turned pale, she was originally Thin and weak, his body trembled uncontrollably, and he almost fell limp to the ground.

The next moment, the members of the Golden Knife Gang standing outside said, "I've seen Mr. Geng!" They all clasped their fists and bowed with their weapons in order, causing the passers-by to detour in panic. Or from afar.

"They are different from the Golden Knife Gang that arrested you. You will know later." Geng Qing helped her up and handed her over to the woman who followed her. Immediately, she walked out of the blacksmith's shop, facing the crowd of figures facing each other with fists folded and bowing. Raised the sleeves and flicked outward

"I'm going to go to the yamen first, and I'll talk to you in the gang in the afternoon, let's go."

Dou Wei looked at the young man in front of him, hesitated for a moment, had to nod his head, and said: "Yes." He took a group of his men and took his leave first. Soon, Dachun came around in a donkey cart, Geng Qing saw Seeing Su Qiaoniang, who was pale, trembling and afraid to speak, she called the blacksmith woman, took out the money bag from her sleeve and handed it to the woman, and probably asked her to help pull a few bolts of cloth to make two or three dresses.

Afterwards, he took a donkey cart to the yamen. In the shop, blacksmith Wang came from here. He didn't know what his mother-in-law meant, so he held a bowl by his side and muttered, "What are you worrying about?"

"You know what." The woman gave her husband a blank look, and pulled Su Qiaoniang, who looked panic-stricken, back into the room.

At this time, the sky was already bright, and the street was crowded with people. Someone ran from one side of the slowly passing donkey cart, and then someone followed behind, shouting loudly.

"Gaoxian Lieutenant is dead. The county magistrate issued a list to apprehend the murderer. The announcement is at the intersection of Niufang Street. Everyone, go and listen!"

There was an uproar on the long street. The guests who had just been seated in the teahouses and restaurants stopped eating and called their companions to rush out. Geng Qing was a little surprised. He just mentioned it to An Jingsi last night. With one word, Zhao County Magistrate started to make a list to arrest Tang Baoer and his party so quickly.

When passing by Niufang Street, the inner, third and outer third floors were full of people, and literate people stood under the notice and read aloud to everyone.

"Knowing that the elders in Feihu County listened and heard that there were high-ranking men and high-born people who gathered crowds to cause disaster, brutalized the common people, fornicated Khitan foreigners, and trafficked my sisters. Today, they sent officials to write a message to comfort the people. The two thieves were assassinated and died. However, the law The law cannot be violated, the murderer should not be sheltered by the elders, and those who know the truth will be rewarded, and those who do not report it will be guilty of the same crime as the assassin."

The voice of the recitation fell, and there was a burst of applause. As for who and where is the assassin?No one cared at all, the crowd of onlookers chatted in low voices one after another, and some ran away with news for others to hear.

I don't know how many times the recitation sounded over there, stopped on the donkey cart outside the circle, Geng Qing looked at it for a while, let Dachun drive away from here, through the bustling streets, and stopped at the county government office, An Jingsi Armored, dragging a cloak is coming out of it, with a high-spirited face, a youthful look, seeing Geng Qing get off the car, with a smile on his face, he stepped forward quickly and arched his hands: "Brother Geng !"

"An Si, that's not right, I should be called An County Lieutenant." Geng Qing shook his sleeves, raised his hands and bowed in return. Although it was only a temporary replacement, he was not allowed to officially take office after going to the state government.

"Haha. Brother Geng's admiration. The county lord is in the public house right now. Brother Geng will go on his own. I have to go to the camp outside the city to inspect the camp. Farewell!"

The interim county lieutenant has different responsibilities, and naturally there are still many things to deal with. An Jingsi clenched his fists heavily, strode down the stone steps, took the reins from the yamen servant, turned on the horse's back, and arched again. He lowered his hand, raised his whip, and hurried away with a group of soldiers.

Walking inside, the yamen servants and arresters were busy coming and going, and when they saw Geng Qing who came in all the way, they all waved their hands and greeted them.

This made Geng Qing keep bowing his hands and returning the salutes. As for the promotion, let's wait until he sees the county magistrate. At the county magistrate's house, now that Gao Jun is dead, all the official documents have been moved to another house and handed over to An Jingsi for disposal.

The morning sun was pouring down on the window lattice, and the county magistrate Zhao in official robes was stroking his beard and covering his belly, walking in the spacious public house, frowning his two eyebrows that were almost invisible, thinking of something, when he heard Geng Qing calling outside: "See you!" Pass the county magistrate." Only then came back to his senses, the eyes on his round face were almost squeezed into a slit, and he waved repeatedly to welcome him in and sit down.

"You and I are polite, sit down quickly, I just need to find you."

Once Gao Jun dies, he will be the biggest in the yamen. Although the county magistrate is already the biggest, but now he really looks like a county magistrate. Of course, the fat county magistrate still understands who is responsible for all this.

Geng Qing cupped his hands to express his thanks, and sat down to the side, "Master, I wonder if there is anything to discuss about finding a humble job?"

"I heard that the angel sent by the imperial court is from the palace."

　Today is still a chapter. I have seen a doctor today. Let me stay up late and rest more, recover first, and make up the history of the late Tang Dynasty by the way. Think about writing it out in a not very boring way.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)