Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 2608 Where the Stars Are

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, there were six inspection divisions in Nanhai County, Jinli, Wudoukou, Shen'an, Sanjiang, Huangding, and Jiangpu. Each inspection division had one inspector and fifty corvette archers.Among them, the office of Wudoukou Inspection Department is located in Pingzhoubao, [-] miles away from Foshan, and the nearest to Jiujiang is Jiangpu Inspection Department, also known as Ding'anzhai, and the office is located in Longjiang Fort not far away.

Since the Senate took over the power of the Ming Dynasty in Guangdong and Guangxi, the functions of the inspection department have been replaced by the National Army and the township police.The National Army is basically stationed in the county seat and some major inspection departments, while the grassroots police stations are located in the inspection department and several larger markets.

For this inspection, Zhang Xiao reminded that there is no need to notify in advance along the way, firstly to avoid the local "doing homework" in advance, and secondly to reduce the nagging of grassroots organizations.In terms of the ability and number of local cadres in the Senate, they were already unable to do what they wanted to do, and another "visiting inspection" would definitely make a fuss and interfere with local work.

"Woooo..." The long whistle rang through the sky, and the big boat slowly docked at the Caspian Market.

Today is the market day of Jiujiang Daxu. Although the villagers in the market can often see the steam fleet of Australians passing by on the river, it is the first time that a steamship has entered Jiujiang to berth recently, and they are all shocked by this. Attracted by the sound of sirens, they slowly gathered towards the entrance of the market.

Under the command of the captain, the sword-drawing team soldiers with Mini guns ran off the boat in small steps, and stood in line on the shore. The majestic momentum suppressed the curiosity of the villagers, and no one dared to approach.Zhang Xiao and the others got off the boat under the escort of special agents from the Veteran Security Bureau.

"I don't know what these people do..."

"Keep your voice down!" Many onlookers whispered to each other.

Zhang Xiao suddenly felt that he was entering the enemy's country. The atmosphere was not very good, so he cleared his throat and shouted to the villagers: "Folks, don't be alarmed! I am Nan Hai, newly appointed by the Senate of the Great Song Dynasty. Zhang Xiao, the magistrate, came here today to observe the sentiments of the people..."

Hearing what Zhang Xiaobalabala said, the crowd didn't seem to understand.At this time, Zhang Jiayu reminded: "Chief, Lingnan dialect is separated from villages like mountains, so it is better for me to convey it."

Just as Zhang Jiayu was about to speak, a sharp police whistle sounded from behind the crowd. Five people with short haircuts, wearing Australian police uniforms, holding batons in one hand and revolvers in the other pushed the crowd aside and squeezed over.Apparently, the police officers from these grassroots police stations thought that something was wrong here.

The policemen didn't know Zhang Xiao, but the temperament of the group in front of them was extraordinary, and they were escorted by the national army. The sharp-eyed people quickly recognized their immediate superiors from the visiting team, so the short and sturdy policeman in the lead immediately took him away. Gun, stood at attention, performed a standard Fubo military salute, and shouted: "Jiujiangxu Police Station Director Mo Yu, send hello to the chief!"

The rest of the police followed suit.Looking at their crooked salutes and police uniforms that were indescribable, Zhang Xiao secretly sighed in his heart, motioned them to take a break, and said: "Comrades, it's hard work! We are too eye-catching, let's settle down first before talking."

So Mo Yu led the police to clear the way, and led this large investigation team to the police station.

Although Jiujiang Ruins is a big one, it is far less prosperous than Guangzhou City and Foshan at this time. There is no hotel here that can accommodate so many people, so the expedition team brought marching tents.A suitable site was chosen at the edge of the market, and a large-scale camp was quickly set up, complete with all functions.

Zhang Jiayu had just settled down, sitting on the camp bed of her small tent, looking a little depressed. Along the way, Chief Zhang either asked questions about water conservancy or agriculture. The police interrupted, and it really is "a scholar who is useless."

Feeling stuffy, he got out of the tent and walked around the camp to relax.

Zhao Hening finished packing his things, walked out of the tent, saw Zhang Jiayu seemed a little unhappy, stepped forward and asked, "Little boy, why are you so decadent?"

Seeing that it was Zhao Hening, Zhang Jiayu couldn't help her heart beating faster, bowed her head slightly, saluted, and said: "The student claims to be a local and is familiar with the people's conditions, but he failed to solve the chief's worries and doubts along the way. I am really ashamed."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hening felt that Zhang Jiayu was a little dumbfounded, so he comforted him: "Ms. Zhang is famous for being knowledgeable, you just need to study hard."

"Miss Zhao is right!" Zhang Jiayu agreed.

Zhao Hening couldn't get used to the word "Miss", and said: "I come from a poor family, so if you are a Miss or not, just call me Hening."

"This..." Zhang Jiayu hesitated for a while, and said, "Then respect is worse than obedience."

"I'll call you Jiayu!" Zhao Hening still spoke in the same way.

"As you wish."

"The name Jiayu feels a bit earthy."

"It really doesn't sound as good as He Ning."

"Of course, He Ning is the name of the palace of the Song Dynasty..."

The distance between boys and girls is often shortened in the blink of an eye. A handsome man like Zhang Jiayu will either be squeezed out by everyone in Fangcaodi, or become the dream lover of thousands of girls. Zhao Hening couldn't help gossiping and asked quietly: " Jiayu, do you have a girlfriend?"

"What is a girlfriend?" Zhang Jiayu naturally didn't know the concept circulating in Fangcaodi.

"Girlfriend, it's my sweetheart, giggling..." Zhao Hening snickered.

Before getting married, the aboriginal women usually stay out of the door and do not step out of the second door. It is the literal meaning of the word boudoir. Except for the rare opportunities such as temple fairs, they never have contact with men. Naturally, Zhang Jiayu has never dealt with the women in the boudoir. From experience, I don't know what Zhao Hening meant when he asked this question, and said: "Since ancient times, marriages have been ordered by parents and by matchmakers. Now I have neither career nor fame, and I have never considered marriage."

Zhang's family's economic conditions were relatively poor, and the restoration of Guangzhou by the Senate interrupted his original path of imperial examinations. A poor and hopeless scholar, naturally no one would like to have a blind date with him.

"It's so boring, like a piece of wood." Zhao Hening muttered, there are very few men in this era who are not married at Zhang Jiayu's age, either because the family is so poor that others look down on them, or they are disabled or weak. flaws, so it is not easy for her to get to the bottom of it.

It was evening when everything in the camp was set up.During this period, many big households in the vicinity heard that the new Australian county magistrate had brought a team of cadres to the countryside, and they sent their family officials to come, and they all wanted to invite this parent official to live temporarily in the family's mansion or ancestral hall. Treat them well, express your affection, and get closer to the Australians.However, Zhang Xiao and Li Yao'er excused the tiredness of the journey and politely declined the kindness of the gentry, leaving only the melons, fruits, fish and poultry they sent.

At night, the bonfires in the camp were crackling, and the Nationalist soldiers on patrol were still moving around.Zhang Xiao looked at the crescent moon in the sky with his hands behind his back. He had just finished arranging the tasks for the accompanying cadres for the next day. Before he felt sleepy, he walked to the edge of the camp.

Without the pollution of neon lights in the cities of the old time and space, and the sulfur and nitrogen pollutants and dust from the huge chimneys of the industrial towns, the stars all over the sky look extraordinarily clear and bright, reflecting each other in the contiguous fish ponds, making people feel like they are in the Yu Xinghai is like looking up at the Milky Way in the sky when I was a child, fascinated.

"The starry sky tonight is so beautiful!" Zhang Xiao said to himself.The past of the old time and space flashed through his mind like an old movie. He touched his pocket with his hand, took out a ten-hole harmonica, moistened his lips, and a melody he knew by heart slowly sounded.

Zhao Hening had just finished brushing his teeth, and when he heard the slightly sad melody outside, his curiosity arose, so he quietly ran out of the tent, came to the tent where Zhang Jiayu was, and whispered: "Jiayu, Jiayu, come with me to see Look."

Zhang Jiayu raised the curtain, a little surprised, and asked: "I haven't slept so late, what are you looking at?"

"Hush... Listen." Zhao Hening put his finger to his mouth, motioning him to keep his voice down.

"Crack!" There was an unusual sound behind him.

"Who!" Zhang Xiao turned his head vigilantly, subconsciously touched the holster with one hand, fixed his eyes, and then relaxed, and said, "You two children, what are you doing sneakily?"

It turned out that Zhao Hening, who came following the sound, accidentally stepped on a dry branch that fell to the ground.Zhao Hening was a little embarrassed, walked over slowly, and said, "Teacher, I was attracted by a beautiful and slightly sad piano sound."

Zhang Jiayu thought that Zhang Xiao would reprimand the two men and women for not getting close, and it would be even shameless to go out to camp together at night, but Zhang Xiao said, "Go to bed early, we are not here to travel, the next task is important."

"Teacher, this piece is really nice. I've never heard you play it before. What's it called?" Zhao Hening asked.

""Ru Yi Yu'er Song"." Zhang Xiao had nothing to do with her, and replied flatly.

"Yu'er...Yu'er..." Zhao Hening paced back and forth, pretending to be thinking, and suddenly stopped beside Zhang Jiayu, and said, "Could it be this——Yu'er!"

"Nonsense!" Zhang Xiao said pretending to be angry.

Zhang Jiayu said: "I heard this song is melodious and lingering, full of affection, it seems to have the meaning of '24 Bridges with a moonlit night, where can jade people teach me to play Xiao', it seems that the chief is thinking of an old friend."

Hearing what Zhang Jiayu said, Zhao Hening's gossip was immediately aroused, "Teacher, who is your old friend?"

"That's not a question for a child to ask."

"Oh, don't ask if you don't ask..." Zhao Hening was a little frustrated, but then said: "It's rare that the teacher has a good mood tonight, why don't you play another song "Where the Stars Are"? You taught us before, and I will sing it!"

"Okay." Zhang Xiao readily agreed.

With the prelude of the harmonica playing, Zhao Hening sang the lyrics stepping on the beat: "Kun no shadow, star no ように. Asa ni melting けて, 消えていく..."

The stars tonight are the footnotes of loneliness.

(End of this chapter)