Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Fine, never mind!

Fang Zheng Yi tugged at the corner of his mouth and quieted down.

Emperor Jing fell into thought again: "What you said does make sense."

"Guo Banban, you shall stay here on Our behalf to inspect, keep your eyes wide open, and look carefully to see where the problem lies!"

Guo Tianyang said in astonishment: "This humble servant inspects on Your behalf... Does that mean you are preparing to return to the capital?"

"No, We are going directly to Pingwan County for an unannounced visit!" Emperor Jing said faintly, "If the trend of deception and fabrication persists, We think that if Pingwan County also has such a trend, it would be good to catch them off guard!"

Fang Zheng Yi slowly opened his mouth wide.

Isn't this absurd! The grand ceremony I arranged was all for naught...

But on second thought, it seems good too. If a grand welcome awaits, wouldn't I be digging my own grave?

Before Fang Zheng Yi could speak, Guo Tianyang became anxious: "How can Your Majesty do this? Even if you are not afraid of danger, someone must serve you on the road."

"What service do We need from you? Besides, isn't Zheng Yi here? It's only a little over two days' journey from here to Pingwan County, it won't take long."

"But Patrolman Fang, he doesn't know how to serve people! Your Majesty, why not take the team with you, and we set off for Pingwan County immediately? The situation here can be investigated later by sending someone else."

Emperor Jing raised his hand: "No, it's not the same! The reports sent up may be vastly different from reality, and this trip is just right to see it clearly."

"Besides, Zheng Yi always handles matters properly, We are very relieved, right?"

Seeing Emperor Jing looking at him, Fang Zheng Yi squeezed out a flattering smile: "Yes!"

Yes?

Yes?

Emperor Jing and Guo Tianyang were both puzzled.

What kind of response is that?

Emperor Jing didn't think much about it, but Guo Tianyang carefully pondered it.

The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became... He seemed to see a black hole, deeply attracting him.

Yes...?

This word, this pronunciation, is truly profound!

He has been a servant all his life, yet his servility is not even comparable to Fang Zheng Yi's single 'Yes'?

This talent is truly terrifying... Yes...

Guo Tianyang was still immersed in the mysteries of language when Emperor Jing's voice came again: "You can go back now."

"But... if they don't see Your Majesty, they will definitely look for you, right? What should this humble servant say?"

"Just say that Your Majesty has found a farmer's house to stay in, everything is fine, and now wants to experience the life of the people closely, and doesn't want to be disturbed, and will return in a couple of days. If you say so, even if they are worried, they will believe it, and that should buy us a day or two." Fang Zheng Yi said.

Emperor Jing nodded, and Guo Tianyang looked conflicted: "Is this really okay?"

"Go, does Our word no longer work?"

Guo Tianyang sighed deeply helplessly: "Yes!"

"What 'Yes, Yes'? You're so old, and now you don't even know how to speak?" Emperor Jing frowned.

"I... Yes, this humble servant will go now."

Guo Tianyang pouted aggrievedly, then turned and left.

......

Inside the house, Wang Erzhu was constantly complaining to Zhang Biao.

"Brother, I knew you've eaten a lot of good food just by looking at you. Unlike me, my life is hard. You don't know how I've survived this year."

"I'm just guarding these few orchards left at home, but they can't fetch a good price in Xinzhang County, so I can only sell them to those wealthy households at a low price, and then watch them sell them at a high price."

"I'm living off my savings every day now. If this batch of apples can't be sold at a good price this year, all the savings at home will be used up, and I'll be waiting to starve."

Zhang Biao was a very good listener and rarely spoke.

But when it came to starving, Brother Biao finally spoke: "Then why don't you go out and sell them? Why are you guarding this place?"

Wang Erzhu said helplessly: "Our ancestors have been guarding this small plot of land for generations. Not to mention whether I dare to leave, I don't even have a wife to watch over my house for me."

"If you don't even have a wife, how did your father have you?"

How did my father have me....

Wang Erzhu fell into confusion.

That's right, I'm a bachelor, how could I exist?

...

No! I was led astray by this big fool!

When he came back to his senses, Wang Erzhu shouted: "I'm a bachelor, but my dad isn't!"

"Ah, right, continue."

Wang Erzhu adjusted his emotions: "What if my orchard is taken over by someone when I go out? Where would I go to reason?"

"What's the problem? Just take it back when you come back."

Wang Erzhu glared at him and didn't want to speak anymore, for fear of affecting his IQ if he continued.

He shut his mouth, but Zhang Biao spoke again: "After saying so much, you're just timid, afraid to run outside, everything else is fake."

Wang Erzhu's face was full of bitterness, he hesitated to speak, and finally let out a long sigh: "Yes, you're right. The farthest place I've ever been to is Xinzhang County... I've never been anywhere else. I'm afraid, afraid of getting lost, afraid of being robbed, afraid of being scammed."

Zhang Biao said: "You're thinking too much, no one will even look at you. Even if I were a robber, I'd feel unlucky to rob you."

"Big guy, did you have to be so blunt?" Wang Erzhu only felt like crying.

"I used to be poor too, but later my life got better after I went out and walked around often."

"Have you never encountered anything?"

"The first time I went far away, I encountered bandits robbing on the road."

Wang Erzhu's heart tightened: "What happened later?"

"I robbed the bandits."

Fang Zheng Yi pushed the door open and, seeing the two chatting hotly, directly interrupted the conversation: "Let's go, to Pingwan County."

"Oh." Zhang Biao got up.

Wang Erzhu hurriedly asked: "You're going to Pingwan County?"

"Yes, this lousy place is probably not suitable for doing business, so we're going directly to Pingwan County to make a fortune," Fang Zheng Yi said.

Zhang Biao pointed at Wang Erzhu: "He wants to go too, to sell apples there, they don't fetch a good price here."

"I didn't..." Wang Erzhu was dumbfounded, never expecting Zhang Biao to make the decision for him directly.

Fang Zheng Yi looked at him strangely: "You want to go? Then let's go together, do you have a cart?"

"Uh.. uh? I have a donkey cart." Wang Erzhu said timidly.

"Then bring the apples, let's take the cart together, so I don't have to go find a horse."

"Is this appropriate?" Wang Erzhu said softly, feeling somewhat thrilled for some reason!

Following the big guy on the road, there's definitely no danger.

Fang Zheng Yi walked around the room and smiled: "What's inappropriate? You can't sell your stuff for a good price here anyway, just come back after earning more in Pingwan County, you yourself said it's profitable there, it's only a matter of two or three days anyway."

"Besides, look at your house, there are only two bowls, and one of them is broken! Even thieves would find it unlucky, it's just right to go with us, we'll earn some silver there and share some with you, just as a thank you for telling us so much, how about it?"

"Okay! You guys wait for me a while... I'll prepare and we'll go together?"