Chapter 39 Return to Xiahe County

"Brother Yue, thank you."

Just when Fang Yue was about to leave, the voice of Widow Yu rang out.

A graceful figure came over, her eyes full of gratitude.

For more than a year, Fang Yue had taken good care of them and helped them through the most difficult times.

She was always grateful to Fang Yue.

"Nothing, you're welcome."

Fang Yue smiled, and then left.

~~~~~~

Three days later, there was still ten days before the Wu Xiucai exam.

Fang Yue couldn't wait any longer, so he decided to go to Xiahe County first.

Because he could only register in Xiahe County to take the exam, whether it was identity verification or registration information,

This time he traveled alone, and his speed was much faster than when he went with Fang Hu before.

According to his estimate, it would only take about half the time to get there.

He set off early in the morning.

"Zhi'er, don't be stubborn when you take the exam this time. No matter what, you must protect yourself." Chen held Fang Yue's hand and said solemnly.

"Okay, I know, mother. I will protect myself." Fang Yue promised.

"Brother, I believe in you." Fang Lan encouraged.

Finally, it was Fang's father. He patted Fang Yue on the shoulder: "Take this and come back soon."

Fang's father took out a long knife, which was newly made.

Ironware is valuable these days. How could farmers be willing to make swords? Such a knife can at least make three or four hoes.

And the price is far more than a few hoes.

Obviously, this is for Fang Yue to use for self-defense.

Taking the long knife, Fang Yue nodded, and his eyes swept over his family in this world:

"Dad, mother, big brother, sister, you don't have to see me off. I will be back in a few days."

It's only been a year, and Fang's father's back, which was always tall and strong in his memory, seems to bend a little.

Mother Chen's temples are stained with a little frost, and a few wrinkles have climbed up the corners of her eyes.

After bowing deeply to his parents, Fang Yue carried the package prepared by Chen and the bow and arrow he usually used for hunting and headed for Xiahe County.

Fang Yue was very fast and disappeared at the end of the road in a short while.

The Fang family members turned around and went home.

"Mom, why are you crying?" Fang Cheng asked when he saw tears in Chen's eyes.

"What are you crying for? I'm not reluctant to leave my son. I just squinted my eyes because of the wind and sand!" Chen cried and hit Fang's father on the shoulder.

Fang's father looked at Chen with grievance, but he didn't say anything.

It was obviously the eldest son Fang Cheng who asked the question just now.

Why hit him?

But seeing his wife's sad look, he didn't dare to answer.

~~~~~~~

The next day, Fang Yue arrived at the foot of Baishi Mountain.

Arriving here, it was considered that he had walked more than half of the way and was not far from Xiahe County.

If you climb up this Baishi Mountain, you can already vaguely see the outline of Xiahe County.

According to the current speed, by the evening, you will almost reach Xiahe County.

Since they are not far away, Fang Yue is ready to find a sheltered place to eat some dry food before setting off.

He found a clean big blue stone to sit down and took off his bag.

He took out the pumpkin cake made by his mother, put a pickled cucumber in it, drank the mountain spring water in the gourd, shook his cheeks, and enjoyed it beautifully.

The pumpkin cake is a little sweet, and the pickled cucumber is crisp and delicious.

At this time, a faint voice sounded.

"Help, who will save us!"

Fang Yue immediately became alert. It sounded like a girl, with a weak voice, pitiful and panic.

Soon, he saw two girls with messy clothes appearing not far from the road. Behind the two girls, several skinny men with sallow faces and wielding hoes and sickles were chasing behind.

Judging from the clothes they wore, the two girls lived a comfortable life.

Their fair skin and delicate appearance further proved this point.

I felt pity for the weak appearance of the girls being chased.

"Humph, in broad daylight, under the bright sky, you dare to commit a crime, ask my fist if it will agree!"

At this moment, someone shouted this famous sentence that has been passed down through the ages.

Fang Yue secretly exclaimed in his heart, where did this "Cheng Yaojin" come from? This is stealing the show!

Then, a handsome young man wearing green clothes and riding a horse galloped from the other side of the road.

The young man obviously practiced martial arts. He galloped over, passed the two women, and rushed directly into the crowd.

The poplar stick in his hand was either pointed, swept, or raised.

In just a few breaths, seven or eight men were knocked to the ground, howling miserably.

"Who are you? Why are you chasing them?" The young man asked condescendingly.

"Hmph, if you want to kill me, Wang Er, you are not a man if you frown. But, is it wrong for us to want to live?"

The sturdy man in the lead said with his neck stiff, and then he continued to talk a lot.

It was nothing more than the tax increase this time, which made them, who were not rich to begin with, even worse. They originally thought that they could get through it by gritting their teeth.

However, the tax collector surnamed Li took the opportunity to exploit them and tried to seize their family's land.

As a last resort, they could only beat and kill one of them and fled into the mountains.

In order to eat and survive, they robbed along the way.

Fang Yue listened to the side, but he thought in his heart.

Sure enough, since ancient times, it has been said that the innkeepers should be killed even if they are innocent, and there is also a saying that the little devils are difficult to deal with.

What officials force the people to rebel, many times it is these clerks who take advantage of the issue and enrich themselves to make trouble and do things to the extreme.

Compared with the men here, the yamen runners who collect taxes in their Daliushu Village seem to be good people.

It is really sad.

"In this case, why don't you go and sue the officials!" asked the man in blue.

"Sue the officials!" The farmers who were knocked to the ground looked at each other for a while, and they didn't seem to expect the man in blue to ask such a question.

Officials protect each other, who can they sue!

"Humph, forget it, go away."

The man in blue looked at the reactions of these people, and seemed to come back to his senses, and then waved his hand with some boredom.

~~~~~~~

Fang Yue had also rested at this time.

He stood up and didn't look at the man in green anymore. He turned around and headed for Xiahe County.

After walking for another six or seven hours, Fang Yue had already seen the city wall of Xiahe County.

Because he was a disciple of the White Tiger Boxing Gym, he didn't have to pay the entrance fee, which saved him a little money and he entered the city.

Originally, Fang Hu wanted him to live in Uncle Zhang's house, but Fang Yue didn't want to trouble anyone, and of course he didn't want to see Zhang Shu.

So he just found an inn in the city and stayed there.