Bab 17: More Difficult Than Reaching The Sky

The county magistrate noticed Wan Hezhi's impatience and said straight to the point, "Two days ago, bandits attacked five villages under Chunshan Township's jurisdiction, killed more than a hundred villagers, and kidnapped countless women and children. The local magistrate of Chunshan Township sent an urgent message to this official, hoping Wangye can handle this matter."

After listening to the report, Wan Hezhi sighed, spread his hands helplessly, and said, "County Magistrate, do you think I can handle this matter?"

After hearing his question, the county magistrate finally raised his head and looked at the young Li Junwang. The county magistrate looked at his helpless look and said, "Wangye, eradicating the bandit dens is indeed not an easy task."

Wan Hezhi smiled and said, "Since you know that eradicating bandit dens is not an easy task, what are you doing here?"

The county magistrate did not answer, so Wan Hezhi said again, "This King has no army and no money to hire people. How can this King eradicate the bandits that have taken root in the north?"

Seeing that the county magistrate still didn't speak, Wan Hezhi asked with a smile, "How about you submit a memorial? This King will help you send it to the Imperial Court."

After saying that, Wan Hezhi filled the wine cup and slowly drank the high-quality wine. Kneeling under the main seat, the county magistrate clenched his hands until his knuckles turned white.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Since this is the case, then this official will prepare a memorial and send it to Wangye. Please ask Wangye to submit the memorial to the Imperial Court."

Getting what he wanted, Wan Hezhi waved his hand and said, "Give the memorial to Su Gong Gong. Don't disturb this King with this trivial matter anymore."

"Yes, Wangye. Then this official will take my leave first."

After the county magistrate took one last look at Wan Hezhi, he stood up, saluted Wan Hezhi, and then left the main hall. After leaving the main hall, the county magistrate looked up and saw that the sky was covered with dark clouds.

'It seems that I have no choice but to send the urgent memorial directly to the Imperial Court. If the bandits dare to be so bold, they must have something to do with Li Junwang. Hoping Li Junwang to help me submit the memorial is more difficult than reaching the sky.'

With this in mind, the county magistrate quickened his pace and left Li Junwang's Mansion. Back in Yun Mountain, Duan Yixin and Chi Xinru discovered several types of medicinal herbs after leaving the river.

After several hours of searching inside the forest, they had filled their bamboo baskets and were having lunch. Eating pancakes given by Madam Chi, the two of them sat under a large ancient tree.

Looking at the medicinal herbs on the bamboo basket, Chi Xinru asked, "Xin Xin, can these weeds and flowers really cure diseases?"

Duan Yixin took a bite of the cold pancake and said, "Yes. Although they look like weeds and wildflowers, these medicinal herbs are commonly used to treat colds, fevers, and external wounds. Because they look so ordinary, most people don't recognize them."

After hearing what she said, Chi Xinru fell into deep thought. After a long silence, she asked, "Xin Xin, didn't you say you wanted to make money?"

Duan Yixin nodded and said, "Mhm, I need to buy some daily necessities and food. I also need to repair my house before it starts raining."

After saying that, Duan Yixin turned to look at Chi Xinru and asked, "Why do you ask? Do you have a job for me?"

Chi Xinru chuckled and asked, "Where can I find a job for you?"

"Then why are you asking me this?" Duan Yixin asked in confusion.

Chi Xinru grinned at her friend and said, "I think you should try selling these medicinal herbs. I remember the last time I visited the town, Xi Qian Medicine Hall and Chang Shou Phamarcy were buying medicinal herbs from some villagers."

Duan Yixin thought for a while and said, "Since they want to buy medicinal herbs, then I will go to the town to have a look after processing the medicinal herbs."

Chi Xinru nodded and said, "If my elder brother can hunt some animals today, then we can go to the town with him tomorrow morning. Otherwise, it would be just the two of us."

"All right."

After the two finished lunch, they continued to collect more medicinal herbs. Three hours later, Chi Xinru looked up at the sun in the sky and said, "It's already two o'clock afternoon. We should go back now."

Duan Yixin looked at her bamboo basket filled with medicinal herbs and asked, "What about your elder brother?"

"I will leave a sign at the entrance of the forest. As soon as he sees it, he will know that we have gone home." Chi Xinru said as she walked back to the entrance of the forest.

Thinking that the siblings had their own secret codes, Duan Yixin followed Chi Xinru without saying a word. At the entrance of the forest, Chi Xinru picked up a stone from the ground and scratched a nearby tree with it.

After she was done, she threw the stone away, patted the dirt off her hands, and said, "It's done. When my elder brother saw this, he would know that we had gone back and would not wait for us."

Duan Yixin glanced at the drawing on the tree trunk, nodded, and followed Chi Xinru back to Yunshan Village. When they were near Duan Yixin's house, they saw a group of people standing outside her house.

Chi Xinru recognized a few people in the group and said, "Xin Xin, those are people from the Duan family."

Duan Yixin followed Chi Xinru's gaze and saw Duan Sida and his wife in the crowd. Thinking of what happened yesterday, she sneered, "Let's go and see what they want."