Chapter 197 New Year Festival (Part )

Most of the visitors were merchants who needed to travel along the trade routes governed by Qianyuan Wuzhai. These trade routes were not limited to the roads around Qianyuan Mountain, but covered all roads in Yongning Prefecture except for the official roads.

Some people may say that since there is an official road, why should we take these Wuzhai roads?

What? Do you think there are no taxes on official roads?
What’s more, some of Wuzhai’s trade routes are even flatter and wider than official roads.

Therefore, when they heard that Qianyuan Wuzhai had a young leader, the merchants sent their disciples or housekeepers to visit and wish them a happy new year, and to inquire about whether there would be any changes in the subsequent visits to the mountains.

Zhang Mu was also very tactful and gave everyone a reassurance, saying that everything was as usual, which made everyone feel relieved.

However, among these merchants, there was one who surprised him.

Yuanwei Escort Agency, Instructor Wang!

When he saw the other person, Zhang Mu’s memories of Chen Feng unconsciously flooded into his mind.

Yaoji remembered that when he first traveled through time, he was an accountant at Yuanwei Escort Agency. Later, he was framed and had to fight back, showing his talent in martial arts. He was then recommended to the escort team of the escort agency for training.

At that time, his enlightenment teacher was Teacher Wang.

Counting it down, it was more than a year ago.

“Master Wang, long time no see!” Zhang Mu stood up and saluted Master Wang as a disciple.

Instructor Wang quickly dodged to the side and said he didn’t dare.

He also looked at Zhang Mu, his eyes full of emotion.

The apprentice who needed his protection, the little guy who tried hard to show off his abilities to get rewards, is now the young leader of a martial arts village.

On the way up the mountain, he heard that Zhang Mu was now in the late stage of Yangye Realm, and even killed three leaders of another martial arts village alone, which directly led to the destruction of that martial arts village.

This made the old man, Teacher Wang, feel as if it were a dream or something unreal.

But the facts are right in front of me, and I can’t help but believe it.

Zhang Mu helped Instructor Wang to a chair and asked with a smile, “Is everything okay at the escort agency?”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Instructor Wang nodded repeatedly.

Ever since Zhang Mu angrily beheaded the county magistrate Zhou Yangyou in the street, in order to avoid causing trouble for the escort agency, Zhang Mu has cut off contact with the escort agency.

However, Wuzhai naturally knew the connection between Zhang Mu and the escort agency, and not only waived the mountain visit fee, but also took good care of him. As a result, the reputation of the Yuanwei Escort Agency became even greater than before.

“Mrs. Zhuang was delighted for a long time when she heard you became the young leader,” Instructor Wang said softly. “Let me tell you, if it’s convenient, you can go back and take a look. The escort agency can still withstand a little wind and rain.”

Zhang Mu’s mind flashed with the image of that elegant and gentle older sister. His eyes softened and he smiled and nodded, “Sure.”

He chatted with Instructor Wang for a few more words. Instructor Wang was not a clueless person. He knew that Zhang Mu was very busy that day, so he took the initiative to say goodbye.

After seeing off Instructor Wang, Zhang Mu met more than a dozen waves of people one after another. Among them were merchants and envoys sent from other martial arts camps.

Even the Shuangyue Martial Village sent a leader, saying they were here to wish him a happy new year, but he kept looking at Zhang Mu as if he was trying to figure out something. Zhang Mu didn’t take it seriously and just exchanged glances with Xuan Ji. Soon the messenger was scratched on the face because he disturbed a cat.

As for why a ninth-level Tongmai master can’t deal with a cat?

Naturally, someone told him that the cat was the young leader’s favorite, and if even a hair of the cat fell off, it would be considered as a provocation.

If you want to die, just hit it.

By the time everyone had met, it was already dark.

When Zhang Mu walked out of the meeting room, he saw that lights had been hung everywhere in the stronghold. Many people from the back mountain had been taken to the stronghold by the soldiers. There were sounds of laughter and frolicking everywhere, and the atmosphere of the New Year broke the solemnity of the stronghold.

Wei Wuyou walked up to Zhang Mu with a smile and said, “Young Master, shall we start the banquet?”

Zhang Mu heard this and nodded with a smile: “Let’s start the banquet!”

Immediately, loud fireworks shot up into the sky and then exploded, lighting up the Wuzhai.

At this time, the Wuzhai was already filled with large tables. People sat around the tables, and the wine and food that had been arranged in advance were brought up like flowing water, filling the tables.

……

Old man Liu was sitting at the table, looking at the delicious food and wine, when he suddenly felt a strong soreness in his nose.

He was originally from He’an County, Yongning Prefecture. His family had run a winery for generations and he lived a pretty good life.

But who would have thought that the secret recipe for his family’s winemaking was coveted by the county magistrate’s brother-in-law. After failing to force him to buy it at a low price, he found a dying man to attack. After the man died, he insisted that he died from drinking his own wine. He also urged the man’s family to file a lawsuit, and the son of Liu Laohan, who was in charge of the business, was imprisoned. When Liu Laohan learned of this, he did not dare to hesitate any longer and delivered his family’s secret winemaking recipe to the county magistrate’s brother-in-law that night, thinking that this would put an end to the matter.

But he still underestimated the world.

The county magistrate’s brother-in-law can put people in jail, but he wants to release them?

Who doesn’t need to be taken care of, jailers, yamen runners, constables, prison clerks, legal advisors, and county magistrates?
What? The whole government is playing house with you?
Even if the county magistrate came in person, it wouldn’t be acceptable!
Then an ironic scene occurred.

The county magistrate’s brother-in-law, the main culprit, suddenly became a distant relative of Old Man Liu, instructing Old Man Liu on how to handle the situation and who to contact…

In the end, Old Man Liu’s son was rescued, but all the gold, silver, houses, land… in the house were taken away.

The house is ruined!
In desperation, Old Man Liu brought his wife and son to the provincial capital to make a living by relying on his skills, but the little food he had with him was stolen by a group of refugees on the way.

Fortunately, a month ago, they met the leader of Qianyuan Mountain who recruited refugees and took them in. When they heard that he could make wine, they valued him even more.

After going up the mountain, he found out that his son had a military destiny and was selected as a soldier in the mountain stronghold. His life gradually got better again.

only……

Old man Liu’s vision began to blur, and he finally couldn’t hold back his tears.

“Brother, what’s wrong?” Another family member of a soldier sitting next to Old Man Liu asked hurriedly.

Old man Liu wiped his tears and said, “Brother, I went up the mountain a month ago!”

“I thought I was going to starve to death on the roadside, but luckily I met a brave man from the mountains who rescued me and my son!”

“But…but…my partner is gone, just…just one day away!”

“If she could have held on for just one more day, our family could have celebrated the New Year together today…”

Hearing what Old Man Liu said, the family member’s eyes were red and he nodded heavily: “My condolences!”

“But brother, among those who went up the mountain, every family was forced to die because of this damn world.”

“We must look forward. The children are still alive, aren’t they?”

“As long as the children are here, the incense will be here, and we will be worthy of our ancestors!”

Old man Liu nodded, glanced at his son who was drinking with his comrades in the distance, and forced a smile.

“In the past, everyone in the county said that Wuzhai was a bandit. I think it’s the imperial court that is the bandit!”

“If our leader can become the emperor, the young leader can become the crown prince, and Chief Lu and Chief Wei can all become prime ministers and generals, then the people will have a good life!”

As Old Man Liu was speaking, he suddenly heard a commotion, and then he saw everyone around him standing up one by one.

Old man Liu also stood up and saw that it was a young man walking towards them with a wine glass in his hand.

“Young village master!”

“Young village master!”

“Young village master!”

A series of calls rang out, reminding Old Man Liu who the young man in front of him was!
At this time, Zhang Mu raised his wine glass and said with a smile: “Everyone, let’s live a good life now that we are on the mountain.”

“Happy New Year!”

Others also raised their glasses and shouted, “Happy New Year!”

“May the young master’s military fortune flourish!”

“May the young master’s military fortune flourish!”

“May the young master’s military fortune flourish!”

Among them, Old Man Liu shouted the loudest!
……

After a brief walk, Zhang Mu returned to the meeting room where the leaders were drinking.

Zhang Mu stopped at the door of the meeting room, turned around, and looked at the happy scene all over the mountain. He couldn’t help but curl up the corners of his mouth…

(End of this chapter)