Go back to ancient times to engage in sideline business

"what!"

There was thunder on the ground, Tang Zhong only felt his scalp tighten, and the remaining alcohol immediately dissipated.

"What happened? Aunt Gu, don't worry, just speak slowly."

Tang Zhong helped Aunt Gu to the back of the cart and sat down, patted her on the back to make her feel better, and Uncle Tang hurried over.

The hearts of the two brothers have already reached their throats.

"When I came back from the field at noon, I didn't see Xiao Meng. It's all my fault that I didn't pay attention at the time. I just thought she was looking for big girls to play with."

When Aunt Gu talked about the scene at that time, she was anxious and regretful, feeling uncomfortable, and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.

"It wasn't until the two girls came back in the afternoon that I didn't see Xiaomeng. I started to worry and went out to find someone. However, I searched all over the village and outside the village, but there was no trace. I went to ask several families in the village. They said that they saw Xiaomeng heading towards the county along the country road early in the morning!"

"I searched all the way here, but still haven't found her. I'm sorry, Xiao Zhong, I didn't pay attention to Xiao Meng. I'm sorry, I'm all to blame!"

After speaking, Aunt Gu burst into tears and sobbed uncontrollably.

There was a thunderbolt in Tang Zhong's mind, and all kinds of bad speculations came up in an instant.

Lost, accidental, human teeth...every kind of ending is something he dare not accept.

Before going out, Tang Meng lost his temper with himself, would it be...

This idea was only born for a moment, but he immediately dismissed it.No, she is not the kind of child who sticks to the horns.At this time, it is important to find someone, and you must not think wildly and get confused!

Tang Laosan was quick-witted, and immediately looked at his elder brother: "It's getting dark, where should we look?"

"Go, report to the officer!"

Hearing Tang Zhong's words, Aunt Gu raised her head, "Yes! It's important to report to the official! Look at my brain, I only care about the blind man groping around and looking for it, wasting an entire afternoon in vain!"

"Aunt Gu, please rest first, we will go to the county government office and ask the magistrate Lin and the police to go out and find someone!"

Aunt Gu walked the mountain road for more than ten miles, and was frightened all the way, and now she was so tired that she didn't have much energy left.

Tang Zhong asked Gao Zhang to take Aunt Gu and Younger Sister to drive the mule cart back to Gao's house for a rest, while he hurried forward with Tang Laosan.

The sun sinking in the west stretched the shadow of a pair of stone lions on Qingniu Street.Behind the stone lion is the closed vermilion gate.

The knee-high threshold on the steps, the door panel more than ten feet high, and five copper nails on the door all show the majesty of the Qingjiang County Government.

Tang Zhong and Tang Shu ran all the way from the east of the city to the gate of the county government office. Before they could catch their breath, they rushed up the stairs and knocked on the door for help.

"Brother servant, open the door quickly, someone in our family is missing!"

"Open the door! I am Tang Zhong, the gatekeeper of Dongcheng City. I have something important to meet with Lin Zhixian!"

The two brothers slapped on the door for a long time, but there was still no response from inside.

Tang Zhong glanced to the side, and his eyes fell on a drum erected on a bracket in the corner of the wall.

Regardless of whether he was wronged or not, he immediately went over to take down the drumstick, swung his arms and hit it hard.

Boom!Boom!Boom!

The grievance drum, which had not been heard in the city for a long time, sounded in the streets under the twilight.The heavy drum beat caused several passers-by to stop.

However, it is different from the perception that the drums of grievances and the promotion of the government office are different. After the drums, the gate of the county office is still closed, and no official sent out to inquire.

After a while, a passer-by finally couldn't see him, and walked up to him and said cautiously: "Xiu Mu, the magistrate of Lin County during the Chinese New Year, the servants below will not be honest at all, so they will go home and stay. If you encounter something urgent , or quickly think of another way!"

other way?Shouldn't the existence of the government be the most powerful backing for the people when they encounter difficulties?

Tang Zhong clenched his five fingers tightly and punched the county government gate hard.

He angrily threw the drumstick in his hand aside, grabbed Tang Laosan's arm, "Go! Go to the East City Gate!"

Today, Zhao Li and Lao Zhang are on duty at the east gate.

Although it is not considered winter after the new year, but the spring is cold and the wind is strong at the city gate. If they are not preparing to close the city gate, the two should still be hiding on the tower to warm up at this time.

During these days around Chinese New Year, all the big officials and small officials in the city are resting and taking a bath. It is estimated that there are not many people in the county who are inseparable from the hard work of guarding the city gate like the city gate guard.

To be able to pretend to stay on the city tower is considered to be devoted to one's duty.

Lao Zhang was rubbing his hands at this time, urging Zhao Li to close the city gate quickly, so that he could go back to the tower and continue to warm up.Seeing Tang Zhong approaching from a distance, he shut his mouth quickly and moved back timidly.

Tang Zhong was so anxious now that he didn't have any extra thoughts to worry about other things, so he went straight to Zhao Li.

"Did you see a five-year-old girl when you were guarding the city gate today. She was wearing a gray gown, with two buns on her head, about as high as my chest. By the way, she must have entered the city alone! "

"This..." Zhao Li stayed on the tower for a whole day, and only came down twice when opening and closing the city gate.The sun in the sky didn't even look at it a few times, so how could I see a little girl.

Zhao Li shook his head, but still wanted to try his best to help.

"What happened?"

"My sister is lost, and it is very likely that she has entered the city. If she enters the city, she will definitely pass through the east gate."

"Don't worry, I'll go find it with you!"

Seeing that Zhao Li was about to leave, Lao Zhang took a few steps forward to dissuade him: "After a cup of tea, it's time to close the city gate. Where are you going now?"

"Anyway, Hu Tou'er is not here, so it doesn't matter if the door closes half an hour later. I'll take them outside the city to find someone, and I'll be back in a while!"

Regardless of what Lao Zhang said later, Zhao Li took the Tang family brothers with him and strode out of the city.

The city gate will be locked soon, and now is the last chance to find someone outside the city.No matter how likely Tang Meng is still outside the city, he should try his best to search for it now.

The three men divided into three groups, Zhao Li turned to the left and searched around the pier, Tang Laosan turned to the right to go to the direction of the farmland, and Tang Zhong followed the road back to the village to check along the road.

The three agreed that regardless of whether they had clues or not, they would return to meet outside the east city gate in half an hour.

The country road is facing the eastern sky, and the heavy ink color has almost completely dyed the sky, leaving only a little light in the direction behind.

As the sun sets, the nights of early spring are as cold as the severe winter, and the biting coolness sweeps across the earth again, and the moist river wind blows on the face, making people's teeth tremble.

Night was approaching, and there were already no pedestrians on the country road.Tang Zhong paid attention to every ridge and pothole, but the more he walked forward, the more uneasy he felt.

Strong regret lingers in my heart, getting stronger and stronger.

I shouldn't have restrained her in the morning, and I shouldn't have left her to take other siblings into the city.

How about rough behavior?So what if you don't follow the rules?As long as the eldest sister can come back safe and sound, no matter what she wants to do in the future, I will follow her.

Saying that she doesn't look like a girl, how can he be a competent elder brother?He is the elder brother in the family, the only reliance of the three younger siblings, but he has never been able to fulfill his elder brother's responsibilities.

People in the village, all the dolls who can walk, have begun to learn to help the family share the housework.

These days, I have been busy with chores, and I haven't thought much about my family at all.

The younger sisters ran all over the mountain before they remembered the teaching rules, and the younger brothers were bullied before they thought of protecting their families.

Tang Zhong, oh Tang Zhong, if I put more thought into my younger brothers and sisters before, it would not have turned into the situation I am today.

I hope that my sister is waiting for me somewhere now, safe and sound.

Tang Zhong muttered in his heart, but the next moment, his eyes widened, and he walked quickly towards a clump of reeds beside the road.

A short red rope is hanging on the dry and folded reed leaves in front of him.

……

"You called us over, did you find something?"

"Second Brother, this is... Big Sister's headband!"

The three reunited in one place, centered on this clump of reeds, and looked around again.

Tang Zhong pushed aside the reeds and looked for it by the river. After walking dozens of steps, he saw two small footprints on a soft sandy ground.

What made him even more disturbed was that the direction of the footprints was exactly Qingjiang.

But on the huge river beach, except for the whimpering wind and the boundless pebble beach, no one can be seen.

The three of them searched for a long time along the Qingjiang River, up and down the river beach, until the stars were shining above their heads, but they still found nothing.

Seeing Tang Zhong's serious expression, Uncle Tang explained, "Maybe, maybe she just passed by the river, and now she has entered the city."

So best, otherwise...

Tang Zhong didn't dare to think about it any further.

It was getting late, and there was a faint shout coming from the direction of the city gate.

It is not a big deal if no one pays attention to the city gate being delayed for a while.But if the officers and soldiers who watch the night find out and pursue them, the punishment will not be light.

Zhao Li didn't dare to procrastinate any longer, so he hurriedly called the Tang family brothers to go back.

Old Zhang at the gate of the city has long been an ant on the hot pot. He saw the lanterns of the night watchmen coming to the east from a distance, and hurriedly called people from outside the city to come back.

As soon as the three came in, Lao Zhang couldn't wait to close the city gate behind him.

The wooden rotating shaft made a heavy creaking sound, and Tang Zhong felt as if he had been punched hard in the heart.

"Second brother, the two footprints can only show that the eldest sister did not fall into the wrong hands, she came to the river alone, I believe she will be safe and sound!"

Tang Zhong let out a long breath, put his hands on his younger brother's shoulders, his eyes regained some brilliance.

"You're right, I believe it too!"

After Lao Zhang and Zhao Li cooperated to install the crossbar of the city gate, they glanced at the other side of the square and said in a panic, "They're coming!"

Zhao Li was impatient, "Leave quickly if you are afraid of being implicated! Don't keep shouting!"

Lao Zhang was a little taken aback. Zhao Li, who always didn't like to meddle in other people's affairs, is now on the same side as Tang Zhong?

Seeing that the night patrol officers and soldiers were about to come, he didn't want to be accused of covering up a night crime, so he quickly grabbed his tassel gun and ran quietly to the tower.

"Where are we going to find it next, let's go together!"

Tang Zhong thanked him for his kindness, but he didn't want him to take the risk of dereliction of duty.

"The curfew is on, how can the city gate guards leave without authorization? You hurry back to the tower, thank you for what happened today!"

"Multiple people have more strength, why are you being polite to me?"

"It's very cold, and it's not uncommon for the officers and soldiers on night patrol to go to the east gate and go upstairs to warm up by the fire. Don't delay, go back!"

As for this, Zhao Li couldn't hold on anymore.

"That's okay, hurry up and hide in the narrow alleys now. If you are caught at night, you will be punished with at least [-] boards. The night patrol officers and soldiers are very clear about which alleys can hide people. You must be careful!"

Perhaps it really complied with "the boat will go straight when it reaches the bridge", Zhao Li hastily ordered, but inadvertently, it triggered a vague memory.

Tang Zhong vaguely remembered a sentence, which seemed to be said to him by a beggar in the city.

"They are more familiar with Qingjiang County than officials."

Like a drowning person grabbing a piece of driftwood in panic.Even though he didn't know when he would be able to go ashore, he at least grasped a new life.

Tang Zhong cheered up, hurriedly bid farewell, took Tang Lao San with him, trotted across the People's Square, and disappeared into the vast night...

In the Town God's Temple behind the Dongcheng Market, a bonfire has been lit, and the beggars are still sitting in a circle, whispering to each other.

During the Chinese New Year these days, every household has meat, and even the food of the beggars has improved a lot.

A few older ones were dozing by the fire with their heads down after eating and drinking.

There was a sudden noise outside, causing the heads of several old men to sink together tacitly, and then they all raised their necks and questioned the young beggars guarding the yard.

"What's going on! You're messing around at night!"

"There are two ugly guys insisting on breaking in, and they even say they are acquaintances of our boss!"

"Ah Shui is not here, no matter what acquaintances he has, they will all be sent away!"

The beggar, who was already feeling small, had been sitting idle and bored before, but now he immediately became interested.

"Wait a minute, people these days are all on the pole to deal with rich people, and it's rare for them to take the initiative to make friends with our beggars. Anyway, the night is still long, let's let it in and see."

Under the leadership of the young beggar, the brothers of the Tang family stepped into the threshold of the Town God's Temple.Tang Zhong protected his younger brother behind his back, raised his eyes and looked around the room, but he didn't see Ah Shui.

Not only that, even Lao Zheng and Lao Yu, who had been in contact with him before, disappeared.

Just as he was thinking about how to ask for help, someone recognized him first.

"If I remember correctly, you are the official messenger who delivered pills to the grandparents of the Qi family before, right?"

"Good eyesight!" Tang Zhong settled down a bit, fortunately, someone still thinks of him.

He simply took two steps forward, clasped his hands to his forehead, bowed down again, and bowed solemnly: "My elders, my younger sister is lost near the county town, and I hope to help you. If you can find her For the whereabouts of my sister, the villain will definitely be grateful and repay with all my strength!"

Unexpectedly, the old beggars by the campfire did not intend to help at all.

"Don't rush to salute, we old bones can't bear it."

"That's right! Don't think that saving the grandparents of the Qi family owes you a lot of kindness. Don't forget, their poison was also poisoned by someone in your city gate guard. This account must be settled!"

"Don't say anything about repaying or not repaying, we don't want anything, and we don't want anything!"

Regardless of whether the old beggars were idle and joking, or were really dissatisfied with him, Tang Zhong couldn't care about it now.

When encountering troubles before, he always wanted to avoid them, or lure them with benefits.But now that it was about his sister, he didn't have time to think about it in desperation, he gritted his teeth, and directly knelt down in front of the crowd of beggars.

He didn't care about any traversers or city gate guards.

He just wanted to seek help and find Tang Meng quickly.

Seeing his elder brother like this, Uncle Tang couldn't help but knelt down and couldn't get up.

"Second Brother said, you are the only ones who can find someone in Qingjiang County, please help us!"

The beggars did not expect that the two brothers came up to offer such a great gift.

Walking in the city in the past, I was angry with the officials.That's why Tang Zhong, who is the city gate guard, doesn't like to see him very much.

But watching the two brothers plop and kneel down in front of them one after another, and then add insult to injury and make sarcastic remarks, there is no need.

"The villain begs all the elders to help us find our sister, please!"

Tang Zhong bowed heavily to the ground, knocked his forehead to the stone slab, raised his head again, and saw red.

After all, it was the man who had gold under his knees, knelt down to his parents, and received a great gift from the Tang brothers for no reason, and finally a thin-skinned beggar couldn't stand it anymore.

"Oh, isn't it just to help find a girl! Old Yuan, the people under your command are responsible for begging for food today. Walking around the streets, with so many pairs of eyes, someone can always see something, you go ask !"

"I... none of my business!"

"You are the only one who can help here. The big gift from the two brothers was originally for you. Besides, if the girl is in the city, it's not good or bad to find it late, and you will be guilty of it all! "

The old beggar who had been dozing off on the pillar before was annoyed by what he said, and when he met the Tang family brothers' earnest eyes, he couldn't sit still.

"Really! It's late at night, come to me for anything!"

Complaints belong to complaints, Lao Yuan finally stood up from the ground, and came straight over, with an impatient tone on his mouth: "When did you lose it, what does it look like, tell me clearly!"

Tang Zhong was overjoyed, and briefly stated the details before and after, not even missing the details that might be so loose that only one bun remained.

"Okay, wait here!" After finishing speaking, Lao Yuan grabbed his stick and walked outside.

The waiting time was particularly grueling, and the brothers stared straight at the door, feeling anxious.

I finally looked forward to the old beggar's return. It took less than an hour, but it seemed like a long night and a half.

Lao Yuan stepped into the threshold but didn't speak, the brothers of the Tang family were about to catch up and ask, but they saw a little beggar with disheveled hair and a broken bowl in his hand, coming in after him.

The little guy seemed to have just woken up, with his head hanging down all the way.Suddenly seeing the bright fire in the room, he rubbed his eyes uncomfortably, and when he opened them again, there was a look of surprise in his pupils.

"Second brother and third brother, why are you begging for food!"