Old Zhou lowered his head and thought for a moment, "There seem to be three roads. In addition to the official road, there are two other roads that can lead to Luojiang County. But one of them is far away from our Qili Village, and the other one is right next to the official road, far away from the official road.

It's not far away. After the official road was built, the road became easier to travel, but no one used that road anymore. It has become overgrown and abandoned over the years."

"Twelve years ago, if you wanted to drive into Luojiang County, which road would you take?"

Old Zhou thought for a while and said: "At that time, the road from our Qili Village to Luojiang County had not yet been repaired. There were two roads to drive back. One was the closer one. It was bumpier but faster.

One way is to take the deserted one I mentioned. That road was often used by merchants in the past, so it’s fairly easy to walk.”

Qian was silent for a moment and then said: "My sister-in-law just came from Shangzhou at that time. She is tired from the journey. My second brother always cares for others. He may choose to take the easier road."

Magistrate Tang asked, "Is that road connected to the mountain where Zhou Yin and his wife were found?"

Lao Zhou and the two of them nodded together.

Magistrate Tang invited Man Bao and Bai Shan, "Let's go take a look together later?"

Old Zhoutou immediately said: "Master Tang, the road is not easy to walk. Why don't you let my fourth boy go with you? He knows the way."

Magistrate Tang smiled and nodded, "That's the best thing."

While they were talking, Grandma Liu came in with two bowls of porridge. Bai Shan greeted her and put the porridge on the table next to where he and Man Bao were sitting.

Mrs. Liu understood it at a glance and said with a smile: "I have been restless all morning and haven't eaten enough, right? Then go to the side room to eat."

Then he said to Aunt Liu: "Go to the kitchen to get some side dishes and steamed buns. The young man is growing taller and eating more."

Magistrate Tang looked at Man Bao with a smile. He had breakfast at the same table as Bai Shan, but he didn't realize that Bai Shan was not full.

Qian Shilue had always understood that when they went out, Manbao hadn't even gone to the courtyard to have breakfast, but she didn't say anything in front of outsiders.

Man Bao glanced at Magistrate Tang, then at his parents to make sure they would not leave them secretly when they went down to have breakfast, so he took the bowl and went to the next room with Bai Shan to have breakfast.

Bai Shan wasn't very hungry, so he didn't move. After she finished half the bowl, he gave her half of the meat porridge in his bowl, and asked in a low voice: "You want to go with us, do you think we can?"

Did you find something?"

Man Bao said: "Try it."

Aunt Liu brought over another basket of steamed buns and a plate of pickles.

Man Bao thanked him and continued to eat. Bai Shan looked a little hungry. After finishing the porridge in the bowl, he also ate two small steamed buns.

Aunt Liu couldn't help but smile and advised: "Both Master and Miss Man, please eat more. We are going to climb mountains soon. There is nothing hot to eat in the wilderness."

Man Bao and Bai Shan nodded together, and Man Bao added: "Pour some hot water into the water bag. It should still be warm at noon."

Aunt Liu answered "yes" with a smile and prepared all the dry food and things for them to go out.

But this time when they go out, not only Daji and Zhoulang will follow them, but also Grandma Liu's son Liu Gui. He doesn't take anyone with him, and stands quietly beside the car alone.

Magistrate Tang saw him when he was about to get into the car. He couldn't help but pause and asked, "Who is this person?"

Mrs. Liu explained: "This is a domestic servant. Since four years ago, he has been quietly searching for people in the mountains, but he has not been able to find anything yet. He is very familiar with the mountains, so he asked him to lead the adults.

Let’s get together.”

Magistrate Tang finally nodded.

He got into the car in the Bai family courtyard. No one had seen him except the servants of the Bai family and old Zhoutou and his wife.

After leaving the door, Bai Shan and Man Bao climbed into the car, but they did not enter the carriage. Instead, they sat on the car's shaft with their legs dangling. When a villager saw them, they asked, "Man Bao, what are you doing here?"

?”

Man Bao said: "Go out for a walk and go to the county town to have a look."

The people in the village were used to it, and they just asked out of curiosity: "Why don't the second young master go with us?"

Bai Shan said without thinking, "He hasn't gotten up yet."

"Oh," the villagers understood and laughed: "There was too much noise last night and you couldn't get up, right?"

Bai Shan was indeed right. Bai Erlang hadn't gotten up yet. When he got up from bed and went to play with his friends, he found that his two friends were missing again. He asked if they had gone to the county town.

Bai Erlang turned around unhappily and went to play with his other friends.

The temple fair was still lively today, and a group of teenagers loved to join in the fun, so they encouraged Bai Er to go to the temple fair with them.

Bai Erlang hesitated and said: "My father didn't allow me to go. He said that I can go on the right day. There is no need to go today."

"It's fun at home, and it's fun when we go out. Why do we have to separate them so much?" One person said: "Didn't Bai Shan and the others go out to play too?"

"I also saw Bai Shan and his family's servants going to Dali Village. They seemed to be sending something to Dao and the little Taoist priest. Otherwise, if your father asks, you can just say that you are going to deliver something for Bai Shan and his family.

"

Bai Erlang was so moved that he couldn't help but nod: "Okay."

At this time, Bai Shan and his carriage had just arrived on the official road. Zhou Lang stood on the carriage shaft and looked at it for a long time before he could see where the road was. The Yi family was overgrown with weeds, and it was basically impossible to tell that it was actually a road.

road.

Daji took a look at the "road", pulled the carriage off the official road, found an open space to stop near the path, and then unloaded the carriage.

Magistrate Tang also got out of the car. They were the only ones around here, so he didn't need to hide.

He stepped forward and took a look at the road that could still be vaguely seen as a road, and asked, "Is it directly connected to the official road?"

"No, this is an extended section. If you are coming from Yizhou City, take the straight road inside and you can go directly to Luojiang County." Zhou Lang took out his sickle to clear the way, and Liu Gui followed to help.

Magistrate Tang followed them in and asked curiously, "Why is this road abandoned?"

"After the official road has been repaired and we no longer charge money, naturally no one will leave." Zhou Lang tilted his head and thought carefully, and said: "It seems that when I was a child, there would be officers and soldiers setting up roadblocks on the official road to collect money. What about the official road?"

It's also shabby, so people naturally don't like to walk on it. There is a small road next to it. Although it is a bit small, it can still carry a carriage. If there is an oncoming car, just step aside and you can pass. It is better than walking on the official road.

The Tao is strong, so everyone follows this path."

"I don't remember when, the adults began to remove the officers and soldiers who set up roadblocks, and asked us to do hard labor to repair the official road. No one used this road anymore. It has become like this since 1989."

Magistrate Tang nodded and turned to ask Liu Gui, "Have you ever come here to check?"
Chapter completed!