in2ebook Chapter 285 The Age of Wildness
Chapter 285 The Age of Wildness
"Xu Ziyuan, when does your school end? I want Ju Hu and Tian Zhan to take me to the canal to catch snails again."
Just as Xu You was lost in thought, Yuan Shang shouted again.
"You are the legitimate son of the Yuan family. Your father is Yuan Benchu, the governor of Jizhou. Three generations of your family are officials. How can you go and play in the fields like those peasants?" Xu You taught Yuan Shang a serious lesson.
"What kind of peasant?"
Yuan Shang rolled his eyes disapprovingly. "My teacher just taught us today to carry hoes on our backs and work in the fields at noon. He said the food we eat is grown by farmers with their hard work. Without them, we'd all starve to death. We need to conserve food, respect the fruits of labor, and respect the people themselves. You're a teacher, but how come you don't understand this?"
Xu You was being lectured by a six-year-old kid, his face turning pale and blue. He tried to defend himself, "I'm not disrespecting them. I just hope you can pay attention to your image as the son of the Yuan family and not go out and play in the fields. If something unexpected happens, I won't be able to explain it to my master."
Yuan Shang said, "My mother doesn't care about me anymore, why are you so worried? Besides, aren't you sitting on the wall? Do you look like a teacher?"
Xu You was speechless! The reason he sat on the wall was just to see farther!
"Also, Brother Ju Hu's mother doesn't care about him anymore. Sister Yan Bing is even worse. She actually said she wants to be the instructor of the female students and train them like soldiers. She also wants to form a female soldier in the village and lead them into battle in the future."
"I heard Sister Yan Bing say that her dream since childhood was to be a majestic general like her father. General Yan has always taught her martial arts, but back in Yecheng, she was bound by some bullshit etiquette and couldn't form a female soldier team. But here, she's free. Even the Second in Command agreed to let her lead female students in training!"
Speaking of Yan Bing, Xu You's face was filled with disdain. "She's just a female bandit. How can you learn from her? She was always causing trouble in Yecheng. She even dared to beat up guys older than her. You should learn from your sister Tian Yi. Look how well-behaved and obedient she is. Oh, and you and Ju Hu, don't lead Tian Zhan astray. His father is very fierce. Be careful he'll catch you and talk you into trouble again when you go back."
Thinking of Tian Feng's serious and lecturing look, Yuan Shang shuddered subconsciously, then curled his lips and said, "I'm not going back. I'm staying here. I still have to go to kindergarten."
"You're already six years old, and you're still in kindergarten? You're so shameless..."
At this time, the bell rang for the end of get out of class. Yuan Shang no longer paid attention to Xu You. He slid down the wall and rushed into the classroom to find Ju Hu and Tian Zhan.
Eleven-year-old Ju Hu and ten-year-old Tian Zhan came out with their schoolbags. Two other little boys from the village were with them. They were laughing and playing. One said he wanted to fly a kite, and the other said he wanted to catch snails.
When Tian Zhan saw Xu You standing under the wall, he hesitated for a moment, then walked over and bowed before leaving the school with his friends.
Xu You stood on tiptoe, craning his neck to watch the group of children laughing and playing, full of vigor and energy. He couldn't help but think of his childhood with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao: fighting dragons in ponds, snatching brides at night, even knocking on widows' doors, pretending to be ghosts and scaring people. Which of these things wasn't more outrageous than what these children were doing? This was the age when they should be running wild!
Thinking that he had once been so energetic, Xu You couldn't help but smile.
…………
In the evening, after wandering around Bingzhou for several days, Jingzhou finally entered Jinyang. Shi Tao waved his whip, looked at the darkening sky, and said to Xu Shu, "Yuanzhi, it will take more than half an hour to get to the outskirts of Jinyang. We should rest at the posthouse tonight and visit the earth building tomorrow."
Although Xu Shu was anxious to see his mother, he also knew that it was impolite to bother her so late at night. He nodded and went to a nearby inn with Shi Tao and others.
The four of them parked their carriages and walked into the front desk of the inn in the first front hall. They skillfully took out their so-called temporary ID cards to register for accommodation.
This temporary identity card was obtained at the dock office when their ferry just entered Hanoi County. It was a rectangular cardboard card with their name, place of origin, date of birth, basic facial description, as well as the purpose of their visit to Bingzhou and the expected length of stay.
You don't have the final say on this time. The official who issues your ID card will estimate the time required based on your purpose of coming to Bingzhou. If you stay here beyond the deadline, you will be arrested and questioned. If there is no problem, you will be deported. If the deadline needs to be extended for special reasons, another certificate will be issued, but you will have to pay for the second processing fee yourself.
The postmaster checked the four people's ID cards one by one, and after confirming that they were correct, he had someone take them to the room.
"This thing is great." Shi Tao played with the ID card in his hand as he walked. "Just this cardboard, no one in the world can copy it."
"During the time we have been traveling in Bingzhou, we have to show our ID cards when staying in the post station, and we have to show them to patrolling yamen runners when strolling on the street. Not to mention entering the city. Without this card, we can hardly take a single step in Bingzhou. This population management method is really good." Pang Tong agreed.
"It's a pity that we can't visit those factories. I don't know what new things are inside." Zhuge Liang said with some regret.
Xu Shu smiled and said, "If you decide to stay in Bingzhou, I think Amo will agree to let you visit."
Shi Tao immediately said, "I've made up my mind. After I meet Madam Zhang, I'll go get my resident ID card."
"Shi Tiancai, are you selling yourself out now? The lord of Bingzhou is Lu Fengxian, not Madam Zhang." Zhuge Liang reminded.
Shi Tao looked indifferent. "So what about Lü Fengxian? I think the people of Bingzhou admire Madam Zhang more. Those factories, waterwheels, farms, even ID cards and many policies were all designed by Madam Zhang. I'm becoming more and more interested in A-Mo, whom Yuan Zhi mentioned."
Pang Tong said, "Me too. Ever since crossing the Yellow River and entering Bingzhou, everything I've seen has been new and surprising. Henan, just across the same river, is a completely different world. While not as prosperous as Jingzhou, the public security, sanitation, and environment are much better. We haven't encountered a single bandit along the way."
Zhuge Liang's face, feigning sophistication, was filled with confusion. "This is something I'm very puzzled about. Logically, with Black Mountain right next to Bingzhou, bandits should be frequenting it, yet here, there aren't even a single thief."
At this time, the person leading the way interrupted and said, "It is thanks to the one county, two systems policy implemented by Madam Envoy that the Black Mountain Bandits are now the gatekeepers of our Bingzhou."
"What do you mean?" Pang Tong asked curiously.
The man opened a door and looked at the four people. "I see that you are all scholars. I believe you have come to respond to my call for talents in Bingzhou, right?"
Xu Shu nodded, "Exactly!"
The man immediately smiled and said, "Then the four of you should pack up first. I will have a good talk with you later when we go to the hall for dinner."