My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 32 Part 2

"Xiao Taozi, where are you going?"  

Hearing his mother’s voice, Ji Taoyu snapped out of his daze and realized he’d walked right past his own house.  

"Were you planning to follow them home?"  

Ji Taoyu’s face flushed slightly, and he quickly turned back, scurrying over with his head down, not saying a word.  

Huang Manjing watched her distracted ger head straight inside, calling after him twice to no response.  

Hugging a bundle of firewood, she stared at the retreating figure. "What’s wrong with this child? Frozen senseless?"

____

The convoy moved along the official road, it was so quiet that the sound of cart wheels and the snorts of livestock could be heard.  

Since the bandit troubles, fewer people traveled this road, which was no surprise.  

All the men were on high alert, watching for any movement along the way, their nerves stretched taut.  

Yet the journey was peaceful, and nothing unusual occurred.  

Ji Yangzong and Huo Shu both knew full well that this stretch of road wasn’t as dangerous as everyone thought, it was just that You Lingxiao’s incident had frightened them all.  

The twenty-plus li passed quickly with the carts moving at a steady pace, and in less than two hours, the city gates came into view.  

The village men couldn’t help but sigh in relief.  

Despite the smooth journey, Ji Yangzong didn’t relax. His mind was preoccupied, and he glanced several times at Huo Shu at the rear of the convoy. The other villagers thought he was still worried about the safety of the grain and remained vigilant, keeping watch.  

Only when they reached the prefectural yamen did Ji Yangzong finally perk up.

[衙門 (yá mén): lit. yamen; fig. government office in imperial China.]    

A crowd had gathered outside the yamen, dressed like farmers, either squatting or standing, tightly surrounding the entrance.  

Ji Yangzong gave them a puzzled look before heading to the gatehouse to report.  

“I’ve already said the prefect isn’t here! No matter how many times you ask, it’s useless! If you have business, come back another day!”  

Before Ji Yangzong could speak, the gatekeeper barked at him. The villagers with him immediately darkened their expressions, ready to step forward and back up their village head, but Ji Yangzong quickly raised a hand to signal that everything was fine.  

Still polite, he said, “We’re from Mingxun Village, here to deliver this year’s grain tax.”  

Only then did the gatekeeper stand up from his seat, glance outside, and soften his tone when he looked back at Ji Yangzong. “Ah, so you’re the village head of Mingxun Village. I thought you were more villagers coming to make trouble demanding to see the magistrate.”  

Ji Yangzong asked, “What’s going on? Is there a big case or something? There are quite a few people outside.”  

The gatekeeper shook his head. “They’re from Fan Village. The deadline for the grain tax has passed, and the prefect insists they make up for the lost grain first. These farmers have come to protest.”  

Ji Yangzong didn’t comment. The officials didn’t want to take responsibility, and the farmers had already handed over nearly half their harvest as tax. If they had to make up more, it would empty their reserves completely, naturally they came to protest.  

“Wait here, Village Head I’ll go announce your arrival. I’ll be back shortly.”  

“Right, thank you.”  

Soon, a clerk from the revenue office came out with Mingxun Village’s tax register to verify everything.  

After confirming the grain was correct, they were allowed to move it into the granary. Next came the verification of the tax silver.  

Once both were confirmed without error, they signed and stamped the documents.  

By the time they finished and left the yamen, it was neither early nor late—just the usual bustling market time.  

With the autumn tax delivery settled, Ji Yangzong had completed the year’s major task.  

After saying a few words to the villagers outside the yamen, he dismissed the group.  

“Huo Shu, wait up.”  

In the blink of an eye, Huo Shu had already led his horse far ahead. Ji Yangzong hurried after him.  

“Something else?”  

“Are you heading back now, or…?”  

Huo Shu said, “I’ll stop by the shop first, then return later.”  

Ji Yangzong hesitated. “Well, I’ll be heading back soon too. Wait for me at the butcher’s, I’ll come find you after I finish up here.”  

Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly. He wanted to ask what else Ji Yangzong needed but held back and simply nodded. “Fine.”  

Seeing his agreement, Ji Yangzong turned to attend to his own matters.  

Huo Shu led his horse around the street to Qiao’s Butcher Shop. At this hour, the busiest time had passed, and the shop was quiet.  

He tied the horse outside and went in to fetch some water for it.  

The moment he stepped inside, he saw Fang He sitting on a stool, grinning with his mouth open while a young girl beside him broke off a piece of rice cake to feed him.  

The girl noticed Huo Shu first, his stern face startling her so badly that the rice cake fell onto the table.  

Fang He sensed something wrong and turned his head, meeting Huo Shu’s gaze. Caught off guard, he scrambled to his feet, knocking over the iron hooks on the counter with a clatter.  

Instinctively, he pulled the girl behind him. “B-brother Huo, what are you doing here?!”  

Huo Shu walked in without changing expression. “Getting water for the horse.”  

“Water… right, water…”  

Fang He stared nervously as Huo Shu went to the back, flustered and unsure what to do.