262 Returns
“Hold on.”
Yue Jiaojiao circled around to the front of the group. The two officers had just received the silver, so they were more patient with her. They only spoke coldly without showing their weapons. “If you have something to say, say it quickly. We have a lot of work to do.”
“Zhao Zhan, come back soon, okay?” Yue Jiaojiao walked up to Zhao Zhan and reached out to tidy his clothes. When the officer wasn’t paying attention, she stuffed her purse into Zhao Zhan’s arms and patted it. “I’ll wait for you at home.”
“Don’t worry.” Zhao Zhan even broke into a gentle smile for the first time. He pressed his finger on the corner of the woman’s lips. “You can get Madam Qin to warm your blanket before you sleep. I’ll be back soon.”
As he spoke, he looked in the direction of the door.
“It’s cold outside. Go and warm up in the house.”
Yue Jiaojiao took two steps back and slowly made way for him.
“Alright, let’s go.”
As the two officers spoke, they wanted to push Zhao Zhan forward, but Zhao Zhan had already taken a big step forward. His aura was so bright that it didn’t seem like he was being taken away for questioning, but rather to assist in a case.
Zhao Zhan had just left, and Yue Jiaojiao had yet to enter the courtyard when Yang Dashan and Lizheng walked over in a hurry. Behind them was a group of Willow Village villagers.
“Jiaojiao!” Li Miao’s pregnancy had heightened her reactions recently. She walked carefully to her with a sallow face. “Do you need any help?”
“Don’t worry. Zhao Zhan Zhan will definitely be fine. If I need any help, I will ask.”
Yue Jiaojiao’s eyes flickered as she raised her head to look at the group of people behind her; they all looked at her inquisitively. She spoke clearly to ensure that most of them could hear her, “Don’t worry. I don’t need any help. Zhao Zhan should be fine. The County Magistrate just had something to ask him. He will come back when he’s done.”
Lizheng spoke up anxiously, “Is what you said true?”
“Of course, I won’t lie to you for no reason. It’s getting late, let’s not crowd around here and go home quickly. The weather is getting colder.
“Lizheng, be careful on your way back. The road was slippery yesterday.”
Based on Yue Jiaojiao’s expression, it didn’t seem like her husband was going to be arrested and sent to jail. Furthermore, the officers had already left, so there was nothing more to see. Everyone dispersed in twos and threes.
“You haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Dashan and I haven’t had dinner yet, “Li Miao said as she walked toward the yard. “Jiaojiao, do you want to have dinner at your place?”
“I’ll go to the kitchen and make a few dishes. You can go back to your room and wash up. Don’t catch a cold.”
“I shouldn’t let a pregnant woman like you do it.” Madam Qin walked out of the courtyard and immediately stopped Li Miao when she heard the commotion outside.
“I’ve recovered a lot now. I can’t compare to Sir Zhao’s cooking but I will try to make food for everyone. It’s about time that everyone tries my cooking.
“All of you can try my lady’s favorite hometown dishes that I used to make. Please, take a seat and rest.”
“She’s right,” Yue Jiaojiao carefully held Li Miao’s arm. “She offered to cook. I haven’t tasted her cooking in a while. Instead of staying out here, can you come in with me for a while?”
“Alright.”
After a few of them entered the house, Sun Jiyan stood at the door and exchanged a look with Doctor Sun, who was inside.
Doctor Sun glanced at the few people who had already disappeared and glared at Sun Jiyan. “Why don’t you go and find out what’s going on? She may look fine on the surface, but who knows how worried she is in her heart.”
Sun Jiyan looked helpless. “Master, I haven’t had dinner yet.”
“And? Can’t you fill your stomach at any inn in the town or Huai County?” As Doctor Sun spoke, he made a gesture of closing the door.
“Go, quickly.”
“At least let me take the medicine box at home before leaving. If I need it, it’ll come in handy. How can a doctor let the first aid kit leave his side?”
Doctor Sun closed the door and raised his voice, “Be careful and come back with Zhao Zhan.”
Sun Jiyan, who was forced to close the door, shook his head. Right now he had to think of a way to get to Huai County. On the other hand, Zhao Zhan was forced to drive a carriage to Huai County.
The two officers were swaying left and right in the carriage.
“Slow down! Don’t you know how to drive?”
“I’m worried that the County Magistrate is waiting anxiously for us. After all, it took you a long time to find Willow Village from Huai County. I can’t let the County Magistrate think that we’re not taking our task seriously just because of personal reasons, alright?”
When the two people in the carriage heard Zhao Zhan’s words, they both fell silent. They simply gripped the inner wall of the carriage tightly and comforted themselves in their hearts.
At least they could stay in the carriage without the cold wind, which was better than when they came.
The carriage sped all the way to the county government office. Zheng Zhixian, the County Magistrate, sat on the chair and shook his leg. As soon as Zhao Zhan arrived at the door of the county government office, he jumped off from his seat and invited him in. The two officers in the carriage followed him.
The two of them came up and wanted to tie Zhao Zhan’s arm behind his back, but they were too nauseous to even walk straight. Before they could even raise their hands and speak, they swayed to the side in dizziness and vomited.
Zhao Zhan looked at the two of them and the corners of his mouth rose and then quickly flattened.
How dare they be so fierce to such a delicate person. Letting them do this was already the reason why he had been merciful and not too impudent.
The two people who were squatting in the corner and vomiting were completely unaware of the fact that they had been tricked.
Zhao Zhan tidied up his clothes and walked up two steps. “Excuse me, I am Zhao Zhan of Willow Village. I am here to report to the County Magistrate.”
The guards looked at each other, not sure what was going on.
One of the smarter ones immediately took over the conversation. “Come in, the County Magistrate is waiting for you inside.”
“I am Zhao Zhan from Willow Village. Greetings, County Magistrate.” This was not a proper meeting, so Zhao Zhan thought for a moment, stood up, bowed, and said in a serious tone, “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
Zheng Zhixian silently sized up Zhao Zhan from head to toe.
The young man in front of him had a calm-looking face without any traces of panic, his back was straight without any cowardice, and he did not shiver in fear when he saw him.
“Do you know why I summoned you here today?”
“I would like to know as well.”
“How audacious of you!” Zheng Zhixian suddenly flew into a rage. His gaze was fixed on Zhao Zhan’s face as he carefully observed the minute changes in his expression. “Last night, you did a vicious thing in Huai County. Today, here you stand. How dare you still pretend that you don’t know what I’m talking about? What punishment do you think you deserve?”
Zhao Zhan suddenly raised his eyes and looked at him sincerely. “I’m sorry for being slow-witted but I don’t understand what you mean. Yesterday, I left Huai County with my wife when the Lantern Festival started less than two hours after.”