After searching around from the south, he returned to the county seat without firing a shot. It seems that the matter of suppressing bandits has come to an end.

In accordance with the prior agreement, you paid the recruits one by one and sent them home, and also gave Shuzhen and Xiaogucheng a pardon document and resettlement fee.

Since then, the three of them have become good citizens who have cleared their charge of horse bandits, and they can finally live like normal people.

As for Zhao Xiaotian's people, Xiangzi had other ideas.

Seeing that everyone else was sent away one after another, Xiangzi came over and said to County Magistrate Liu: "Zhao Xiaotian's gang is free of money, and the county's money is not rich." I want them to still be in charge of the security to the east of Santai and the west of Liushuhezi in the name of the three detachments of the security regiment. If there is anything in the county, you can also pull it over at any time and use it. They are now collectively operated, distributed according to work and households, and the village has money. Therefore, the county does not have to worry about food and salary. ”

County Magistrate Liu listened and pondered for a moment. Nodding approvingly, he said, "I'll do it!" Just do as you say. ”

After a pause, he said thoughtfully: "This is your proposal, I can trust it." If I were to change people, I would not dare to arm a group of good bandits again. ”

Shoko smiled indifferently at him and said, "In terms of safety, you can rest assured. Now, they are all people who drag their families and mouths, and their lives are nourishing, and they will no longer have two hearts. ”

County Magistrate Liu smiled with relief and said, "Then I'll leave this matter to you." ”

In this way, Zhao Xiaotian naturally got five Mosin Nagant 762, five Type 79 rifles, and a batch of bullets. And, not a penny.

After dinner, Shujin was cleaning up the dishes and chopsticks. I saw the big man and the small ancient city, probing their brains at the door, saying that they had something to do with Shuzhen.

Bao Suzhen urged Shuzhen to go, and took over the work in her hands.

When I came to Shuzhen's house, I saw the two of them pushing, shoving, and twisting. Shuzhen smiled and said, "What do you say!" Behold you who are troubled. ”

The big man, with an impatient face, waved his hand at Xiao Gucheng and said, "It's better for you to say it yourself!" ”

So, Xiao Gucheng puffed out his mouth and muttered with some embarrassment: "You also know about me and Commander Ga. At that time, Commander Ga broke through the ancient city and wanted to shoot more than a dozen old Maozi who helped defend the city. At that time, a battalion commander in charge of the execution ground said that whoever could shoot off the artichoke eggs on Lao Maozi's head would give him ten yuan.

I saw that it was only ten steps away, and this money was too easy to earn. squeezed out of the crowd, the first to pick up the gun, five shots in a row, and five potatoes. The battalion commander was very happy, registered my name and residence, and gave me fifty dollars on the spot. I took the money and happily told Ah Da about it, but I was slapped by Ah Da.

Ah Da was very angry and scolded: 'You can do it! People are deceiving you to show your hands, and you should be a treasure drop from the sky. Pick up your stuff and go out and hide. ’

When I heard this, I panicked, and only then did I go into the house and dig out a few clothes, and then I listened to the noise in the courtyard. I listened through the crack in the door, and the person who came said that if he didn't hand me over, he would take Ah Da to the barracks to feed the horses. I was in a hurry, so I pushed the door and walked out, and Ah Da was so anxious that he stomped his feet.

I was taken into the ranks and forced to be a soldier. On the day I left the ancient city, I went home to see it, and Ah Da left a sentence: 'If you live, don't come back!' Shame on the ancestors. ’”

Speaking of this, Xiao Gucheng choked up uncomfortably.

The big man pushed him impatiently and said, "Okay, okay." Pick up the thick and say, don't mother-in-law, like an aunt. ”

Seeing Shuzhen, who kept smiling and looking at herself, Xiao Gucheng wiped her eyes indiscriminately, and then said: "Now, I am also a Shunmin, and I want to go home, but I am afraid that Ah Da will not recognize me."

After thinking about it again and again, I would like to ask you to tell the head of the regiment and come to my house to talk and make peace. ”

Shuzhen smiled at him easily and said, "It's just for this big circle?" Why don't you say it to yourself? ”

Xiao Gucheng, with a self-deprecating smile, lowered his head and muttered, "I'm afraid I won't move." ”

Shuzhen deliberately dragged out a long voice and said, "Can I please move?" ”

The big man hurriedly smiled and said, "Who doesn't know, you are very big in front of the regiment commander, as long as you open your mouth, this matter will not be complicated." ”

Shuzhen gave him a white look pretending to be displeased. He muttered, "What kind of face do I have?" ”

As he spoke, there was an inexplicable trace of sweetness and comfort in his heart.

After a short silence, the big man blushed as if he suddenly remembered something, and said to Shuzhen: "There is something that has been held in my heart all the time, and I didn't dare to tell you." Don't feel bad. ”

Shuzhen glanced at him alertly and said, "Say it, what's the matter?" ”

The big man sighed as if full of melancholy, and said, "Back then, your parents' affairs were all said to be done by Ma Bufang's people. Actually, it was Commander Ga's people who did it, and I was there at the time. ”

In Shuzhen's mind, there was a sudden "boom". Surprised and eager, he asked, "What the hell is going on?" ”

The big man shook his head with a sad expression, and then said: "At that time, the captain of the big knife team was taking people to East Street to collect taxes, and he met your family at the beginning. You have a strong temperament, and if you don't agree with each other, you will start with Captain Bao. Captain Bao is your big opponent, a few back and forth, you will show defeat.

Captain Bao's subordinates were afraid that the captain would suffer a loss, so they grabbed it. You are so talented that you are down, and your mother will come over with a big knife. Captain Bao couldn't parry at all, seeing that he was going to be wiped by your mother's neck, he grabbed it again. Your mother didn't even snort, she swallowed.

This matter reached Commander Ga's ears, and he called Captain Bao to Meimei and scolded him, and asked you to study in the county, and Commander Ga sent someone to take you to the military camp. To the outside world, it is said that Ma Bufang did it, and if anyone says that he leaks his mouth, he will cut off his tongue. Therefore, this matter has been kept secret to this day."

Shuzhen endured her grief and indignation, sighed and said, "Thank you for telling you the truth, on the night of Zimud Spring, we all thought that we couldn't survive, and the eldest sister also revealed a little bit to me."

It's all in the past, those who have left have gone, and everything is arranged by the Lord. The important thing is that we who are alive have to live our lives well. ”

Out of the north gate facing east, through the leek garden, there is a path leading to the east gate of Qitai County.

The big man and the small ancient city walked in front of each other with a lot of laughter, deliberately leaving the inseparable Xiangzi and Shuzhen far behind.

At Shoko's suggestion, Sook-jin made a new stylish casual dress.

White modified bloomers, white placket buttoned silk stand-up collar, jacket with a fuchsia gold-trimmed embroidered horse clip, and short waist boots in orange and smooth cowhide.

Her shiny black hair, combed into a single braid, is elegantly coiled on the top of her head. On her beautiful face, a pair of delicate silver earrings are particularly eye-catching. Xiangzi also let Shuzhen grind hard and change into a "Zhongshan suit" that public officials love to wear.

The two of them were talking in the sky, and they walked with their horses on the reins.

Before I knew it, I arrived at a melon field. Seeing the big man and the small ancient city, he was smiling and waving with a smile on his face.

The big man handed over two pieces of cut watermelon, and Xiangzi smiled and said, "At first glance, you are a layman, you melon teeth, don't you wash your face?" ”

As he spoke, he cut the melon tooth in his hand into small pieces, picked up a piece with less thick seeds, and handed it to Shuzhen.

Not long after eating the melon, I saw a dense poplar forest in the distance.

The little ancient city pointed to the woods with a somewhat excited expression and said, "After passing through that forest, you can see the city gate." ”

Under his infection, everyone seems to have a spirit. Sook-jin took the lead and galloped up.

When a few people were laughing in the woods, not far ahead, there was a sudden crisp gunshot.