Qingyang City, a remote town nestled in the rugged mountains.

Because this place is far away from the imperial court, it is difficult for the emperor's hand to firmly control here, and there is not so much mind to guard against it, so it is inevitable that there will be many barbaric acts of bandits and robbery.

The imperial court naturally set up an official mansion here, just because of the fierceness of the locals, this huge mansion is more like a decoration, the officials inside are too lazy to do, even if someone comes to report the case, they ignore it, and the county magistrate has simply given up the plan to make political achievements to be promoted.

Someone was also sent from above to investigate, probably because of the bandits. However, the mountains here are mountain after mountain, and the bandits who are familiar with the road have eaten and drunk enough to burrow into the woods, and they cannot find anyone at all, and the catchers can only return in a huff.

It's just a matter of political performance, but it's still a matter of life.

Now the incumbent county magistrate also understands this truth, even if he has ambitions in his chest, he has nowhere to show it, and can only be lonely and depressed.

And in such a small town, there is a small private school, and there is a sound of children reading in it, which is so incompatible with this fierce folk customs.

Until the sunset fades on the horizon.

"Okay, that's all for today's class, don't forget the words I teach you today, I'll test you when I take the school exam tomorrow, whoever can answer it will have candy to eat!"

The teacher, a middle-aged man in his thirties, put his hands behind his back and admonished. His face did not have the grandeur of an official master, nor the pedantry of a scholar, but with a kind smile, giving the children in the hall a sense of closeness.

When the words fell, more than a dozen children packed up their things at the banquet, but a mean-looking woman walked in outside the door, and a child saw it and shouted timidly: "Mother......"

"I'll talk to you kid later!" The woman scolded fiercely, and turned to look at the teacher: "I said that the surname is Zhou, why do you always lie to my son to come to your class?" Don't you want to cheat money? I can tell you, we're not going to give you money! ”

Teacher Zhou smiled helplessly and said, "Aunt Liu, I have already said that my school does not charge money, but I just want to teach children to read and write." If they don't learn some at this age, I'm afraid they won't be able to read in the future. I think your child is quite smart, maybe he has a chance to take the imperial examination......"

"How about taking the imperial examination!" The woman was unrelenting, and scolded bitterly, "Look at yourself, what's the use of taking a bullshit imperial examination?" It's not like you're here to eat the same meal as us! ”

"This ......," Teacher Zhou frowned slightly.

"Besides, can you eat enough by reading more? Now is the time to do farm work, and the family is already busy......"

In the end, it is a fierce custom, the woman scolded for a long time, pulled the child and walked out angrily, and the rest of the children were also worried, not knowing if their parents would let them come to class tomorrow.

Teacher Zhou was soon left alone in the empty school, he looked at the clean table, the original pen, ink and paper were swept away by the other party, and couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head slightly.

He's been through a lot of this kind of thing. At the beginning, there were dozens of children when the school opened, but after half a year, not only did it not increase, but only a dozen remained.

The reason for opening this small school was indeed for the sake of these children, hoping that they would not be trapped by the scene in front of them and become useful talents, but no matter how much he persuaded them, it was of little use. Most of the parents here are ignorant and don't want their children to waste time on reading.

Therefore, most of the people here can only be trapped in this loess, and they have no chance to go out and see that new world.

Of course, there is also a reason why he is influenced by his teacher and likes to teach and educate people......

That's right, he is Zhou Shize, the county magistrate here. However, in fact, his official position is no different from nothing, the unruly people here don't care about these things at all, what they really care about is whether there is food to eat, whether there is money to earn, and whoever dares to stop them is their enemy, and they will not die.

The last official of the county government also handed in his resignation a few days ago. There is no way, when the so-called officials are regarded by the locals as doing things for the imperial court and being the lackeys of officials, they are still pitiful, and they are only fools. In order not to be ridiculed, he had to quit his job.

Today's Zhou Shize is completely a lonely person, with an empty official position but no power.

As for finding the officials above? I'm afraid that before the above sent someone down, he had already "disappeared mysteriously", just like the stunned young men of the previous ones.

In the words of this place, the mountain people have the way of life of the mountain people, and there is no need for outsiders to interfere at all.

After a brief packing of things, he got up and walked towards his home, where there was still one person waiting for him, and the only pillar he had held on to until now.

The county government has been temporarily closed because it is unattended, and his home is a small yard he bought here, which is not luxurious, but rather a simple bamboo house, which can prevent insects and ants in the mountains and forests and also shelter from the wind and rain. The area is not large, but it is quite warm.

Following the muddy path, he walked to the fence of his yard, and saw his lady squatting in front of the dirt, as if she was gently sniffing the flowers, with a slight smile on the corner of her mouth.

This is a small nursery specially cultivated for her, and it is planted with many flowers that she likes, and when it blooms, it is quite beautiful and full of fragrance.

"Lady......" He took two steps forward, gently held her shoulder, and whispered, "You can't blow the wind in your body, why did you come out?" ”

"Xianggong?" The woman could hear his footsteps, leaned back slightly, leaned on his shoulder, and smiled gently, "I just smelled the familiar fragrance of flowers, and I wanted to get closer......"

Zhou Shize looked down at her side face lovingly, it was not the kind of touching beauty, but it was an ordinary and soft beauty that became more and more durable the more you looked at it.

But when he looked at her pale face, his heart ached.

I can't help but think back to the past. When he was still a young man, he was full of spirit and wanted to enter Beijing to take the exam, and swore in public that he would be the top student in high school, and returned to his hometown to marry her. The girl blushed and whispered that she obeyed her parents' orders, and both parents were happy to see it happen, and they hit it off. In those days, he could even dream of what a scene he would be on the day he got married, and how lofty his ambition would be!

However, what he didn't expect was that when he was taking the exam in the capital, a heavy rain in his hometown for half a month triggered a flood that was rare in a century, taking countless lives, causing families to be destroyed, and how many beautiful visions were completely shattered......