It's August, and the fair is about to begin.

In the early morning of the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, the teachers and students of Luxi Academy gathered in the small square in front of the mountain gate, counting the number of people one by one, checking the luggage, and making the final preparations before departure.

Many people participated in such a large-scale amusement event for the first time, and they were very excited. Even though they got up early today, these teenagers did not show any tiredness, and they were all in high spirits, excitedly discussing with their peers their longings and plans for the amusement fair, which was exactly the same as the elementary school students who were going to go on a spring outing in their previous lives.

Gu Yunji's foot injury has been greatly healed, there is no problem with walking, and he doesn't need help. It's just that it's a bit difficult to exercise vigorously, and I can't participate in events like polo and kemari.

When the crowd was noisy, the mountain chief Xu Chengyu came over, cleared his throat and said, "Everyone! Today we are going to the suburbs of Hangzhou to participate in the amusement fair, the road is far away and there are many people, whether it is to the competition or to watch the excitement, we must obey the command, do not act without authorization! ”

"This amusement will last for two days, depart in the morning, arrive at the destination before noon, spend the night outside tonight, and stay until tomorrow after lunch before returning, you must prepare your clothes and luggage, don't forget anything when you get to the place, no one in the wilderness will come back for you to get it."

The souls of the students below have already drifted to the venue of the amusement fair, where do they still have the heart to listen to Xu Chengyu's rambling here, because he didn't say a few words, the students couldn't hold back their temperament, and couldn't wait to urge:

"Chief, we all know it, let's go quickly! Don't miss the hour again! ”

"That's it, mountain chief, it's rare that the weather is good these days, so you should take a slow look at the scenery along the way, what's the point of staying here?"

Seeing that the teenagers were frizzy and had no patience at all, Xu Chengyu raised his eyebrows a little unhappily and shouted, "Quiet! What's the hurry? Don't forget, in addition to our students from Luxi Academy and Hangzhou Fuxue, there are also many dignitaries and local officials who participated in the amusement party this time, and they are all with families. ”

"You should pay attention to your words and deeds when you are outside, and don't bump into other people's daughters. Especially tonight, when you spend the night outside, the men's and women's tents are separated, and when the time comes, you can stay in your own place and don't wander around! If anyone wants to make a bad idea, the old man will pick his skin first, do you hear it! ”

When the students heard this, they didn't dare to make another attempt, and they all responded: "I heard it!" ”

After the instructions were over, Xu Chengyu did not procrastinate, and after counting the number of people and luggage, he set off with everyone.

After going down the mountain, the people of Luxi Academy changed to a carriage again, Rao is several students rode together, and the team of hundreds of people still used a full thirty or forty carriages, and the group was mighty, and it was very spectacular from a distance.

Gu Yunji's feet were still a little unfavorable, so Cheng Yan accompanied him and Xu Chengyu in a car, and Su Qi didn't do anything when he saw it, so he had to squeeze in.

The carriage is very spacious, more than enough for four people, but Su Qi is a talker, he never stopped with a horn in his mouth along the way, and from time to time he lifted the curtain probe to probe his brain, and one person made a scene of two or three people.

Xu Chengyu was so annoyed by him that his brain hurt, he rubbed his eyebrows helplessly, and said, "Su Qi, can't you stop for a while?" You save this little bit of spirit, and when you get to the arena, you will release it, and then you can have as much fun as you want, okay? ”

Su Qi didn't care: "Just on the road, it takes half a day, there is nothing to do for such a long time, how boring, don't I relieve your boredom?" What's more, I have a lot of energy, and I will definitely be able to beat the people of Hangzhou Fuxue down, so I don't have to save in advance! ”

Being interrupted by Xu Chengyu like this, his attention turned back and asked, "Mountain Chief, you are sitting with a few of us, what should Miss Xu do?" She doesn't have a maid by her side, so is it possible to ride in a carriage by herself? ”

Xu Chengyu said: "There are no maids and servants, and there are two grandmothers who have watched her grow up with her, so it doesn't matter." ”

Once Su Qi's curiosity was hooked, it was endless, and he asked again: "Speaking of which, the young ladies of big families are all around maids, why haven't you seen Miss Xu's maids?" My daughter's family has been in the boudoir for a long time, and no one has spoken, how difficult it is! ”

Gu Yunji sighed lightly: "Why are you asking so much?" Just mind yourself. ”

Seeing this, Su Qi pursed his lips and complained in a low voice: "I'll just ask, what's wrong?" Everyone's father didn't say anything, but you got anxious first. ”

Gu Yunji was choked by his words, glanced at Xu Chengyu a little uncomfortably, and turned his head away in disguise.

Xu Chengyu took his reaction into his eyes, stroked his beard with a smile, and said:

"Shuhua's mother died early, and her eldest brother has been an official outside all the year round, so I naturally want to take her with me. It's just that this Luxi Academy can't compare to the next place, I'm not too extravagant as the head of the mountain, so I have neither a long follower, nor a maid, and there are only a few old servants in the house to serve, although there are few people, I am also at ease. ”

Cheng Yan, who hadn't spoken much, was concentrating on admiring the scenery outside the window, at this time he looked at another batch of ducks passing by on the ridge, and asked suspiciously: "I have seen several batches of ducks along the way, and they are all young ducks, we don't have so many lakes and ponds, what are we doing with so many ducks?" ”

Xu Chengyu looked out the window when he heard this, and sure enough, he saw a group of ducklings foraging on the ridge not far away.

He sighed and said, "The locust plague in the north is raging, affecting several state capitals. This should be because the local officials asked the farmers to raise some ducks in advance in order to prevent accidents, so that they could eat the larvae in time in case of a locust plague for emergencies. ”

Gu Yunji's expression froze: "Will the locust plague spread to Jiangnan?" How fast can these pests multiply? ”

Xu Chengyu shook his head: "It shouldn't be, but just in case, it's good for local officials to make more preparations." It's already autumn, and when the weather gets cold in winter, the locusts won't be so active. ”

Gu Yunji breathed a sigh of relief: "I hope that the locust plague will pass quickly, and this year will come to an end first, and when the sowing is completed next spring, the life of the victims will be better." ”

"I'm afraid it's not that easy." Xu Chengyu's eyes showed a sad look, "The scope of this locust plague is too large, hundreds of thousands of victims are hungry, and the grain transferred from all over the country will soon be consumed, and it will not be worth anything." When it comes to winter when they are cold and hungry, they will not be able to stay in the local area, and they will most likely go south. ”

The three of them all looked stunned: "To the south? ”

The land was confiscated, and the victims would sell their land to buy grain in order to fill their stomachs, but the northern part of the country was affected on a large scale, and the price of grain remained high, and the victims who lost their land had no money or food, so they naturally did not sit idly by, and would definitely move to other places to seek a way to survive.

The migratory victims flocked to each other on the road, and gradually became displaced people, and the displaced people, regardless of the dynasty or generation, were extremely unstable social factors, and if they were not careful, they would gather and riot.

Jiangnan's rich and mild climate is the first choice for these displaced people to migrate, once these hungry and red-eyed displaced people increase, Jiangnan is afraid that it will be chaotic or chaotic.

Thinking of this, several people were in a heavy mood, and the carriage was quiet for a while.

After a while, Xu Chengyu sighed: "I just hope that this year's winter will not be too cold, and the relief from the imperial court will be used to calm down these victims and tide over this difficulty smoothly." ”

After that, there was no word all the way, and in the swaying of the carriage, the sun rose higher and higher, and everyone from Luxi Academy finally arrived at their destination before noon.