Tai Hao motioned for Jiang Bao to put the burden on the bed, and then led him to sit down at the round table in the center of the room. Tai Hao slowly opened his mouth and said, "Brother Jiang Bao, I still want to ask you about some things. ”

When Jiang Bao heard this, he hurriedly said: "Vice Admiral Taihao, if you have any questions, just mention them." You are new to Jiutu City, and there must be a lot of things you don't know about the complex folk customs and the harsh environment here. You have to be careful here. ”

Tai Hao frowned and said, "Ever since you can remember, has Nine Earth City always been like this?" ”

Jiang Bao sighed and said, "Yes, there is almost no change. Successive city lords would initially have a vision of a better life for the people, but within three months, they would be assimilated into the environment and everything would be back to its original state. ”

Tai Hao sneered and said, "In this way, Jiutu City is a good place to make Qing officials faint. ”

Jiang Bao hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Vice General Taihao, you can't say that." In the eyes of the people, the Qing officials and the unscrupulous officials are all the same. They only care about their own lives, and they don't care if the city lord is clear or dim. ”

Tai Hao asked again: "The people in the city, haven't they thought about living a better life?" ”

Jiang Bao smiled bitterly: "Vice General Taihao, our ancestors have lived here for generations, and we are used to the current way of life. The affluent life you are talking about is really unimaginable. ”

Tai Hao said: "Wuqu City, which is not far from here, is a different scene in the city, I wonder if you have been there?" ”

Jiang Bao scratched his head, and a slightly embarrassed smile appeared on his face: "Although the little one has been to Wuqu City a few times and seen the prosperity there, he still prefers Jiutu City in his heart, after all, this is a small home, and it is the root of the small." ”

Hearing this, Taihao nodded slightly, as if thinking about something. He then asked, "Then have you ever wondered what it would be like if Nine Earth City could become as prosperous as Wuqu City?" ”

Jiang Bao suddenly restrained his smile and shook his head: "The little ones don't dare to have extravagant hopes. Nine Earth City has always been like this, and it is not so easy to change. ”

Taihao looked at Jiang Bao, and a trace of curiosity flashed in his eyes: "Brother Jiang Bao, if it's not troublesome, I want to go and see your home, is it okay?" ”

Jiang Bao was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Of course you can, Vice General Taihao can go at any time." But there was a hint of worry in his words, "However, Vice Adjutant Taihao, if you are an official here, you still have to think more about yourself." We, the people, have our own destiny. You don't have to worry too much. ”

The wine and food were quickly served by the shopkeeper, Taihao asked Jiang Bao to eat together, he and Jiang Bao sat together, pushed the cup and changed the lamp, and enjoyed this rare quiet time. Jiang Bao persuaded Tai Hao from time to time, asking him to protect himself in this strange and complicated place. However, Taihao just nodded silently and didn't really listen to his heart. He knew that he had an important mission on his shoulders, and that was to bring change to the people of Jiutu City.

After drinking and eating, Taihao stood up, he patted Jiang Bao's shoulder, and said, "Brother, take this official to your house to have a look." Jiang Bao was stunned for a moment, but then nodded and led Taihao out of the inn.

At this time, it was just afternoon, in this late autumn season, the sun was lazily sprinkled on the land of Jiutu City, and a golden color shrouded the four fields. The autumn breeze gently blows, and the leaves of those tall poplars and maples flutter in the air like golden butterflies, and then gently fall to the ground, forming a thick golden carpet.

Jiang Bao led Tai Hao through the streets and alleys, and came to a house that looked dilapidated from the outside, and the stucco on the walls was mottled and peeled off, revealing the loess inside. The roof tiles were also incomplete, and sunlight spilled onto the ground through the cracks, creating patches of dappled light and shadow.

Pushing open a slightly dilapidated wooden door, a small courtyard is ushered in. There is a persimmon tree planted in one corner of the garden, and the tree is full of red persimmons. Near the corner, there are also a few emerald green bamboos, swaying gently and making a rustling sound, adding a bit of elegance to this quiet little courtyard.

Passing through the courtyard, he pushed open a papier-mâché door and entered Jiang Bao's home. The room is slightly dimly lit, but clean and welcoming. The floor was covered with rough adobe bricks, and although it was a little uneven, it was swept clean. There are some ink calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall, although they are not exquisite, but they also reveal his love and pursuit of life.

A simple wooden table and a few bamboo chairs are placed in one corner of the room, which is where Jiang Bao and his family eat. A clean cloth was laid on the table, on which were placed several coarse porcelain bowls and a pair of chopsticks. Although these items are a little old, they are all polished to a sparkling light, revealing a spirit of thrift and thrift.

Next to it is a small adobe stove with a black iron pot on it. An old woman was busy preparing dinner, and the fire was dancing with an orange-red glow, reflecting on her kind face. The whole house was filled with the aroma of food, which made Taihao salivate.

Taihao saw that although Jiang Bao's home was not spacious and luxurious, it was full of the warmth of home and the breath of life. This simple courtyard and neat house environment show the industrious and unpretentious attitude of Jiang Bao's family.

The old woman raised her head slowly, and her eyes full of traces of time showed surprise and joy: "Bao'er, you are back." Her rough hand took out a piece of red cloth wrapped in something from her bosom and handed it to Jiang Bao, her voice was full of emotion, "The Mu family just sent it, you can take a look." ”

Jiang Bao glanced at Tai Hao beside him, with an inquiry in his eyes. The old woman immediately understood what he meant, and her wrinkled face showed a nervous and cramped expression: "This is ......?" ”

"Ah Niang, this is the new deputy general of the city guard, Vice General Taihao." Jiang Bao introduced, and at the same time gently pushed back the thing wrapped in the red cloth.

When the old woman heard that it was an official visiting, her hands trembled obviously, and the red cloth package slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. A dull crash echoed through the room, as if an ancient bell had been struck, striking people's hearts. Tai Hao could clearly see a gold bar rolling out of the loose package, shining with an alluring light.

Jiang Bao's face changed, and he hurriedly explained: "Vice Admiral Taihao, don't misunderstand. This is what the younger brother has earned from doing business outside all these years. ”

The old woman hurriedly picked up the gold bar, and replied again and again: "Yes, yes, this is the eldest son of the old slave sent back, Vice Admiral Taihao, don't misunderstand." There was an unconcealable tension in her voice, as if she was afraid that Taihao would continue to ask.

A hint of curiosity flashed in Tai Hao's eyes, gold bars would appear in such a family, which was a rare thing in the wealthy Eastern Empire, let alone in this Nine Earth City, a seemingly barren city. He couldn't help but ask, "Grandma, is this really from your eldest son?" ”

The old woman was obviously a little flustered by this question, but she still tried her best to stay calm, nodded and said, "Yes, the eldest son of the old slave is doing some small business outside, and when he came back early this morning, he handed this over to me." ”

Tai Hao smiled slightly, and asked again: "Then you just said that the Mu family just sent it, what does this mean?" Is your eldest son called the Mu family? ”

The old woman was stunned by this question, and she didn't know how to answer for a while. She looked at Jiang Bao as if asking for help, hoping that he could solve the siege. Seeing this, Jiang Bao hurriedly took over the conversation and explained: "Vice General Taihao, don't be careful, the Mu family is a big family in Jiutu City. The younger brother was doing business outside, and this time it was the brother of the Tomu family who brought things back. ”

Hearing this, Tai Hao still had doubts in his heart, but he still nodded and said, "Oh, I see." He looked at the old woman and said gently, "Grandma, then you can continue to be busy." ”

Taihao followed Jiang Bao's steps and came to another room. "Vice Admiral Taihao, this is the bedroom below." Jiang Bao said as he pushed the door open.

Taihao looked around and saw that the furnishings in the bedroom were simple and unpretentious. A bed, a desk, a chair and a wardrobe make up the whole house. Taihao was about to ask, but heard the old woman shouting outside the house: "Bao'er, you come out first to help Weiniang light this fire." ”

When Jiang Bao heard this, he looked at Tai Hao with some embarrassment, "Vice General Tai Hao, please wait a while, I'll go." Taihao nodded, "Go ahead, I'll wait for you here." ”

When Jiang Bao left, Taihao's gaze wandered in the room. His gaze suddenly fell on the brocade box above the closet. The brocade box is incomparably delicate and unforgettable. Taihao couldn't help but be curious, he stepped on the desk and gently removed the brocade box.

I only felt a sinking in my hand, as if there was something heavy hidden in the brocade box. Taihao shook the brocade box, and there was a crisp sound of gold colliding inside. He tried to open the box, only to find a small lock locked on it.

Tai Hao stared at the brocade box in his hand, and secretly wondered in his heart: What is contained here, could it be gold bars?

At this moment, Jiang Bao hurriedly walked into the house and saw Taihao holding the brocade box in his hand at a glance. His face instantly tightened, and he hurriedly snatched the brocade box from Tai Hao's hand and explained, "Vice General Tai Hao, these are all stones I collected on the nearby mountains, and they are not valuable. ”

Tai Hao looked at him, his eyes full of curiosity: "What are you doing collecting so many stones?" ”

Jiang Bao's eyes flickered for a moment, as if thoughtful, and then replied: "The little one has been fond of strange-shaped stones since he was a child, so he has always collected them. ”

Taihao's doubts deepened, and he clearly heard the sound of gold bars colliding in the brocade box, which was completely different from the sound of stones. For him, who grew up in Shizhu City, it was easy to distinguish between the two voices. So, he further asked, "What kind of stone is it?" Open it and see, where did you pick it up? ”

Jiang Bao looked a little nervous, he hugged the brocade box tightly, shook his head and said, "It's nothing to look at, Vice General Taihao, don't look at it." ”

However, Taihao was also notoriously stubborn, he glared at Jiang Bao and insisted, "Open!" It's just a few broken stones, and the officer won't rob you if he sees it. ”