Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Fang Zheng and his group were ready to set off.

He was about to head to the capital to await an audience with the Emperor.

Originally, the trip to the capital was only planned with Xiao Tao and Zhang Biao, but after Bai Yi's persistent pestering, they finally decided to take her along as well.

Early in the morning, the people of Taoyuan County had gotten up almost in the middle of the night, waiting early at the city gate.

Especially the officials in the county government got up even earlier. They were the first to hold office in Taoyuan County and were the earliest to follow Fang Zheng.

Having spent a long time together, their feelings were deep, and naturally, they were even more reluctant to part.

At this time, the sky was not yet bright, the sky was dim, and the wind was howling.

Although the weather had warmed up, at this moment, the cold wind blowing on the face was as uncomfortable as being pricked by fine needles.

However, no one said a word, just silently holding lanterns, waiting for the county magistrate to leave the city.

Zhang Lao Liu from Lao Liu Restaurant and the yamen runner Lu Fa also came.

Standing in the crowd, they saw each other, but there was no resentment in their eyes, only a solemn nod to each other.

Suddenly someone shouted, "The carriage is coming!"

The crowd turned their heads to look.

Fang Zheng's carriage was slowly driving towards the city gate.

The coachman, seeing the crowd gathered here, slowed down even more.

Inside the carriage, Fang Zheng was engrossed in reading a novel when suddenly the carriage jolted slightly.

While reading, he asked, "Why did the carriage stop?"

Xiao Tao opened the curtain and opened her small mouth in surprise, "Young Master, look?"

Fang Zheng turned his head and looked through the carriage window, seeing a large crowd of people outside, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Get out of the carriage."

Fang Zheng took the lead in getting out of the carriage and stood on the carriage.

When the crowd saw Fang Zheng coming out, they stepped forward one after another, bowing or waving to greet him.

Bai Yi followed behind him, seeing this spectacular scene, she was secretly shocked, Fang Zheng's popularity was so deep! No wonder the Emperor valued him so much!

After Zhang Lao Liu finished his salute, he began to hesitate in place, but without hesitating for too long, he stomped his foot and approached Fang Zheng.

He took out a jar of wine from his arms and choked up, "Sir, this is wine I warmed up early in the morning. The weather is still cold, have a little on the road..."

Fang Zheng nodded and took the wine jar.

This seemed to ignite the enthusiasm of the crowd, and everyone began to take out various things and hand them to the carriage. Xiao Tao and Bai Yi were also constantly receiving things.

Soon, the carriage was filled with all kinds of things.

Fang Zheng hurriedly said, "Ke Shao! Maintain order!"

"Everyone's kindness is appreciated by this official! Don't send any more! Don't send any more!"

Although Fang Zheng was shouting, the people behind still ignored him and crowded forward, and some people even threw things at the carriage in a hurry.

For a time, eggs and vegetable leaves flew all over the sky.

Fang Zheng's face darkened, and he quickly arranged for the clerks to transfer the things from the car one by one.

After a little half an hour of tossing, the situation calmed down.

Fang Zheng looked back and found that many people were rushing over here, and more and more people were gathering, so he sighed again: "Let's not ride in the carriage, let's walk."

Several people jumped out of the carriage and began to walk slowly towards the city gate.

At this moment, the crowd was surprisingly quiet, just accompanying Fang Zheng slowly.

Fang Zheng walked in the middle, with the lights on both sides of the street accompanying him.

The short distance seemed to be infinitely stretched, and there were countless people on the street.

Fang Zheng tried hard to see the face of each person clearly. These people were the people who had worked hard with him, building Taoyuan County brick by brick, the merchants, clerks, and people who had shared hardships in Taoyuan County.

After this farewell, I am afraid that it will be difficult to stay in Taoyuan County forever. The efforts of the past actually made him feel a trace of futility.

This place had long become his home in this life, and now he was going to start wandering again?

The crowd had reached the city gate, and a large area was still empty around Fang Zheng. The people did not dare to cross the line, for fear of blocking Fang Zheng's way.

Out of the city gate, someone whispered, "Sir, take care... Come back early..."

"Sir, be careful on the road."

"Sir, remember to come back sooner!!"

One after another, exhortations tried their best to restrain their full emotions, gradually forming a piece.

Fang Zheng did not dare to look back, but as the volume became louder and louder, he finally could not help but stop and look back.

Seeing the lights stretching into the city, unable to see the end, the hot tears in his eyes finally burst out, but the next second he raised his sleeves and quickly wiped them dry.

Then he shouted loudly to the people in front of him: "You bunch of troublemakers! You made me, Sir, come out and walk in the cold weather, and it hurts my eyes!"

Zhang Lao Liu, Lu Fa, and others who were closest to him felt as if their hearts had been stabbed by a knife, and they couldn't help but cover their faces and cry.

When Fang Zheng built Taoyuan County, he personally cultivated the land, cooked porridge and distributed food, carried soil to build the city, and took care of the sick people... No matter how hard or difficult it was, he always looked smiling.

Now... they actually saw Sir moved.

They would rather see Fang Zheng's carefree appearance than see him sad.

Zhang Lao Liu cried uncontrollably, Lu Fa looked at this little old man who had once caused him to be beaten, and his heart was also very uncomfortable, he couldn't help but pat him on the shoulder and whispered: "Sir will come back, don't cry."

Zhang Lao Liu wiped his tears, blew his nose, and sobbed: "Come back for what? Yesterday we all heard that Sir is going to the capital to be the Junior Tutor."

"Do you know what the Junior Tutor is! We have all inquired. That is the Emperor's teacher! We all know in our hearts, how can this small place of Taoyuan County... let Sir stay for a lifetime?"

"Sir will be able to leap over the dragon gate in the future, to be a general, to be a prime minister! We mud-legged people must not block Sir's way......"

Lu Fa heard the words, and put down his hand in frustration, looking at Fang Zheng with a slightly sad look.

Fang Zheng felt that if he stayed any longer, he would lose his composure again, so he waved his hand, wanting the crowd to disperse quickly.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, he found that he had lost his voice, his throat was a little tight, and he couldn't speak.

He had no choice but to get into the carriage first.

Xiao Tao and others who were originally accompanying him were also moved, and when they saw Fang Zheng getting into the car, they quickly followed him into the car.

Seeing that everyone was there, the coachman began to wave his whip, the wheels rolled, and slowly drove towards the capital.

Fang Zheng lay in the carriage, opened a book and covered his face, as if he had fallen asleep.

Xiao Tao and Zhang Biao sat aside, only caring about wiping their tears, without saying a word.

Only Bai Yi, felt greatly shocked, and her heart was momentarily at a loss.

Secretly opened the curtain of the car window, staring blankly at the people who were seeing them off, who were getting farther and farther away from her.

The swarming crowd was still crowded at the city gate, unable to disperse for a long time.

......