Chapter 498 - 262: Young Man_3
The entire population of Huaxi Village was terrified by the arrival of these military officers; they ran back from the fields to their homes and firmly closed their doors. Some households even braced their doors with poles and hid all their valuables and food supplies. The more timid women were scared to tears.
They feared that the arrival of so many "military daddies" meant either war was imminent or bandits were near.
Only Wang Lizheng, the village chief, felt that he could not hide away at this time; he had to find out what was happening. Trembling, he thought about going outside, but his wife clung to him sobbing desperately. Already frightened, when he saw his wife like this, he barked, "What are you crying for? I’m not going out, just climbing up a ladder to see what’s happening."
He put up a ladder against the wall and peered over, sticking out half his head. Suddenly, he saw Wan Erniu and his son riding horses, approaching from the east with a few soldiers. They seemed quite familiar with the soldiers.
Wang Lizheng stretched his neck urgently and called out, "Younger brother Wan, what’s going on?"
Wan Erniu stopped and said, "Wang Lizheng, get everyone back to their business. These soldiers are here on a private matter, nothing to do with the villagers." After speaking, he galloped westward.
Wang Lizheng suddenly had a feeling that Wan Erniu seemed to have changed suddenly. He no longer looked like a common peasant; his presence was even more commanding than the Master County Magistrate’s.
Wan Erniu and his father Wan Dazhong arrived at the wastelands at the west end of Huaxi Village and exchanged a few pleasantries with the leaders among the soldiers before heading towards the gates of Guiyuan.
When the soldiers first arrived at the wastelands, Old man Cai had been so frightened that he closed the main gate. Qian Sangui had Lady Wu and the children hide in Wangjiang Building, took all the animals there, and had the strong men stay at the building’s entrance for protection, while he listened out for any activity with Old man Cai and Su Siwu in the outer courtyard.
Mr. Yu had guessed what the situation might be and had also sent Qian Yeejin to Wangjiang Building. He went to the front courtyard, intending to share his guess with Qian Sigui, when he heard the gate being loudly banged. It was Hua Qiang.
Upon hearing it was Hua Qiang, Qian Sangui allowed Old man Cai to open the gate.
Hua Qiang handed over four letters to Qian Sangui. Two were from Prince Ning, one addressed to Qian Sangui and another to Qian Yeejin. Qian Manjiang wrote one each to Qian Sangui and Cheng Yue, fearing Cheng Yue couldn’t handle the fact that Jinwa belonged to someone else and he wrote at length to comfort him.