My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 109 Departure

After numerous experiments and improvements, He Shun and Zhang Xiaohu finally found the optimal ratio of sand, stone, and soil. Following Lin Ziping's advice, they even brought the village's stone mill for threshing wheat to press the road. Overall, the road construction in Xinping Village is progressing smoothly, and full accessibility is just around the corner.

“Ziping, Lin Ziping…”

Lin Ziping looked up and saw someone riding a horse galloping towards them in the distance, kicking up dust on the road.

"Whoa~"

A man jumped off his horse.

Lin Ziping looked closely and realized it was Old Huang!

Old Huang, his face covered with a thick mask, hurriedly walked to a spot about a meter away from Lin Ziping, stopping in a few quick steps. He was panting and his voice was somewhat hoarse as he said, "Lin... Lin Ziping... come with me quickly."

Lin Ziping was completely baffled. He took the bowl from He Shun and handed it to Old Huang, saying, "Where are you going? Have some water first."

Old Huang took the bowl, took a big gulp, wiped the water from his mouth, sighed contentedly, and then quickly covered his face with a towel.

"I'm exhausted from this journey." Old Huang wiped the sweat from his forehead. "County Magistrate Feng said that things are almost done in Xinping Village, and he wants you to come back with me."

Is it in such a hurry?

Lin Ziping said, "Let's leave now. I still need to pack my things."

"You've actually settled in here. The county government has been incredibly busy lately; Inspector Chai and County Magistrate Feng haven't had time to inspect Xinping Village. Otherwise, you wouldn't be living so comfortably," Old Huang said with a hint of envy. "At first, everyone sympathized with you for being assigned such a job, but little did they know that this is actually a great arrangement for you!"

I knew it! This road construction is a public welfare project, but no leaders have come to inspect it after all this time. Turns out the county government is busy!

“Young Master Lin, it’s almost noon. Even if you’re in a hurry, a little more time won’t matter. Why don’t we finish lunch and then leave? What do you say, Master Huang?” Zhang Xiaohu approached Old Huang with a smile.

Old Huang quickly took two steps back to distance himself from Zhang Xiaohu, and waved his hand hastily: "No need... Zhang Xiaohu, what are you doing here? Isn't your home in Pingding Village?"

Lin Ziping glanced at Zhang Xiaohu and changed the subject, saying, "Uncle Huang, I want to go back and pack my things. I'll also tell Cui Lizheng to bring some dry food for us to eat on the way. You can rest too. If we get back quickly, it shouldn't take too much of a delay."

“Alright, you can borrow a mule or donkey from the village head. I only brought one mule, and I haven’t been able to manage it for the past few days,” Old Huang said.

Lin Ziping strode away, and upon hearing Lao Huang's words, waved and replied, "Understood!"

Back in the village, bamboo chairs were still placed in the small square, and the scene of Cui Li discussing the past and present here was still vivid in my mind, as if it were just yesterday.

In the room, Aunt He had just changed the bedding yesterday, and the pots and pans were collected from several households. We haven't visited all forty-plus households in the village yet. Time has passed so quickly, and we have to go back. It hasn't been long, and we haven't done anything, but it feels like a long time has passed, and I even feel a little reluctant to leave.

She sighed deeply, packed away the clothes and personal belongings she had brought, and also folded up the experimental data she had collected from Dai Qin's book and put them in her bundle.

I put the Book of Documents aside and gave it to Cui Lizheng, who seemed to like it quite a bit. I gave the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to Shi Tou and the village children. I wonder if they've learned the multiplication tables I taught them a couple of days ago...

"Going back?"

Cui Lizheng's voice came from outside.

Lin Ziping came out with the Book of Documents and saw Cui Lizheng standing outside the door with a leather bag and a Wuling Hongguang minivan.

"Village Chief Cui, yes, County Magistrate Feng sent someone to tell me to go back," Lin Ziping said, holding the book and bowing his head slightly.

“It’s time to go back. This was collected by the aunties from various families. Take it with you to eat on the way.” Cui Lizheng handed over the leather bag.

Lin Ziping took it, opened it, and saw that there were several steamed buns inside: "This... is too much."

Fine grains and white flour were considered precious items in this era, and ordinary families would only afford to eat them during festivals like the New Year. This is why he was so careful when he came to Pingding Village to give Shi Tou Baozi the dumplings.

“Take it if you’re given to us; it’s a token of everyone’s goodwill,” Cui Lizheng said, stopping him.

"Uncle Cui, please thank everyone for me." Lin Ziping handed the Book of Documents to Cui Lizheng. "I don't have much, so I'll give this book to Uncle Cui. I hope you won't mind. Also, please distribute the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones inside to the children. And this is the money for my lodging for the next few days."

Cui Lizheng accepted the book, saying, "Keep the money for yourself."

"Uncle Cui, this won't do..."

"Xiao Lin, is everything packed?" Old Huang asked, riding his mule into the village when Lin Ziping didn't arrive.

"Alright." Lin Ziping stuffed the silver into Cui Lizheng's hand and hurriedly went into the house to get the bundle.

Old Huang dismounted and bowed to Village Chief Cui, saying, "Village Chief, Your Excellency."

“Officer Huang.” Village Chief Cui nodded.

Lin Ziping took the reins of the Wuling Hongguang from Cui Jiazheng. He felt something was off and looked at Cui Jiazheng disapprovingly, but Lao Huang didn't say anything.

"Officer Huang, young Master Lin, please take care," Cui Li said calmly.

Lin Ziping gripped the object in his hand, composed himself, and bowed deeply to Cui Lizheng.

After a while, he turned to Old Huang and said, "Uncle Huang, let's go."

"it is good!"

The two whipped their horses and drove away.

After leaving the territory of Xinping Village, the two gradually slowed down.

Lin Ziping opened his hand, originally thinking that what Cui Lizheng was handing over was the silver he had given him, but who knew it was a strangely shaped... stone.

It should be a stone. Lin Ziping didn't look closely and couldn't tell what the material was. He stuffed it into his pocket when Lao Huang wasn't looking.

"Uncle Huang, have a steamed bun." Lin Ziping opened the leather bag given to him by Cui Lizheng, took out a steamed bun and handed it over.

Old Huang didn't take it, looked up at the sky and said, "We need to hurry, it's going to rain."

Lin Ziping followed Lao Huang's gaze to the sky, where dark clouds piled up on the horizon, creating a scene reminiscent of "a storm brewing."

“Uncle Huang, you’ve only had one bowl of water on this long journey from the county seat to Xinping Village. Even an iron body can’t keep going like this. Have something to eat to tide you over. You should be able to reach the county government office before the rain starts,” Lin Ziping advised.

Old Huang's eyebrows and eyes, which were visible through his face towel, relaxed somewhat. He took the steamed bun from Lin Ziping's hand and said, "You haven't gone anywhere else in Xinping Village these days, have you?"

“No, I’ve been in Xinping Village all along,” Lin Ziping replied.

"Did anyone from Xinping Village go elsewhere?" Old Huang asked again.

Lin Ziping honestly replied, "Some time ago, the people from Xinping Village went to the county town."

"What? Someone went to the county town!" Old Huang exclaimed. "When did this happen? How is he now?"

Lin Ziping thought for a moment and said, "I went there more than ten days ago, but I didn't go into the city. I've been back for so many days and nothing has happened."

Old Huang visibly breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, looked around, and reminded, "Xiao Lin, you should put on your face mask too."