CHAPTER 459: CHAPTER 459: ENCOUNTERING ANOTHER HANDSOME MAN

Before reaching the back of the stalls, a line of people was already following, and there were even more waiting at the stall area, all voluntarily queuing up. When they saw the familiar ox carts and mule carts, their eyes lit up with excitement.

"They’re here, they’re here, everyone line up..." shouted someone unknown.

"Yes, yes, yes, don’t push, it’s not like you’ll miss out..."

"Auntie, you’ve stepped on my shoe..."

"Parents, your son is here..."

In a moment, the street became bustling and noisy, making the surrounding stall vendors’ areas seem cold and quiet in comparison.

But with the groundwork laid yesterday, the vendors were unsurprised, not only did they not mind, each one left someone to watch their stalls while they queued up.

Even on the street, police officers were more than yesterday, maintaining order.

Honestly, they weren’t needed to maintain order. The ox cart owner had personality and strength, and behind them were a row of keen eyes watching. If someone didn’t queue and disrupted order, even if they got to the front, they’d not get a single bit.

Yesterday’s example was vivid in memory. There were a few men who, relying on their size and numbers, tried to cause trouble, even wanted to get something for nothing, but were given a real thrashing.

No need for the officers to step forward, just two young fellows from the ox cart owner’s side dealt with those few men, leaving them howling, almost losing their lives, let alone buying anything.

Despite this, the ox cart owner acted like they hadn’t seen anything, still amiably selling the grain on the cart, their hands never stopping.

Even the half-grown boys on the carts were very calm, ignoring those few who were beaten.

Now there’s no misunderstanding. No wonder these people dared to sell such large amounts of grain. As they thought, they indeed had support, strong enough themselves.

Thus, today, even though there were many more people than yesterday, the order was excellent; while there was chatter, nobody dared to cause trouble.

"Quick, quick, quick, those who are blocking, hurry up, don’t waste time..." The crowd instantly dispersed at a hoarse shout, letting the ox cart smoothly enter the stall area.

Even though Hua Jin was mentally prepared, faced with the overwhelming crowd, she couldn’t help sweating.

So many people!

Seeing the joyful expressions on everyone’s faces, it seemed today there’d be even more cheating than yesterday, or else two carts wouldn’t be enough, half a cart of which was Luo Song’s donkey cart.

The arrival of the ox cart excited the crowd in front of the stall.

"Stall owner, we’ve already lined up early, can we start?" A grandpa at the front shouted, clearly impatient, his basket already prepared.

"Start, start, the rules are the same as yesterday afternoon, hope everyone follows them. If someone disrupts, we don’t have to sell the grain." Hua Chengtian said indifferently.

Initially, it was just his daughter wanting to do good. If someone doesn’t appreciate it, Hua Chengtian had no necessity to sell the grain.

"We’ll follow, certainly follow," everyone said hurriedly, nodding when hearing about not selling anymore.

"Of course, I trust all of you fellow villagers, since so, let’s start, don’t rush, one at a time..."

Before Hua Chengtian finished speaking, the grandpa at the front hurriedly moved forward, others quickly followed.

"Ten pounds of white flour, ten pounds of white rice, fifty pounds of coarse flour... and a piece of meat" The grandpa eagerly shouted, eyeing the meat at the back of the cart.

"..."

An hour later, all the carts were empty, most people bought something, but those at the back of the line had to wait until the afternoon, some not even planning to leave, just lining up here.

Once the cart was empty, Hua Chengtian’s group quickly left the town, bumping into patrol officers and a young man with an aura of authority on the way. Seeing the man nod smilingly at them, Hua Chengtian, adhering to the principle of not hitting smiling faces, returned the smile, flicked his whip, and left.

Looking from the corner of his eye at the officers behind, recalling yesterday’s tracking, he had some faint guesses in his heart.

But as long as he wasn’t stopped, he didn’t care who they were, thought Hua Chengtian.

Grain was sold for several days, by the fifth day, Hua Jin planned to stop, estimating those in the town who could buy had already bought practically.

On the afternoon of the fifth day, the queue was noticeably shorter than before, eventually everyone was able to buy.

Thus, everyone could last for some days, Hua Jin thought happily.

Even if an earthquake really came, as long as they moved fast enough, with grain and people, hope wouldn’t be lost.

Looking at the few remaining bags of grain on the cart, Hua Jin and her father didn’t plan to sell them anymore, and time was running out; if they didn’t leave now, it’d be dark when they returned to the village.

Just as they were packing up to leave, a group approached them.

Hua Chengtian looked closely, wasn’t it the gentleman who nodded and smiled at him that day? Then he quickly went forward.

"Sir is..."

Hua Chengtian had to ask, mostly because the visitor wore casual clothes, Hua Chengtian couldn’t be sure, and even the officers’ uniforms were patched and ragged. If it weren’t for the standardized weapons issued by the court, no one would object to calling them common folk.

"This is our county official" One of the officers reminded, Hua Chengtian visibly tensed up, quickly saluting, "Greetings to the county official, it’s my ignorance not knowing your presence here... hope my lord forgives."

"No matter, there’s no lord here at this moment, Liu knows you have grain for sale, not sure if we arrived late..." Liu Yongping loudly spoke looking at the people tidying by the cart.

"Yes, yes, there are still a few bags, whatever County Official needs, feel free to take them, we all know the official has worked tirelessly for us, no need to be polite, sir."

Hua Chengtian was clear on human behavior, spoke sincerely, without a trace of servility, truly seeming touched by the county official’s dedication and effort for the people.

"Since that’s the case, Liu will take all the remaining bags."

"Yes, small ones will have the family unload them" Hua Chengtian didn’t mention money at all, calling Xiaosi and Gouzi along with Qin Shu and Luo Song to help.

A few sacks of over a hundred pounds of grain were quickly unloaded by them, Hua Jin didn’t come forward, mainly because there weren’t many sacks left, she didn’t need to act. She looked curiously at the young county official.

It wasn’t Hua Jin’s first time seeing this county official, but the first time seeing so clearly.

Perhaps nourished over those days, had some flesh, unlike before when Hua Jin saw him thin, not looking like a person at all, with a little flesh and overall presence, she was surprised the official was truly outstanding, still somewhat thin but couldn’t mask his handsome features.

Making Hua Jin couldn’t help glancing several times.

Unlike Luo Song’s gentleness, and Qin Shu’s clean brightness, this county official who cared about the people had an ambiguously beautiful face. If not for his tall build and wearing men’s clothing, at first glance one would think it was a cross-dressed woman, yet that grace and sharp gaze couldn’t be mimicked by a lady.