On the silent mountain road, urgent, chaotic hoofbeats suddenly rang out, drawing nearer from afar and shattering the deathly stillness.
The riders all wore standard Government Office bailiff uniforms,
with iron rulers and chains hanging from their waists. Their bearing was fierce and capable, their gazes sharp; they were clearly no ordinary rural yamen runners.
The icy mountain wind swept up bits of snow, cutting across their faces like tiny knives.
Several fast horses thundered over the frozen road, splashing scattered black mud and lingering snow.
On horseback, a younger constable hunched his neck and spat viciously.
"Damn it, this hellhole is way colder than the county town! Even the wind reeks of poverty!"
The older man beside him gave a chuckle, baring a mouthful of yellow teeth as he teased, "What, you can't take it after just two days out here? Missing Xiao Cuihong's warm bed at Yihongyuan already?"
The young constable flushed and cursed with a grin. "Screw you! I'm missing the steaming mutton soup in the county town!"
At the center of the group, the constable captain listened to his men's banter without much expression and merely said in a low voice, "Enough nonsense. Watch your footing. This road is slippery."
His gaze swept over the faint outline of a dilapidated village ahead as he continued, "Finish the job quickly. Get every village to submit their lists, then head back early and report in. That's what matters."
The older constable spoke up again, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation. "Boss is right! Once we're back in the county town, we have to go to Shilixiang and knock back a few pots of piping-hot Lotus wine to drive this chill from our bones!"
"Haha, count me in!"
"I'm going too!"
As they laughed and talked, it was