Zhao Fu changed into ordinary clothes as well and planned to travel alone to some remote regions, to see for himself how the people of Great Qin were faring. What he witnessed with his own eyes would certainly be truer than any report.
The first place he came to was a mountain village. The commandery and county where it was located had also suffered a flood, and Zhao Fu wanted to see firsthand what the situation was like now.
After the flood, the mountain village had already cleared the mud from within the village and was now clearing the mud from the fields so they could plant grain again.
The arrival of a stranger like Zhao Fu drew many curious glances from the villagers. They wondered why this young man had come to their little mountain village. Though he was dressed plainly, his bearing was extraordinary, far beyond that of ordinary people.
An elderly man with graying hair but a still-sturdy build stepped forward and asked with a smile, "May I ask what brings you to our village, young master?"
Zhao Fu smiled. "Nothing in particular, sir. I'm simply looking around. I happened to pass by this village, so I came in for a look."
The village chief chuckled. "Is that so? Our village is merely a poor mountain village—what is there to see? I thought you were an official from the imperial court, sent down to inspect the area."
Zhao Fu looked somewhat surprised. He glanced at his entirely ordinary clothes, which seemed to have nothing special about them, then asked curiously, "How did you tell that I might be an official of the imperial court?"
The village chief smiled. "Your bearing tells at a glance that you are no ordinary man. You are vastly different from us people