code: def _read_file(folder, filename):
      '''
      Reads and returns the contents of a file
      '''
      path = os.path.join(folder, filename)
      try:
          with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, 'rb') as contents:
              return salt.utils.data.decode(contents.readlines())
      except (OSError, IOError):
          return 'f _read_file(folder, filename):
      '''
      Reads and returns the contents of a file
      '''
      path = os.path.join(folder, filename)
      try:
          with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, 'rb') as contents:
              return salt.utils.data.decode(contents.readlines())
      except (OSError, IOError):
          return ''
docs: Reads and returns the contents of a file