Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 578 Killing

Xie Yuyan looked at the flock of refugees who had gathered there. Every year, famine and taxes would force some people to flee their hometowns, and now a considerable number of them had accumulated in Bianjing.

The servant brought over a chair, but Xie Yuyan did not sit down; instead, he stood in front of everyone.

"Did you hear everything the manager said just now?"

"Refugees who are unwilling to follow the court's arrangements and return to their hometowns can also stay in the capital to make a living, but they can either follow the government to reclaim wasteland or distribute rice and grain to everyone as part of a work-for-relief program."

"Now, the porcelain industry in Bianjing is cooperating with the imperial court to resettle displaced people. Those who work diligently in the porcelain industry can be provided with food and wages. After learning a skill, they can become formal employees and craftsmen and apply for clients in Bianjing (clients do not have regular production and provide labor to others to make a living), thus completely getting rid of their status as displaced people."

"I am a veteran in the porcelain trade, but I also have a dyeing workshop, a fleet of ships, a caravan, three perfume shops, as well as a restaurant, an inn, and a eatery."

"If you are interested in working in my other shops, you can apply when the workshops, shops and fleets come to select workers. Those who do not slack off or violate regulations will be given priority."

Wu Qian, who was keeping his head down and avoiding eye contact, felt a jolt of excitement when he heard about the fleet. If he could sneak onto a ship, he could leave Bianjing with Xie Yuyan's fleet.

Perhaps it's not as terrible as he thinks. After all, there's a saying, "the darkest place is under the lamp," meaning the more dangerous the place, the safer it is.

Just as Wu Qian was thinking this, he noticed that another patrolman was approaching.

Xie Yuyan looked at the military leader: "Should we check their identities again?"

The military leader looked at the refugees and then shook his head: "These people were brought from Baode Temple. We checked them just two days ago, and there were no problems."

The military leader paused for a moment at this point: "If Madam discovers anything suspicious, she can come to us at any time. The imperial court has ordered that the guilds receiving refugees these days must increase their manpower. We will be waiting outside this place."

Xie Yuyan said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, General."

After the two finished speaking, the general led his soldiers out.

Wu Qian breathed a sigh of relief. The good news was that he wouldn't be checked anymore, but the bad news was that he wouldn't be able to sneak out of here.

The crowd was looking at each other and discussing.

Xie Yuyan nodded to Su Man, and then several large pots were brought over. The lids were lifted, and the aroma of rice immediately wafted out.

The starving refugees immediately gathered around the large pot.

“Take it slow,” the steward said immediately. “There will be meals every day from now on, and everyone will be well-fed.”

Wu Qian couldn't help but swallow. This Madam Xie was indeed quite capable. Before starting any work, she first provided food to everyone to appease them.

When Wu Qian held the bowl and saw the food piled high in front of her, she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

“My family originally had a few acres of poor land, but the floods caused a complete crop failure, and we were unable to pay the taxes, so we had no choice but to flee.”

"The winter before last, my parents fell ill. They borrowed money from a wealthy family in the village, but couldn't repay it, so they had to use their land as collateral."

After dinner, everyone gathered together to share their experiences.

After everyone around Wu Qian finished speaking, several people turned their attention to him.

Wu Qian immediately tensed up, not expecting everyone to have to speak. He had never encountered such a situation before, because his father had followed the Holy Church at a young age.

But the reason it has fallen to this state...

Wu Qian said, “My father was sold by his family when he was a child. Because he was in poor health and could not do much work, no one was willing to spend money to buy him. He was almost abandoned by the slave trader. Finally, he was adopted by a kind master and lived with that master ever since.”

"Later, the master passed away, and his brother's family took over the family business. My father was neglected from then on and has now been expelled from the clan." Someone asked, "Why not sue them? Even if you leave, you can still get a share of the property."

Wu Qian shook his head and said, "I wouldn't dare, and I wouldn't be able to win anyway..."

“If you don’t sue them, they will take the opportunity to bully you again.”

"The porcelain trade also has lawyers who can help the craftsmen write legal documents. Why don't you go ask the old lady?"

Wu Qian immediately refused: "Let's eat first. I've just arrived here and haven't done anything yet. How can I ask you to do these things, Madam?"

"Right."

"Thanks to the arrests in Bianjing this year, which reduced the manpower in the city, we now have a place to stay."

"I heard that it's because the Market Traders Guild is taking in refugees for work? That's what those patrolmen were talking about."

Wu Qian had no interest in listening to any of this. The words of those people from earlier kept flashing through his mind. Wasn't his current situation a deliberate arrangement by the leader?

As Wu Qian was thinking, he felt a gaze fall on him. He looked up and saw someone avoiding his gaze and hiding in the crowd.

Wu Qian's heart sank immediately. Could it be that someone had recognized him?
Just then, there was another commotion at the entrance, and more than a dozen people were brought over.

Wu Qian looked around among the crowd and spotted several of Yang Kuan's brothers.

When the porcelain shop manager went to Baode Temple to bring people, Yang Kuan's brothers happened to be away, and now they have finally reunited.

When Yang Kuan's men came over, Wu Qian immediately whispered, "Just now... someone was staring at me again."

These brothers had previously helped Wu Qian block other people's attention, but unexpectedly, trouble has arisen again not long after they parted ways.

"Where is that person?" one of Yang Kuan's men asked. "Let's go find him... and then find a reason to attack him first."

In the past few days, in addition to the soldiers coming to patrol, some suspicious people have come to the door, but they have all been dealt with by Yang Kuan and his men.

It was because of the appearance of these people that Wu Qian became increasingly suspicious that the leader was trying to harm him.

If those people were from the government office or Xie Yuyan, their sudden disappearance would surely have alerted the imperial court, but neither the court nor Xie Yuyan took any action.

That leaves only one possibility: those are spies of the Holy Church.

As for why Wu Qian didn't suspect ordinary people, it's because the news brought back by Yang Kuan and others said that those who were tailing him knew some martial arts and were exceptionally vigilant.

"More and more people are looking for you these past two days."

Yang Kuan and Wang Wu said, "We left Baode Temple because someone was watching you, and now... there's another one here."

Wu Qian clenched his fist: "How did you deal with that person just now?"

A ruthless smile appeared on Wang Wu's face: "What do you think? If they live, you will die."

Wu Qian had already guessed this would happen. He swallowed hard: "Then what about the people here? There are still patrolmen at the gate, we can't just..."

Before Wang Wu could speak, the crowd suddenly stirred, followed by a scream: "Murder...murder!"

Wu Qian subconsciously looked in the direction of the voice, and then heard Wang Wu's reply: "Kill them all the same."

(End of this chapter)