Chapter 334 Transporting Food
Zhou added firewood to the simple earthen stove and said worriedly, "When will this life end?"
Aunt Yue also said, "If the government doesn't resettle the disaster victims and refugees, we won't be able to hold on." The supplies they brought with them were almost used up in the past half month.
Yue Shu worked silently, but he was also worried. Although the government and the wealthy families in the city provided two meals of porridge a day, it was just not enough to fill him up but not starve him to death.
Living in such a place is fine for the young people, but the elderly and children can't stand it and will get sick.
At this time, a shout was heard, "The notice has been posted! The government has posted the notice!"
"Starting tomorrow, the government will recruit refugees one by one for work. As long as they work, they will be given food, clothing, medicine, and other supplies! Anyone who wants to work, come and sign up!"
After they confirmed the news, countless refugees began to cheer, "Great, great!"
Everyone believes that everything will be fine.
At night, after drinking the porridge they had received, Yue Shu's family prepared to discuss how many people from their family would sign up to work.
Just as Yue Shu was about to go in, he felt a hand on his shoulder and someone behind him called out his name, "Yue Shu!"
He turned around and said, "My benefactor!"
The young man Yue Shu met that day was none other than Qin Sheng. He was helping deliver a shipment that day when Liu Erxi sent word back that the buyer's child might have stomach worms and asked him to bring some pagoda candy.
He just happened to meet Yue Shu and his son on the road. Seeing that the child looked sick, he casually gave them two pagoda candies.
Time was of the essence, so Qin Sheng got straight to the point and stated his purpose. "I came to see you because I have something to ask you. The Liaodong Chamber of Commerce will be transporting a large quantity of grain northward soon, and we're planning to hire a group of people to escort it. Are you interested?"
Liaodong Chamber of Commerce? Yue Shu had heard of it. Although he was outside the city, news still came in from time to time.
He quickly asked, "My benefactor, are you from the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce?"
"I guess so."
"Logically speaking, I should help my benefactor no matter what, without asking for any payment. However, my family hasn't been settled yet, so it's not convenient for me to leave too far away." Yue Shu felt very guilty when he said this.
"Then bring your family along!" Qin Sheng said.
"Huh?" Yue Shu was stunned.
"Young and strong men will escort the food, and we will give them three to five kilograms of food every day."
Yue Shu's mind moved, "Can my brother and the others be hired as well?"
"Yes. For someone like you, we'll give you five pounds a day. An ordinary young and strong person would get three pounds a day."
Yue Shu calculated that there were four young and strong people in their family, and they could earn more than ten kilograms of food a day, which was more than enough for their food rations, and there might even be some left over.
"On the way, the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce will hire some strong women to cook and provide food."
"My benefactor, may I ask my father what he thinks?"
"Go ahead and think about it carefully. I'll wait for your news."
Yue Shu returned shortly after leaving. "My benefactor, we have decided to accept the employment of the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce."
The main thing is that the South has ignored the disaster victims for more than a month, which is very disappointing.
Although a notice was posted today stating that food, clothing, medicine and other supplies will be distributed if you work, it is still unknown how much will be distributed.
After discussing it with the family, they decided that the Southern Region government wouldn't be as generous as the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, Qin Sheng was their family's benefactor. Without him, the child would have been completely unaware of the large insects in their body, a terrifying thought.
Anyway, they have no home now, so they escort the food all the way north. If they find a good place, they will deliver the food and then come back to settle down.
Qin Sheng asked him, "The Liaodong Chamber of Commerce is looking to hire quite a few people this time. Do you have any candidates?"
Yue Shu nodded, "Yes." He knew many families like theirs.
"Then could you help pull some strings and tell them?"
"Okay, benefactor, if you trust me, I'll go and ask."
"Then I'll leave this to you. By the way, if the other party is an experienced craftsman, you can also hire him."
"Okay, I understand."
Yue Shu first contacted people from his own village, and those who were interested, then he contacted his own relatives and friends.
In this way, with people bringing people and guests bringing guests, more and more refugees are planning to go north.
In the original novel, Yue Shu was a renowned general in the southern land. His wife, children, parents, and mother all perished in the plague that followed the flood. He joined the Southern Expedition Army alone, becoming one of its three most formidable generals. He later faced Qin Sheng and was subdued by him. After Qin Sheng's death, he became one of the key generals in the fight against the Xianbei. After a lifetime of military service, he ultimately died under a siege by the Xianbei army due to a lack of food and fodder.
The time for opening the major city gates in the South has been decided.
Xie Zhan, not wanting to cause unrest among the refugees, agreed to their request to open the East Gate of South City in the middle of the night and evacuate the refugees outside the gate.
Xue Xu, Qin Sheng, Wu Ren, Liu Erxi and others were ready to go, preparing to transport a large warehouse of grain to the dock.
This time, they also hired members of the Cao Gang and all of Ji's employees at high prices.
That night, the road from the East Gate of Nandi to the dock was very busy, with countless men working hard and sweating profusely.
On the city wall, Xie Zhan watched this scene quietly.
"Master, the amount of grain transferred from Liaodong County is approximately 100,000 dan."
"Master, they've already transported a total of 200,000 dan of grain. Do you think they still have some left to transport?"
"There should be, but they didn't transport the food this time, so there won't be another chance."
They worked until dawn, and after they loaded all the food onto the ship, the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce immediately paid them their wages.
After paying their wages, they were also given five kilograms of food each.
The men who received their wages and food were all smiling happily. Food is very expensive nowadays, and five kilograms of food is enough for the family to eat for two or three days.
Xue Xu was about to board the ship but was stopped by Qin Sheng, Wu Ren, Liu Erxi and others.
Xue Xu: ???
Wu Ren said with a grin, "Mr. Xue, you don't need to go north with the ship this time."
Xue Xu's heart moved, and as expected, he heard the following words.
"Mr. Xue hasn't been back to the South for three years. How could he pass by his home without visiting? Master has long ago instructed us to prepare gifts for Mr. Xue. Mr. Xue only needs to stay in the Li tribe for a few days. It won't be too late to slowly return north later."
Xue Xu looked back and found that the things prepared for him were piled all over the floor.
Xue Xu felt warm in his heart, as these people had kept this matter from him.
"Alright then, I'll respectfully obey your orders. Be careful on your way back."
"Mr. Xue, don't worry."
Then, Wu Ren brought Young Master Ji and Young Master Gu on board.
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