Chapter 90 Post-War Resettlement
The heavy snow in Liangzhou lasted for three days and three nights, covering the blood and wounds on the ground with a thick layer of snow.
Although the battle was won, the wounds left on this border town will not heal in a short time.
White banners were hung everywhere along the streets. The sound of weeping mingled with the cold wind, making one's heart ache.
Jiang Mianmian, wearing a thick white fox fur coat and holding a hand warmer, was wandering aimlessly down the street.
Sigh...this is war.
[What good is victory? So many people died, so many families were destroyed. Liangzhou City won't recover for at least three to five years.]
She kicked at the snow beneath her feet, feeling somewhat downcast. In the apocalypse, she had witnessed countless deaths and thought she had become numb. But seeing the women who had lost their husbands and the elderly who had lost their sons, she still felt a tightness in her chest.
Just then, a faint sob came from the alleyway at the street corner.
Jiang Mianmian paused and turned to look.
Beneath a collapsed wall, several ragged and filthy children huddled together. The oldest was no more than seven or eight years old, and the youngest only three or four. They huddled together for warmth, shivering from the cold, their little faces bluish-purple.
A slightly older boy was carefully feeding his half-moldy steamed bun to his younger sister, who was almost frozen, while clutching it tightly in his hand.
"Brother...I'm cold...I'm hungry..."
"Don't be afraid, just take a bite, and you won't be cold anymore..."
Jiang Mianmian's pupils suddenly contracted as she watched this scene.
Memories overlapped instantly.
In the ruins of the apocalypse, she once huddled in a corner, guarding half a cookie, waiting for her parents who would never return.
She was all too familiar with that bone-chilling cold and despair.
[...tsk.]
This is such a hassle.
Jiang Mianmian frowned and mentally cursed.
Kids are such a hassle! They're noisy, disruptive, and expensive! Raising one child could bankrupt me!
[Besides, these are obviously orphans without parents. Taking care of them would be a bottomless pit! I'm here to be a couch potato, not to be the director of an orphanage!]
[Jiang Mianmian, run! Don't look! You'll have to pay if you do!]
She turned around, wanting to harden her heart and leave.
However, my feet seemed to be rooted to the spot, and I couldn't move them at all.
【Oh shit! 】
[My damned, misplaced saintly heart!]
Jiang Mianmian cursed herself in her heart, then turned around abruptly and strode towards the children.
Hey! Kid!
She stood before them, looking down at them with a fierce tone, "This is my territory! Don't you know that your crying and wailing here is an eyesore?"
The children were terrified, huddled together, and stared in horror at their gorgeously dressed, fairy-like older sister who looked fierce and menacing.
"I'm...I'm sorry...we'll leave right away..."
The big boy tried to stand up, shivering, but because his legs were frozen, he fell down again with a "plop".
Jiang Mianmian glanced at the moldy steamed bun and kicked it away in disgust.
"Are you trying to poison yourself by eating this kind of garbage?"
She pulled a steaming bag of meat buns from her sleeve and tossed it into the boy's arms. "Eat this! Then come with me!"
The boy was stunned as he held the fragrant, soft meat bun.
"Where...are we going?"
Where to?
Jiang Mianmian rolled her eyes. "Go work as a laborer for this princess! This princess needs people to sweep the floor and empty the chamber pots! Food and lodging provided, but no wages! Are you in or not?"
The boy looked at the steamed bun in his arms, then at his younger siblings who were starving to death beside him.
"Go! I'll go!"
He nodded frantically, tears streaming down his face. "I'll do anything as long as I get some food!"
Jiang Mianmian snorted coldly: "That's more like it. Get up, all of you, and follow me!"
...
The General's Mansion, the council hall.
Shen Jin was discussing with Jiang Zhan the matter of providing compensation to the fallen soldiers.
"Your Highness!"
The butler rushed in, looking utterly distraught. "Your Highness... Your Highness has gone mad!"
Chen Jin paused, his pen still on the paper. "What happened? Did she demolish the house?"
"No! The princess... she brought back a group... a group of little beggars!"
The butler gestured, “There are over a hundred of them! They’ve filled the entire front yard! They’re all filthy, like mud monkeys. The princess even had people boil water for them to bathe and ordered the kitchen to make braised pork for them!”
More than a hundred?
Jiang Zhan's beard twitched: "This girl... is she planning to open a charity?"
Shen Jin put down his pen, got up and walked outside: "Let's go take a look."
Upon arriving at the front yard, the scene before him stunned Shen Jin.
The once solemn front yard of the Marshal's Mansion has now been transformed into a large nursery.
More than a hundred orphans of all ages were wolfing down their steamed buns and porridge. Meanwhile, Jiang Mianmian sat in a grand chair, holding a small wooden stick, directing them like a foreman.
"Line up! Everyone line up! Anyone who cuts in line will not get any food!"
"Hey, you with the runny nose! Wipe your nose before you eat! It's disgusting!"
"And you! Don't steal your sister's things! Believe me or I'll beat you up!"
Although she was grumbling and complaining, her eyes were always fixed on each child, making sure that everyone got something to eat.
Upon seeing Shen Jin emerge, Jiang Mianmian immediately jumped up from her chair and ran over to preemptively strike:
"Your Highness! Let me make this clear beforehand! I'm not acting out of kindness!"
She had a "I'm very shrewd" look on her face. "I see that these children have extraordinary potential, and I want to train them to become... uh, reserve talents for our royal palace!"
"Think about it, raising them now doesn't cost much, but when they grow up, they'll be free labor! That's called a long-term investment! Do you understand?"
Please don't expose me! Please don't praise my kindness! I can't stand that!
【I'm doing this so that someone will work for me in the future! That's right! That's exactly it!】
As Shen Jin looked at her adorable appearance, desperately trying to find excuses to hide her soft heart, the icy coldness in his eyes melted into spring water.
Talent development?
How much money would it cost to feed these hundred-plus mouths until they reach adulthood? Even a fool could do the math; it's definitely a losing proposition.
But she was willing to be the fool.
"Yes, Your Highness is right."
He nodded in agreement, "Long-term investment, very insightful."
"Since they are talented individuals, they cannot be kept in a haphazard manner."
Shen Jin waved his hand and said, "Issue the order to designate a piece of land in the east of Liangzhou City to establish a 'Orphanage'. It will be used to take in these war orphans."
"All expenses will be covered by... my private treasury."
Jiang Mianmian's eyes lit up.
Wow! Shen Jin, you're so savvy! Private expense reimbursement? Then I won't feel bad about it!
[Orphanage? That sounds nice! Much better than an orphanage!]
"Your Highness is wise!"
Jiang Mianmian rushed over and gave him a big hug. "But... just giving them money isn't enough. We also need to find someone to teach them to read and write, and teach them a trade. Otherwise, they'll only be able to become hoodlums in the future."
"good."
Looking at the children's timid yet hopeful eyes, Shen Jin said, "I will send a few wounded veterans to teach them martial arts, and also hire a few tutors. With both literary and martial skills, in the future... if they become talented, I will send them to the army or the court to serve the country."
"If one cannot become a talent..."
Jiang Mianmian chimed in, "Then come work as a waitress at my hot pot restaurant! Room and board included!"
The two looked at each other and smiled.
At this moment, in the devastated city of Liangzhou, a beacon of hope called "Orphanage" rises from the ruins.
It not only provided shelter for these homeless children, but also soothed the wounded souls of the city.
And that stubborn but kind-hearted "female demon" queen has acquired a new, warmer nickname in the children's mouths—
"Fairy Sister".
Although Jiang Mianmian herself strongly protested:
[Call me "sister"? That's too distant! Call me "auntie"... no, call me "princess"! It needs to be dignified!]
But seeing the innocent smiles on the children's faces after they had washed themselves, her initial protest had long since melted away.
[Fine, fine, I'll take the older sister then.]
As long as you can survive and grow up... that's more important than anything else.
In the wind and snow, the signboard of the Salesian Bureau was hung high.
That was the first flower to bloom on the post-war ruins.
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