"The government? With the floods so severe these days, how could the government have time to bother with such trivial matters in our village?"
Although they couldn't use their hands, they could still use their mouths, and the people surrounding them were not polite at all.
Uncle Huang realized he really couldn't get any advantage over his little nephew, so he darted around with his triangular eyes and finally landed on his eldest nephew's room.
He waved to his second uncle, and the two exchanged a knowing glance, ceasing their argument with the villagers.
Whether they resort to robbery or hope for reprimand from the villagers, it seems neither approach will work.
It was truly unexpected that the villagers of Shanshui Village would not help the third sister, who was her mother, but instead help Fan Jin's family.
But it's alright. Even if we can't get anything from my little nephew, we still have my third sister and eldest nephew. We can't go back empty-handed.
Suddenly, Fan's mother and Fan Qian, who was inside the house, felt a chill run down their spines...
·
The courtyard was bustling with noise at that moment.
There were originally more than ten people in the family, plus more than twenty people brought by Bai Manshan. Instead of going inside, they sat down casually on the covered walkway in the courtyard, chatting and enjoying the breeze.
Hu's mother, Qin Yilin, and Ding Jiajia busied themselves helping to bring out tea.
Bai Ziqian asked Bai Manshan about his recent situation, and Bai Manshan gave a brief account, then introduced the people he had brought to Shui Qing and Fan Jin.
There were twenty-three people: eighteen men and five women, all in their prime, and all skilled workers.
Shui Qing and the others were wondering how Bai Manshan knew they were short of manpower, but he brought exactly the strong and capable men they needed most.
After hearing their story, I realized that the elderly and the weak had all perished in the flood.
If these five women hadn't clung tightly to the broken trees with sheer strength, they would have surely died, even without water.
The scene fell silent.
“Sigh, we survivors have to look forward. We are so grateful to Master Bai this time. Otherwise, if we had stayed in Zhulin Village, we survivors would have become refugees instead of disaster victims,” a woman said, trying to sound cheerful.
With that initial start, opening up became much easier: "Yes, if it weren't for Master Bai risking his life to wake us up, we wouldn't have survived."
“Master Bai is a good man. He even took us to the landlord in Nanning Prefecture to redeem our indenture.”
"Without Master Bai, we don't know how we would get through the rest of the year."
Bai Manshan hurriedly waved his hand and quickly told his son Shui Qing and Fan Jin that Hong Daniu had also saved him.
Bai Ziqian stood up and solemnly bowed to Hong Daniu.
Hong Daniu stood up awkwardly, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.
The two brothers, Hong Mancang and Hong Manku, hurriedly stood up and came to help Bai Ziqian, saying, "No, no, it was Master Bai who saved us first!"
"If we're talking about life-saving grace, he saved the three of us, father and sons, so his kindness is even greater."
Bai Manshan raised his voice and said, "The granaries are full, let him bow, your father should accept it!"
The previously oppressive atmosphere has finally eased a bit.
Bai Manshan then pleaded with Shang Shuiqing, "Little sister, is there anything to eat? Anything is fine, just make something to fill us up, I'm starving!"
When the flood came, his horse and the bundle of silver on the saddle were all washed away.
Fortunately, the merchant had sewn gold pieces onto the collar of his outer garment, and it was thanks to these gold pieces that he was able to buy these people's indentures from their employer.
Otherwise, if he takes the silver and returns, they might either become vagrants or be sold to another family by their employer.
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