Her father explained awkwardly, "Girl, I'm so sorry, she's just a child and doesn't know any better. Please don't take it to heart."
As he spoke, he tried to pull the little girl's hand away.
Those thin little hands had no strength; with just a little force, the little girl's hand loosened.
Hongye looked at the small hand that limply reached down, her heart filled with sorrow. She knew that without food, the little girl might not survive the night.
So she quickly reached into her waist pouch, trying to find some food for the little girl.
However, she was only out to scout out the situation and didn't carry many items with her, only two small snacks.
Nevertheless, this can save a life.
Hongye handed the snacks to the child's mother, saying, "Please give these to the child quickly."
The parents were stunned for a moment, not expecting Hongye to be so generous.
In the instant they were stunned, a calloused hand suddenly reached out and snatched the two pastries away.
The child's father exclaimed, "Mom! That was given to Yao Yao by our benefactor!"
The old woman who snatched the snack seemed not to hear, quickly stuffed the snack into her mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and then swallowed it whole.
After finishing, she looked at Hongye with lingering desire: "Is there any more? If so, give me some more."
Hongye's face was as dark as a storm cloud, burning with rage: "That was carefully prepared for the child, how could you so rudely take away her treasure!"
The old woman retorted defiantly, "She was just a good-for-nothing; it's fine if she dies. I am her grandmother, and it's only natural that she should be filial to me! Even her parents haven't said a word, so what right do you have to shout like this?"
Hongye was furious and almost threw a punch: "That was something I prepared with care."
The old woman shamelessly replied, "Once something enters my house, it belongs to us, and you have no right to interfere. If you have nothing, get out of the way and stop blocking our path."
Hongye wanted to argue with the old woman, but suddenly, the child's father let out a heart-wrenching cry: "Yaoyao, what's wrong with you! Wake up, don't scare your dad!"
That little girl actually starved to death.
Hongye didn't even know how she got back to the Prince Duan's mansion. As soon as she stepped through the gate, her tears flowed like a burst dam, startling the maids.
Upon hearing that Hongye was crying in the garden, Fuyu rushed over.
Upon learning of the situation, Fuyu was also deeply saddened and sat quietly with her in the garden for a long time.
After calming down, Hongye reported the matter to Gu Qinlan.
After listening, Gu Qinlan remained silent for a long time.
"Young lady, can't we really help those suffering people?" Hongye couldn't help but risk asking this inappropriate question.
She knew the question was too presumptuous, but she couldn't remain silent after witnessing an innocent child starve to death before her eyes.
Gu Qinlan replied, "Let's wait a little longer. If the government still hasn't taken any action by tomorrow, we'll set up soup kitchens."
Distributing food to the people was clearly impossible; many families in the city were facing food shortages, and no one knew when the refugees outside the city would leave. Therefore, if the vulnerable people had food, it would attract the covetous eyes of some unscrupulous individuals.
The safest approach is to distribute porridge, one bowl per person, which can be collected and eaten on the spot.
This will ensure that everyone's life is saved.
Hongye was delighted, but then became somewhat worried: "Won't setting up a soup kitchen displease Lord Liu?"
After all, Lord Liu had asked Gu Qinlan for help yesterday but failed to get a response, and now she suddenly set up a soup kitchen, which seemed to be a mockery of Lord Liu.
Gu Qinlan smiled gently: "What I said yesterday was that we cannot act in the name of the Prince Duan's Mansion, but I did not say that we cannot act in my personal name. Whether in my personal name or in the name of the Gu family, we do not have the ability to rally the major families in the city."
"I only want to do my part for the people in the city. If Lord Liu feels that doing this is a slap in his face, then we can close the soup kitchen at any time."
"As long as he can withstand the anger of the people in the city."
Hongye laughed out loud: "Young lady, you are truly wise."
This way, they both helped the poor people and left Lord Liu speechless. If he had dared to obstruct them, those people driven to desperation would have torn him to pieces.
The government still took no action the next day.
They even dispatched numerous yamen runners to guard the yamen gates, warning the people not to trespass or they would be killed without mercy.
The prominent families in the city also closed their doors to visitors, and no one was willing to step forward and help the people of the city.
The people who gathered in front of the government office went from being full of hope to being completely desperate.
Several men leaped up in anger, their eyes blazing, and shouted at the listless crowd: "Gentlemen, stop wasting time here! Let's storm the government office and force that corrupt official surnamed Liu to hand over the grain from the granaries! He's supposed to be the people's father, but he draws his salary from the court and exploits us suffering people year after year. Now we're starving, and he turns a blind eye. How can he be worthy of the title of 'people's father'?"
Some people, driven by hunger, hesitated and slowly stood up, including the father of the little girl who had starved to death the day before.
At that moment, several burly men dressed in tight-fitting battle robes rushed into the crowd like tigers descending a mountain, arresting those who had first incited the crowd.
The arrested individuals immediately protested loudly: "What are you doing? Who are you to dare arrest us?"
The burly leader chuckled contemptuously and replied, "We are guards from the Prince Duan's residence. You lot are deliberately inciting the people and trying to create a riot. Behave yourselves, or don't blame us for being impolite!"
The arrested men, not to be outdone, shouted: "Fellow villagers, look! The wicked servants of Prince Duan's mansion are bullying us! Haven't you all seen it clearly? These court officials don't care about our lives at all. We can't wait any longer. Let's work together, seize their grain, and save our lives!"
The emotions of the crowd were ignited, and they all got up from the ground, glaring fiercely at the guards of the Prince Duan's mansion.
Without hesitation, the burly leader punched the most vocal individual in the face, then turned to the crowd and said, “Don’t be misled by the rumors. Now, please go to my wife’s dowry shops. My wife has ordered that from today onwards, her shops will provide two meals of thin porridge to all the people of the city every day.”
"Food is limited and will be distributed as soon as it runs out. I hope you will not blame my wife for not being able to save everyone afterward."
These words were specifically instructed by Gu Qinlan to be announced publicly by Sang Qian.
This is a prior statement, in case of unforeseen circumstances.
No one could predict when the besieged refugees would be rescued. Although Gu Qinlan had a lot of food, even if she cooked the porridge until it was as thin as water, it would not last long for the more than 20,000 starving people in Jindu.
Offering favors often breeds more resentment, which is why many aristocratic families are reluctant to lend a helping hand easily.
No one wants to do something that's thankless and exhausting.
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