After Zhang Xiaohua pulled Tang Chen to find two clean, large rocks to sit on, he explained, "I've been thinking about this. I have quite a few idle boats. These strong men can follow my men on some boating, fishing, or whatever. I won't treat them unfairly. As for the women, as long as their health allows, I have a thousand acres of mulberry fields outside the city. They can help raise silkworms and weave cloth. Children, the elderly, and the weak can stay here temporarily. I'll arrange for someone to take care of them."
After listening to it, Tang Chen couldn't help but nodded in agreement: "It's indeed better than mine."
According to Zhang Xiaohua's vision, it would be great for everyone in the Qinglong Gang. The key is that Zhang Xiaohua has the ability to make her vision a reality, which is exactly what she lacks now.
Zhang Xiaohua saw a hint of loneliness in Tang Chen's eyes, so she comforted him, "You're quite good, considering you've thought of picking up odd jobs. At least, you've put these people on the right path."
Tang Chen envied Zhang Xiaohua from the bottom of his heart. She had money and power, and could do whatever she wanted. Unlike her, she still had to worry about making a living. "Oh, if I had more money and a smarter mind, maybe I could develop my business empire as I imagined."
Zhang Xiaohua couldn't help but laugh when she saw Tang Chen's aspirational look. She hadn't expected this poor little girl to have such a bright mind. "I didn't realize you had such ambitions."
Tang Chen raised his eyebrows. After all, people always need some dreams to live a better life. "That's right! By the way, Huahua, did you bring the things I asked you to bring?"
"Yes, it has been sent."
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, although Zhang Xiaohua left Qinghe County, she still visited Tang Chen from time to time. However, since Tang Chen was busy with the Qinglong Gang, she did not bother him. Tang Chen had asked her to bring some jewelry for him and a letter to Jiangdu for Su Zhirou.
Although she and Su Zhirou often corresponded, she always felt that Su Zhirou only reported good news and not bad news, which made her a little worried. So she simply used the excuse of sending something to ask someone to help check whether she was really living a happy life as described in her letters.
Zhang Xiaohua had heard of Su Zhirou's name years ago. However, since the Su Mansion was raided, there had been no news of the young lady, and she hadn't deliberately inquired about her. Upon meeting her this time, she hadn't expected that the young lady, so proud and arrogant, would willingly fall into such a prostitution-like situation.
"She's living quite well now, with no worries about food and clothing. It's a shame she couldn't enter the inner court, but it's not bad at all."
After hearing what Zhang Xiaohua said, Tang Chen slowly put down the stone hanging in his heart: "I will go back to see her after I settle down here."
"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Just sign this." After saying that, Zhang Xiaohua took out a pen and paper from her sleeve and handed it to Tang Chen. For some reason, Tang Chen felt like this scene was familiar.
"What's this?"
"You'll know once you see it."
Tang Chen unfolded the paper and only read half of it before she realized what was happening. Zhang Xiaohua's help was definitely not in vain. This was almost like a contract of sale: "...Fuck, Hua, are we still friends?"
Zhang Xiaohua said with a smile, "Even brothers have to settle accounts. I've helped you so much, and I only want you to do me this one favor. You're not losing out."
Tang Chen said that this was true, but the price seemed a bit too high: "But you didn't tell me at the beginning that you wanted me to marry you just because you helped me!"
Zhang Xiaohua said bluntly, "I didn't ask you to really commit yourself to me. Just tell me if you agree or not."
After carefully reading and thinking about the unequal treaty in his hand, Tang Chen finally picked up the pen and ink pad: "...I'm not the one who's losing money anyway, I'll sign it. But you must promise me that you'll help me take good care of them."
"nature."
After Zhang Xiaohua accepted Tang Chen's "indenture," she had someone rush off, no one knowing where they were going to deliver it. Tang Chen, seeing her so rarely, wanted to chat for a while. Since Zhang Xiaohua had nothing else to do today, the two of them sat under a large tree in the Qinglong Gang's courtyard and chatted. Incidentally, Tang Chen had also managed to snag some goodies from her.
"Hua, I heard someone say you seemed to be looking for something on the Ming River. What are you looking for?"
Zhang Xiaohua seemed to be avoiding this question, not only avoiding other people's inquiries, but also refusing to let herself think about it: "...It's nothing. You pack up, I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow."
“So fast!”
Tang Chen actually meant to ask why she was leaving so soon, but she didn't explain it clearly, so people misunderstood her meaning. So Zhang Xiaohua just told her that the matter was urgent and they had to start quickly, and then left.
That night, Tang Chen explained the matter to everyone in the Qinglong Gang. After packing his luggage, he carried a small cloth bag and went to a secluded cottage in the west.
The person living in this house is a sick person, or rather, a disabled person. Wang Fengjiao found him in the grass by the river while fleeing a few years ago. Seeing that he was well-dressed and still had some life in him, she rescued him. The initial funding for the Qinglong Gang came from this person.
Wang Fengjiao had asked about this mysterious man, but he remained silent. Since he had done a favor for Wang Fengjiao and the gang, everyone treated him, a man with two disabled legs, like a family member.
In Tang Chen's mind, the disabled Ouyang Ming played the role of a caring older brother within the Qinglong Gang. He loved to smile, and his emotions could be felt through his smiles. Children always liked to run to him when they encountered problems.
"Brother Ouyang, are you asleep?"
"No, come in."
As soon as Tang Chen entered the room, the person on the bed put down the book in his hand and asked again: "I heard they said you are leaving?"
Tang Chen shrugged. "It's a long story. This is the ointment I begged from the princess. Would you like to try it? And these are the new books I bought to cheer you up."
"……good."
After Ouyang Ming took the small cloth bag from Tang Chen's hand, he stared at the wooden box containing medicine in the bag in a daze.
When Tang Chen left Qinghe County this time, the person he was most worried about, besides these poor people who had no home like himself, was him.
With his legs in bad condition and unable to do anything, she couldn't imagine how Ouyang Ming had managed to hold on all these years. "Your legs are not going to work like this. I know a doctor who's pretty good. How about I ask him to come and see you?"
Ouyang Ming looked at his legs and just smiled and shook his head, saying, "No, that's it for my life."
"...Are you really not going to look for your family?"
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