Chapter 167 I can't sleep, I want to be closer to you
Before she could respond, Pei Yuan quickly added, "Or I can move closer to her."
Shen Chu pressed her back tightly against the wall, clutching her clothes tightly with both hands, her face filled with terror.
"What does Your Highness wish to do?"
Pei Yuan said softly, "I can't sleep, I want to be closer to you."
His voice was low and hesitant, like that of a child lost in the darkness.
Chen Chu remembered what kept her awake at night, "Where's the purse I gave you?"
Pei Yuan paused for a moment, "We are refugees now, carrying purses will arouse suspicion."
That's true.
On their way to the salt field, they buried their clothes, along with Pei Yuan's jade fan, under a large tree outside the mountain valley.
"So can I approach?" Pei Yuan's voice echoed again in the darkness.
Chen Chu pursed her lips, wanting to say firmly, "No."
Pei Yuan sighed.
"Oh well, it's not the first time I've had trouble sleeping. I'll just keep my eyes open and wait; it'll be dawn soon."
The word "no" that was lingering on Chen Chu's lips suddenly became impossible to utter.
She had also experienced firsthand the feeling of being unable to fall asleep at night and waiting for dawn.
Pei Yuan was exhausted after a long day and was still injured. If he didn't get enough rest, he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
After all, they still had to conduct an undercover investigation together.
If Pei Yuan really falls ill, she will have to take care of him.
She wasn't being soft-hearted; it was just necessary for her undercover investigation.
Chen Chu pursed his lips and mumbled, "We're brothers now, aren't we? It's okay for brothers to sleep close together."
In the darkness, Pei Yuan's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Really? You won't suspect me of having improper thoughts about you again, and then turn on me the next day, will you?"
Shen Chu said in a muffled voice, "No, I'm afraid you won't sleep well and will get sick, which will burden me."
"I'm perfectly healthy, I won't get sick. You're actually worried about me, aren't you?"
Chen Chu paused, then changed from lying on her side to lying flat on her back, and said impatiently:
"Are you going to sleep or not? If not, then forget it."
"sleep."
A rustling sound came from the darkness, and Pei Yuan moved over.
She could smell the clean scent of pine on Pei Yuan mixed with a hint of sweat.
A hand touched her arm.
She froze, and Pei Yuan had already pulled her arm over and placed it next to the pillow.
She gently turned her head and, by the light reflected from the salt field, saw Pei Yuan lying beside her, half his face resting on his bent arm, his eyes already closed.
The exposed half of his face rested against her arm, while his other hand tugged at her sleeve.
Soon you could hear his even breathing.
Chen Chu stared at his sleeping face for a while, then gradually became drowsy and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the foreman was outside cracking his whip to wake the salt workers.
"Get up and boil salt! If you can't get up in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, I'm going to kick the door down."
As soon as he finished speaking, a shrill scream suddenly rang out from outside.
It sounded like the voice of the person in charge.
Immediately following was a stern rebuke: "You heartless wretch! How long has it been since I last visited the saltworks, and you dare to treat the salt workers so cruelly?"
The crisp sound of whipping came from outside.
The steward screamed in agony.
Shen Chu and Pei Yuan exchanged a glance, then opened the door and went out.
The salt workers all came out and gathered at the salt field.
The steward was lying on the ground crying and shouting, "Master, I know I was wrong. I saw that you were worried about not being able to deliver the goods."
"I only wanted to share your burdens, sir; I had no intention of mistreating the salt workers."
The man addressed as "Master" by the steward was around forty years old, with a mustache, a thin build, sunken cheeks, and an angry expression as he lashed out with his whip a few more times.
Jiang Hongzhi said loudly, "I entrusted the salt field to you because of your usual diligence."
I never expected that you would not only refuse to give the salt workers salt, but also beat and mistreat them.
They were all long-time salt workers for the Zhang family. How could I possibly face my wife in the future?
The long whip lashed the steward's body hard. After a few lashes, the steward's clothes on the back were completely torn apart, leaving his back a bloody mess.
It is clear that the person whipping the whip exerted force.
The salt workers' faces showed expressions of relief.
Old Wang, in particular, clenched his fists and whispered, "The person in charge is ruthless; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to beat him to death."
Shen Chu said softly, "Uncle Wang, this must be Jiang Hongzhi, right?"
"That's right, it's him. How did he get so thin?"
Shen Chu stared intently at the scene, lost in thought.
The steward initially had the strength to beg for mercy and shout, but Jiang Hongzhi lashed him dozens more times, and his voice gradually faded away.
Jiang Hongzhi snorted coldly before ordering his men to drag the dying manager away.
"He is being punished today because he mistreated the salt workers, but after all, he has managed the salt fields for the Zhang family for several years, so let's spare his life."
The subordinate sighed, saying that the master was kind, and carried the steward away.
Jiang Hongzhi turned around, glanced around the salt field, then straightened his clothes and bowed deeply.
"Everyone, I, Jiang, am so sorry. I apologize to you all."
The salt workers were stunned; none of them had expected such a situation.
"What is Mr. Jiang doing?"
Jiang Hongzhi sighed, his expression sorrowful.
"You are all veteran salt workers who have followed the Zhang family for many years, so I'll be frank with you."
As you all know, my wife fell seriously ill before the new year. My youngest daughter, being a dutiful daughter, took care of her mother closely, but unfortunately, she also contracted the disease.
In a moment of desperation, Jiang took over the saltworks and learned that his wife had received a large order before she fell ill, specifying that the goods must be delivered as soon as possible.
Jiang had just taken over the saltworks and was overwhelmed with tasks, finding it difficult to get started. He was also worried that he wouldn't be able to deliver the orders he had promised to customers on time.
So he kept urging the stewards to speed up the salt-making process, but Jiang swore he had never given any order to mistreat anyone.
Jiang Hongzhi looked ashamed as he said this.
"It wasn't until Lord Zhao came to inspect the salt fields that I learned what had happened there."
I was furious and punished the two supervisors, forbidding them from mistreating you again.
They also allocated extra silver and had the manager distribute it to you.
Unexpectedly, a sudden tragedy struck the family; my wife and daughter met with misfortune.....
When mentioning his deceased wife and daughter, Jiang Hongzhi's voice choked up and he was unable to speak.
He paused, took a deep breath, and then said with reddened eyes:
“I thought that if I reprimanded the managers, they would treat you well.”
These days, I've been dealing with the funeral arrangements for my wife and daughter, and have had no time to pay attention to the saltworks.
Unexpectedly, the managers not only embezzled the money, but also treated you even worse. It's outrageous!
I'm so sorry to have caused you all so much suffering.
After Jiang Hongzhi finished speaking, he bowed deeply once again, his expression devout.
"Starting today, the salt workers will still receive two catties of salt from the salt field every month, and each salt worker will receive an extra two coins per day."
Your meals will be changed back to the original format, and you will have salt every day. In addition, I will provide each of you with an extra set of clothes for each season.
I know this may not make up for the suffering you have endured over the past six months. You are all veteran salt workers of the Zhang family. It can be said that without you, there would be no Zhang family today.
I hope everyone can put aside past grievances and stay to help me continue the business my wife left behind. I don't want her hard work to be in vain.
Jiang Hongzhi bowed deeply to the ground, bending over and unable to rise.
Shen Chu and Pei Yuan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of interest in each other's eyes.
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