Chapter 286 Kidnapping
Wei Xueqi and Luo Shui helped each other to the disaster victims' area.
The two looked startled and warily observed the people around them.
There are so many disaster victims here that the presence or absence of even one more or one less person won't attract any attention.
At that moment, a man walked over.
He took half a pancake out of his pocket and handed it to the two of them.
"You must be starving. I only have half a pancake left. You two can make do with this."
Wei Xueqi was about to take the cake with a happy expression.
Suddenly, Luo Shui pulled her hand back.
"No need, this cake is too precious, you should keep it for yourself."
Seeing this, the man wasn't annoyed. He gave a simple, honest smile and said, "Don't worry, I'm not a bad person. I see you two girls are so hungry you can barely walk. Eat up, or there won't be any left."
Wei Xueqi looked at Luo Shui, and Luo Shui swallowed hard as she looked at the pancake.
He then shook his head and said, "Thank you, brave warrior. We are strangers who met by chance, and I dare not accept such a great favor."
Disaster victims were everywhere, and even though the imperial court had begun disaster relief efforts, food was extremely precious.
The man didn't argue, put the cake in his pocket, and walked away.
Wei Xueqi asked softly, "Sister, why don't you want the cake? We haven't eaten a single grain of rice for days, I'm so hungry!"
Luo Shui said somewhat angrily, "How can two lone women like us accept food from strangers! What if they are bad people!"
Wei Xueqi whispered, "There are government officials maintaining order here, so there shouldn't be any bad people, right?"
The sound was very soft, but the man's gaze told Luo Shui that he had heard it.
The man just smiled, then took out the biscuit from his pocket and ate it slowly, bite by bite.
It's as if it's saying, "Look, they're wronging an innocent person."
She smiled at Luo Shui and Wei Xueqi when they looked over.
Luo Shui blushed slightly and turned her head away.
The next morning, the disaster victims went to the soup kitchens that were open from time to time.
They were told that all of the Zhao family's soup kitchens had been removed.
Angry voices rose from the crowd.
"Why are you removing the soup kitchens! Does the Zhao family want us to starve to death?"
"Why should the soup kitchens be removed!"
"The Zhao family deserves an explanation!"
Qin Jinzhi had already informed us yesterday of the possible situation today.
Zhao Qiantang not only appeared in person, but also brought a large number of guards.
He climbed to a high place.
"Everyone, starting today, the Zhao family will open a new cloth shop."
Starting today, we are recruiting a large number of embroiderers and workers. Anyone selected will receive ten coins per day, three meals a day, and payment once a day. Those with excellent skills may enter Zhao Family Embroidery Workshop.
In addition, our Zhao family business will set up charitable halls and orphanages outside the city to take in the elderly, women, children and orphans.
Both charity organizations are recruiting workers, both men and women are welcome. The daily wage is five coins, and three meals are provided. Those who are quick and efficient can work at Zhao's business.
Those who want to work, please register on my left. The elderly, women, and children, please follow the people on my right to the charity hall.
The candidates, who had been making a ruckus just moments before, all lit up with excitement upon hearing Manager Zhao's words.
Not only are three meals a day provided, but you also get paid.
It's important to know that Suzhou hasn't been hiring for a long time now.
Those who wanted to work followed the assistant on the left to the embroidery workshop.
The elderly, women, and children were also led away by the men on the right.
Many disaster victims remained in the same place, with only a small number remaining.
What's strange is that they are all strong and healthy men.
They were the ones shouting the loudest just now.
The Zhao family's kind act of giving alms has now made them feel indebted to them.
They are perfectly capable, strong and healthy, and now they have readily available work opportunities.
These people, however, only want to be parasites who live off others without working.
They're still clamoring for an explanation from the Zhao family.
The Third Young Master is indeed farsighted; such a person deserves the Zhao family's help!
Zhao Qiantang coldly watched the group of people who were clamoring to overturn the Zhao family's business.
With a wave of his hand, the guards instantly surrounded the loudest shouters.
Zhao Qiantang said coldly, "The Zhao family are imperial merchants. They have donated countless amounts of silver since the flood. We will not tolerate your slander. Beat them!"
The group was soundly beaten by the Zhao family's guards.
Once the guards stopped, Zhao Qiantang said, "If anyone slanders the Zhao family again, I don't mind asking the prefect to uphold justice!"
After saying that, he left with his guards.
Wei Xueqi and Luo Shui followed the clerk who was doing statistics to the embroidery workshop.
Wei Xueqi said weakly, "Sister, I can't walk anymore, I'm so hungry."
Luo Shui said weakly, "I thought there would be porridge this morning. It's okay, as long as we enter the Zhao family's cloth shop, we'll have something to eat."
Wei Xueqi was in a daze and was about to fall to one side when a hand suddenly caught her from behind.
The two looked over and saw it was the same man from yesterday.
The man sighed upon seeing the two of them in such a state.
He took out a cornbread from his pocket, broke it in half, and gave it to the two of them.
Wei Xueqi glanced at Luo Shui, who whispered, "Thank you!"
Wei Xueqi wolfed down the cornbread.
The man said, "My name is Du Li. You can call me if you need help."
Du Li turned to leave, but Luo Shui grabbed his hand. "Why are you helping us?"
"Because you are very much like my sisters."
Du Li looked somewhat sad.
Wei Xueqi said to Du Li with great gratitude, "Thank you so much, Brother Du!"
Du Li smiled and said, "Let's go, or we'll miss the job recruitment."
The Zhao family's employees were responsible for statistics on the workers.
However, there are too many people, so we can only count a portion of them today.
"Those who weren't counted today can come back tomorrow. Everyone can take a steamed bun with them!"
Now those who weren't included in the statistics had nothing to say.
Wei Xueqi and Luo Shui received the steamed buns and prepared to return to the place where the disaster victims had gathered the night before.
Du Li caught up with the two of them. "Now that place is only left with those men, you two girls would be better off not going."
Wei Xueqi and Luo Shui looked worried. "But we have nowhere to sleep."
Du Li was silent for a moment, then said, "Why don't you two come back to the dilapidated temple with me? I'll be staying there tonight."
Luo Shui and Wei Xueqi exchanged a glance, then looked at the area where the disaster victims were gathered not far away.
The elderly, women, and children were all taken to the charity hall, but it would be dangerous for the two girls to go back there now.
Luo Shui hesitated before saying, "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for Brother Du?"
Du Li waved his hand, "This dilapidated temple doesn't belong to me alone. We'll have a place to stay once the Zhao family takes us in tomorrow."
Luo Shui and Wei Xueqi looked happy. "Thank you very much, Brother Du."
Du Li led the two to a dilapidated temple not far away.
Upon entering the dilapidated temple, it was found to be completely empty. Normally, disaster victims would prefer to gather in such places, as they could at least find shelter from the wind and rain.
Luo Shui asked hesitantly, "Brother Du, why is there no one here?"
Du Li, who was ahead, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
When he turned around, his face had changed to a sinister grin.
"Who said there's no one here?"
Wei Xueqi and Luo Shui were suddenly covered from behind with their mouths and noses covered.
He lost consciousness instantly.
They saw the two people lying on the ground.
The two men, who had captivated the two, said, "This batch of goods is quite good! We're sure to get a good price for it."
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