Chapter 299 Wanjia is guilty
"Who is this?"
"Which village has had an accident this time?"
Everyone perked up.
As the carriage drew closer, the people on it practically tumbled off.
"Miss Lu, something bad has happened to our family. Those disaster victims heard from someone that we had stored several warehouses of grain, and they also said that my master was a treacherous merchant who destroyed the dikes, harmed many people, and was executed by the government!"
Now they're smashing my front door, trying to rush in and steal my food.
No, no, no, they might have already rushed in!
Miss Lu, please, please call for help to rescue my mistress and young master!
"A camel?" Lu Qingqing recognized the person.
It was the servant boy next to Wan Yuting.
"Camel" cried out, "Miss Lu, my name is Xiangzi!!"
You called it wrong last time, and you called it wrong again this time. What the hell is a camel?!
"Oh, I'm sorry, I misspoke."
Lu Qingqing quickly called out to her people, "Let's go, let's go save them!"
These disaster victims have gone too far in Ming'an County!
Wanfu.
The gate was smashed open.
Dozens of men rushed in, carrying torches and looking menacing.
The courtyard of the Ke Wan family was dark, quiet, and deserted.
"Find them! They're hiding right here. Find them, make them open the granary, and bring out the grain!"
"This heartless merchant caused so many people in our village to drown, and now he's hiding so much grain instead of giving it to us!"
"The Wan family owes us, and he should repay it!"
Wan Yuting, who was hiding in the cellar, recognized the sounds of people smashing and looting.
These disaster victims were not the migrants from outside the area that were initially thought to be, but rather the residents of the villages that were flooded.
How could that be?
He and his mother had always taken care of those villages. They had bought grain for them before the New Year and delivered it to them. The land they rented to those villages was also half the rent of other villages.
The Wan family also adopted orphans from those villages.
Moreover, when it comes down to the truth, that disaster was not the fault of every single family!
The villagers were understanding; they hadn't shown any hostility before, so why now...?
"Brother Yuting, what if they... break in?"
A girl leaned against him, looking terrified.
"I didn't expect that Ming'an County would also be full of disaster victims."
Wan Yuting looked at her, then at the boy nestled in her arms.
She comforted him, saying, "Fengshang, don't be afraid. Soon, someone will come to rescue us."
After saying this, he himself was taken aback.
Was he so certain that Lu Qingqing would come?
Yes, she will definitely come.
She is like an acupuncture needle, saving those she deems worthy of saving.
She would also stab those she believed she shouldn't save.
Now, Wan Yuting feels that he has finally gotten to know Lu Qingqing.
She is like a blazing fire, capable of bringing warmth and burning away all injustice.
Fortunately, her mother was someone she believed could be saved.
And then there's this group of children.
Wan Yuting turned and looked at the figures, large and small, huddled together beside the old woman in the cellar, and spoke to comfort her:
"Don't be afraid, someone will come to save us. Cover your ears and don't make a sound."
There are two hiding places in this mansion.
One is the cellar under this artificial hill, and the other is the secret room under the study.
When my maternal grandfather was alive, he also experienced war, which is why he dug out these two hiding places.
He and his mother each hid in one of the two places with a group of children.
Hopefully, Xiangzi will bring Lu Qingqing before these people find them.
After a few sounds of smashing and looting outside, he heard a familiar voice.
"Stop smashing! Stop smashing! The magistrate is very strict; he'll hold you accountable later!"
"Gentlemen, heroes, listen to me. All you want is grain. I urge the former owner to hand over the grain, and you can take it and leave, okay?"
It turned out to be Manager Zhang, the one my mother had fired before!
Manager Zhang kept private accounts, ostracized newcomers, and arranged for his own relatives to work in the cloth shop, which led to his mother firing him twice.
He invited her back the first time, but he didn't invite her back the second time in order to ease the tension between him and his mother.
Manager Zhang did come looking for him. Considering that he had followed his father for more than ten years, he gave him some compensation and told him to find another job.
Unexpectedly, he still remembers our past relationship and has come to help.
It's a bit foolish, these mobs aren't so easy to reason with!
I heard before that they looted food and even injured or harmed people!
Manager Zhang started calling out to the madam and the young master, asking them about the location of the grain.
Receiving no response, his tone turned sour.
His speech became increasingly inappropriate.
It subtly implies that Wanjishan was a cunning merchant who had been dealt with by the government.
How could he say that?
He clearly knows the truth!
Wan Yuting wasn't stupid; at that moment, he understood.
These people were brought here by Manager Zhang!
He hated his mother for firing him!
Wan Yuting's thoughts were once again challenged.
He followed his father into business from a young age. His father said, "If you want to make a big business, you must have a group of loyal people around you."
Manager Zhang is one of the people who is loyal to my father.
In the past, I had always treated him with great respect.
He also cherished and respected these uncles and elders.
But now he finally understands.
Manager Zhang's loyalty has never been to him!
He was loyal to his father because his father could keep him in check.
When it was him, everything changed.
Mother was right, firing him was the right thing to do!
Suddenly, the baby sleeping in the nanny's arms woke up and let out a cry.
Although the old woman immediately covered his mouth, footsteps could still be heard outside.
"Madam, young master, are you in the artificial hill? Come out, or these people will smash up the shop."
"Don't let the hard work and dedication of generations of the Wan family be ruined in your hands."
Manager Zhang walked towards the artificial hill, speaking in a sarcastic tone.
Xu Fengshang nervously grabbed Wan Yuting's arm.
A group of children huddled together in fear.
Wan Yuting let out a meow, hoping to get away with it.
At the same time, he pried Xu Fengshang's hands off and prepared to leave.
Anyway, what they're looking for is the master of the Wan family.
He's gone; those people shouldn't be looking for unrelated individuals anymore.
But then he heard Wan Yunrong's voice!
Mother has gone out!
"Zhang Kaihe, how dare you incite the disaster victims to cause trouble! Aren't you afraid of being punished by the county magistrate!"
"Madam, what are you saying? I'm here to mediate."
Wan Yunrong sneered and shouted at the crowd, "Don't you people think about what will happen to you after you cause trouble?"
If my family is guilty, the government will punish them; you have no right to judge us here!
Does being a disaster victim give you the right to act with impunity? Don't you have household registration? Do you intend to live a life on the run?
"It's your Wan family that owes us!" someone shouted.
"We already know that the sabotage of the irrigation canal was orchestrated by you and those few people. Don't think we're fools. Without your orders, who would risk their future and life for a dead man!"
"Oh, you mean the magistrate is an idiot and can't figure this out?" Wan Yunrong asked coldly.
Manager Zhang said coolly, "It's a collusion between officials and businessmen. You can just slip some money over there and get away with it!"
Otherwise, why would you adopt those orphans? It's because of guilt!
"Yes! It's the Wan family who harmed us! If you hand over the grain and money from your home today, we'll let you go. Otherwise, we won't be so merciful once we find them!"
"Ha!" Wan Yunrong clapped her hands, staring coldly at the group of people:
"Stop smearing the Wan family; it's just an excuse for your evil deeds!"
"Stop pretending to be a victim!"
Enraged, the men shouted, "Seize her! If she doesn't hand over the grain, beat her to death!"
In his haste, Wan Yuting wanted to go out.
Then Wan Yunrong shouted, "Wait! I can hand over the grain! My family has a lot of grain, and enough money to last several lifetimes, and countless jewels!"
if only--
"Chop off Zhang Kaihe's hands!"
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