Chapter 171: 171 Disaster Victims, Prestigious Families, and a Junior Uncle

Qi Yulou was shouting frantically.

Hearing Qi Yulou's words, Pi Yalu's expression changed slightly.

Brother Ning, oh Brother Ning.

Why go to such lengths, insisting on opposing this petty person! Pi Yalu could not help but feel a sense of resentment in her heart.

The only plan now is to find a way to resolve the prejudice in Qi Yulou's heart.

Otherwise, even if he does not stir up trouble before the Master in the future, as the one in charge of the Wu-character Hall Record, he would likely think of every possible way to make things difficult for Ning Mu.

Pi Yalu could not help but worry for Ning Mu.

"Why is Junior Nephew so angry?"

Just as Qi Yulou was jumping with rage, Wei Youqing arrived leisurely, unable to help but reveal a smile and tease him.

Seeing Wei Youqing, the annoyed Qi Yulou immediately changed his expression.

That look of vexation and shame vanished, replaced by a radiant smile, tinged with a hint of sycophancy.

"Junior Uncle!"

"This Disciple greets Junior Uncle. That Ning Mu is stubborn and unrefined, causing Junior Uncle to suffer grievances during this time. Junior Uncle has worked hard."

Qi Yulou cupped his hands in greeting, not forgetting to slander Ning Mu.

"Greetings, Junior Uncle!"

Pi Yalu also stepped forward to greet her; she wanted to say something but hesitated.

But after glancing at Qi Yulou and seeing a hint of a threat in his eyes, she thought better of it and said nothing more.

Wei Youqing, however, was slightly surprised upon hearing Qi Yulou's words.

She had always had a good impression of this Junior Nephew, who was a year or two older than herself.

He came from a prestigious family, understood the big picture, knew how to conduct himself, was humble and polite, refined, and possessed decent Cultivation Points; he had even once had the good fortune of being summoned by the Master.

One must know.

Even though Jixia Academy is the Master's territory.

Those who can truly see the Master are few and far between.

Aside from her and a few senior fellow disciples, the rest are either high-ranking administrative officials of the Academy or top-level members of the imperial family.

For a disciple of the Academy to be summoned by the Master is a tremendous honor!

But at this moment, listening to Qi Yulou's words, Wei Youqing could not help but raise her eyebrows slightly.

He had no connection to Ning Mu, so how could he know Ning Mu was stubborn and unrefined? Furthermore, how had she suffered any grievances? Wei Youqing could not help but raise her brows, looking at Qi Yulou in confusion, and asked blankly: "Junior Nephew, what are you talking about?"

Qi Yulou was startled and subconsciously wanted to add more.

But seeing Wei Youqing's expression, his heart tightened, and he reined in his thoughts.

Clearly, Wei Youqing did not think there was anything wrong with Ning Mu.

And he did not understand what the current relationship between Wei Youqing and Ning Mu was.

After all, he already had a preconceived notion.

If he were to continue forcibly smearing Ning Mu, it would inevitably cause Junior Uncle's displeasure.

Thinking of this, Qi Yulou immediately waved his hand and said with a humble, gentle smile: "It's nothing, nothing. This junior came here because I received a message from the Academy saying that the other prefectures have already returned, and only our Yonghang has yet to go back, urging us to hurry. Junior Uncle, what do you think..."

Wei Youqing frowned upon hearing this.

After thinking for a moment, she looked at Qi Yulou and said: "It is no matter. You have traveled a long way and are tired; stay in the Mountain Stronghold for the night and head down the mountain tomorrow."

"And what about you?" Qi Yulou asked hurriedly.

Wei Youqing's eyes flickered, and she said: "I, I still have matters to finish; I must persuade Ning Mu to join the Academy. After you return, just take the newly recruited disciples and head straight back to the Academy. I will write to the Master and the Head of the Academy to explain the situation here, so do not worry about me!"

Hearing that Wei Youqing intended to stay in this Mountain Stronghold, Qi Yulou immediately frowned, his face darkening.

But after all, his status in the Academy was not very high.

If it weren't for the fact that he was from Yonghang, he would not have obtained this opportunity to travel south to Yonghang to recruit new disciples.

Regarding the Disciple of the Master and the team leader, Libationer Wei, he could only obey orders.

"Then... then alright!"

Qi Yulou nodded with some reluctance. After thinking for a moment, he looked at Wei Youqing eagerly and said: "If Junior Uncle needs any service, just command the Qi Family. I have already spoken with the Head of the Family; everything will be done according to Junior Uncle's orders."

"Junior Nephew is very thoughtful." Wei Youqing nodded distractedly.

"By the way, have you encountered Ning Mu?" Wei Youqing asked.

She had come out specifically to look for Ning Mu.

When she went to the main hall, she heard from a maid that Ning Mu had headed toward the stronghold gate.

So she came this way as well.

She happened to run into the halberd-wielding guard who had gone to notify her.

Learning that Qi Yulou and Pi Yalu had come, she was quite happy; after all, she had not seen any acquaintances in these mountains for a long time.

Thinking of Ning Mu.

Her face flushed slightly, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on the personal item she had wrapped in cloth and hidden in her sleeve pocket.

Qi Yulou was about to say something.

But Pi Yalu spoke first.

"Junior Uncle, Brother Ning has gone down the mountain."

Pi Yalu pointed toward the flat road leading down the mountain and said to Wei Youqing.

Qi Yulou frowned slightly.

"Good, I will have someone come over to help you get settled."

Wei Youqing glanced at the road down the mountain, feeling even more at ease in her heart.

If it were down the mountain, finding a place with few human tracks to give him the gift would have saved a lot of trouble and embarrassment.

Thinking of this, Wei Youqing's eyes lit up, and she immediately planned to have Huang Yutang arrange for someone to settle Qi Yulou and Pi Yalu, while she herself would go down the mountain alone to find Ning Mu.

Just then.

As her voice fell, just as she was about to turn to find Huang Yutang.

Qi Yulou suddenly said, "Junior Uncle, no need!"

"Since I have nothing to do, Junior Sister Pi and I will go with you, Junior Uncle, to take a look. It just so happens that I also want to appreciate the local customs here and see what Brother Ning is busy with that is even more important than going to the Academy."

Qi Yulou appeared smiling and harmless on the surface, looking quite naive.

But his words were secretly guiding Wei Youqing.

Pi Yalu couldn't help but frown.

Having not seen Brother Ning for many days, she naturally wanted to have a good chat if there was an opportunity to meet.

But as soon as she thought about Qi Yulou causing trouble for Brother Ning, she felt a bit unhappy.

Yet now that Qi Yulou had already spoken, she couldn't refuse, so she had to follow his words and say, "Hmm, Senior Brother is right. Come to think of it, I haven't been to this area either. It seems that if we keep walking south, it's the border line, right?"

Pi Yalu said thoughtfully, intending to shift the topic and lead it to the dispute between Qi and Chu.

This way, she could avoid Qi Yulou harboring ulterior motives and causing trouble for Brother Ning.

Hearing these two singing in harmony and both wanting to go down the mountain together, Wei Youqing was instantly stunned.

She wanted to refuse, but was worried it would be too obvious.

And make those two misunderstand something even more.

Scholars are always so hesitant and overthinking.

She never thought that Qi Yulou and Pi Yalu hadn't even associated her with Ning Mu at all.

"Since that's the case... then let's go down the mountain together. It's just right to find him and have him arrange accommodation for the two of you; it couldn't be more appropriate."

Wei Youqing's eyes flickered, her face delicate and pretty, as she spoke insincerely.

But at this moment, Qi Yulou and Pi Yalu were both preoccupied with their own thoughts, so they didn't notice anything wrong with her expression.

They only thought the sun was too scorching, making her delicate skin unable to withstand the heat.

The small talk finished.

The three of them followed the main road down the mountain one after another to find Ning Mu.

However, they were all preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Wei Youqing was shy about meeting people and didn't know what excuse to use to send these two away so she could give the token to Ning Mu.

Qi Yulou was thinking about what method to use to make Wei Youqing change her impression of Ning Mu, or even make her loathe him.

And Pi Yalu was thinking about how to ease the conflict between Brother Ning and Senior Brother Qi.

Down the mountain.

"We have all come here by reputation, please, noble one, take us in..."

An old man with white hair and beard, a face full of gullies, and leaning on a staff while holding a young girl, stood still in front of Ning Mu, bowed and saluted, his cloudy old eyes full of longing.

Behind this old man, hundreds of disaster victims, some leaning on crutches, some supporting each other, stood in groups, all looking at Ning Mu with eager eyes.

"Please, noble one, take us in..."

The next moment, as the old man knelt down, hundreds of ragged disaster victims also all crawled and knelt on the ground.

Many of Wang Dalong's patrol team members were from disaster-stricken backgrounds themselves.

Some even had relatives among this group of victims. Seeing them kneel, many in the patrol team also moved and knelt down: "I beg the Stronghold Master to show mercy and take in our fellow villagers!"

"Get up, everyone get up!"

Ning Mu hurriedly helped the old man who was holding his granddaughter up.

"Stronghold Master, I heard from the children that everyone in the stronghold has to work. Don't worry, Stronghold Master, although this old man is a bag of old bones, I can still work for a few more years. My granddaughter is six years old this year and can work, do some handicrafts, or if it really doesn't work, she can work in the fields too!" The old man held Ning Mu's hand and said earnestly.

Ning Mu touched the little girl's head; her withered yellow hair was matted together, clearly not having been washed for a long time.

Her dirty little face was withered and sallow.

But those eyes were bright and moving, looking at him timidly.

Ning Mu couldn't help but smile, then looked at the old man and the many disaster victims, and said loudly: "Fellow villagers, you don't have to worry. Since you have come, how could there be any reason to drive you away?"

"Rest assured, follow me up to the stronghold!"

"Elderly people and growing children can all go up. The able-bodied can work in the fields, and the elderly and children can help clean the stronghold or do some small handicrafts. Rest assured, as long as I am here, there will always be a way for you to survive!"

Ning Mu said to everyone with a smile.

Scanning them, there were about three to five hundred people. Fortunately, the elderly and children probably made up less than half, which could be considered a fresh influx of strength.

"Long live the Stronghold Master!"

"Great kindness of the Stronghold Master, thank you for your mercy, Stronghold Master!"

"..."

Immediately, the disaster victims knelt down one after another to express their gratitude, and the sounds of gratitude rose and fell in this small mountain hollow.

Most of them were people who had lost their homes in this natural disaster.

The river levees burst, the river changed its course, and all their fertile fields and homes were submerged. With no home to return to, they could only wander everywhere.

When most of the victims who still had homes to return to were settled.

Then this group of people became beggars in the eyes of the Imperial Court.

They were the lower-class commoners who affected the political achievements of the officials.

"You see, this is the reason why I am willing to linger here for so long."

In the distance.

Upon a flat, giant rock beneath the shade of a tree.

Wei Youqing's expression was not without emotion, her eyes filled with gravity as she spoke to Qi Yulou and Pi Yalu behind her.

Watching the group of refugees below, dressed in rags and even barely covered, Qi Yulou's brows furrowed slightly, his gaze full of disdain and disgust.

The Qi Family was a high-standing, wealthy household, a giant among the prominent families of Yonghang.

In their eyes, these refugees were no different from ants; what was there to sympathize with?

And seeing Ning Mu being so cautious, even coming personally to welcome them.

He was very puzzled.

Ignoring the Jixia Academy to mess around here with a group of ants?

Hmph.

Short-sighted.

How could such a person become his opponent?

He had truly thought too highly of him before.

Qi Yulou could not help but shake his head, remaining silent; though his hostility toward Ning Mu had not vanished, his wariness had dropped significantly.

Pi Yalu, however, had pity in her eyes, looking at the disaster victims with hesitation.

When her gaze turned to Ning Mu, who was speaking eloquently and acting with ease at the head of the disaster victims, a touch of admiration could not help but well up in her eyes.

"Brother Ning is truly a hero!" "Junior Uncle, this is ultimately a minor path; by entering the Academy to cultivate, one could help far more than just these hundred people, could they not?"

Qi Yulou let out a scoffing laugh and spoke.

He had deliberately thought it over to ensure his words would not sound too harsh.

But even so.

These words, falling into Wei Youqing's ears, still made her frown slightly.

"Although he... he is indeed sincere in seeking a way out for the disaster victims. I have observed him; perhaps it is precisely because of the victims that he does not wish to go to the Academy. I have already written to the Master and am trying to find a way to solve this problem!"

Wei Youqing did not answer Qi Yulou's words, but continued speaking to herself.

"Wait for me here; I am going down for a moment."

Saying this, Wei Youqing leaped down, her face feeling slightly warm.

"Dalong, take them up first, then find Huang Yutang and A Diao and have them be responsible for arranging work for these people."

Ning Mu looked at Wang Dalong and said.

After finishing, as if he were uneasy, he spoke again to urge him: "You must protect them well along the way; if there is any mishap, I will hold you accountable!"

"Yes, Stronghold Master, rest assured. This subordinate will definitely bring all the elders and brothers up the mountain safe and sound!"

Wang Dalong's expression was spirited as he hurriedly cupped his hands in response.

Ning Mu did not say anything more, but patted Wang Dalong on the shoulder and then stood to the side.

Under the organization of Wang Dalong's Patrol Team, the disaster victims quickly formed two lines and walked along the path up the mountain.

Thanks to Liu Qingmei taking action.

Now this path up the mountain, though sloped, was at least no longer the kind of rugged, uneven trail; it was very flat.

"Has Stronghold Master Ning ever thought about how many people such a small Mountain Stronghold can support?"

Without knowing when.

Wei Youqing had quietly stood by Ning Mu's side and suddenly spoke.

Ning Mu turned his head to look.

He saw Wei Youqing also tilting her head, looking at him with a curious expression.

She blinked her eyes and said to herself: "A thousand? Ten thousand?"

"And what about after that?"

"But if you join the Jixia Academy to cultivate with me, with the status of the Academy, you could save and protect more innocent people in the future."

Ning Mu raised an eyebrow, reached out directly, placed his hand on Wei Youqing's shoulder, and smiled: "Does Libationer Wei know why the common people of this world live so arduously?"

"Just because of a single flood, there are so many homeless people; do they truly have no homes?"

Wei Youqing was stunned upon hearing this.

Immediately, she could not help but blink her eyes and ask blankly: "Otherwise?"

"They do not lack homes; they lack land!"

Wei Youqing was puzzled and asked blankly: "Then what about their land? Even if it was flooded, there will always be a day when the floodwaters recede."

Of course she knew that land was the lifeline of these people.

Heaven creates all things, and each has its own function.

They live off the land; how could they not have land!

Ning Mu shrugged, casually pulled a young man from the line over, and said: "What is your name?"

The young man was a bit nervous and said tremblingly: "Re—reporting to the Stronghold Master, my name is Gouzhu."

"No surname?"

"No... none. At first, I was surnamed Niu, but later the son of Squire Niu gambled, and the Niu family collapsed. Later, I took the surname Wang, but in this flood, the Wang family was also wiped out." Gouzhu gradually adapted and spoke much more fluently.

Hearing these words.

Wei Youqing was immediately shocked.

In this era, the right to bear a surname was a quite important matter.

In fact, this was also a change that had occurred within the current dynasty.

Before the previous dynasty, everyone followed their father's surname.

But starting from the middle of the current dynasty, some powerful noble families would have their own servants change to their family's surname to show off their great power.

Later, gradually, this trend spread widely.

Some local gentry and landlords also began this form of surname adoption, requiring their own servants and tenant farmers to take the master's surname.

In other words, this young man named Gouzhu had been farming for others all along!

"Do you not have your own land?"

Wei Youqing immediately asked the question that had been on her mind.

Gouzhu could not help but smile bitterly, looking respectfully at Wei Youqing, and said, "My lady, you jest. Nowadays, for commoners like us who are as insignificant as blades of grass, who could possibly own their own land? Our entire group used to be tenant farmers for other families, and quite a few even sold themselves directly to wealthy gentry households. It's good enough just to have a bite to eat; as for wanting to own our own land... that was perhaps a dream only my great-grandfather's generation had!"

A look of reminiscence appeared in Gouzhu's eyes.

According to the oral traditions passed down by his elders, if one were to look back a few hundred years, back then every family had land to farm, everyone had clothes to wear, and during festivals, there was meat to eat; every family had surplus grain, and life was very beautiful.

"How could that be..." Wei Youqing could not help but knit her brows, her eyes filled with shock.

Ning Mu, however, smiled and waved at Gouzhu, signaling him to follow the group.

After Gouzhu left, he looked at Wei Youqing and said with a smile, "Does Libationer Wei now know why they are suffering so much?"

"Gouzhu... not even as good as a dog; it is merely a post for tethering a dog. A lowly name is easy to raise. If they could truly live freely, what parents would be willing to give their own child such an ugly name?"

(End of this chapter)