Chapter 162

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Song Miao

No matter how much she complained, Li Huaiduan still immediately arranged for runners to meet them on the road and went to the dock to follow up.

Lu Wenming also knew that too many people could easily cause trouble, fearing he might bring trouble to his old friend, and said: "I'll go to the dock once; if anything happens, I'll know the situation."

Li Huaiduan said: "Even if you go, you can't move anyone; I'll go with you!"

Speaking, he urged someone to saddle a horse, and the two left the government office one after the other, hurrying toward the dock.

When Lu and Li hurried to the dock, Li A'po, who came from a village under Linghe Town, met Song Miao through water celery and garlic chives, then enthusiastically volunteered to help Han Li and others recruit manpower back home, was also looking around everywhere, determined to head for Fu An Dock in Jixian.

Behind her followed seven or eight people, and two others walked side by side with her.

The two walking side by side were both around twenty years old; one held a drawing in his left hand, pointing to a house and trees on the right side of the main road: "Yes, it's here, the Earth God Temple! Look, the drawing is exactly the same, four doors, the characters written above have strokes that look quite similar, and the bend of this tree is the same!"

The other person hurriedly leaned in to look and replied: "Yes, it's here, no mistake!"

Then he turned to Li A'po and said: "Auntie, go to the right!"

Li A'po, however, looked half-believing and doubtful, and went over to look herself.

The old woman didn't know the difference between small seal script and regular script, only knew to compare the three characters "Earth God Temple" above stroke by stroke, and finally said: "I think these three characters seem to have horizontal and vertical strokes written somewhat differently?"

She also said: "What if there's another Earth God Temple on another road? To be safe, we'd better ask someone! If we go the wrong way, being unfamiliar with the place, wasting effort is one thing, but what if we delay reporting for duty?"

She had the highest seniority and was the oldest; though she was chatty, she was ultimately the leader this time, and it was because of the news she brought. The group of young and strong people behind her, though impatient, could only express dissatisfaction with their eyes and make "sigh!" and "ai!" sounds from their mouths.

Li A'po naturally knew these young people thought she was annoying—after all, all the way here, following the drawing, they hadn't gone wrong—but she still insisted on asking people at every fork in the road.

Doing this, being long-winded, naturally made the youngsters feel it was losing face and fussy.

But the old woman was experienced, sought stability in everything, and felt she was the leader of the group, fearing mistakes; she would rather be complained about than relax.

She said: "You're too embarrassed to go ask, I'll ask!"

Speaking, she was about to step forward to find a passerby.

A group of young people, how could they let an old woman ask for directions.

So they hurriedly pulled and persuaded, and someone quickly stepped forward to ask.

Sure enough, not long after, he returned and said: "Auntie, go to the right; the dock is still about two and a half li away!"

The whole group hurriedly continued on their way.

When they reached another fork, they saw ten or so people standing at the fork, the leader holding a paper with road directions drawn on it, looking for the way according to the drawing.

The two sides paired off; seeing each other's appearance, they guessed their purposes were the same, so they stepped forward and greeted for a while, and it turned out they were all from Linghe Town.

"How do you know there's recruitment here?"

"A vendor who buys chickens and ducks in our village specially came to say so, asking if we had ten or fifteen days free; even if not, we could work a day and get a day's pay—anyway, being idle is being idle, and it includes a meal and some extra income, saving food money, so we came to see! How did you find out?"

Li A'po stepped forward and said: "I know that scholar recruiting people, and I've seen many big officials inside the Hua Prefecture Government Office!"

She then recounted how she hid from the rain at the Yi Guan Guan gate that day, how she met Song Miao, how she met Wu Gong from the Capital Water Supervisor and Han Xiu Cai leading many students, how she learned they lacked manpower to repair embankments and dig rivers, and how she volunteered to return home to help recruit people.

After returning home, she had told this story many times to fellow villagers, and repeated it over and over along the way; the village juniors had heard it so many times their ears were calloused, and upon hearing it, they all showed impatient expressions.

But these ten or so people opposite had never heard of it; they all pricked up their ears, listened very seriously, and kept asking about the details.

After Li A'po finished answering, the opposite side said: "I was afraid he made some of it up, but it turns out he didn't lie."

Someone also said: "Such a good thing, why doesn't Hua Prefecture first give it to their own people?"

Li A'po had already asked this question before; at this time, though no one was around, she still lowered her voice, acting as if it were a secret not to be spread, and said: "I heard that their Tongpan fought with the underlings, the underlings refused to help, a big official could only glare and shout, calling heaven with no answer, calling earth with no response; originally not planning to spend money, they wanted to conscript corvée labor, and now they had to take out the money meant for relieving refugees to recruit people."

Separated by a river, Weizhou naturally didn't know about Hua Prefecture's affairs.

But old officials mistreating superiors was all too common; upon hearing this, the people opposite had no doubts at all and believed it completely.

The two groups walked forward while talking, gradually merging into one group, inevitably chatting idly; after about half an hour, asking for directions along the way with the brief guide map they had received from the registration stall at Linghe Town, they finally saw the dock, only three or four hundred steps away.

The group was about to move forward when they saw an open space ahead, don't know whose it was for loading and unloading goods usually; at this time, five or six long tables were set up in the open space, people sat behind the tables, two bamboo poles were erected at the table edges pulling open a cloth awning, with the large characters "Recruit" and "Receive" written on it, and a large wooden board stood beside it, written with "River Work Registration," with a picture of a person digging earth drawn on it.

Someone was also occasionally striking gongs and drums beside it, shouting: "Those going to Hua Prefecture to volunteer, come register here! You need to exchange a token before you can board the ship!"

With tokens and gongs and drums, having received so many reminders, unless one was deaf or blind, how could one not know they had arrived?

By this time, some people had already gathered around those few tables; Li A'po dared to sell vegetables across prefectures alone, her courage and decisiveness can be imagined; she stepped forward first and found a table with fewer people in line, standing behind the crowd, and called for a young man from her village to hurry over; when it was their turn, she handed a document from her hand to the person opposite, saying: "Here are nine people from Ba Jiao Cun; I'm the one doing the work!"

The person opposite was a young man, looking only about ten years old; seeing so many people coming at once, he also looked a bit nervous, turned and shouted: "Manager Zhang, nine people came at once here!"

That Manager Zhang was originally standing behind another table; at this time he walked over and pointed to the young man, saying: "Young man, don't rush; match names one by one first, and copy the tokens."

Speaking, he raised his head and said to everyone: "Those whose names I call, step forward one step to this side!"

He waved his left hand and read the names from the document; sure enough, people stepped forward one by one.

The young man's right hand held a large basket, full to the brim with bamboo tokens tied with hemp rope; at this time he hurriedly put it on the table; hearing a name, he found it according to the document, copied a name onto a bamboo token, and also numbered it according to heavenly stems and earthly branches, etc.

After copying was done, Manager Zhang, according to the names on the bamboo tokens, called people forward one by one to press fingerprints with red mud, then issued them to them to carry with them, saying: "You tomorrow afternoon at the initial Shen hour, hang this bamboo token around your neck, come here to line up and board the ship; if you're late, the ship won't wait for people, and it won't count."

He also gave Li A'po a separately shaped token, with the two large characters "Jia Shen" written on it, saying: "Auntie, remember to come tomorrow, see people onto the ship, then your previous matter is concluded; as for the rest, there are other calculations."

Li A'po said: "I know, I know!"

She also said: "Today that Scholar Han specially instructed us to make this trip first to scout the road, and tomorrow to act as guides for other teams; he told me to tell you to record it at the back of the roster, and later count half a day's extra wages!"

Speaking, she took out a letter from her bosom.

Manager Zhang took it and looked; seeing Han Li's signature and small seal at the end, he indeed registered it at the end of the roster.

When Lu and Li hurriedly arrived, they just saw this scene.

Lu Wenming saw Li A'po and hurriedly stepped forward to call out.

The latter, seeing an acquaintance, was extremely excited and shouted: "Scholar Han, you're here too!"

Lu Wenming hurriedly asked: "Aren't you departing tomorrow? How did you come today?"

Li A'po said, "I thought I'd first bring the village people to scout things out, so tomorrow won't be a chaotic mess."

Finished speaking, she puffed out her chest again, looking thoroughly pleased with herself, and said, "It just so happened that when I registered at Linghe Town, I ran into Han Xiu Cai; he said since I'd come all this way, I shouldn't have come for nothing, so today counts as half a day's wages, and he told us to guide those registering tomorrow so they don't take a wrong turn!"

How could Lu Wenming not know that most likely the Li A'po's whole village didn't fully trust it and wanted to see for themselves? But he didn't expose it, just smiled and agreed a couple of times.

In a moment Li A'po led the village people away to take their leave, and Lu Wenming breathed a sigh of relief, about to speak with Li Huaiduan, but saw the other man stride straight to the front, first announce his name and official post, then ask that Steward Zhang's background.

Seeing he wore official robes, that Steward Zhang hurriedly bowed first; learning he was a County Assistant, he became even more proper and said, "Disturbing you, sir; this little one's surname is Zhang, I am the steward of the Zhang Family of Xinxiang County — my master is called Zhang Gui."

A prominent household of the prefecture, and of scholarly lineage; Li Huaiduan naturally knew of them.

Only he couldn't help asking, "Since you are the Zhang Family steward, how did you end up running here? And helping Hua Prefecture recruit laborers?"

The implication was perfectly clear — Xinxiang has its own affairs, why don't we see your Zhang Family so devoted to them?

Steward Zhang smiled and said, "Because our master has long read Han Li Young Master Han's writings, and admires him greatly, admiring his literary fame and character; this time an opportunity arose, he got to meet Young Master Han once, learned he was about to dig canals and repair dikes — this done well, above it benefits Weizhou, below it benefits Xinxiang, both are great deeds, so he volunteered his efforts, coming to help with the personnel and grain reception and boarding matters."

"Besides you, who else did Zhang Gui arrange to come over?"

"Also three stewards from the medicine shop below, ten clerks, twenty-seven clan school students..." Steward Zhang reported respectfully.

Li Huaiduan then asked, "All these people coming at once, what subsidy did Han Li give you?"

Steward Zhang hurriedly said, "Serving the prefecture and county, managing rivers and water, what subsidy would we want?"

And said, "Our family has never lagged behind in building bridges and roads; this time too it's for the sake of fellow villagers, we absolutely cannot ask for any subsidy — sir rest assured, the little one received the master's assignment, Young Master Han also gave regulations, procedures, and guidance, every detail arranged meticulously, as long as we follow them, this time the reception will surely be handled smoothly without loose ends!"

For the sake of fellow villagers, not even wanting a subsidy — this talk is only good for coaxing children.

But a steward who has already spoken so watertightly, Li Huaiduan couldn't help but sigh that great clans indeed have their own inheritance; knowing he couldn't get anything out of him, he let it be.

He then walked toward the dock area, and sure enough the dock at this time also had zones drawn on the ground with talc, signboards erected, and several tables and chairs set up; stepping forward to ask, they were also Zhang Family people, one steward leading three or four clerks and students.

The stewards were all capable hands from the shops, experienced in handling affairs; speaking and acting, they all adapted flexibly to circumstances.

Lu Wenming followed behind, seeing the process organized without a single flaw, couldn't help laughing, "Huai Duan, this time you can rest easy, right?"

Li Huaiduan didn't speak; after a long while, he sighed and asked, "Na Han Li, has he always operated like this?"

Lu Wenming stared blankly, asking, "What operation?"

He paused, looking like he'd already caught on, smugly saying, "You noticed it too, right? Han the leader operates flawlessly; scholarship and ability, I can't pick a single fault; if forced to nitpick, it's just that he's too young, lacks official status, but once he sheds his commoner status he'll surely have a great career — though saying this is too early — 'leaving a name in green history' must refer to just such figures, right?"

Finished speaking, he looked basking in reflected glory, and said, "Being able to do pure things with such a person, every matter doesn't need worry of falling through, there's always a bottom — you say, this time haven't I finally hit a stroke of great luck!"

Li Huaiduan simply didn't want to speak.

Before his eyes his old friend was already under a bewitchment spell; even if Han Li farted in front of him right now, he'd probably praise it as sounding truly loud, and also praise it as smelling truly fragrant.

But his reason remained.

Ten-odd days of interaction, and he made this old friend run day and night, contributing manpower and connections for him.

One meeting, and empty-handed he swindled a white wolf, making Zhang Gui contribute clan school students and capable stewards from the family business to help.

Who knows what schemes this person ultimately used, what methods he employed.

When we meet, he really must properly see and experience it!

Not to mention here in Weizhou's four counties, almost all busy stockpiling grain for Han Li, every county bustling.

On the other side, in Hua Prefecture City, this day early morning, Song Miao finally waited for her own batch of "subordinates."

The one sending people over was a petty clerk.

The other led a squad to the official relay station, pointing at the crowd and saying, "First batch twelve people, more coming successively later, young lady arrange them well."

And said, "Though they're corvée laborers, I'll teach you one sentence, you listen well — use people carefully, don't go too far, they're all born of parents, otherwise if a commotion breaks out I can't answer to my superiors, and you won't be able to explain either!"

Finished speaking, he slammed the roster onto the table and swaggered off.

This person's such attitude, Song Miao had received Han Li's warning in advance, was mentally prepared, and didn't take it to heart, but Dabing was quite furious.

Ordinarily a batch of students, even that Wu Gong, seeing Song Miao were all polite and attentive; needless to say when she was at the Capital Prefecture Office before, the Military Patrol Office officials transferred over, who wasn't soft-spoken and courteous?

Even the Capital Prefect and that Prefect Zheng both wanted to eat another mouthful of stir-fried bean sprouts, how come arriving at this Hua Prefecture, a petty clerk with eyes on top of his head gets to throw his weight around here?

He was from the Capital Prefecture Office, though a public kitchen apprentice, ordinarily he'd seen plenty of officials and veteran clerks, not very afraid of the "government office" label on the other, wanting to step forward and grab the man to argue, but was held back by Song Miao.

"Don't rush, there'll be a time when he's anxious to hand in his assignment."

She soothed Dabing a few sentences, took that name roster, and one by one asked the twelve people opposite their names and backgrounds.

Don't know what's going on, this time the prefecture office sent corvée laborers all youths around twenty, appearances varied, but in speech and bearing all carried a similar slight contempt, as if not taking Song Miao seriously at all; some hid it better, some couldn't be bothered to hide, answering in a slouchy, casual manner.

There was even one, Song Miao asked his age and native place, he grinned and said, "Young lady isn't holding the roster in your hand? Oh, so you can't read characters either? You guess how old I am?"

Seeing Song Miao displeased and frowning, he added, "Aiyo, just a joke, young lady don't take it to heart — I turned twenty last month, prime marrying age, family has a bit of modest wealth, just worried no capable wife to manage the household!"

?? Thank you Book City Ao Te Man Xiao Jie for personally sending me 1 ray of Inspiration, 2 Small Gifts, thank you dear:)

? Many thanks Feng Ma for personally sending me 9 Small Gifts, so many many heartfelt thoughts, thank you thank you thank you~

? Thank you Yu Hou Cai Hong for personally sending me 2 Small Gifts, and Jiyi Banbo De Jiu Shiguang, KyokuKin, Luo Ru Fan Hua Chu three dears each sending 1 Small Gift, thank you thank you(#^. ^#)