Chapter 13: Taking in Servants

The Xu family courtyard.

After a night's rest and sufficient food, the refugee father and son were in much better spirits.

They stood honestly in the courtyard, the big hand tightly gripping the small hand, their heads lowered waiting for Xu Chuan's decision.

"First tell me your names and background." Xu Chuan said indifferently.

The refugee man raised his head, saying, "This humble one is Li Qianfeng, twenty-eight years old. This is my young son, Li Tai'e, four years old this year, fleeing disaster from Xishan County."

"Qianfeng, Tai'e, very dignified names. Your Li family isn't an ordinary household, is it?"

"I observe your complexion is dim, but your eyes are spirited. One can tell at a glance you've practiced martial arts."

Li Qianfeng's body shook, his heart filled with surprise. He hadn't expected that in a small village, there would be someone with such discernment.

"I..." Li Qianfeng hesitated for a while.

Li Qianfeng's heart was bitter.

He had once been the elegant Second Master Li that everyone in Xishan County spoke of. Now his family clan was destroyed, and he didn't know how many clansmen had survived.

The past was like smoke, all returning to dust.

Li Qianfeng looked at his young son, his eyes full of pity.

Now he only sought a place to settle, so that his son could be spared the suffering of wandering. So, Li Qianfeng began to slowly reveal his family's background.

Hearing this, Xu Chuan paced back and forth, pretending to ponder.

After a moment, he said to the Li father and son, "I can take you in, but I only take household servants."

"Correspondingly, given that your Li family has enemies, if you stay, you must change your names."

"I will provide food, clothing, and shelter, and can also provide for your son to study and practice martial arts."

"If you agree, I will keep you father and son."

Hearing these conditions, Li Qianfeng also began to think deeply.

This Xu family's scale was far inferior to their Li family.

It wasn't even as prosperous as one-tenth of theirs, but this person Xu Chuan gave him an unfathomably deep feeling.

His ambitions were far-reaching, seeming to want to build the Xu family into a powerful prominent clan.

In these times, kind people were few.

He had begged at several other households before, but even those who would give him a mouthful of water to drink were good.

Most ordinary common folk simply didn't have the extra ability to keep people, he could only go to Qingjiang County but then who knew how many more days of sleeping rough and eating in the open he would have to endure.

Even he couldn't bear it, let alone his son.

Before, they had already been at their limit.

Now they had barely caught their breath. They probably couldn't endure the hardships of wandering anymore.

Li Qianfeng could see that the Xu family from top to bottom were all kind people.

After much consideration, he pulled Li Tai'e down to kneel, saying, "I am willing, along with my son, to be servants of the Xu family, willingly and without regrets."

Xu Chuan smiled slightly, "If so, then let me give you father and son new names."

"Please, family head, bestow names upon us."

"From now on you shall be called Li Er, and your son shall be called Li Zhi."

"Thank you, family head."

Xu Chuan then also introduced his family members.

"Wife, go tidy up an empty room for this father and son to live in. After you rest for a few days and recover your spirits, I'll find someone to help you build a house nearby."

"Thank you, family head. Thank you, madam." Li Er said respectfully.

Bai Jing smiled slightly.

"Shitou, go get paper and brush. Write out a servitude contract and have this father and son sign it."

"Yes, Father."

After signing, Xu Chuan said, "Also, in a few days accompany me to the county government to re-register your household registration and settle in Dongxi Village. Otherwise, being unregistered residents won't stand up to scrutiny."

"Yes, family head."

Xu Chuan gave instructions, and Li Er nodded in agreement to everything.

Xu Mingxuan now had a playmate of the same age and was very happy, pulling him to look at his toys.

Several days later, Xu Chuan and the Li Er father and son went to the Qingjiang County government.

Yang Zhao was the county registrar, and household registration matters were handled by him.

"Greetings, Registrar Yang." Xu Chuan cupped his hands respectfully.

Registrar Yang sized up the young man in a blue robe before him, feeling he looked somewhat familiar, "This official seems to have seen you somewhere."

"Registrar Yang has a good memory. Several years ago, you came to Dongxi Village to handle the Yu family's land property matter. This humble one was the one who led the way." Xu Chuan said with a smile.

"So it was you. This official remembers you're called Xu Chuan, right? What matter are you seeking this official's help with today?"

Yang Zhao remembered he had personally promised to owe him a small favor.

"Registrar Yang has misunderstood. This humble one isn't here to trouble you, but to bring these two to register their household registration and settle in Dongxi Village."

Yang Zhao looked again at the Li Er father and son.

At this time, they were no longer in tattered clothes with disheveled appearances.

Although still somewhat thin, they both had proper features and carried an air of valor.

"Settle?"

"They fled here due to the flood disaster to the west. With nowhere to turn, they wish to become servants of my household. I thought that even as servants, they should have an identity." Yang Zhao nodded.

This kind of thing was common.

Unable to return home in the short term and without livelihood, they either became beggars begging along the way or became servants of others' households, living at others' mercy.

Yang Zhao didn't want to ask more. Looking at Li Er, he said, "You father and son are voluntarily settling in Dongxi Village?"

"Replying to the registrar, sir, yes."

"If so, state your names and ages."

For outsiders registering household registration, five taels of silver were collected per person. This money was naturally paid by Xu Chuan.

Once settled, their descendants registering household registration would no longer require silver.

"Thank you, sir. If there's nothing else, this humble one will take his leave."

Having finished his business, Xu Chuan still had to hurry back home.

"Wait. This official has something to ask you. This time there are very many refugees fleeing here. What's the situation in your Dongxi Village? Is it chaotic?"

"Dongxi Village is still relatively stable at present. Wealthy households in need will take on several short-term workers or servants."

This disaster had brought quite a few refugees flooding into the entire Yuehu Commandery.

Every county and the commandery capital were all troubled about how to handle these refugees.

Although Yang Zhao was neither county magistrate nor prefect, if he had good suggestions that were adopted, this would be a political achievement.

It would be extremely beneficial for future promotions.

Seeing Xu Chuan's attire, he knew the Xu family must have developed well these past few years.

After all, last time he saw him, he was still in coarse cloth and hemp clothing, looking like an ordinary commoner.

Now he was close to the clothing and expenses of some wealthy households. Therefore, he had a flash of inspiration, wanting to hear if from his mouth there might be good insights.

"So what do you think would be the best way to settle these refugees?"

Xu Chuan was slightly stunned, not expecting Yang Zhao would ask such a question.

"In this matter, the county magistrates and sirs naturally have their considerations. How would this humble one dare to rashly comment or make judgments." Xu Chuan said with a terrified expression.

"Just speak freely. I'll just listen casually. If you speak well, this official will owe you another favor."

He likes owing favors so much?

"Then this humble one will speak his foolish views."

Xu Chuan began, "Leaving the refugees alone and ignoring them definitely won't work. Letting them become beggars will also affect the public order of the entire Qingjiang County."

"It would be best to find a place to have them concentrate there, then register and manage them one by one to prevent chaos from occurring."

"For those willing to settle, some registration fees could be waived for household registration."

"Provide several days' worth of rations. Have the county government provide some work opportunities, such as water conservancy projects, road construction, etc., to absorb some of them. Mobilize Qingjiang County's wealthy households to internally absorb another portion."

"The specifics would depend on the number of refugees in Qingjiang County this time, and how many the government and wealthy households can absorb."

Yang Zhao originally didn't pay much attention, but as he continued listening, his eyes became more serious.

"This official knows about the government providing work opportunities, but how would the wealthy households absorb them?"

Xu Chuan smiled lightly, "This disaster to the west is quite large in scale. Among the refugees are quite a few with martial skills, and there may even be martial artists hidden among them."

"For such quality household servants, there isn't a wealthy household that wouldn't want them."

"The county government could select those willing to become servants, summon the wealthy households for open recruitment, and could even appropriately collect some silver from the wealthy households to subsidize part of the refugees' food costs, reducing the government's financial pressure."

"Mm, is there more?" Yang Zhao nodded and continued inquiring.

"Furthermore, if there are still vacant fields in the villages under Qingjiang County's jurisdiction, they could be rented free for the first two years to those refugees willing to settle, then later increase the rental fees until the costs are recovered."

Yang Zhao's face remained impassive, but his heart was extremely shocked.

He hadn't expected that an ordinary commoner would actually have quite good insights, greatly broadening his thinking.

No wonder in just a few years, the family scale had been steadily rising.

He's talented!

Xu Chuan continued, "These are all this humble one's foolish views. Among them are still many details, such as distinguishing between good people and bad people, how to choose who to grant free fields to, and so on."

"This official understands." Yang Zhao pondered for a moment, then looked at Xu Chuan with a smile, "In this matter, this official owes you another favor. This is my Yang family's token. Take it. When ordinary officials see it, they will give some face."

"Thank you, Registrar Yang."

Xu Chuan didn't refuse. After accepting it, he cupped his hands again, saying, "Then this humble one will take his leave first."

"Go ahead."

Xu Chuan and the Li Er father and son returned home that afternoon.

As for Yang Zhao, based on Xu Chuan's suggestions, he began writing a detailed refugee settlement plan.