Chapter 275: Chapter 275. Sending Off
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Qiu Yongkang asked everyone to line up. According to Qiu Yongkang’s directions, Qu Da and Jiang Cheng led their men to bring the sheep out. After weighing the food, they distributed it to everyone. They even helped deliver the food to their homes if they couldn’t move it.
When it came to splitting the money, everyone was even more excited. After living in Peach Blossom Cove for so many years, which family had a huge sum of ten taels of silver?
Qiu Yongkang couldn’t handle it himself, so Xing Ruhai came to help. The two of them worked together much faster.
Ji Shuisheng looked at the happy expressions of the villagers and secretly said to his foster father in his heart,
‘Godfather, I’ve completed your last wish. I’ve successfully brought everyone to a safe place and let them live and work peacefully.’
“Shuisheng, thank you.”
Li Shuang’er’s parents came over to thank Ji Shuisheng. Many adults were in their families, so they were given six fat sheep and a lot of food. They were very grateful to Ji Shuisheng.
“You’re welcome.”
Ji Shuisheng shook his head with a smile. Although he did not do this because everyone was grateful to him, he still felt that his efforts were not in vain when he heard the words of gratitude. The villagers were still worth helping.
After the Old Li family came over to thank him, the other families also came to thank him.
However, there were also unhappy people. The father and son of the Old Wang family died on the way to escape from famine, leaving behind his mother, two daughters-in-law, and four children. They only got three sheep. If the man in the family did not die protecting everyone, wouldn’t they get three more sheep?
The eldest daughter-in-law of the Old Wang family relied on her courage to look for Ji Shuisheng and complain to him with snot and tears.
“Shuisheng, all the able-bodied men in our family died on the road, leaving behind an orphan, a widow, the old, the weak, and the sick. We only got three sheep. There’s a mother-in-law to feed and four children to feed.”
As soon as she started, the families who had lost their able-bodied men on the road came to look for Ji Shuisheng. They all wiped their tears and looked very pitiful.
“Yongkang, how many people died on the road?”
Ji Shuisheng didn’t think someone would suggest such a suggestion, so he asked Qiu Yongkang.
“A total of thirteen people died.”
The Old Wang family was the most miserable. All three able-bodied men had died, leaving behind an orphan and a widow. The oldest of the four children was only ten, and the youngest was only three. It was indeed pitiful.
Moreover, those who died were sacrificed to protect the villagers of the Peach Blossom Cove. Logically speaking, they should also take care of their families.
“The dead people can be counted as heads and sheep, but the food can’t be divided.”
Ji Shuisheng thought momentarily and decided that he would try his best to satisfy everyone since it was just this once.
Hearing Ji Shuisheng’s words, the families who had lost their loved ones were also grateful to him. The old Wang family had three more sheep and were so happy they cried. The entire family came over to thank Ji Shuisheng.
“Live well!”
Ji Shuisheng stopped them from thanking him, his mood heavy.
After distributing the food to the villagers, Ji Shuisheng gave Xing Ruhai’s family two sheep, four loads of grain, and ten taels of silver.
“Shuisheng, thank you.”
Xing Ruhai did not expect that his family would be as villagers of Peach Blossom Cove. Shuisheng also gave them a lot of things. He was so touched that his eyes turned red. He secretly swore to help Ji Shuisheng well.
“Sir, please rest assured and stay here. In the future, you will need to take care of yourself.”
Ji Shuisheng did not say that Xing Ruhai would be helpful in the future. He was a rare talent.
“Young lord, please instruct me. 1 am willing to follow you to the best of my ability.”
Xing Ruhai cupped his fists and said to Ji Shuisheng with a solemn expression. This was his promise. Ji Shuisheng was kind-hearted, brave, and resourceful. Whatever he wanted to do would succeed.
Subservience started from worship!
Xing Ruhai admired Ji Shuisheng for bringing the villagers safely to the border in this chaotic world. He risked his life and led his subordinates to repel the many attacks of the Tartan soldiers, giving the people a home to live and work in.
Ji Shuisheng smiled and said,
“In the future, you will have to work hard. For now, you can help Uncle Cheng’s army with daily affairs, right?”
“Alright.”
Xing Ruhai was happy that Ji Shuisheng had arranged work for him. People who were used to being busy felt too uncomfortable when they were idle. They would feel that they were a burden. Now, they thought they were useful only when they could help Shuisheng with some work.
The matter of distribution had come to an end. Ji Shuisheng returned to the inner courtyard of the government office. As soon as he entered, he smelled the fragrance of stewed meat and saw Su Qing scooping the braised meat out of the pot and preparing to stir-fry it.
“It smells so good.”
Ji Shuisheng looked at Su Qing with a smile. His voice was filled with happiness.
“The Empress didn’t ask you to stay for a meal?”
Su Qing had long heard from Xiaoying that Ji Shuisheng had returned and was distributing things to the villagers in the front yard. When she saw him return, she asked with a smile, curious if the Empress knew her gold and lingzhi had been lost.
“Something seems to be missing from the Empress’ palace. She had no time to treat me.”
Ji Shuisheng rolled his sleeves to wash his face and casually replied when he heard Su Qing’s question.
It seemed that the Empress had discovered that the gold was missing.
Su Qing raised his eyebrows. The gold had been lost without anyone knowing. The Empress must be panicking. A thorough investigation of the palace would bring about another storm of blood. This was good. She would be too busy putting out the fire in her house to attack Mo City.
This was also one of the reasons why she wanted to take away the Empress’ gold. She wanted to make the Empress overly suspicious, disrupting her ambition.
“I’ll treat Brother Yang to dinner tonight to send him off.”
Su Qing said to Ji Shuisheng. Ji Shuisheng took his sister’s towel and wiped the water off his face. He agreed and went out to ask Yang to help him.
Ji Shuisheng went to invite Yang Zhi. Su Qing also stir-fried the pork belly. The fragrance was tempting. There was only one last dish left before dinner.
The pork and pork trotters she had stewed at the Qiu and Li families were also brought over. Once she took them, they were all boneless. Two big pig heads were fragrant and cooked so well.
Su Qing first cut two plates of pig’s head meat and two pork trotters. She broke off all the pork trotters and put them on two large plates. She made her dipping sauce and would eat them later.
The red braised pork had to be distributed to the entire village and all the soldiers, so she only scooped two bowls and brought them into the house to entertain Yang Zhi. In addition, there were also fat sausages, bitter sausages, and stir-fried pork tripe. The fresh pork liver was also an excellent dish to go with wine.
It was a pity that the soybeans were gone. Otherwise, Su Qing would have immediately started making soy sauce. This was a huge business opportunity. The Great Xia Kingdom and the Tartan Kingdom do not have soy sauce as a seasoning. If she made it, she would make a lot of money.
Su Qing made the meat thick and asked Xiaoying to call the villagers over to share the meat. The villagers sent one person from each family, and each family would get a spoonful of red braised pork. Two pots of meat looked like a lot, but it couldn’t hold up against too many people. It was impossible to have enough to eat. Everyone just needed to taste it.
The remaining braised pork and pig’s head meat were distributed to the soldiers guarding the city. Although everyone did not get a few pieces of meat, everyone was delighted. They finally got some oil.
In the past, when the imperial court did not pay the soldiers, they would go hunting by themselves. When they returned, they would only roast the prey and eat it. How could it be as delicious as Su Qing’s meat? After eating it, the mouth still smelled good.
There had to be a good wine for a treat. Mo City did not sell it, but Ji Shuisheng had brought back two jars from Tartan, which came in handy.
Su Qing was afraid that the Empress would poison the wine with ill intentions, so she first checked it with a silver needle..
