In the centre of Zhulian Town lay a large open area. In peaceful times, the villagers used it to dry their bamboo curtains.
Because it was close to the great city of West Sichuan, during years of disaster, wealthy households would occasionally come to Zhulian Town to distribute porridge.
The distribution always took place on this open ground.
The villagers assumed the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce was also here to give out porridge, so they dragged their entire families and rushed towards the open area.
Many ran over barefoot, and quite a few carried children tucked under their arms.
When wealthy households came to distribute porridge, it was usually just for show, to gain a reputation for charity. The amount was often small.
Those who arrived early might get a bowl, but those who came late would not even get watery rice soup.
Yet when the villagers reached the open area, they saw no large pots of cooking porridge at all.
Only a temporary tent stood there.
On the left side of the tent flew the black flag of the Zhen Yuan Escort Agency. On the right flew the golden merchant flag of the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce.
Behind the tent were several flatbed carts. Five or six black-clad bodyguards, each holding long sabres, stood guard around the carts.
“Didn’t they say they were distributing porridge? Where is the porridge?”
“Exactly. On such a cold day, if they are not giving porridge, why shout like that? What if the children catch a chill!”
“Forget the children. If we fall ill from the cold, we can only wait to die!”
“Let’s go back. What trick is the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce playing on such a freezing day?”
…
When the villagers realised there was no porridge, they all hung their heads in disappointment and began walking back. Just then they met the returning town mayor.
The weather was bitterly cold, and many were already numb from the chill. They vented their frustration on the mayor.
“Who told you the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce was distributing porridge?”
The mayor glared and asked, “Did I shout that?”
“If not porridge, then why did you call us out?”
The villagers questioned him one after another.
“The Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce is here to lend grain to you!” the mayor explained. “Isn’t that much better than just handing out porridge?”
“Lend grain to us? Why?”
The first thought that came to the villagers’ minds was that the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce wanted to exploit them.
But Zhulian Town was surrounded by uneven hills with hardly any farmland. Every household made a living by weaving bamboo curtains. What could the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce possibly exploit from them?
The bamboo on the mountains?
Bamboo cost nothing. Whoever cut it owned it. Why would anyone need to trick them for that?
“Stop overthinking it. Mr Jin is enormously wealthy. He does not want anything from you poor folk. He simply sees how pitiful your situation is and does not want to see people starve to death, so he is willing to lend grain to you.”
The mayor, having lived half a lifetime, immediately guessed what the villagers were worried about. He explained, “Not only is Mr Jin willing to lend grain, he has also agreed to let you work for him. The grain you borrow this time is an advance on your wages.”
“Mr Jin is willing to let us work for him?”
Many villagers widened their eyes and looked at the mayor with eager hope.
“Yes, Mr Jin is willing to employ us!”
The mayor nodded firmly.
“That’s wonderful! Mr Jin is finally willing to take us!”
Many villagers wept with joy.
Previously, when Zhou Youda recruited workers, he prioritised those with brands on their faces—the disaster refugees.
The people of Zhulian Town could only watch enviously, with no way to join.
Because there were already more than enough branded refugees, Zhou Youda had no need to consider them.
Working at Mr Jin’s construction sites not only provided food but also wages.
If even one person from a family went to work, the whole family could survive the winter.
If a household had two or three able-bodied workers, their life would become much easier.
“Let’s go, hurry and sign up!”
The villagers turned around again and rushed back towards the open area.
They were afraid that if they arrived late, the recruitment spots would be filled.
“Don’t rush! The people from the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce said that as long as you are of suitable age and willing to endure hardship, they will take as many as come! They will not accept the elderly or children. Carrying them over would just make them suffer from the cold for nothing.”
The mayor shouted from behind, “Old Three, hurry and take your child back home. The child’s legs are still bare. Don’t let him freeze! Old Liu, take your mother back too. She barely has any breath left. If you jostle her to death, it will be too late!”
Hearing the mayor’s words, the villagers finally felt reassured. They sent the elderly and children home one after another, then returned after dressing warmly themselves.
Some who were better prepared had already begun handling the procedures.
The bank clerks managed the loan formalities, the chamber staff distributed the grain, and the bodyguards maintained order.
Everything proceeded in an orderly manner.
Such scenes were taking place in many locations around West Sichuan City.
On this single day alone, two of Jin Feng’s granaries around West Sichuan City were completely emptied.
Also on this day, the trend of people starving to death in the areas surrounding West Sichuan City was finally halted.
And on this very day, in countless households, spirit tablets bearing Jin Feng’s name were quietly set up for long life and blessings.
Many villagers no longer called him Mr Jin. Instead, they referred to him as the merciful and life-saving Bodhisattva Jin.
…
Outside West Sichuan City, Jin Feng gazed at the thin wisps of cooking smoke rising from distant villages. A look of comfort finally appeared on his face.
This disaster relief effort had been exhausting and had risked offending many powerful nobles, but he did not regret it.
If given the chance to do it again, Jin Feng would still make the same choice.
For him and the Ninth Princess, it was merely a risk.
At worst, the Ninth Princess might receive a scolding from the Emperor, and he might become a target of the nobles.
But for the disaster-stricken villagers, it meant the lives of entire families.
It was worth it!
In any case, he had never planned to befriend the nobles. If they targeted him, so be it.
If it could prevent people across the realm from freezing or starving to death, then even if the court issued a warrant for his arrest, Jin Feng would accept it.
As for the Ninth Princess, he had already thought it through.
Once the disaster relief was over, he would have a proper talk with her.
If she was willing to stay in West River Bay and not return to the capital, then everything would be easy.
Jin Feng would naturally keep the promise he made to Qing Mulan. He would protect the Ninth Princess with his life.
If she insisted on returning to the capital, he would find ways to pressure the court so that neither the Emperor nor the nobles would dare act recklessly against her.
As for exactly how to apply that pressure, Jin Feng had not yet figured it out.
But he was not in a hurry. The disaster relief effort alone would keep him and the Ninth Princess busy for at least several months. There was plenty of time.
While Jin Feng was lost in thought, a troop of cavalry came galloping through the cold wind from the distance.
Leading them was Monkey.
Slightly behind Monkey was Wei Datong, the transport official from the Transport Office whom Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess had encountered at the Jinma River.
Wei Datong wore a black cloak. When he saw Jin Feng standing outside the city gate, he quickly dismounted.
The Transport Commissioner was a proper court-appointed official, while Jin Feng held only an empty noble title without any fief. According to etiquette, Wei Datong did not need to take the initiative to bow to Jin Feng.
Yet Wei Datong solemnly performed a deep bow towards Jin Feng.
“Wei Datong pays respects to Mr Jin!”
Back at the Jinma River, when Wei Datong had tried to get close to Jin Feng, he had indeed hoped to use him to approach the Ninth Princess.
But now, the respect he showed Jin Feng came from genuine gratitude for what Jin Feng had done for the people of Sichuan.
“Lord Wei, it has been a long time!”
Jin Feng stepped forward two paces and helped Wei Datong up. “Lord Wei, you have travelled hard through the cold. Please enter the city quickly and warm yourself properly.”
“Sir, did you come specially to meet me?”
Wei Datong was slightly stunned.
He had thought encountering Jin Feng at the city gate was mere coincidence.
Now that Jin Feng wanted to enter the city with him, Wei Datong realised Jin Feng might have come specifically to welcome him.
“Sir, you are so busy right now. The entire population of Sichuan is counting on you for disaster relief. How could you waste your precious time on an idle person like me?”
“Lord Wei, from now on you will not be idle at all.”
Jin Feng smiled and said, “Whether the disaster relief in Sichuan succeeds or fails depends entirely on you, Lord Wei!”
