With Shen Qiang and the others' help, the giant carriage filled with steamed buns was soon handed out. Almost all of the refugees were able to get their hands on one, but it was impossible for the refugees that had hurried over along the way when hearing the news to also receive their share. After all, there was a limit to the number of steamed buns they had but no limit to the number of refugees. Shen Qiang and the others couldn't help but feel frightened when meeting the hungry gazes of the refugees. They retreated back to the old madame's side and left all the trouble to Shen Liang again.
"My apologies, everyone, but the steamed buns for today have all been distributed." Accompanied by Lei Zhen and Yaoguang by his side, Shen Liang stepped forward and stated the truth of the matter frankly. He indeed had nothing left to hand out. The refugees had heard of him and garnered a favorable impression of Shen Liang along the way here. This Ger was not a hypocritical person. They did not make a fuss either, but their disappointment was also inevitable.
"Benefactor Shen, the medicine you asked for has arrived." At the same time, two young novice monks from the Xiangguo Temple headed over with a bowl of medicine. Shen Liang took the bowl from them and sniffed. After ascertaining there wasn't any problems, the then turned to face the man with the child and bent down.
"Have the child drink it while it's still hot."
"Many thanks, Young Master Shen," the man smiled shyly. He took over the medicine bowl and tested the temperature. After ascertaining that it wasn't too hot, he brought the bowl to the child's mouth, "Dabao, be good. You'll only get better after drinking the medicine. Your father and them are no longer here. You can't leave me too."
Pitter-patter.
As the man spoke, his tears dripped into the medicine bowl. The child encased in his embrace was at most two years old. However, he was more sensible than children his age. He reached out to wipe the man's tears: "Dad... Daddy, don't cry! Bao, Bao'er will drink."
"En...." the man nodded his head and delivered the medicine bowl to the child's mouth again. The boy really did open his mouth and drank the medicine sip by sip.
Shen Liang's panoramic view took in the entire scene before he suddenly asked, "Where did you two come from? Are there any other family members?"
"En?" It was evident that the man did not expect Shen Liang to suddenly speak up. He moved the medicine bowl slightly away as to prevent the child from choking: "Responding to Young Master Shen, we come from Heyang County. About a month ago, a large-scale mountain collapse occurred there. About half of Heyang County was buried alive. My family... they did not make it out alive. Only my child and I remain..." As his memories were stoked, the man could not help the tears that swarmed his eyes ago. He originally had a blessed little family. His husband was a scholar and an accountant. Occasionally, he would help out at the shops around in town. Although not wealthy, their family were able to make mean's end. However, the disaster came so suddenly and, in an instant, before he even knew it, he had already lost everything. His home was gone. His husband and family were all dead. He himself could only watch as his originally plump and white baby grow weak and more and more feeble as days passed. He had no time to be depressed. He could only take his child and migrate with the other refugees to the outskirts of the Imperial City, hoping to find an opportunity that could support him and his child. Unfortunately, the Imperial City was not as beautiful as the rumors painted it to be. The soldiers guarding the gates of the Imperial City saw that he and his child were dirty and emaciated. Afraid that the two of them had contacted some strange disease, they refused to allow them entrance, much less allow them to find a job to support themselves.
"En... would you be willing to sell yourself and your child into slavery?" After a moment's contemplation and silence, Shen Liang asked. Those who heard his words, including Lei Zhen and Yaoguang, all widened their eyes. Was he intending to play the role of a good person to the end? From their understanding of Shen Liang, he wasn't a foolish saint though. *Slavery in the sense becoming a servant to the Marquis Family/Shen Liang. The man would be considered a slave in the sense that when servants of a family are beaten to death, it is considered their master's right. Not one would be able to give them justice, but Shen Liang isn't that kind of master. Rather, the man would instead be able to have food and a place to sleep as Shen Liang's servant. In contrast, Shen Liang would be taking in someone they had not yet done a background check on. Despite being slaves, the slaves of affluent families and nobles all have to be checked and are usually from credible generations. Not anyone can come into a noble's manor and serve them, even as slaves/servants.
"This..." for refugees, this was undoubtedly a good opportunity, but the man could not help but hesitate. He looked at the child in his arms before asking cautiously: "Can it just be me? I won't hide from you. My husband was a scholar and his greatest wish was for out child to be able to make a name for himself in the future as a scholar as well. If he was also sold into slavery, then his entire future as a scholar could be considered ruined."
As parents, despite knowing how difficult it may prove to be for them, they would still be reluctant to make any decisions that could reduce possible routes in their children's future. Not to mention, the child in the man's arms is his only relative left in this world.
"From your words, does that mean that you're literate?" Shen Liang had suspected as much from the man's previous words, but he never expected that this man truly was a scholar's spouse.
"En, my husband and I could be considered childhood lovers. We grew up together and naturally learned to read and write together as well. However, compared to my husband, my skills can't be considered anything worth mentioning. I can only barely scrape by." The man nodded his head. He and his husband married young. Even now, he himself was only seventeen. Although his husband found himself a humble job as an accountant, he always had the ambition to place higher on the civil service exams and one day make a name for himself. At the very least, he wanted to be a Xiucai *scholar who passed the entry-level examination and gained the qualifications for higher education/collegiate level education During the Ming-Qing dynasties.* That way, his family could at least be exempt from paying taxes. Hence, while his husband studied and buried his head in books until the night lamp burned to its brink, many accounting tasks fell on his head instead. As the man reminisced his past with his husband, tears rolled in his eyes.
"Very well. You father-son pair do not have to sell yourselves into slavery, but you must sign a contract of servitude with me. The term must be at least for ten years. I just so happen to have a 6-month old child in my family. In the future, your child can be his accompaniment. He may also learn to read and write with him. As long as the two of you remain loyal to me, I can ensure that whatever my child has, your child will have as well."
Shen Liang just so happened to be contemplating about the lack of people in courtyard. He didn't expect to be so fortunate and find a good candidate.
"Truly?!" the man didn't expect Shen Liang to be so reasonable. His eyes widened with shock before he hurriedly took his son and knelt down before Shen Liang. The young master truly was a benevolent person.
"Yaoguang, take them back to Chonglin Courtyard first. Have Uncle Fu properly settle them. We'll leave the rest for when I return to discuss." Shen Liang stood up with a smile.
Yaoguang looked at him speechlessly. He then drew near and whispered in a quiet voice against Shen Liang's ear, "Liangliang, we're completely oblivious to this man's background. Shouldn't we look into it first?"
His actions were too reckless and impulsive. What if the man was someone deliberately sent by an enemy? What if he had ulterior motives?
"No matter. No matter how much of an act a person puts up, a person's eyes cannot lie. If you're uneasy, then have someone quietly look into him then. Send the person back home first. With the Nether Guards keeping an eye on him, what's there to still be afraid of?" Shen Liang knew that Yaoguang was being considerate of him and didn't refuse his good intentions. However, he still trusted his own judgements as well.
"Very well," seeing that Shen Liang had already settled his mind, Yaoguang had no choice but to comply. When they returned to the carriage, the crowd of refugees had already paved a small path for them. Many of them envied the luck the father-son pair had stumbled on. With Shen Liang as their master, they would never have to concern themselves with food and clothing from now on. Of course, there were also many refugees who peered at Shen Liang with expectant gazes, hoping to gain his favor as well. Unfortunately, Shen Liang wasn't truly a saint who would accept just anyone and everyone into his manor.
"I've made Grandmother wait," after wrapping up the matter on that end, Shen Liang took Lei Zhen to head over to the old lady's side. Under everyone's gazes, Shen Liang's attitude and poise was flawless. His former sharp-edged attitude that he portrayed back in the Marquis Donglin Manor was nowhere to be found.
The old madame and the others found it hard to swallow but they had no choice but to reveal a generous smile on the surface before responding, "Xiao Wu did well. This old one didn't expect you to prepare so many steamed buns."
Her words seemed innocent on the surface, but the underlying meaning implied that Shen Liang was scheming and premediating everything.
Shen Liang captured her meaning and understood. He lowered his eyes and said indifferently, "The Daqin empire is suffering. Many wealthy families suffer from food shortages, much less the common people. There are many commodities that no amount of money could even afford now. This grandson thought it would not be appropriate for so many of us to still disturb and infringe on Xiangguo Temple at times like these without at least bringing something. Hence, I had Qi Yue and them steam these buns bright and early in the morning. I truly didn't expect that the servants of the manor would be so impudent and forget that they too are also commoners. They take the benefits the manor gives and eat and drink off the manor but would actually dare to bully and suppress the common people. When we return, I must remember to remind Father and Auntie Sun to discipline these maids and guards well."
What are insinuations and underlying meaning? They weren't the only ones who knew that work of art. Shen Liang appeared gentle and docile, but his words were stern. The servants of the manor nearby paled when they heard his words. Now that the empire was suffering from floods everywhere, the prices of everyday goods had soared exponentially outside. If they were to lose their positions inside the manor, then it wouldn't be much longer before they too were reduced to refugees.
"Have mercy, fifth young master!" the servants of the manor all fell to their knees unanimously. Only the personal maids and servants of the old madame didn't kneel as they did not participate in chasing off the refugees.
"Since the fifth young master has the intentions of punishing you all, then you can all just kneel here," the old madame looked at Shen Liang meaningfully as her words effectively directed all of the servants' resentment onto Shen Liang. Concurrently, she then walked up the mountain with the support of her two daughters-in-laws.
"Considering this is your first time committing such a crime and it was done under other people's orders, I will relent this time. Get up." Shen Liang's words were also interesting. The servants of the manor were not fools either as they began to feel irritated. The person who ordered them to chase away the refugees was the old madame. When they were in trouble, the person who stepped back and refused to even speak up for them was also the old madame. In the end, she also pushed everything onto the fifth young master. It was evident that she was clearly using them as mere tools.
"Lei Zhen, let's head up as well." Shen Liang took in the expressions and reactions of the maids and guards before leisurely following after the old madame. When they were at the entrance of the Xiangguo Temple, the old madame who was walking ahead of them suddenly pulled to a stop: "Xiao San, Xiao Wu, step forward." *Xiao San = third eldest. Xiao Wu= fifth eldest = Shen Liang.*
"Grandmother."
Xiao San was the eldest son from a concubine of the second family. His name was Shen Hui and he was only two months older than Shen Yang. However, compared to Shen Yang's more pampered upbringing, his treatment at the manor simply could not compare at all. Zhao Lan couldn't tolerate this b*stard son's existence at all. She didn't even bother giving him any face. Right after his birth, she had him and his mother chased to a remote, dilapidated side courtyard. Shen Ruiqing was also a ruthless man. How was it possible for a woman who had gone through childbirth still attract his attention? He forgot about their existence shortly afterwards. The only constant reminder of his existence was the order of heirs in the manor. *Eg. without Shen Hui's existence, Shen Liang would be Xiao Si= fourth eldest.*
"Now that Daqin is facing a predicament, as the male heirs of the Marquis Donglin Manor, it is only appropriate for the two of you to play your part for the manor. To display sincerity, the two of you will kneel three times and kowtow nine times entering the Xiangguo Temple."
The old madame took their hands respectively. There was no need to mention just how amicably she smiled at them, but when Shen Liang and Shen Hui heard her words, they couldn't help but look at the stairs before them leading up to Xiangguo Temple. Three kneels and nine kowtows to enter the temple. How were her words any different from breaking their legs?
There was also no need to mention how pleased and giddy Shen Qiang and the other direct descendants from the second and third family were. Today, Shen Liang had repeatedly stolen their limelight. They had been suppressing their displeasure a long time ago. But the older generation was still more experienced. Before the public's scrutiny and for his own reputation, would Shen Liang dare to refuse? If he did, not only would he be disrespecting his elder, but also if anything else were to happen to the empire, they would be able to pull some schemes behind the scenes and push everything onto his head.
"Yes," as an unfavored illegitimate son, Shen Hui had no choice but to grit his teeth and obey the old madame's orders. After his words, he truly did kneel down.
"Fifth young master..." Lei Zhen looked at him with concern and worried that Shen Liang would also truly kneel down without a word.
But the old madame's expression turned dark before anyone could say anything and said, "What is it? Is Xiao Wu not willing to pray and pay his respects for the Daqin empire and Marquis Manor?"
At home, Shen Liang had them played at the palm of his hands. They couldn't do anything about that as Shen Liang had completely ripped faces with them. But now, before the public, she wouldn't believe that he still dared to act so unscrupulously. Wasn't his reputation good? Then she'll make sure that he earns himself more favor from the common people. Little b*stard, dare to fight against her. She'll make sure that he wishes for death!