Liu Yong and Ah Rong have been out for several days, but there has been no news. Hong Ying often stands outside the door and looks into the distance.
The maid Ziwei joked: Madam, I'm going out for a few days to see how anxious you are.
Hong Yingdao: You girl, your back hurts when you stand and talk. On such a hot day, running around outside, wouldn't it be worrying if you have heat stroke or something? When you get married in the future, and the man is away, you will feel worried.
, you just know.
Ziwei blushed when Hong Ying said it. She said: I have been following my wife. I don’t have a man, so I don’t have feelings. Hehe.
Hong Ying smiled and said: Well, you damn girl, I will find you a man and marry you to see if you still feel it.
Ziwei blushed and said: I won't tell you anymore, I have to go do something.
In the evening, Ziwei came into the house and announced: Madam, you have been looking forward to the stars and the moon, and finally they are here. Master and the others are back.
Hong Ying said, "You damn girl" and went to the hall without looking back. Hong Ying stared at Liu Yong.
Liu Yong said sarcastically: Why are you looking at people so hard? What, you don’t know them?
Hong Ying said: I see you look so ugly. Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere? I see you have lost a lot of weight.
Liu Yong spread his hands and said with a smile: Look, isn't it good? There is nothing missing on him.
...
Although the winter in the south is not as cold as in the north, it is still freezing and snowy from 19 to 39. The wind is howling, the big trees are swaying in the wind, and the branches are whipping in the air like wildly dancing whips.
In the winter of 1876, the cold air from Siberia continued to hit most parts of our country. The weather was extremely cold. The cornices were covered with ice pillars, and even the vast Taihu Lake was covered with a thick layer of ice. The creek in front of the door was covered with ice.
The ice on the river is thick so children can play freely on it.
In the study, the charcoal brazier warmed the room. Liu Yong was sitting on a chair and reading the account book. This is when Liu Qing came in and said: Brother, I have a letter from you.
Liu Yong said: Oh, where is the letter?
Liu Ting said: The envelope says Zhengzhou, Henan.
Liu Yong said curiously: I have no friends in Henan, how can I get a letter?
Liu Qing presented the letter to Liu Yong.
Liu Yong opened the envelope with small scissors and saw the letter written on it:
Sincerely, His Excellency Liu Yong:
I take the liberty to write to you. Because God has been troublesome recently, our area has been hit by a cold wave, which has not happened in a century. Many people in Li are suffering from hunger and cold, and it is difficult to survive the cold. Some people have died of cold and starvation, and I feel really sad for the official. Therefore, I am writing to you,
I'm asking for some clothes. I'd like to thank you for taking the trouble to help me, and I hope you will agree.
Li Hongzhang
The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month in the twelfth year of Tongzhi
After Liu Yong read the letter, he felt very complicated. Li Hongzhang was the governor of Zhili at the time. He wrote to himself personally. It was a kind of trust in himself and it was also a desperate measure. At the same time, it also gave him a good face.
Incredible.
So Liu Yong wrote and replied:
Mr. Li’s great lesson:
Dear Hui Shu.
Your Excellency has many things to do every day, and you are concerned about the country and the people. It is the honor of the people to have you as an official. When one party is in trouble, all parties support it, which is the great justice of our nation and it is our unshirkable duty. Wherever you serve, you should do your best. I will give you one hundred thousand in advance. Please accept it.
, to solve the urgent need. Clothes and the like will be taken care of in the future.
Respected person: Liu Yong, Nanxun, Gui'an County
The tenth day of the twelfth lunar month in the twelfth year of Tongzhi
After Liu Yong finished writing the letter, he immediately sent Liu Qing to bring the letter and the banknotes, and he rushed to Henan at night and under the stars.
Liu Yong also called Wang Baohe and Song Hongsheng. Liu Yong said to them: Your top priority is to go to Shengze, Zhenze and other places separately to purchase 20,000 sets of quilts and cotton-padded jackets. The sooner the better, if the manufacturers can get them at once
If we don't produce so much goods, please ask them to work overtime. It's a big deal to save people. It doesn't hurt to increase the cost appropriately.
Liu Yong went to the Silk Road Club again and held an emergency meeting. He said to the participants: Dear friends, Henan is experiencing a cold wave that has not been seen in a century, and many people have died of freezing and starvation. Governor Li personally wrote to me, asking for rescue in Nanxun.
When in trouble, support from all directions is the great justice of our nation. There are still more than 5,000 families in Nanxun, and they still have old clothes that have not been worn for many years. They are of no use in boxes and take up space. It is better to donate them, one piece for each family.
That’s more than 5,000 pieces. Excuse me, everyone, after I go back, I will search through boxes and cabinets for a day or two and tell my neighbors to solve the urgent needs of the people in Henan. I, Liu Yong, would like to thank you all on behalf of the people of Henan. Liu Yong
Bowing to everyone with both hands.
During the meeting, some people were discussing privately: Seriously, which store doesn’t have old clothes? Nowadays, young people are following the fashion, so who still wears old clothes? They are reluctant to throw them away, and there is nowhere to put them if they don’t throw them away.
The clubhouse became a temporary warehouse, and Hong Ying came to help day and night.
Hong Ying was more attentive, so he asked someone to pack men's clothes, women's clothes, and children's clothes separately. She said: Pack them separately so that they can be easily delivered when the time comes to avoid a mess.
In just over a day, hundreds of packages and tens of thousands of items of all kinds of clothing were collected. In addition, 20,000 sets of quilts and cotton-padded jackets were purchased with Liu Yong’s own money. So he called the Caoyungu boss overnight.
Liu Yong said to Boss Gu: Boss Gu, you and I have interacted with each other many times. This time is extraordinary. It is an urgent need to save people. How long will it take for your ship to reach Zhengzhou by taking the canal all the way?
Boss Gu said: The whole canal journey to Zhengzhou can be reached in two days and two nights if the winds and rivers are smooth. Boss Liu is so impatient, he wonders what to transport this time?
Liu Yong said: This time it is for disaster relief. Henan has encountered a cold wave that has not been seen in a century. Many civilians are suffering from hunger and cold, and it is difficult to withstand the cold. Some people have died of freezing and starvation. I am very anxious. I have prepared some things to keep out the cold, such as Hegu.
The boss negotiated the price and shipped it overnight to Henan.
When Boss Gu heard this, he said: Boss Liu is here for disaster relief, so I, Gu, am not an unrighteous person, and it is my duty to provide disaster relief. In this way, the shipping fee is completely waived this time. Anyway, the ship has been empty these days.
Just a few labors are considered my meager contribution.
Liu Yong stood up and bowed with both hands. He said: Boss Gu’s righteousness is so awe-inspiring. I, Liu, am here to express my gratitude to the people of Henan.
...
On winter nights, it gets dark early, the wind is freezing, and the sky is icy and snowy. People have already closed their doors and gone to bed.
Nanxun Town is a different scene. At the ship dock, there are groups of people, some carrying lanterns, some carrying lanterns on their shoulders, and everyone is busy loading ships.
Hong Ying suggested to Liu Yong: Master, men's clothing, women's clothing, and children's clothing have been packaged separately, and the same is true for shipping. It will be more convenient to unload and deliver the goods at that time.
Liu Yong smiled and said: My wife is still thoughtful.
Liu Yong took command at the ship dock. Not long after, a huge fleet was fully loaded and headed north along the Grand Canal.
...
Zhengzhou Governor's Mansion. Li Hongzhang walked around the room from time to time.
At this time, someone came in and said: Report to your lord, three more civilians were found freezing to death on the street.
Li Hongzhang burst into tears and said helplessly: Send someone to bury him properly, and he must not just dump his body in the countryside.
Not long after, someone came in again and said: Report to your lord, Liu Yong from Gui'annan, Zhejiang sent someone to come and kowtow to your lord.
Li Hongzhang was stunned at first, and then said: Quick! Quick! Invite someone to come in.
Liu Ting traveled all day and night under the stars and was exhausted. When he saw Li Hongzhang, he knelt on his knees and said: "Liu Ting, a common man, was entrusted by his clan brother Liu Yong to come to see you. Along with it, he wrote a handwritten letter with a banknote of 100,000 taels."
Li Hongzhang was overjoyed when he heard this. He took the letter and the banknote and personally stepped forward to help Liu Yong up. He said, "Get up quickly. If you have anything else to say, Your Excellency Liu Yong, please tell me slowly."
Li Hongzhang opened the letter first, and after reading it, a smile slowly appeared on his face.
Liu Ting said: "Quilts and cotton-padded jackets are already being collected when I set off on my journey. They will arrive in a few days. Please be patient."
Li Hongzhang held his left hand behind his back and stroked his beard with his right hand. He smiled and said: With such kind people, how can our Qing Dynasty be unstable? He also called: "Come here!"
Two guards came in.
Li Hongzhang said to the officer: The visitor has traveled a long way, and the horse has not stopped, and the journey is hard. Take him with you to serve him well, and don't neglect him. Wait for him to rest before leaving.
...
The next day, someone came to report that the fleet transporting quilts and cotton-padded jackets had arrived.
Li Hongzhang said: "Hurry up and prepare the car. The official will go to the dock to greet you in person."
Li Hongzhang sat on the carriage and drove towards the Yellow River.
Li Hongzhang stood on the pier, looking at the surging river and the boats full of quilts. He sighed and said: The people of Henan have been saved. The merit is immeasurable.
Soon, Li Hongzhang wrote a plaque in his own hand for Liu Yong and sent it to someone, with the four characters "Yi Tui Ren Tie" written on it. This chapter has been completed!