Taojiadian is an important commercial port on the south bank of the Yellow River and north of Kaifeng. It has a large wharf and many business trips. Although it is not a county town, it is larger and richer than ordinary county towns. There is an endless stream of pedestrians coming and going.
The porridge factory set up by Zhao Dashan was located on an open space in the east of Taojiadian. The place was very large, but it was sealed off by the emperor and was crowded with refugees from Lanyang County.
"Those who want to drink porridge are queuing up, and each person has a spoonful, so no one can bully anyone." A few people dressed as domestic slaves, waving long bamboo poles, maintained order and drove the hungry people to the dozens of large pots in the center of the porridge factory.
Several domestic slaves stood in front of the cauldron, holding long ladles and scooping out porridge for the hungry people. The porridge was very thin and barely visible human figures, but for the victims, it was life-saving food. Two meals of porridge a day could barely sustain their lives. Those who brought their own bowls received the porridge in their bowls; those who did not have bowls were provided with bowls in the porridge factory. They drank on the spot and put them down without washing them before giving them to the next person to drink. After drinking the porridge, the hungry people lay down and rest near the porridge factory.
, I ate too little, had no energy to move, and was just hanging on.
"Dad, I'm not hungry, please drink this bowl." Zhu Ruofeng suddenly saw a middle-aged farmer who refused to drink the porridge after receiving it and insisted on giving it to his gray-haired old father.
"Son, dad just drank a bowl and he is full. You are the mainstay of the family, what can you do if you don't eat? Drink quickly."
"Dad, your health and bones are not good and you need to nurse yourself back to health. What can you do if you don't eat enough? My son is strong. I will get some grass roots and tree bark later. I won't be hungry."
The father and son couldn't argue, and in the end each drank half a bowl.
The scene of father's kindness and son's filial piety deeply moved Zhu Ruofeng. He thought of his father who was far away in Nanjing, and opened his mouth and chanted: "Bo Zhiwu is not dead yet, and his hunger is not enough to avoid turning the wheel. He has never understood the purpose of the Zhou family. He always needs Zhu Kun for his old age."
"People".
A well-dressed rich man suddenly appeared. He listened to him reciting a poem and also recited a poem: "Everyone in the world learns from the years, but they don't realize that the years are now. I have to change the law of Wanqiu, and I will only eat porridge to reach the gods."<
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Zhu Ruofeng said displeased: "Brother, that's ridiculous. Hungry people eat porridge just to survive, not for longevity?"
The man was not annoyed at all, and said with a smile: "Your Excellency is right, you have learned a lesson. Your Excellency, Wang Bingzhen, may I ask your surname?"
"My surname is Huang".
"It turns out to be Mr. Huang, nice to meet you."
The two of them were talking back and forth, when suddenly the crowd started to get excited, "Here comes Zhao Dashan~ Here comes Zhao Dashan~", someone exclaimed.
Suddenly, I saw a big fat man with a kind face leading a few people to the porridge factory.
"Hello, Mr. Zhao!"
"Zhao Yuanwai's meritorious deeds are immeasurable, and he will be a prince for generations!"
"Exceptor Zhao, I'm not full, can you give me another bowl?"??
The crowd was excited, surrounding the big fat man like a living Bodhisattva.
"Dear fellow villagers, don't worry, the floods will eventually recede, the difficulties are temporary, and life will get better!"
Zhao Dashan comforted everyone, walked to the big pot of porridge, took out a chopstick and inserted it into the pot. The chopstick couldn't be inserted and floated on the porridge. He immediately frowned and said, "How can this be done? Even if the chopsticks can't be used,
If the porridge is so thin and the chopsticks are floating on top, how can it make people full? Put three more kilograms of rice in each big pot."
"Master, there are too many victims. If we put three more kilograms of rice in each pot, our family will not have enough money," the slave said.
"If you don't have enough money, sell your house and land! These are Zhao's fellow villagers. Even if Zhao goes bankrupt, he can't just watch them starve to death!" The big fat man said it righteously, and the fat on his cheeks trembled.
.
"Executive member Zhao, you are really a living Bodhisattva who saves people in need!" People inside and outside the porridge factory fell to their knees.
"This man has a kind heart," Zhu Ruofeng praised.
"Indeed, this member Zhao is a well-known philanthropist in the local area. He often does charity and saves money, and his merits are immeasurable," Wang Bingzhen said with a smile.
"Oh, do you know this member Zhao?" Zhu Ruofeng asked.
"Executive member Zhao is a well-known local squire. I have only heard of his name, but have not met him yet." Wang Bingzhen said, "I wish I could meet him."
Zhu Ruofeng nodded and was about to leave. Suddenly, he heard Zhao Dashan pointing to a few people behind him and shouting: "Folks, the Yellow River has burst its banks, and the water will not recede for a while. Even if the water recedes, the houses and fields have been submerged.
, relying solely on Zhao to provide relief is not a long-term solution. These are all friends of Zhao, well-known squires in Kaifeng. They are short of servants at home and want to come here to buy them. Zhao thought that a big family would need food and clothing.
Don’t worry, even if you are a slave, it is better than starving to death in a disaster year. If the villagers are willing, Zhao will be a guarantor. If not, that’s okay.”
As soon as these words came out, a large number of victims dragged their children and daughters around those few people. Those few people picked and bargained, and some of them bought the people for only a few dozen yuan.
"Son, it's not that my mother is cruel. Instead of staying here and starving to death with my father and mother, it's better to go to a wealthy family to make a living."
"Father, mother, don't be sad. Although your son is a slave, he still has monthly money. When you save money, you can buy meat for your brother and sister."??
Those who signed the deed of sale were taken away, and there was a cry inside and outside the porridge.
"Damn it!" Wang Wan's face turned red with anger.
"Although selling children into slavery is cruel, it is still a way to survive," Zhu Ruofeng sighed.
"Young master, I don't know. These people are not country squires, but human beings. The men and women we bought are all young and good-looking. Most of them are going to be sent to romantic places. They really have human faces and animal hearts," Wang Wan said angrily.<
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"This gentleman is a bit extreme. A servant from a wealthy family naturally wants to look better, but he may not be a good-looking person." Wang Bingzhen said a good word for Mr. Zhao Dashan.
"Hmph, they also bought many children under the age of ten. Does any serious country squire dare to buy children?" Wang Wan snorted coldly.
It turns out that the "Da Ming Law" stipulates: "Anyone who devises a strategy to lure his beloved or sells his beloved into slavery will be punished with a hundred sticks and three thousand miles away. Even if he is under ten years old, even if he is peaceful, the same strategy is used to lure him." People are bought and sold.
If both parties are willing and have a written contract and a surety, it does not count as selling their beloved. However, if the person being bought and sold is a child under ten years old, even if both parties are willing and have signed a contract of sale, it will still be regarded as selling their beloved.
.This group of people bought a large number of young children, which has violated the criminal law. A serious country gentleman would never dare to do this.
As a vassal king, Zhu Ruofeng had naturally studied the law systematically. He was awakened after hearing this. He clenched his fists in anger and wanted to expose the hypocrisy of Zhao Dashanren.
However, Wang Wan tried his best to persuade him, "Young master, you must not be impulsive. Anyone who dares to do such a thing must be a powerful bully, and may even be connected with the government. There are only four of us, and we are in other people's territory. A good man will not eat it."
I’m losing money right now.”
"Hmph! I'm so angry!"
Zhu Ruofeng was so angry when he saw such evil things for the first time that he waved his sleeves and left the porridge. Wang Wan, Mei Tao and Luo Biao hurriedly followed.
Wang Bingzhen watched them leave, a cold light flashing in her eyes.
When the servant next to him saw this, he said: "Master, these people seem to have seen through Zhao Xiangzhu's behavior, have you~" He made a gesture of wiping his neck.
"I think these people have some backgrounds. Don't make any mistakes and send people to keep an eye on them." After Wang Bingzhen finished speaking, he put away his cold light and walked towards Zhao Dashanren's house with a smile.