"Are you all good lately?" Ye E asked with a smile on her face.
The children rushed to say: "Be good!"
At this time, an elderly aunt came over. After seeing Ye E, she put down the wooden basin in her hand, wiped her hands on her body, and said with a smile: "Miss Ye."
"Aunt Feng." Ye E greeted her.
"Miss Ye, why are you here?"
"I came here to check on the children. Do you have enough food recently?"
"Enough. I haven't finished eating what you brought last time. On weekdays, if I have nothing to do, I will take them to the river to catch some fish and make them into dried fish." Aunt Feng said with a smile.
Ye E nodded, took out some silver and handed it to her: "Aunt Feng, take this silver and buy some fabric for the children to make some new clothes."
"Okay, Miss Ye."
"The children have worked hard for you."
"It's all thanks to Miss Ye, otherwise I don't know how to survive now."
…
Li Qi never spoke, but stood aside and watched quietly.
He found that since Ye E came here, there were obviously a lot more smiles on her face, and she was no longer so reserved.
It seems that this place is the world that belongs to her.
After leaving, the two sat down at a nearby restaurant.
"Is it because of those children that you joined the Tianji Society?" Li Qi asked.
Ye E nodded and said: "They are all homeless orphans. Some of their parents were starved to death, and some were born without knowing where their parents were... I don't know what to do, I just hope that they
Be able to live well."
As she spoke, she smiled bitterly and said: "Young Master may not have experienced these things, so he doesn't understand. I don't care what the Tianji Club does. I joined them because at least this way I can keep those children alive... This world
There are many children like them who have no fathers or mothers, and I know I can’t save them, so I can only try my best.”
"Then have you ever thought about whether it's worth doing this?" Li Qi asked.
"Is it worth it?" Ye E smiled and said, "Master, are you saying that I would trade myself for the children's chance to live? I think it is worth it..."
"Tianji will let you follow me, what benefits will it give you?" Li Qi asked again.
Ye E said: "What do you think, Master?"
"Silver? Or a chance to keep those children alive?"
Ye E shook her head: "No, Tianji has not given me any benefits... If I have to say that Tianji has given me something, I think it is hope."
"hope?"
"Yes." Ye E nodded lightly, "Young master, I think that Tianjihui's actions with the imperial court are just throwing eggs at rocks, but I think it is hope... at least Tianjihui has rescued many people, at least they will not be like the imperial court.
Those corrupt officials also exploit the people."
"Why do you think they can't?" Li Qi sighed.
"At least not now." Ye E said.
Looking at her firm eyes, Li Qi realized that this woman was much more awake than him.
She knew very well that what she did was not simply to repay the kindness of the Tianji Society.
At this moment, Li Qi had something more to think about her, and Li Qi couldn't tell what those things were.
Maybe it's admiration, or sympathy...
"Master, do you know how many people starve to death in Guangnan every year?" Ye E asked.
Li Qi shook his head.
"Last year, there were more than 100,000 victims in Guangnan, but in the end only 30,000 survived... Of the remaining 70,000, some died of the plague, some could not survive the cold winter... and some were forced to die by the imperial court
of."
Ye E took a deep breath and seemed to be suppressing her emotions.
"Every year, the imperial court colludes with grain merchants to raise grain prices...part of the money earned goes into their pockets, and part of it goes to officials in Kyoto."
Ye E's eyes were a little moist: "When I was in the brothel in Suzhou, many people would pay thousands of taels of silver just to see me... At that time, I was thinking, do they know where the money comes from? They know
How many lives do we need to exchange for each tael of silver?"
Ye E wiped the mist from the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief and forced out a pale smile: "They don't know, maybe they don't want to know at all. But I know, and just because I know, I can't do nothing..."
Listening to her words, Li Qi suddenly felt a sense of admiration in his heart.
Li Qi has always been an egoist.
He has never regarded himself as a member of this era. For him, his coming to this era is more of a playful mentality.
As long as you survive, other things are not that important.
So when he saw a dead person for the first time, he didn't think so much. After killing someone with his own hands, he didn't feel so burdened.
But now, all those things poured into his heart.
It was Ye E who made him understand that everyone in this era is a real person, not a computer NPC or an ant.
"If you help Tianjihui, more people will have food to eat. Is that what you mean?" Li Qi asked.
Ye E nodded.
Li Qi took a deep breath: "Although I don't know how much of what you told me is true and how much is lies, you convinced me this time. I can help Tianji kill Huang Jin, but I hope you
You must also be aware that if you kill one Huang Jin, the court will send a second and third one..."
There was a smile on Ye E's face: "This time is enough."
"Why?"
Ye E hesitated for a moment and said: "Master, do you know why Tianji will defend Nanfeng Mountain and not retreat?"
Li Qi shook his head.
"Because Tianji will be waiting..."
"Wait? Wait for what?"
"Caravan."
"Caravan?"
Ye E nodded: "Every year, the caravans going south will transport a large amount of supplies from the canal east of Nanfeng Mountain... This year the court has increased a lot of taxes, and this year's supplies will be much more than before... In two days
In a few months, the caravan will head north. As long as we rob these supplies, many victims will not have to starve to death in the next two years."
Hearing this, Li Qicong suddenly realized.
It seems that I did have too many assumptions before.
I originally thought that Duanmuhan defended Nanfeng Mountain for oil, but it seemed that he was a villain.
"Are you telling the truth?" Li Qi looked at Ye E and asked.
Ye E nodded: "Every sentence is true. If there is even half a lie, I, Ye E, will die badly!"
Li Qi took a deep breath: "Okay! In this case, I will help Tianji Hui deal with Huang Jin. Even if the court sends people over again, I will find a way to deal with it."
Hearing his promise, there was something more in Ye E's eyes...