There is a large open space in the middle of Zhulian Town. In the past, when there was peace, people would dry bamboo curtains in the open space.
Because it is close to the big city of Xichuan, in times of disaster, wealthy families occasionally come to Zhulian Town to give porridge.
This empty space is chosen for soup kitchen sites.
The people thought that the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce was also here to give porridge, so they rushed to the open space with their families.
Many people rushed over with bare feet, and many people had children under their arms.
Many wealthy families come to donate porridge as a gesture to gain a good reputation, and the quantity is usually not large.
If you come early, you can still mix a bowl of rice soup. If you come late, you can't drink the rice soup.
But when the people arrived at the open space, they didn't see the big pot for cooking porridge at all.
I only saw a makeshift tent.
On the left side of the tent is the black flag of the Zhenyuan Escort Bureau, and on the right side is the golden business flag of the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce.
There were several carts parked behind, and five or six bodyguards in black, holding long knives, stood around the carts.
"Didn't you say giving out porridge? Where's the porridge?"
"That's right, it's such a cold day. If you don't give porridge, why are you shouting? What if the child gets frozen?"
"Don't talk about the children, even if we get cold and sick, we can only wait to die!"
"Let's go back. It's such a cold day. What could the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce do?"
…
When the people saw that there was no porridge to be given, they walked back dejectedly, and happened to meet the mayor who was returning.
The weather was cold and many people were suffering from the cold. Everyone took their grievances to the mayor.
"Who told you that the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce is going to give out porridge?"
The mayor stared and asked, "Did I shout that?"
"If you don't give us porridge, why are you calling us?"
The people asked questions one after another.
"The Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce is here to lend you food!" The mayor explained: "Isn't this much better than giving porridge?"
"Lend us food? Why?"
The first thought that came to the minds of the people was that the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce was trying to trick them.
However, Zhulian Town is surrounded by rugged hills and there is no arable land at all. Every household relies on weaving bamboo curtains for a living. What can the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce do to them?
Bamboo on Hangshan Mountain?
Bamboo doesn't cost money. Whoever cuts it belongs to whomever cuts it. Is there any need to trap it?
"Don't think too much. Mr. Jin has a lot of money. He doesn't care about the hardships like you. He just sees us as pitiful and doesn't want to see people starving to death, so he is willing to lend us food."
The mayor, who had lived for half his life, immediately guessed what the people were worried about and explained: "Mr. Jin is not only willing to lend us grain, but also promises to let us go to work. The grain borrowed this time is the advance salary."
"Mr. Jin, are you willing to let us go to work?"
Many people stared at the mayor with wide eyes and expectant faces.
"Yes, Mr. Jin is willing to let us go to work!"
The mayor nodded heavily.
"Great, Mr. Jin is finally willing to accept us!"
Many people cried with joy.
In the past, when Zhou Youda recruited workers, it gave priority to refugees with stigma on their faces.
The people of Zhulian Town were envious, but there was nothing they could do about it.
Because Zhou Youda has no use for the refugees who are branded on his face, he will not consider them at all.
Working at Jinfeng's construction site not only takes care of food, but also wages.
As long as one person in the family goes there, the whole family can survive this winter.
If a family has two or three laborers, then the family's life will be easier.
"Let's go and sign up!"
The people turned around again and rushed to the open space.
I'm afraid that if I arrive late, the recruitment quota will be full.
"Don't worry, the people from the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce have said that as long as you are of the right age and are willing to endure hardships, there will be as many people as you want! If you don't accept the elderly and children, you will be freezing in vain if you carry them."
The mayor shouted from behind: "Lao San, please send the child back quickly. The child's legs are still bare, don't freeze! Old Liu, please send my mother back too. She is not very angry already. Why don't you put her back again?"
It’s crazy!”
After hearing what the mayor said, the people felt relieved and sent the elderly and children back one after another, and dressed themselves warmly before coming back.
There are also some well-prepared people who have already started to go through the procedures.
The bank clerk is responsible for handling loan procedures, the chamber of commerce clerk is responsible for distributing food, and the bodyguard is responsible for maintaining order.
Everything went in an orderly manner.
Situations like this happen in many places around Xichuan City.
On this day alone, two of Jin Feng's grain depots around Xichuan City were emptied.
It was also on this day that the trend of people starving to death around Xichuan City was finally stopped.
On the same day, I don’t know how many people put up Jin Feng’s longevity plaques in their homes.
When many people talk about him, they no longer call him Mr. Jin, but call him the Golden Bodhisattva who saves the suffering.
…
Outside Xichuan City, Jin Feng looked at the smoke rising from the villages in the distance, and his face finally showed a look of relief.
Although the disaster relief work was tiring and he took the risk of offending many powerful people, he had no regrets.
If it happened again, Jin Feng would still make the same choice.
For him and the Ninth Princess, it was just an adventure.
At most, the ninth princess was scolded by the emperor, and he was targeted by the powerful.
But for those people who were affected by the disaster, it was the fate of their entire family.
Worth it!
Anyway, he doesn't want to be friends with powerful people. If he is targeted, he will be targeted.
If we could prevent people from freezing to death and starving to death, Jin Feng would admit it even if he was wanted by the court, let alone being targeted.
As for the Ninth Princess, he had also thought about it.
When the disaster relief is over, he will have a good talk with the Ninth Princess.
If the Ninth Princess is willing to stay in Xihewan and never return to the capital, then everything will be fine.
Jin Feng will naturally fulfill his promise to Qing Mulan and fight to the death to protect the safety of the Ninth Princess.
If the Ninth Princess wanted to return to the capital, he would also find ways to put pressure on the court so that the emperor and the powerful would not dare to act rashly.
As for how to apply pressure, Jin Feng hasn't figured it out yet.
But he was not in a hurry. The disaster relief work would keep him and the Ninth Princess busy for at least a few months, and the time would still be long.
While Jin Feng was thinking about something, a cavalry team came galloping from a distance against the cold wind.
The leader is the monkey.
A little behind Monkey was the manager of the Transportation Department, Wei Datong, whom Jin Feng and Ninth Princess met at the Jinma River.
Wei Datong was wearing a black cloak. When he saw Jin Feng standing outside the city gate, he quickly jumped off his horse.
The transfer envoy of the Transfer Department is a serious court official, but Jin Feng is just a virtual noble who does not even have a fiefdom. According to etiquette, Wei Datong does not have to take the initiative to salute Jin Feng.
But Wei Datong solemnly saluted Jin Feng.
"Wei Datong has met Mr. Jin!"
Back in Jinma River, Wei Datong got close to Jin Feng, with the purpose of relying on him to get close to the Ninth Princess.
But at this time he saluted Jin Feng, not because of this, but because he was grateful from the bottom of his heart for what Jin Feng had done for the people of Sichuan and Sichuan.
"Master Wei, long time no see!"
Jin Feng took two steps forward and reached out to help Wei Datong: "Master Wei, thank you for your hard work for traveling all the way. Come to the city quickly and keep yourself warm."
"Sir, are you here to pick me up?"
Wei Datong was slightly stunned.
He thought it was just a coincidence that he met Jin Feng at the city gate.
Now that Jin Feng was going into the city with him, Wei Datong realized that Jin Feng might have come specifically to pick him up.
"Sir, you are so busy right now. The people of Sichuan and Sichuan are counting on you to provide disaster relief. How can you waste your precious time for me, an idle person?"
"Master Wei, you will have a lot of time to spare next."
Jin Feng said with a smile: "Whether Sichuan-Sichuan disaster relief can be successful depends on Master Wei!"