Chapter 13: Taking in Servants (Please Continue Reading)
Xu Family courtyard.
After a night of rest and ample food, the refugee Father and son looked much better.
They stood honestly in the courtyard, big hand tightly clutching small hand, heads bowed.
Waiting for Xu Chuan's decision.
"First, tell me your names and origins," Xu Chuan said indifferently.
The refugee man looked up and said, "This humble one is Li Qianfeng, twenty-eight years old. This is my son, Li Taia, four years old this year. We fled from Xishan County."
"Qianfeng, Taia, your names have great bearing. Your Li Family isn't an ordinary household, is it?"
"I see your complexion is dark, but your eyes are bright. It's clear you've practiced martial arts."
Li Qianfeng's body trembled, surprised beyond measure. He hadn't expected such a knowledgeable person in a small village.
"I…" Li Qianfeng hesitated for a moment.
"My Xu Family does not take in people who are full of lies."
Li Qianfeng's heart was filled with bitterness.
He was once the elegant Second Master Li, spoken of by everyone in Xishan County. Now his Family was destroyed, and he didn't know how many of his kinsmen had survived.
Past events were like smoke, all turning to dust.
Li Qianfeng looked at his young son, his eyes full of pity.
He only sought a place to live now, so his son could be spared the hardship of wandering.
So, Li Qianfeng slowly began to recount his Family's history.
Upon hearing this, Xu Chuan paced back and forth, feigning deep thought.
A moment later.
He said to the Li Father and son, "I can take you in, but I only accept Family servants."
"In return, given that your Li Family has enemies, if you stay, you must change your names."
"I will provide food, clothing, and shelter, and I can also provide for your son's study and Martial Artist training."
"If you agree, I will keep you Father and son."
Hearing these conditions, Li Qianfeng also began to ponder deeply.
The Xu Family's scale was far inferior to their Li Family's.
It wasn't even a tenth as prosperous, but Xu Chuan gave him a profound and unfathomable feeling.
His ambition was great, seemingly wanting to build the Xu Family into a powerful and prestigious clan.
In this world, there weren't many kind people.
He had begged a few families before, but even getting a sip of water was considered good.
Most common people simply didn't have the extra capacity to keep people, so they could only go to Qingjiang County.
It was just that he didn't know how many more days of rough living they would have to endure.
Even he couldn't bear it, let alone his son.
They had almost reached their limit before.
Now that he had just caught his breath, he probably couldn't endure the hardships of wandering anymore.
Li Qianfeng could see that the Xu Family, from top to bottom, were kind people.
After much consideration, he pulled Li Taia down to kneel and said, "I, along with my son, am willing to be servants in the Xu Family, wholeheartedly and without regret."
Xu Chuan smiled slightly, "Since that's the case, then I will give you Father and son new names."
"Please bestow names, Patriarch."
"From now on, you will be called Li Er, and your son will be called Li Zhi."
"Thank you, Patriarch."
Xu Chuan then introduced his Family members.
"Wife, go tidy up an empty room for them Father and son to live in. After they rest for a few days and recover their spirits, I will find someone to help you build houses nearby."
"Thank you, Patriarch, thank you, Madam," Li Er said respectfully.
Bai Jing smiled slightly.
"Shitou, go get paper and pen, write down the servitude contract, and have them Father and son sign it."
"Yes, Father."
Two copies.
After signing, Xu Chuan said, "Also, in a few days, follow me to the County Office to re-register your household registration and settle in Dongxi Village, otherwise, being unregistered won't stand up to scrutiny."
"Yes, Patriarch."
Xu Chuan gave the instructions, and Li Er nodded in agreement.
Xu Mingxuan was very happy to have a playmate of the same age and pulled him to see his toys.
Several days later.
Xu Chuan and Li Er Father and son went to the Qingjiang County Office.
County Registrar Yang was the County Registrar, and household registration matters were handled by him.
"Greetings, County Registrar Yang," Xu Chuan respectfully cupped his hands.
County Registrar Yang sized up the young man in the green robe before him, feeling a sense of familiarity, "This official seems to have seen you somewhere."
"County Registrar Yang has a good memory. Several years ago, when you came to Dongxi Village to handle the Yu Family's land matters, I was the one who led the way," Xu Chuan said with a smile.
"So it was you. This official remembers your name is Xu Chuan, right? What do you want this official to do for you today?"
County Registrar Yang remembered that he had personally promised him a small favor.
"County Registrar Yang misunderstands. This humble one is not here to trouble you. I brought these two to register their household and settle in Dongxi Village."
County Registrar Yang then looked at Li Er Father and son.
At this time, they were no longer in ragged clothes and disheveled hair.
Although still somewhat thin, they were both well-featured and carried a natural heroic spirit.
"Settle?"
"They fled here due to the flood disaster in the west, with nowhere else to go, and wished to become servants in my Family. I thought that even as servants, they should have an identity."
County Registrar Yang nodded.
Such things were not uncommon.
Unable to return to their hometowns for a short time, and without a livelihood, they either became beggars along the way or became someone's servants, dependent on others.
County Registrar Yang didn't want to ask too much and looked at Li Er, saying, "Are you Father and son willing to settle in Dongxi Village?"
"Replying to Lord Registrar, yes."
"Since that's the case, please state your names and ages."
For outsiders registering their household, each person was charged five taels of silver. This money was naturally paid by Xu Chuan.
Once settled, their descendants would not need silver to register their household.
"Thank you, Lord. If there's nothing else, this humble one will take his leave."
After finishing the matter, Xu Chuan still had to rush back home.
"Wait, this official has something to ask you. There are a great many refugees who have come this time. How is the situation in your Dongxi Village? Is it chaotic?"
"Dongxi Village is still quite stable at the moment. Wealthy households that need them will take in a few temporary workers or servants."
This disaster caused a large number of refugees to pour into the entire Moon Lake Commandery.
Various counties and even the Commandery City were having headaches about how to deal with this group of refugees.
Although County Registrar Yang was not the County Magistrate or County Administrator, if he had good suggestions that were adopted, it would be a political achievement.
This would be of great benefit for his future promotion.
Seeing Xu Chuan's attire, he knew that the Xu Family must have developed well in recent years.
After all, the last time he saw him, he was still wearing coarse linen clothes, like a common person.
Now, his clothing and expenses were approaching those of wealthy households.
Therefore, an idea struck him, and he wanted to hear if he could gain any good insights from Xu Chuan.
"Then how do you think these refugees should be settled?"
Xu Chuan was slightly taken aback, not expecting County Registrar Yang to ask such a question.
"The County Magistrates will have their own considerations for this matter. How dare this humble one casually interject and make presumptuous comments?" Xu Chuan said with a look of apprehension.
"You speak freely, and I will listen freely. If what you say is good, this official will owe you another favor."
So fond of owing favors?
"Then this humble one will speak of my humble opinion."
Xu Chuan began, "Ignoring the refugees is definitely not an option. Allowing them to become beggars will also affect the public order of the entire Qingjiang County."
"It's best to find a place for them to stay together, and then register and manage them one by one to prevent chaos."
"Those willing to settle can be exempted from some fees for household registration."
"Provide a few days' rations, and the County Office can provide some labor opportunities, such as building water conservancy projects, roads, etc., to absorb a portion. Mobilize the wealthy households of Qingjiang County to internally absorb another portion."
"The specifics will depend on the number of refugees in Qingjiang County this time, as well as how many the County Office and wealthy households can absorb."
County Registrar Yang initially didn't pay much attention, but as he listened, his eyes became serious.
"I know the County Office can provide labor opportunities, but how can wealthy households absorb them?"
Xu Chuan chuckled softly, "This disaster in the west is quite large-scale. Many of the refugees possess martial arts, and some Martial Artists might even be hidden among them."
"No wealthy household would not want such high-quality Family servants."
"The County Office can select those willing to become servants, gather the wealthy households, and openly recruit people. They can even appropriately collect some silver from the wealthy households to subsidize part of the refugees' food expenses, reducing the County Office's financial pressure."
"Hmm, anything else?" County Registrar Yang nodded and continued to ask.
"Furthermore, if there are still vacant farmlands in the villages under Qingjiang County, they can be rented to those refugees willing to settle for free for the first two years, and then the rental fees can be increased later until the costs are recovered."
County Registrar Yang's face remained calm, but his heart was greatly shocked.
He hadn't expected a common person to actually have such excellent insights, which greatly broadened his thinking.
No wonder the Family's scale had been growing rapidly in just a few years.
He was a talent!
Xu Chuan continued, "These are just my humble opinions. There are still many details, such as distinguishing between good citizens and bad citizens, and how to select those to be granted free land, etc."
"This official understands." County Registrar Yang pondered for a moment, then smiled at Xu Chuan, "For this matter, this official owes you another favor. This is my Yang Family Family token. Keep it. Most officials will show some deference when they see it."
"Thank you, County Registrar Yang."
Xu Chuan did not refuse. After taking it, he cupped his hands again and said, "Then this humble one will leave first."
"Go."
Xu Chuan and Li Er Father and son returned home that afternoon.
Meanwhile, County Registrar Yang began to write a detailed refugee resettlement plan based on Xu Chuan's suggestions.