Cao Jixiang's heart stirred. "Owing wages? Are many people outside withholding workers' wages?"
Pan Yun said faintly, "Official Cao has long resided here and serves as the chief of the Maritime Trade Office. I had thought this was no secret between the two officials. So even Official Cao did not know?"
Cao Jixiang, who had been trying to put a different kind of salve on things, flushed slightly, somewhat embarrassed. The salve had ended up being applied to himself.
Lu Mingzhe's face turned even redder than Cao Jixiang's. He hurriedly said, "I shall immediately send people to investigate. If there truly are cases of workers' wages being withheld, this official will punish them severely without mercy."
"Look, Official Lu." Pan Yun pointed at the laborers in short shirts and shorts, wearing only straw sandals, bent at the waist and lowered at the head as they carried crates down from the ships one by one. "They exert the greatest strength and earn the least money. They are earning this with their bodies and their lifespans. To withhold even workers' wages—such people are unworthy of being called human."
Lu Mingzhe's expression darkened solemnly. He nodded and answered, "Yes."
Pan Yun said meaningfully, "Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Official Lu, Deng Maoqi's case was settled only half a year ago. Quanzhou is not Ninghua. If anything happens here, the Imperial Court's entire arrangement will be destroyed in one fell swoop, and when that time comes, you will only be able to fill the gap with your life."
Having said that, she turned to Cao Jixiang. "Official Cao, shall we go see them declare their cargo?"
Cao Jixiang came back to himself and hurriedly stepped aside to invite Pan Yun to proceed with him.
Lu Mingzhe quickly followed. Once the dock inspection