Taking in Servants

In the Xu Household's courtyard.

After a night's rest and plenty of food, the refugee father and son looked much better.

They stood obediently in the courtyard, the father's large hand gripping his son's small one as they kept their heads lowered.

They waited for Xu Chuan's decision.

"First, tell me your names and where you come from," Xu Chuan said calmly.

The refugee man raised his head. "This humble man is Li Ganfeng, twenty-eight years old. This is my son, Li Taia. He's four. We fled here from West Mountain County."

"Ganfeng, Taia—those are grand names. Your family wasn't an ordinary one, was it?"

"Your complexion is dull, but your eyes are bright. One look tells me you've practiced martial arts."

Li Ganfeng shuddered, astonished. He had never expected to find someone so perceptive in a little village.

"I..." Li Ganfeng hesitated.

"The Xu Household doesn't take in people whose mouths are full of lies."

Bitterness welled up in Li Ganfeng's heart.

He had once been the dashing Second Master Li everyone talked about in West Mountain County. Now his lineage had been destroyed, and he did not even know how many of his clansmen had survived.

The past was smoke, and all of it had returned to dust.

Li Ganfeng looked at his young son, his eyes full of tenderness.

All he wanted now was a roof over their heads, somewhere his son could be spared the misery of wandering.

So Li Ganfeng slowly told Xu Chuan his family's story.

Hearing it, Xu Chuan paced back and forth, pretending to ponder.

A moment later.

He said to the Li father and son, "I can take you in, but only as household servants."

"And since your family has enemies, you'll have to change your names if you stay."

"I'll provide food, clothing, and shelter. I can also let your son study and learn martial arts."

"If you agree, I'll take you both in."

At those terms, Li Ganfeng fell deep into thought.

The Xu Household was nowhere near the size of his family's former household.

It was not even a tenth as powerful, yet Xu Chuan gave him an unfathomable impression.

The man had great ambitions. He seemed determined to build the Xu Household into a powerful, distinguished Aristocratic Clan.

Good-hearted people were scarce in these times.

Li Ganfeng had begged at several households before. Getting even a mouthful of water had been a stroke of luck.

Most ordinary folk simply could not afford to take anyone in. His only option would be to go to Qingjiang County.

But who knew how many more days they would spend sleeping under the open sky and eating in the wind along the way?

Even he could not endure it, much less his son.

The boy had already been close to his limit.

He had only just caught his breath; he likely could not bear any more jolting travel and wandering.

Li Ganfeng could see that everyone in the Xu Household, from top to bottom, was kindhearted.

After weighing everything, he pulled Li Taia down to his knees. "My son and I are willing to serve the Xu Household. We do so of our own free will, without complaint or regret."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "In that case, I'll give you both new names."

"Please grant us names, Master."

"From now on, you'll be Li Er, and your son will be Li Zhi."

"Thank you, Master."

Xu Chuan then introduced his family.

"Dear, please prepare an empty room for them to stay in. Once you've rested for a few days and recovered your strength, I'll find people to help build you a house nearby."

"Thank you, Master. Thank you, Madam," Li Er said respectfully.

Bai Jing smiled.

"Shitou, fetch paper and a brush. Write up Servant Contracts for the two of them to sign."

"Yes, Dad."

Two copies were made.

After they had signed, Xu Chuan said, "In a few days, you'll also come with me to the County Yamen. We'll register you anew as residents of Dongxi Village. Otherwise, having no registered status won't hold up to scrutiny."

"Yes, Master."

Li Er nodded at every instruction Xu Chuan gave.

Xu Mingxuan was delighted to have a playmate his own age and pulled Li Zhi away to show him his toys.

Several days later.

Xu Chuan took Li Er and his son to the Qingjiang County Yamen.

Yang Zhao was the yamen's Registrar, and household registration was his responsibility.

"Greetings, Registrar Yang." Xu Chuan cupped his hands respectfully.

Registrar Yang studied the young man in the blue robe and found him vaguely familiar. "I seem to have seen you somewhere before."

"You have a good memory, Registrar Yang. A few years ago, when you came to Dongxi Village to handle the Yu family's farmland, I was the one who showed you the way," Xu Chuan said with a smile.

"So it was you. If I recall, your name is Xu Chuan. Have you come to ask me for a favor today?"

Yang Zhao remembered personally promising that he owed Xu Chuan a small favor.

"You misunderstand, Registrar Yang. I'm sorry to trouble you, but I've brought these two to register as residents of Dongxi Village."

Yang Zhao turned his gaze to Li Er and his son.

They were no longer ragged and filthy, with their hair in disarray.

Though still somewhat thin, both had fine features and an air of spirited courage.

"Register as residents?"

"They fled the flooding in the west and made it here. With nowhere else to turn, they wish to serve my household. I thought that even servants ought to have a registered identity."

Yang Zhao nodded.

Such cases were all too common.

Unable to return home anytime soon and with no way to earn a living, people either became beggars and begged their way along the roads, or became servants, living at another's mercy.

Yang Zhao did not care to ask more. He looked at Li Er. "Are you and your son registering in Dongxi Village of your own free will?"

"Yes, my lord Registrar."

"Very well. Tell me your names and ages."

Registration for outsiders cost five taels of silver per person. Xu Chuan naturally paid the fee.

Once they were registered, their descendants would not need to pay to be added to the rolls.

"Thank you, my lord. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

With the matter settled, Xu Chuan still needed to hurry home.

"Wait. There's something I'd like to ask you. A great many refugees have fled here this time. How are things in Dongxi Village? Is there disorder?"

"Dongxi Village is fairly stable for now. Wealthier households that need help have taken on a few temporary workers or servants."

This disaster had sent many refugees pouring into Moon Lake Commandery.

The counties and the Commandery Seat alike were struggling over what to do with them.

Yang Zhao was neither the county magistrate nor the County Magistrate's Deputy, but if one of his good proposals was adopted, it would count as an achievement in office.

That would greatly benefit his future promotion prospects.

From Xu Chuan's appearance, he could tell the Xu Household must have prospered over the past few years.

After all, when Yang Zhao had last seen him, Xu Chuan had worn coarse hemp clothes and looked like any ordinary commoner.

Now his clothing was nearly on par with what people in some wealthy households wore.

An idea struck Yang Zhao. Perhaps the man would have a useful insight.

"How do you think these refugees should be settled?"

Xu Chuan paused, surprised that Yang Zhao would ask such a question.

"The county magistrate and the other officials must have their own considerations. How would I dare offer careless opinions on the matter?" Xu Chuan said, looking alarmed.

"Speak freely, and I'll listen. If you say something worthwhile, I'll owe you another favor."

Does he enjoy owing people favors that much?

"Then I'll offer my humble thoughts."

Xu Chuan began, "We certainly can't leave the refugees to fend for themselves. Letting them become beggars would also harm public order throughout Qingjiang County."

"It would be best to find a place where they can stay together, then register and manage them one by one to prevent disorder."

"Those willing to settle here could have some of their fees waived when they register."

"Give them a few days' rations. The County Yamen could offer work on irrigation works and roads to absorb some of them, while mobilizing Qingjiang County's wealthy households to take in another portion."

"The details would depend on how many refugees have arrived in Qingjiang County and how many the yamen and wealthy households can accommodate."

Yang Zhao had not paid much attention at first, but as he listened, his gaze grew intent.

"I understand the yamen offering work, but how would the wealthy households take them in?"

Xu Chuan smiled lightly. "The disaster in the west was extensive. Quite a few of the refugees have martial skills, and there may even be martial artists among them."

"No wealthy household would turn down household servants of that caliber."

"The yamen could identify those willing to become servants and gather the wealthy households for an open recruitment. It could even collect a modest fee from the households to help cover the refugees' rations and ease the strain on the yamen's finances."

"Mm. Anything else?" Yang Zhao nodded and pressed on.

"If there's unused farmland in the villages under Qingjiang County, it could be rented free for the first two years to refugees willing to settle there. The rent could then be raised until the costs are recovered."

Yang Zhao kept his expression still, but inwardly he was astonished.

He had not expected an ordinary commoner to offer such remarkable insights. They had greatly broadened his thinking.

No wonder Xu Chuan's household had risen so steadily in just a few years.

He's a talent!

Xu Chuan continued, "Those are only my humble thoughts. There would be many details to work out, such as distinguishing law-abiding people from troublemakers and deciding who should receive rent-free farmland."

"I understand." After a moment's thought, Yang Zhao smiled at Xu Chuan. "I owe you another favor for this. This is my Yang Family Token. Take it. Most officials who see it will show you some courtesy."

"Thank you, Registrar Yang."

Xu Chuan did not refuse. After accepting it, he cupped his hands again. "Then I'll be on my way."

"Go on."

Xu Chuan returned home with Li Er and his son that afternoon.

Yang Zhao, meanwhile, began drawing up a detailed plan for settling the refugees based on Xu Chuan's suggestions.