Meiduo went pale with anger. "You're so rich, yet you won't even pay us our little bit of wages. We didn't even ask for money, only some inferior wool."
In Mìdì, Manor Owners withholding herders' wages was nothing new. Usually, the herders had little recourse. Reporting it to the authorities cost a great deal and gained very little.
Wada returned to the Manor with his family and frowned at the Duiqiong. "Why haven't you sent them away yet?"
The Duiqiong was accustomed to resistance from these poor people. He lowered his voice and told Duimu, "Keep making trouble, and see if I don't lock you all up!"
That threat frightened Duimu into hurriedly pulling Meiduo away.
The two returned home.
Both were feeling rather low.
"It's all my fault," Duimu said. "The Lama told me not to go out to work. Ah, I couldn't sit still and went out anyway. Not only did I earn no wool, I wasted all that time for nothing."
"How can you blame yourself?" Meiduo said. "They're the ones being tyrants. We aren't their serfs. What right do they have to refuse to pay us?"
"When we get home, don't tell your brother. We don't want him worrying. Don't let this affect him. Wada's family has a monk, too."
Meiduo nodded. "Mm, I know."
They pushed open the gate and entered the courtyard. Qu Zan was standing there. He had moved a table into the courtyard and was writing incantations with a brush.
Sunlight fell over him, lending him a distinctive scholarly air, an otherworldly air untouched by the smoke of mortal life.
"Lama, you're here!" Duimu's face immediately blossomed into a smile.
Duimu hurried over, wiping her hands on her sleeves and brushing away dust that was not there.
Qu Zan looked at Meiduo