A sneak attack

An Weiyan had only just finished speaking to everyone when the common folk quickly sprang into action.

Some fetched water, others grabbed brooms, and they all began cleaning the government office, clearing away the cobwebs overhead and the dust on the beds.

Over a hundred people set to work cleaning. Even some of the children diligently carried water to help.

An Weiyan was deeply gratified by the sight.

When evening came, An Weiyan had people gather firewood, then start a fire to cook.

Several sacks of rice were carried out of the storehouse. An Weiyan did not even wash the gleaming white rice, pouring it straight into the large pot.

As those tending the fire watched the gleaming white rice pour into the pot, they kept swallowing their saliva.

Dinner was still congee, though it would be a little thicker than the previous meal.

Once the fragrance of congee began drifting in every direction, the eyes of those still working began to wander.

Every last one of them had their mind on the congee here.

An Weiyan could understand that.

Once the congee was ready, An Weiyan had everyone line up to receive some.

"Stop, stop. Go wash your hands before coming to get your congee."

Holding the ladle, An Weiyan was just about to serve the people before him when he frowned and called a halt.

The hands of everyone in line were terribly black, filthy from the work they had just done. An Weiyan could hardly bear to look.

He simply ordered them to wash their hands.

The common folk had no idea what was going on with this county magistrate, but since he had spoken, and they wanted to eat as soon as possible, they hurried to fetch water and wash their hands.

Soon, the group returned to eat with clean hands, though their faces were still filthy.

An Weiyan wanted to have them wash their faces too, but after thinking it over, he let it go.

Clean hands would do for now. Other matters of hygiene could wait.

Shaking his head inwardly, An Weiyan ladled out congee for them one by one.

The people held their bowls of congee, hissing at the heat, yet could not bear to put them down.

After slurping a mouthful of congee, they blew out breaths from the heat again.

They sat down where they were, and as soon as the congee cooled a little, slurping immediately rang out.

The group drank their congee.

A woman nearby watched her child drinking congee, a faint smile appearing on her face, before lowering her head and slowly taking a sip herself.

The congee in the large pot was soon all distributed. An Weiyan had people tidy up before returning inside the government office to take a look.

Well, the doors and such had all been scrubbed, with patches of water still not dry on them. It did look cleaner than before.

It was just that no one had lived here for a long time, so it still felt somewhat lacking in human warmth.

Once An Weiyan had lived here a while longer, it should be fine.

The sun gradually sank, and the common folk all went home to prepare for bed.

An Weiyan did not plan to go back tonight. Instead, he roused himself and stood watch beside the rice storehouse.

He wanted to see whether anyone would come to steal tonight, even though he had only just provided these people with relief today.

But with so much rice suddenly before their eyes, some people might well have greedy thoughts.

Night gradually fell, and several figures suddenly appeared on the pitch-black street.

After meeting and confirming one another's identities, the figures headed toward the government office.

"Isn't it wrong for us to steal grain like this? His Lordship only just gave us relief today, and he'll have something for us to eat tomorrow too."

One of them seemed a little hesitant now.

"Hmph, how long can that little bit of grain he brought keep us fed? It'll all be eaten before long. Do you want another taste of starvation then?"

The man in the lead opened his mouth, revealing a trace of savagery. "As long as each of us steals a few sacks of grain, we can make sure we won't go hungry afterward."

Hearing this, the man who had just spoken immediately shut his mouth again.

These were all people An Weiyan had previously called on to carry the rice.

When they saw that it was all gleaming white rice inside, they were immediately tempted.

If they could carry a few sacks home, they would at least not go hungry for a very long time.

So they found a few opportunities to discuss it among themselves and quickly came to an agreement.

They crept up outside the government office, then quickly found a spot to climb over and get inside.

An Weiyan hid in the shadows. When no one had come even by late at night, he had thought he was overthinking things.

But when he saw several figures climb in up ahead, a chill immediately settled in his heart.

Someone really had come.

Seeing this, An Weiyan wanted to get a clear look at them. As for going out to stop them, he had no intention of doing so.

There were quite a few of them. If they suddenly turned violent, An Weiyan probably would not be able to hold them off.

Recklessly going out and exposing them could easily make them fly into a rage out of humiliation.

The men crept straight toward the rice storehouse. They had stored the rice there themselves earlier, so naturally they knew where it was.

But just as they were about to start removing the lock clasp, several people suddenly emerged from around the corner.

"I didn't think you would really come."

An aged voice rang out, and then several torches were lit, illuminating the previously dim corridor.

The men were alarmed to find themselves exposed. Turning to look, they saw an old man from town crouching nearby with several young men.

"Uncle Fu, what are you doing here?"

Lin Xiangyou looked at them, his face full of unease.

Uncle Fu coughed a few times and looked at the men with disappointment all over his face. "You should be asking why you're here."

"The county magistrate only just took office, and he's already distributing grain for disaster relief, using his own money at that. Yet you actually came here to steal. How could you bring yourselves to do it!"

Uncle Fu was bitterly pained. Though he was old, he was not blind. How could he not know what sort of person everyone in town was?

He had hoped these men might have at least a shred of conscience. Never had he imagined they would come after all.

"This county magistrate was personally chosen by the Earth God, no less. How dare you!"

Another young man beside him was also furious.

Hearing this, Lin Xiangyou's face alternated between pale and livid. Then he said angrily, "Hmph, he says he's using his own money for disaster relief, but who knows whether that's true? Maybe he's been lining his own pockets! How many days can that little bit of grain feed the people of our town?"

"As for the Earth God, he's long since lost his power. Otherwise, why would those local gentry leave this place, and why would demons be eating people in town?"

Lin Xiangyou shouted angrily again and again to conceal the agitation in his heart.

Uncle Fu sighed and shook his head. This county magistrate had been personally chosen by the Earth God, not appointed by the imperial court. Where would he have gotten disaster relief funds allocated by the court?

"Go and seize them. Keep it quiet, and don't wake His Lordship. Linbei County has finally gained a good official. Don't let His Lordship's heart turn cold."

Uncle Fu could not be bothered to argue with them anymore and gave a few instructions to the young men beside him.

The next moment, several more young men emerged behind Lin Xiangyou and his companions.

The young men all held wooden clubs. After a few muffled blows, the group dragged the men away.

An Weiyan watched the scene from his hiding place and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Looking at these common folk earlier, he had felt that the local customs seemed rather simple and honest. Never had he imagined they could be so ruthless when they struck.

After those few club blows just now, it looked as though these men would not survive.