Mo Sang – CH 199

Chapter 199. Worldly Affairs

Between Xiapi County and Suqian City lay Lema Lake. Following the eastern bank of Lema Lake, it was only thirty or forty li to Suqian City.

Li Sangrou and her group arrived with thirty or forty strong military horses and about twenty large blue mules.

Zaohua dared not ride the seemingly temperamental and arrogant military horses, so Hei Ma chose a docile mule for her. The rest of the group rode horses, and soon they arrived at the foot of Suqian City.

The city walls of Suqian were dilapidated; sections collapsed every short distance, some even reaching the bottom.

The moat had been filled in, turning into small puddles.

Li Sangrou and her group dismounted outside the city gate and led their horses inside.

The city gate had clearly just been repaired. Inside the gate opening, leaning against the wall, a dozen or so old soldiers were busy repairing and rebuilding the city walls, some mixing mud and others carrying mud sacks.

Starting from the gate, a flurry of activity was underway on the walls.

Upon seeing Li Sangrou and her group enter, the old soldiers stopped and scrutinized the tall horses they were leading with great curiosity.

At this moment, the people were nothing unusual, but the horses were!

Suqian City was filled with ruins, remnants of fire, and traces of being pelted with stones.

The shops in the city were still intact, and many were already open for business, but the streets were nearly deserted, and the alleys were eerily quiet.

Zou Wang led the way, guiding the group towards Shunfeng Delivery Shop.

Shunfeng Delivery Shop was not far from the North Gate, and only a few walls, about half a person’s height, remained after the fire.

“They say the Southern Liang people will attack the city first, then search for our shops, burning and smashing them wherever they find them, sigh,” Zou Wang said, standing where the Shunfeng banner had once stood, looking up at the scene.

Now, the banner was gone, the flagpole was gone, and even the large stone base was nowhere to be seen. He looked up and could only see an empty sky.

“Hmm, let’s go check on Old Yang’s,” Li Sangrou said, glancing at the burnt-out shop and gesturing to Zou Wang.

Old Yang’s house was indeed very close to the shop. Walk forward twenty or thirty steps, turn into an alley, and at the entrance of the alley was Old Yang’s house.

Half a street from the shop, then half an alley, had been burned down, leaving only half-buried mud walls.

Old Yang’s house and courtyard, which had just been rebuilt inside and out, were now a scorched earth.

In the courtyard, a small area had been built using reed mats and straw, utilizing the three and a half walls of the main room.

Old Yang’s wife and eldest son were tidying up in the courtyard, while their five- or six-year-old son, with his two- or three-year-old sister, sat on the ground, teaching her to play cat’s cradle.

“Sister-in-law Yang,” Zaohua called out, walking ahead.

“Oh, it is Sister-in-law Zaohua, the head manager. What brings you here?” Sister-in-law Yang responded, quickly coming out to greet them. She greeted Zou Wang, then looked somewhat flustered at Li Sangrou and the others.

“This is our Boss. This is Master Ma, Master Lu, and the others,” Zaohua hurriedly introduced.

“You are…you are so young! Boss, please come in quickly. Look, the house…” Sister-in-law Yang greeted them hastily, turning to look at the scorched earth of her home, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Things will get better.” Li Sangrou patted Sister-in-law Yang, walked past her to the shed, bent down, and peered inside.

“Is there enough food and clothing?” Zaohua followed behind Li Sangrou, also bending down to look into the shed.

“Enough, enough. We have everything we need, food and clothes.”

When we came back, Old Zhang’s wife brought us a whole cartload of food and supplies.

People from Shangpi came to check on us, asking if we needed anything. We did not need anything; everything was fine.” Old Yang’s wife clutched her clothes, wiping away tears.

“This house and courtyard, you cannot fix much by yourself like this. You need to hire someone to rebuild the house. Can you not find any craftsmen right now?” Li Sangrou walked around the courtyard, then stood in front of Old Yang’s wife and asked.

It seemed all the craftsmen in the city had been conscripted to repair the city walls.

“The bricklayers, tilers, carpenters—all the laborers, young and old—have been called by the government to repair the city wall.

Repairing the city wall is a big deal.

We, a mother and daughter, will try to tidy it up ourselves first. We cannot finish it, but we do not have any other work; we cannot just stand around doing nothing.

They are also hiring laborers for the city wall. I have two young children at home, but I cannot go. He’s too young and short; I went, but I was not chosen.” Old Yang’s wife answered ten questions at a time.

“There must be many craftsmen in Shangpi. We can hire some from Shangpi…”

“No need, no need! No rush! Boss…” Old Yang’s wife waved her hand, quickly interrupting Li Sangrou.

“It’s not just about your house,” Li Sangrou said, pressing down Old Madam Yang’s hand. “There are refugees everywhere in and around Shangpi County, including many craftsmen and even more laborers. Bringing them here to work will ease your difficulties and allow them to earn some money for their journey home.”

“That’s easy, do not worry, Boss,” Zou Wang replied first, then looked at Old Yang and smiled. “It’s a win-win situation.

Sister-in-law, do not worry about anything else. Start preparing in a bit.

If things go quickly, craftsmen will arrive early tomorrow morning. Have them set up a place for you to stay, put up a pot, boil water, and make tea, and that will be convenient.

As for the money for repairing the house…”

“We have it! We have everything!” Old Madam Yang nodded hurriedly. “We have it all. We saved up quite a bit of money before, and his father…”

Old Yang’s wife choked up, wiping away tears with her sleeve before continuing, “Sister-in-law Zaohua said that Shunfeng has its rules; for someone like her father, they get one hundred taels of silver for supporting the family. The silver has already been given, but I did not dare take it back. I entrusted it to Manager Zhao. It is enough, more than enough.”

“Mother, talk to the boss about the shop,” the eldest son, who had been following Old Yang’s wife, tugged at his mother’s sleeve and said in a muffled voice.

“Why let your mother talk? You can talk to her yourself. What’s your name? How old are you?” Li Sangrou looked at the sturdy Yang Da and smiled.

“My name is Yang Dashi, Shi as in stone, and I am fourteen this year.

I’ve been with my father since the day he took over Shunfeng Shop. I know everything about the shop, and I want to continue managing it.”

Li Sangrou raised an eyebrow. “But you are too young. Shunfeng has rules: to become a manager, you have to be at least sixteen. You are only thirteen, right?”

“No need to wait three years; I cannot wait three years! I know everything, I really do!” Yang Dashi was getting anxious. “If I wait three years, the shop will be gone.”

“First of all, Shunfeng’s rules are inviolable. Do not even mention yourself; I cannot be an exception either. You are not sixteen, so you cannot take over.”

Li Sangrou’s expression turned serious. She paused, then turned to look at Yang Dashi, who was pursing his lips, and pointed at Old Yang’s wife while smiling.

“However, your mother can take over, as long as she can handle it and withstand the scrutiny of Manager Zou and Manager Zaohua. Then the shop can be handed over to your mother to manage.”

“How can I? I am just a woman…” Old Yang’s wife was a little flustered.

“Yes! I am here! I am here! Mother, we can do it! You can do it! Mother, please take over! Mother!” Yang Dashi immediately grabbed his mother’s arm and shook it frantically.

“Alright, alright, but I… alright, alright, let go first.” Old Yang’s wife was swayed back and forth by her son’s shaking.

“You are still in school, right?” Li Sangrou smiled at Yang Dashi.

“Only half a day! Just half a day in the evening! Only half a day at school.

I follow my father. In the morning, I first receive mailbags at the shop. My father watches over everything, and I hand them over to the delivery riders!

Then I distribute the Morning News and Evening Post, send out the mail, and then collect and mail orders—all of that I do!

In the evening, when the shop is quiet, my father watches over things, and I go to school for half a day.

My father said he makes me study so that I can take over the shop properly in the future. It is not for any other reason; I am not a very good student.

I can take over—no, I mean, I can help my mother. I will help my mother, and my mother and I will definitely manage the shop well, just as well as when my father was alive!”

Yang Dashi hurriedly explained and pledged his commitment.

“If you want to take it over, I will let you try. But you need to think it through. You are the one taking over the shop, not your son. If Manager Zou and Manager Zaohua want to investigate, check, or ask questions, it will be you, not him.

You will be responsible for everything in the shop yourself. Dashi does not need to do it; you need to not only be able to do it but also do it well, including writing and keeping accounts.” Li Sangrou looked at Old Yang’s wife with a serious expression.

Old Yang’s wife’s face paled slightly. Meeting her son’s eager gaze, she gritted her teeth and said, “Alright!”

Their family’s good life depended entirely on the Shunfeng shop. If they could continue, they would do it no matter what.

The boss was right. Dashi was still too young. It was unbearable for her, as a mother, to let him support the family alone. She had to support the family, for her children, for her two sons and daughter.

……………………

After leaving Suqian City, Li Sangrou looked at Zou Wang and Zaohua and instructed them, “Two things. First, everyone working for Shunfeng must be capable, perform well, and be dedicated to their duties. When you are conducting investigations, regardless of who the person is or how they got the job, this rule applies equally; there can be no leniency.

As for this delivery shop in Suqian County, if Old Yang’s wife can manage it well, that’s best. If she’s not capable, replace her immediately. As for her need to support her family, it is better to pay her more money than to show her any leniency.”

“Yes, Boss, do not worry. Zaohua and I understand this very well; it is fundamental,” Zou Wang said and quickly bowed in agreement.

“Yes, secondly, the Suqian delivery shop is being handed over to Old Yang’s wife. She must be able to handle all the big and small matters within the shop. Only if she does a good job can the Suqian delivery shop be considered properly managed.”

When you are conducting your checks, remember to check Old Yang’s wife, not Yang Dashi. Make sure to exclude him.”

Li Sangrou continued her instructions.

Zou Wang was taken aback; he did not quite understand the second point.

Zaohua frowned, looking at Li Sangrou, and hesitated. “Does the boss mean to keep the shop in Old Yang’s hands forever? Or are you worried about hindering Yang Dashi?”

“That’s the rule. Whoever takes it over must be able to handle it.” Li Sangrou smiled slightly.

“Yes.” Zou Wang and Zaohua nodded in agreement, thinking they understood.

“This Yang Dashi is quite good. When you come here in the future, keep an eye on him and give him some pointers. He might come in very handy someday. We need manpower everywhere – in Sichuan, Jiangnan, and now Jingzhou,” Li Sangrou continued.

“Boss, let alone the future, even now, we are desperately short of manpower,” Zou Wang said with a wry smile.

Zaohua also looked distressed; she even considered bringing Da Niu’er along for a while.

……………………

The next morning, Nanny Nie and Da Chang stayed behind to arrange for craftsmen to rebuild the shop and taught Old Yang’s wife the process of receiving mailbags and the rules of postal service. Li Sangrou, Zou Wang, Zaohua, and the others set off for the next post station.

At the end of the seventh month, the autumn air was crisp and clear. Li Sangrou and her group traveled for most of the night, arriving in Chuzhou in the early morning and reaching the post station outside Shanyang Prefecture.

The delivery station was bustling with activity. Old Song, the manager, saw Zou Wang at the front and hurriedly dropped his account books, rushing to greet him. “The head manager is here! You must have been traveling at night? Things are not peaceful yet, head manager; look how thin you’ve become…”

“Who are these people?” Zou Wang, from the moment he entered, had been staring at the three or four unfamiliar men Manager Song had just been dealing with, ignoring Manager Song’s enthusiasm.

“This is Eldest Master Zhao, this is Second Master Zhao, this is Third Master Zhao. We were just about to report to the head manager that this is the new manager of our Shanyang Prefecture delivery station,” Manager Song quickly introduced.

“The new manager? I do not know him?” Zou Wang’s face darkened.

“I misspoke. It is like this; it is not like he is a new manager; it is the same as before.” Manager Song, seeing Zou Wang’s face darken, quickly explained with a forced smile, “The head manager probably does not know, but our Manager Zhao from Shanyang County… alas, bad luck. He could not escape it. When they found him, half his body was gone.

Manager Zhao is gone, but our business cannot be delayed. That’s the head manager’s instruction, and everyone remembers it.

This Master Zhao is Manager Zhao’s direct cousin. The three of them are brothers, all close relatives of Manager Zhao. Now that Manager Zhao is gone, this shop naturally has to be handed over to his direct brother. Do you not agree, head manager?”

“Manager Zhao is gone, I know that. Did I not write to you, assigning your clerk at the post station to temporarily manage the Shanyang Prefecture’s deliveries? Now, handing it over to them—who made that decision?” Zou Wang’s face darkened even more.

“How could Xiao Cao possibly manage this? I mentioned it to Manager Nie once…”

“Manager Nie certainly does not know about this, and neither do I,” Zaohua chimed in from behind.

“No, no, Manager Zaohua is here too.

I did not mean that. I meant, I did talk to Manager Nie once, and you see, this shop is like a family, everyone’s busy here. This shop is a family affair.

You see, Manager Zhao is gone, but he has brothers, right? We are all family; it did not go anywhere else.

Besides, you see, we’ve already taken him in,” Manager Song explained with a forced smile.

“Manager Zou, this shop in Shanyang County belongs to the Zhao family. My brother is gone, so as the Elder Brother, I naturally have to step up and take over. Do you not agree? That’s perfectly reasonable.”

“Do not worry, Manager Zou,” said Old Master Zhao, squeezing in and patting his chest. “Whatever my brother did before, we brothers will definitely do even better, absolutely no worse!”

“Exactly! Do not worry, Manager Zou. I will manage everything in this shop, big and small. Even though I am illiterate, I am strong enough…” Second Master Zhao chimed in.

Zou Wang frowned, ignoring the three Zhao brothers, and turned to look at Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou had already taken out some melon seeds and was leaning against a camphor tree by the courtyard gate, idly munching on them. Seeing Zou Wang looking over, she raised her hand, signaling him to take charge.

“Where’s Xiao Cao?” Zou Wang turned to look at the group of riders and waiters gathered nearby, pretending to be busy but actually listening intently to the commotion.

“Hey, over here,” Xiao Cao hurriedly squeezed out from behind the crowd.

“I wrote you a letter too. Did you receive it? Then what’s going on?” Zou Wang asked with a stern face.

“Yes, yes, it was Manager Song; he, he said, he said, he said I, I…” Xiao Cao kept pointing to his mouth. “This mouth, the words, all, all, cannot be explained! No, no, no, it will not work! I, I, my family, outside, outside, outside, outside, outside, outside.”

Xiao Cao was so anxious and frightened that he could barely speak.

“I understand.” Zou Wang patted Xiao Cao on the shoulder and looked at Manager Song. “Between the two of us, who’s the head manager? You or me?”

“No, no, look at what you are saying, Head Manager. You are the head manager, but in this Shanyang Prefecture, inside and out, with all these people, you see, I definitely know more than you, do you not think? You’ve said it yourself, when it comes to Shanyang Prefecture, I am definitely more familiar with it than you are.

Xiao Cao is really useless. You saw it yourself; he cannot even speak a coherent sentence. And being an outsider, how can he be convincing?

Besides, with Manager Zhao gone, this shop will definitely be taken over by the Zhao family. Only if the Zhao family has no one left, or if they refuse to take it over, will we look for someone from outside. Do you not think so? That’s the obvious logic,” Manager Song explained logically.

“So, according to you, Shanyang Prefecture is your territory, and everyone in your territory has to listen to you. Huaiyang is Eldest Zhao’s territory, and everyone in Huaiyang has to listen to Eldest Zhao. Yangzhou is Old Qin’s territory, and everyone in Yangzhou has to listen to Old Qin. Is that what you mean?” Zou Wang laughed angrily.

“You are being too harsh. That’s not how it works. In this matter, whoever is right listens to whom, right? Xiao Cao is really incompetent; he cannot even speak properly. How can he be a manager? He…”

“You do not need to manage this post station anymore. Move out now, and I will appoint someone else to take care of it,” Zou Wang interrupted Manager Song.

“Manager Zou, before you became manager, I was in charge of this post station. I was chosen by Master Ma, it is not your turn…”

“Who called me?” Hei Ma poked his head out from behind. “What do you want?”

Manager Song glared at the grinning Hei Ma, then noticed Li Sangrou leaning against the camphor tree, eating melon seeds, and the group of young men, including Xiao Lu, squatting in a row beside her.

“So you were the one who chose this manager.” Li Sangrou nudged Hei Ma from behind.

“I knew my eye for quality was not very good; it really is not,” Hei Ma sighed.

“You continue cleaning up. Hei Ma, step back; do not get in the way,” Li Sangrou said, smiling and gesturing to Zou Wang.

“Old Wu, you and Xiao Cao go check the accounts,” Zou Wang instructed his attendant and accountant, Old Wu. He then looked at the pale-faced Manager Song. “Go and pack up, settle the accounts. If there’s a deficit, make up the difference, and your whole family will move out immediately.

You, please go back.” Zou Wang then turned to the Zhao brothers.

Eldest Zhao spat on the ground and was about to leave when Li Sangrou stepped forward.

“Wait,” Li Sangrou said, pulling the brocade bag of melon seeds tighter and handing it to Xiao Lu.

“Seeing there’s profit to be made, you bunch of scoundrels dare to stick your necks out because if you get something, you profit; if you do not, you do not get anything—it’s no harm, right? It is a sure thing, is it not?”

“Who are you?” Eldest Zhao glared at Li Sangrou.

“Boss of Shunfeng,” Li Sangrou said with a smile, looking at Old Man Zhao. “I’ve heard bits and pieces about the messes your Zhao family and your brothers’ affairs have been going on.

Like today, grabbing whatever you see as a benefit—you’ve been getting a taste of it since your father’s time, have you not?

Kicking down widows’ doors, digging up graves of childless children, beating the blind and mute, and even stealing breast milk from new mothers—I heard you, Father, sons, and brothers have all done it?

Now, you are bullying Shunfeng. Do you really think that by reaching out, you will at worst get nothing?”

“You…” Instinctively, Old Man Zhao turned to run.

“Break their legs, one for each of them,” Li Sangrou said, taking a step back.

Several old Yunmeng guards pounced and pinned the three men down.

“How badly should they be beaten?” Meng Yanqing casually picked up a thick stick, weighed it in his hand, and asked Li Sangrou.

“Let them be lame from now on; otherwise, they will not remember,” Li Sangrou coldly ordered, turning to look at Hei Ma. “You guys, go to Shanyang County now and find out how Manager Zhao died.”