Chapter 171 171. The disaster victim's junior master from a high family! (asking for a monthly ticket)

Qi Yulou was shouting wildly.

Hearing Qi Yulou's words, Pi Yalu's expression suddenly changed slightly.

Brother Ning, ah, Brother Ning.

Why bother to go against this villain!
Piyalu couldn't help but feel resentful in her heart.

The only solution now is to try to resolve the prejudice in Qi Yulou's mind.

Otherwise, even if he doesn't stir up trouble in front of the Master in the future, I'm afraid that as a member of the Wu Class, he will try every means to make things difficult for Ning Mu.

Piyalu couldn't help but worry about Ning Mu.

"Why is nephew so angry?"

While Qi Yulou was jumping up and down in anger, Wei Youqing came slowly and couldn't help but teased with a smile on his face.

Seeing Wei Youqing, the angry Qi Yulou's expression suddenly changed.

The anger and shame disappeared, and was replaced by a broad smile with a hint of flattery.

"Little uncle!"

"Disciple greets Junior Master Uncle. Ning Mu is stubborn and unkind. He has caused Junior Master Uncle to suffer during this period. Junior Master Uncle has worked hard."

Qi Yulou clasped his fists in greeting, and did not forget to slander Ning Mu.

"Long live Junior Master!"

Piyalu also stepped forward to greet him, but she hesitated and wanted to say something.

But after taking a look at Qi Yulou and seeing a threatening look in his eyes, she thought about it and gave up without saying anything more.

However, Wei Youqing was slightly surprised when he heard Qi Yulou's words.

She has always had a good impression of this junior fellow apprentice who is one or two years older than her.

He came from a prominent family, was sensible, knew when to advance and retreat, was humble and polite, well-mannered, and had good cultivation. He was even fortunate enough to be summoned by his master.

To know.

Even though the Jixia Academy was the Master's territory.

But there are only a handful of people who can actually meet the Master.

Apart from her and a few of her senior brothers, the rest were either senior academic officials in the academy or high-ranking members of the royal family.

For the students of the academy, it is a great honor to be summoned by the master!

But at this moment, listening to Qi Yulou's words, Wei Youqing couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly.

He has no relationship with Ning Mu, so how does he know that Ning Mu is stubborn and unkind?
What's more, why was I wronged?
Wei Youqing couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, looked at Qi Yulou in confusion, and asked blankly: "Nephew, what are you talking about?"

Qi Yulou was stunned and subconsciously wanted to add something.

But when he saw Wei Youqing's expression, his heart immediately tensed up and he put his thoughts aside.

Obviously, Wei Youqing didn't think there was anything wrong with Ning Mu.

And I don’t understand what the relationship between Wei Youqing and Ning Mu is now.

After all, there are already preconceived notions.

If he continued to discredit Ning Mu, it would definitely cause displeasure to his junior master uncle.

Thinking of this, Qi Yulou immediately waved his hands and smiled humbly and gently: "It's okay, it's okay. I came here because I received a message from the academy saying that other prefectures have returned to their positions, and only Yonghang has not returned yet. They urged us to hurry up, little master uncle, please see..."

Wei Youqing couldn't help but frown when he heard this.

After thinking for a while, she looked at Qi Yulou and said, "It's okay. You've come a long way and it's hard. Just stay in the village tonight and go down the mountain tomorrow."

"What about you?" Qi Yulou asked hurriedly.

Wei Youqing's eyes flickered, and he said, "I, I still have something to do. I want to persuade Ning Mu to enter the academy. When you go back, take the new disciple and go directly back to the academy. I will write to the teacher and the dean to explain the situation here. Don't worry about me!"

Hearing Wei Youqing say that he wanted to stay in this mountain village, Qi Yulou immediately frowned and his face turned gloomy.

But after all, his status in the academy was not very high.

If he was not from Yonghang, he would not have had the opportunity to go south to Yonghang to recruit new disciples.

He could only obey the orders of Wei Jijiu, the master's disciple and the leader of the team.

"Then...okay then!"

Qi Yulou nodded reluctantly, thought for a moment, looked at Wei Youqing eagerly, and said, "If Junior Master Uncle needs any service, just tell the Qi family. I have already made an agreement with the head of the family that we will follow Junior Master Uncle's orders."

"Junior apprentice brother, you are so thoughtful." Wei Youqing nodded absentmindedly.

"By the way, have you ever met Ning Mu?" Wei Youqing asked.

She came out just to look for Ning Mu.

I went to the main hall and heard from the maid that Ning Mu was coming towards the village gate.

So she came over here too.

He happened to meet the guard with a spear who came to inform him.

She was quite happy to learn that Qi Yulou and Pia Lu were coming. After all, she hadn't seen anyone familiar in the mountains for a long time.

Thinking of Ning Mu.

Her face turned slightly red, and she subconsciously tightened her sleeve pocket, where she had hidden her personal belongings wrapped in cloth.

Qi Yulou was about to say something.

But Piyalu spoke first.

"Uncle Junior Master, Brother Ning has gone down the mountain."

Pi Yalu pointed to the flat road down the mountain and said to Wei Youqing.

Qi Yulou frowned slightly.

"Okay, I'll have someone come over to get you settled in."

Wei Youqing glanced at the road down the mountain and felt a little more relieved.

If we find a remote place at the foot of the mountain and give him the gift, it would save us a lot of trouble and embarrassment.

Thinking of this, Wei Youqing's eyes lit up, and she immediately planned to let Huang Yutang arrange people to settle Qi Yulou and Pi Yalu, while she herself would go down the mountain alone to look for Ning Mu.

just.

As she finished speaking, she was about to turn around and look for the topaz soup.

Qi Yulou suddenly said: "Uncle Master, no need!"

"Since we have nothing to do, Junior Sister Pi and I will go with Uncle Master to take a look. I also want to experience the local customs and see what Brother Ning is busy with. It's actually more important than going to the academy."

Qi Yulou looked smiling and adorable on the surface.

But his words were secretly guiding Wei Youqing.

Piyalu couldn't help but frowned.

She hadn't seen Brother Ning for many days, so she naturally wanted to have a good chat when they had the chance.

But when she thought that Qi Yulou would make things difficult for Brother Ning, she felt unhappy.

But now Qi Yulou had already said it, so she couldn't refuse anymore. She could only go along with him and said, "Well, Senior Brother is right. Speaking of which, I have never been to this area before. It seems that if we go further south, we will reach the border?"

Piyalu said thoughtfully, intentionally changing the subject to the dispute between Qi and Chu.

This way, Qi Yulou will not have any ulterior motives and try to trip up Brother Ning.

Hearing the two men singing the same tune and wanting to go down the mountain together, Wei Youqing suddenly felt numb.

She wanted to refuse, but was afraid it would be too obvious.

This made the two of them misunderstand something even more.

Scholars always think about the future and the future.

But she never thought that Qi Yulou and Pi Yalu never thought of her and Ning Mu in the same way.

"In that case... let's go down the mountain together. It's a good opportunity to find him and let him arrange accommodation for you two. It would be perfect."

Wei Youqing's eyes flickered, her face turned pretty, and she spoke insincerely.

But at this moment, Qi Yulou and Pi Yalu were both preoccupied with their own thoughts, so they didn't notice that there was anything wrong with her expression.

She thought the sun was too strong and her delicate face could not withstand the scorching heat.

Enough of the small talk.

The three of them went up and down the avenue one after another to look for Ning Mu.

But everyone has their own thoughts.

Wei Youqing was too embarrassed to see people and didn't know what excuse to make, so he sent the two people away and gave the token to Ning Mu.

Qi Yulou was thinking about how to change Wei Youqing's impression of Ning Mu, or even make him dislike him.

Piyalu was thinking about how to ease the conflict between Brother Ning and Brother Qi.

……

Down the mountain.

"We all came here because of your reputation, and we beg you to take us in..."

An old man with white hair and beard, wrinkled face, and walking with a cane, holding the hand of a young girl, stood in front of Ning Mu, bowed, his cloudy old eyes full of desire.

Behind the old man, hundreds of disaster victims, some on crutches, some supporting each other, gathered in groups, all looking at Ning Mu eagerly.

"Please take me in..."

The next moment, as the old man knelt down, hundreds of ragged victims also knelt on the ground.

Many members of Wang Dalong’s patrol team are former disaster victims.

Some even had relatives among the victims. Seeing them kneeling, many patrolmen also knelt down with moved expressions: "We beg the village chief to show mercy and take in our fellow villagers!"

"Get up, everyone!"

Ning Mu quickly helped up the father-in-law who was holding his granddaughter.

"Village leader, I heard from the kids that everyone in the village has to work. Don't worry, although I'm old, I can still work for a few more years. Your granddaughter is six years old this year and can work, she can do some manual labor. If that doesn't work, she can go to the fields!" The old man held Ning Mu's hand and said earnestly.

Ning Mu touched the little girl's head. Her dry and yellow hair had stuck together, and it was obvious that she had not been washed for a long time.

The dirty little face was thin and sallow.

But those eyes were charming and watery, looking at him timidly.

Ning Mu couldn't help but smile, and then he looked at his father-in-law and the many disaster victims, and said loudly: "Fellow villagers, don't worry. Since you are here, why should I chase you away?"

"Don't worry, just follow me to the village!"

"Old people and growing children can all go up there, and the strong men can go to the fields to farm. The elderly and children can help clean the village and do some small handicrafts. Don't worry, as long as I'm here, there will always be a way for you to survive!"

Ning Mu said to everyone with a smile.

At a glance, there were about three to five hundred people. Fortunately, the elderly and children probably accounted for less than half of the population, which could be considered a wave of fresh reinforcements.

"Long live the village chief!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Village Master!"

"..."

Immediately, the victims knelt down again one after another to express their gratitude, and the sound of gratitude echoed one after another in this small valley.

Most of them are people who lost their homes in this natural disaster.

The river burst its banks and changed its course, flooding all the fertile fields and homes. They were left homeless and had no choice but to wander around.

When most of the victims who still have homes to return to are resettled.

In the eyes of the imperial court, this group of people became beggars.

In the eyes of officials, they are the lower class people who affect their political performance.

"See, this is why I am willing to stay here for so long."

far away.

On a flat boulder under the shade of a tree.

Wei Youqing's expression was somewhat moved, his eyes filled with solemnity, and he spoke to Qi Yulou and Pi Yalu behind him.

Looking at the group of refugees below who were in tattered clothes or even naked, Qi Yulou frowned slightly, his eyes full of disdain and disgust.

The Qi family is a prominent and wealthy family in Yonghang.

In their eyes, these refugees are no different from ants. Why should they be sympathized with?

And seeing that Ning Mu was so cautious, he even came to greet him in person.

He was puzzled.

Why don't you go to the Jixia Academy and stay here to fool around with a bunch of ants?

Ah.

Short-sighted.

How can such a person become my opponent?

I really thought too highly of him before.

Qi Yulou could not help but shake his head and remained silent. Although his hostility towards Ning Mu had not diminished, his vigilance had decreased a lot.

Piyalu looked at the victims with pity in her eyes.

When her eyes fell on Ning Mu, who was talking eloquently and freely in front of the victims, a hint of admiration welled up in her eyes.

Brother Ning, you are truly an outstanding person!
"Uncle Master, this is only a minor path after all. If you enter the academy to practice, how can you help more than just these hundred people?"

Qi Yulou sneered and spoke.

He thought about it carefully to make his words not sound so harsh.

But that's the case.

When Wei Youqing heard this, she still frowned slightly.

"Although... he is sincere and is trying to find a way out for the disaster victims. From what I've observed, he may not want to go to the academy because of the disaster victims. I've written to the master and am trying to find a way to solve this problem!"

Wei Youqing did not answer Qi Yulou's words, but continued talking to himself.

"Wait for me here, I'll go downstairs."

As he spoke, Wei Youqing jumped down, his face slightly flushed.

"Da Long, take them up first, then find Huang Yutang and A Diao and ask them to arrange the work for these people."

Ning Mu looked at Wang Dalong and said.

After saying that, he seemed to be worried, and spoke again to remind them: "Be sure to protect them along the way. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you accountable!"

"Yes, don't worry, village chief. I will bring all the elders and brothers to the mountain safely!"

Wang Dalong looked excited and quickly clasped his fists in response.

Ning Mu didn't say anything more, just patted Wang Dalong on the shoulder and then stood aside.

Under the organization of Wang Dalong's mountain patrol team, the victims quickly lined up into two teams and walked up the mountain.

Thanks to Liu Qingmei's help.

Although this road up the mountain has a slope, it is no longer a rugged path but is very flat.

"Have you ever thought about how many people such a small village can support?"

I don’t know when.

Wei Youqing stood quietly beside Ning Mu and suddenly spoke.

Ning Mu turned his head to look.

Wei Youqing also tilted his head and looked at him curiously.

He blinked and asked himself, "Thousands? Tens of thousands?"

"What happens after this?"

"But if you follow me to join the Jixia Academy for training, with the status of an academy member, you can save and protect more innocent people in the future."

Ning Mu raised his eyebrows, stretched out his hand, put it on Wei Youqing's shoulder, and said with a smile: "Master Wei, do you know why the people of this world have such a hard life?"

"It's just a flood, but there are so many homeless people. Do they really have no home?"

Wei Youqing was stunned when he heard this.

Then he couldn't help but blink and said blankly: "What else?"

"It's not that they don't have a home, it's that they don't have land!"

Wei Youqing was puzzled and asked blankly: "What about their land? Even if it was flooded, the flood will eventually recede."

Of course she knew that land was the lifeblood of people like them.

All things are created by nature, each with its own function.

They live on the land, how could they be without land!

Ning Mu shrugged, casually pulled a young man from the team over, and asked, "What's your name?"

The young man was a little nervous and said tremblingly: "Reply to the village leader, my name is Gouzhu."

"No last name?"

"No... no, our surname was Niu at first, and then the son of local squire Niu gambled, and the Niu family collapsed. Later, we changed our surname to Wang, but the Wang family was also wiped out in this flood." Gouzhu gradually adapted and spoke much more fluently.

Hear this.

Wei Youqing was suddenly shocked.

In this era, the right to pass on one's surname is a very important matter.

In fact, these changes also took place within this dynasty.

Before the previous dynasty, people took their father’s surname.

But starting from the middle of this dynasty, some wealthy nobles would change their slaves' names to their own surnames in order to show their power.

Later, this trend gradually spread widely.

Some gentry and landlords also started this form of surname-giving, requiring their slaves and tenants to take their master's surname.

In other words, this young man named Gouzhu has been farming for others all along!

"Don't you have your own land?"

Wei Youqing immediately asked the doubts in his mind.

Goudan couldn't help but smile bitterly, looking at Wei Youqing respectfully, and said: "You are joking, my lord. How can common people like me own our own land? Our entire team used to be tenants of other families, and many of us even sold ourselves to wealthy gentry. It was good enough to have food to eat, and we still want to own our own land... That might be the dream of my great-grandfather's generation!"

There was a hint of memories in Gouzhu's eyes.

According to word of mouth from our parents, a few hundred years ago, every family had land to farm, everyone had clothes to wear, and there was meat to eat during festivals. Every family had surplus food, and life was very good.

"How could it be..." Wei Youqing couldn't help but frown, his eyes full of horror.

Ning Mu smiled and waved to Gouzhu, signaling him to follow the team.

After Gouzhu left, he looked at Wei Youqing and said with a smile, "Now, Wei Jijiu, do you know why they have to work so hard?"

"Dog Pillar... Not even as good as a dog, it's just a pillar to tie a dog. A cheap name is easy to keep. If you can really live a free life, which parent would be willing to give their child such an ugly name?"

(End of this chapter)