Chapter 103
Zhang Fangyuan set up a small stall near the city gate and spent a few coins to hire two messengers to spread the news in areas where refugees were concentrated. Before even an incense stick’s worth of time had passed, refugees began to gather, quickly forming a crowd.
“This is a recruitment for tenant farmers, not a charity handout. Those who are interested, stay and line up to register. If you’re not interested, please leave and do not disrupt the order.”
Zhang Fangyuan had previously hired men from a martial arts school to guard his warehouse and found them very effective. This time, he again hired two strong men from the martial arts school. They stood with their arms crossed in front of the stall, and the refugees who were intimidated, kept their distance, peeking from about a meter away.
“Sir, how are tenant farmers being recruited here?”
Eventually, someone who heard about the opportunity to settle approached. Seeing the two strong men flanking the young man in the middle, they assumed he was the landlord and mustered the courage to ask.
Zhang Fangyuan who was pleased that a refugee was interested, stood up. However, the refugee, noticing that the seated man was even taller and more imposing than the two strong men beside him, with a fierce expression, immediately shrank back in fear.
Seeing this, Xu He pulled Zhang Fangyuan back to his seat and muttered, “You’re in your twenties, how are you still growing taller than Ruijin and Ruili?”
Zhang Fangyuan touched the tip of his nose, thinking it was all because Xu He fed him too well. He didn’t say anything and obediently sat back down.
Xu He then spoke clearly to the refugees: “There is land in a village outside the city, and we are recruiting tenant farmers for spring planting. Strong men can apply for four mu of land, while women and young boys can apply for two mu. We are looking for able-bodied individuals without serious illnesses, and families are preferred.”
The refugees murmured among themselves, their voices weak and hard to hear. Xu He glanced at Zhang Fangyuan, unsure if the refugees would be willing to become tenant farmers.
However Zhang Fangyuan was confident. The refugees were already living hand-to-mouth, with no guarantee of their next meal. Now that there was an opportunity to settle and make a living, how could they let it pass?
As more and more refugees gathered, the first group seemed to have sent a representative to negotiate with Zhang Fangyuan: “May I ask where the land is located in Siyang, and do you have proof? Where will we be settled if we go?”
It wasn’t that the refugees were being overly cautious, but they had encountered too many scams along the way. In other counties, some had posed as recruiters for tenant farmers, only to trick people into signing away their freedom. Once you followed them, they would beat you into submission until you agreed to sell yourself into servitude.
There were also unscrupulous private labor contractors who lured people into forced labor, trapping them for life unless they worked themselves to death.
The refugees had been deceived so many times that they were wary. Although they were already displaced, finding a place to settle was their best hope. However, forced labor or becoming slaves were the worst outcomes. Who would want to live like livestock, enduring hunger and hardship while clinging to the hope that the government would provide relief and a way to survive?
Becoming tenant farmers was actually the best option among many unfortunate paths. But precisely because it was good, it made people even more anxious.
Zhang Fangyuan wasn’t angered by their questions. He had prepared the documents from the county office for reclaiming the wasteland and showed them to the refugees: “Perhaps many of you can’t read, but you should recognize the appearance of land deeds and the seal of the Siyang County Office.”
“The land we have is wasteland reclaimed last year, and this will be the first year of planting. The land is limited, so it’s first come, first served.”
After speaking, Zhang Fangyuan put away the documents: “Any other questions?”
Seeing that such an open and honest announcement on the streets of Siyang was unlikely to be a scam, the refugees began to clamor and surge forward, eager to sign up. The first group, who had asked for details, quickly organized themselves into a neat line, while scattered refugees who tried to push their way to Zhang Fangyuan’s table were driven back by the martial arts school men to join the queue.
Xu He couldn’t help but take a closer look at the elderly leader and asked, “Do you all know each other?”
Once it was confirmed that this was indeed a recruitment for tenant farmers, the elderly man became very polite, bowing respectfully to Xu He: “Yes, we are from a village under Wojiang County in Ningjiang Prefecture. Originally, there were twice as many of us, but many died of hunger or illness along the way. Now, only twenty of us remain in Siyang.”
Xu He craned his neck to look at the line, and the last person in the group raised his hand to signal.
As he observed the group, Xu He silently counted. There were indeed about twenty people, including women, children, and men. Since they knew each other and had a leader, it would be easier to communicate and arrange things in the future. They could also support each other through the initial difficulties. However, he glanced at Zhang Fangyuan.
The couple had a good understanding of each other. Zhang Fangyuan knew what Xu He was thinking. If they recruited the entire group, the downside was that if the refugees united to resist the landlord, it would be difficult to manage.
Opportunities like this to recruit tenant farmers were rare. Moreover, the elderly man was literate. Seeing that the documents only mentioned one hundred mu of wasteland, he knew that their group was just the right size. If anyone was left out, they could try to help them after settling, but as tenant farmers themselves, it wouldn’t be easy to assist others. The best outcome was for everyone to get a share of the land.
The elderly man understood the landlord’s concerns and immediately pulled a ten-year-old child from the line: “Sir, look, these are able-bodied village children. They are hardworking and capable, though they’ve become thin from begging along the way. If we are fortunate enough to work your land, these children can serve in your household, doing chores like tending the fire, washing clothes, or carrying manure.”
“We will all do our best.”
Zhang Fangyuan remained silent, exchanging a glance with Xu He.
These people were quite perceptive. By willingly sending their children to the landlord’s household, they provided the landlord with a strong means of control. This way, the landlord wouldn’t have to worry about the refugees causing trouble, as the children would be in the landlord’s hands.
“That works perfectly. Come forward one by one to register your names and origins. Once the formalities are completed, you can start working the land as soon as possible.”
The refugees cheered, their pale faces flushing with excitement. However, those who arrived later were out of luck, as there was no more land to distribute.
Zhang Fangyuan would have liked to take in all the refugees, but his resources were limited. With only so much land, dividing it further would leave everyone with too little to survive, which would only harm them. Moreover, taking in too many refugees might provoke dissatisfaction from the authorities, who might suspect him of gathering a private force with ulterior motives.
“Don’t rush. Take your time and provide accurate information. If anyone is found to have lied, they will be permanently disqualified!”
Everyone patiently waited their turn to register. After the registration here, they would still need to go to the county office for further formalities. There was a lot of work to be done.
“Why is it so noisy over there?”
“There are many refugees in the city, and the order is a bit chaotic. Over there, a landlord is recruiting refugees to work as tenant farmers.”
The child sitting upright in the carriage overheard the conversation between the adult and the servant outside the carriage. He tilted his head and glanced toward the bustling area, his eyes sparkling. "It's that tall uncle!"
Luo Yan, hearing this, took a closer look and spotted the tall, imposing figure with a fierce expression in the crowd. He smiled slightly and turned back to pat the child's head. "Xing'er has sharp eyes, much clearer than your grandfather's."
The little boy hugged Luo Yan, grinning, and nuzzled against his arm.
"Where are these refugees from?"
Although he already had some idea, Luo Yan still asked. The elderly servant hesitated for a moment before answering in a softer voice, "They're from Ningjiang Prefecture."
Luo Yan's expression darkened. As he looked at the child beside him, his eyes seemed to carry endless weariness and pity. Despite the myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind, after a long pause, all he could say was, "At least the epidemic has been contained."
"Let's go, back home."
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