newbobooks Chapter 163 That is the compensation given to us by Nanping Prefecture
Chapter 163 That is the compensation given to us by Nanping Prefecture
In Jingzhao, the originally bustling and lively streets and alleys were instantly shrouded in a thick haze due to the influx of this group of refugees.
The streets and alleys were filled with people talking and discussing things. Their faces were filled with anger and confusion, and their eyes were full of condemnation of Nanping Prefecture and Yan Wanwan.
Wherever the refugees went, they recounted their tragic experiences with tears in their eyes.
Their voices were filled with tears, and they gestured with their hands and feet, describing the terrible insect plague as a hell on earth.
In their stories, the gates of Nanping Prefecture were like a ruthless barrier, barring these people struggling on the brink of life and death. And Yan Wanwan, in their mouths, became a cold-blooded, heartless demon who refused to help those in need.
"You didn't see it. The snowstorm froze all our crops to death, and countless elderly people and children in the village starved to death! We fled all the way to Nanping Prefecture, hoping to get some help, but the city gate was closed, and County Lady Yan didn't even look at us!" A ragged refugee said in a trembling voice, his eyes full of despair.
This vivid description is like throwing a huge rock into a calm lake, causing a thousand waves.
After hearing this, many people were infected by their emotions and joined the team that accused Yan Wanwan in indignation.
"This is too much! I always thought that Lady Yan was a kind person. She took out one million taels of silver to rescue Nanping Prefecture. That scene was so touching. I didn't expect it was all fake!" A middle-aged man waved his fist angrily with a red face.
"That's right! I thought she was genuinely caring about the people, but it turns out she was just trying to defraud the emperor of his rewards and fiefdoms. How hypocritical!" An old woman also shook her head and sighed.
"She was just a peasant girl who relied on Minister Lu's family background to marry into the General's Mansion. In the blink of an eye, she destroyed the Lu family. It's not surprising that such a cruel and ruthless woman would do such a thing!"
Everyone was talking at once, accusing Yan Wanwan one after another, and negative comments came like a tide.
Soon, some people stuffed copper coins into their hands, and the refugees expressed their gratitude to their benefactors.
Then more and more people took out the copper coins and silver coins they had to provide relief, and the only sounds on the scene were the refugees' cries of gratitude.
Just as the donations here were busy, a calm voice suddenly came from the crowd.
"Wait a minute! Everyone, stop for a moment."
Everyone turned around and saw a young scholar pointing at the food the refugees had brought with them. He loudly demanded, "You keep saying we've been hit by a snowstorm and have no food, not even enough to eat. So what's with all this food? Aren't you contradicting yourself?"
His words were like a flash of lightning, instantly cutting through the noisy accusations. Everyone's eyes turned to the food, and the scene fell into a brief silence.
In an instant, the faces of the refugees turned pale, their eyes were full of panic and wandering, and their guilty consciences were evident in their words, which made people suspicious at first sight.
The scholar's eyes were as sharp as lightning, and he caught the slightest sign of something unusual. He then stepped forward and grabbed the bag of grain that they were trying to hide secretly.
With a loud "crash", the bag was torn into a big hole, and the white rice fell to the ground like beads with broken strings.
There was an instant burst of exclamations from the crowd, followed by a burst of discussions.
The scholar's gaze was stern, his voice loud and commanding, carrying an undeniable aura that echoed clearly through the crowd: "Are you swindlers trying to defraud us of our money? Look at this grain, each one plump and translucent, infinitely better than the fine grains we ordinary people eat every day! You're blatantly deceiving us!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone woke up as if from a dream. The hands that had been stretched out to hand over the copper coins quickly retracted as if they had been scalded.
A sturdy man in the crowd could no longer contain his anger. His face flushed crimson as he shouted, "You have the money to buy this fine rice, yet you're here pretending to be starving and taking us for fools? Do you think our money was blown away by the wind?"
The rice on the ground sparkled with dazzling white light under the sunlight, as if mercilessly mocking everyone's kindness and credulity.
Those who had just generously donated money to the refugees now had their faces turning red and blue, feeling ashamed and angry, and their eyes were full of regret and anger.
Suddenly, a young and strong man rushed out from the crowd, as agile as a leopard, and snatched the silver that was tightly held in the refugee's hand.
The refugees were frightened by this sudden move and shouted in panic: "What are you doing? Why are you stealing our money?"
The young man's eyes widened as he shouted back, "What are you doing? This is our hard-earned money! You swindlers, you pretended to be pitiful to gain our sympathy, and now that you've been exposed, you still want to keep our money? No way!"
After saying that, he turned around and distributed the silver to the people who had just donated money one by one.
Seeing this, everyone gathered around, accusing the refugees one after another, and quickly snatched back the silver that belonged to them.
After all, every penny is hard-earned, and is accumulated through hard work and frugality. How can it easily fall into the hands of these black-hearted people?
Finally, one of the refugees could no longer bear the pressure and told the truth: "These were given to us by Lady Yan of Nanping Prefecture. We really didn't buy them ourselves!"
Upon hearing this, the common people sneered and scoffed, "Didn't you all say that Nanping Prefecture and County Master Yan were cold-blooded and heartless and drove you away? Then why would they give you food, and such fine rice at that?"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the refugees were speechless and lowered their heads in shame.
At this moment, a man dressed in silk and with a businessman's temperament walked out of the crowd.
He glanced at the refugees with icy eyes and mercilessly exposed them, "Great! So this is how you slander your savior!"
After saying this, the man turned to the people, bowed respectfully, and began to explain, "My fellow villagers, I am the manager of the Qingtian Trading Company. I happened to be in Nanping Prefecture on business some time ago and witnessed firsthand the plight of these refugees. County Master Yan is compassionate and could not bear to see you starving and freezing, so she specially provided the best rice in Nanping Prefecture to help you. But you, with your eyes wide open, lied and framed your benefactor. You are such unkind and ungrateful wolves, you have absolutely no conscience! Whoever helps you will be in trouble!"
As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the arena.
After the news spread, Yan Wanwan's reputation quickly reversed and no one was willing to donate money to these refugees anymore.
The refugees cried out in desperation, but it was of no use.
"Nanping Prefecture only gave us some food and didn't let us enter the city at all. Isn't this cold-blooded?" a refugee shouted.
"That's right! They are so heartless and ungrateful! These foods are just compensation to us." Another refugee echoed.
"You must have a conflict of interest with Nanping Prefecture, otherwise why would you speak for them? You are the one who has lost all conscience!" The refugees accused the merchant in unison.
The businessman was so angry that his face turned blue and his fists clenched. He wanted to rush forward and teach them a lesson.
At this tense moment, laughter came from the crowd again.