Hearing footsteps, the beggars sleeping on the dry grass instinctively lowered their heads after taking a glance. The moment they saw that the newcomer wore an official’s uniform, they froze.
The two men scrambled to their feet and dropped to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the ground as they cried out in panic, “Greetings, Your Excellency! Greetings, Your Excellency!”
At the same time, countless possibilities flashed through their minds. They went over everything they had ever done in their lives.
They hadn’t done anything. Why had the authorities come for them?
The prison official pointed to the row of depressions in the straw mats and said, “The others are probably out looking for work during the day. These two are the beggars.”
Song Qiming frowned as he studied the two beggars, who appeared perfectly healthy.
“Some time ago, the coal plant and cement plant were hiring. Why didn’t you go apply?”
While everyone else went out looking for work during the day, these two able-bodied men slept here instead. Would they rather remain beggars than work?
The two beggars paused. Their backs stiffened, and a chill of fear spread through them.
At last, they stammered out an explanation. “This humble one’s clothes barely cover our bodies, and our hair is a mess. The people recruiting workers would only drive us away. We couldn’t apply.”
Song Qiming questioned them, “Couldn’t apply, or didn’t dare to?”
“As far as I know, the coal plant and cement plant only consider whether one is physically fit enough to work.”
The two heads pressed to the ground cautiously stole a glance upward.
One of them said, “We’re used to being driven away, so we didn’t dare go.”
Song Qiming’s face darkened in speechless frustration.
Just then, footsteps approached. Several people carrying bundles appeared at the entrance to the Guanyin Temple. The sight of officials and soldiers inside frightened them into stopping where they stood.
Song Qiming turned around. Once he saw the four people’s clothes and appearance, his expression softened slightly.
Their clothing was somewhat dirty, but their hair was reasonably neat and their faces clean. They were not beggars.
Song Qiming walked over, and the four hurriedly knelt to pay their respects.
“This commoner pays respects to Your Excellency.”
Song Jinzhao raised a hand slightly. “Rise. There is no need for so much ceremony.”
After they stood, he continued, “Where are you from?”
The eldest-looking of the four stepped forward and answered, “The four of us are villagers from Longjing Village in Yunzhou County. We heard that the coal plant and cement plant here were hiring, so we came to try our luck and find work.”
Seeing wild vegetable leaves sticking out of one of their bundles, Song Qiming pointed at them and asked, “These are...?”
The man shifted the bundle behind him with an embarrassed expression and said awkwardly, “We haven’t been able to find work for some time, and food costs silver. So we thought we’d dig up some wild greens to stave off hunger.”
There were no wild greens in the inner city. Even families in the outer city dug them up, so these greens had most likely been gathered outside the city, a considerable distance away.
When Song Qiming looked back at the straw mats, each bearing the hollow left by someone sleeping there, it was quite possible that the others were doing the same.
How long could wild greens sustain them? When the weather turned colder, life would be even harder.
The thought that these people were all citizens under his administration weighed heavily on Song Qiming’s heart.
Ah Jie had hoped to attract more people to settle in Suining City by creating jobs. Now the people had come, but there was not enough work to go around.
Heavy-hearted, he returned to the government office. As he entered the rear courtyard, he happened to run into Lanxi, who was striding out in haste.
They both stopped at once.
Lanxi took a step back and cupped his hands in salute. “Young Master.”
Song Qiming glanced in the direction from which he had come. “Have you just come from Ah Jie’s study?”
Lanxi nodded slightly. Seeing the curiosity in Song Qiming’s eyes, he explained, “I heard that quite a few people from other places have recently come to Suining City looking for work. The County Princess intends to expand the cement plant and has ordered me to prepare to recruit more workers.”
Song Qiming’s eyes widened instantly, the light in them nearly dazzling Lanxi.
“Really?”
Lanxi nodded slowly and firmly.
“It’s true. I was just about to make arrangements. This afternoon, notices will be posted at all four gates of the inner city.”
The great weight in Song Qiming’s heart finally lifted. He gestured for Lanxi to go. “That’s good. Go on, then.”
He had just turned to leave when he suddenly stopped, turned back, and called Lanxi to a halt.
“There are quite a few able-bodied beggars in the city. If they want to apply, they may be hired as well. Mention it in the announcement.”
