A Good Country Wife-Chapter 616 - 610_1

Lin Yue again made arrangements and, after a moment of consideration, directly ordered people to move heavy objects to block the back door. It could be moved after the crisis was resolved, and although it might be troublesome, it would at least provide some peace of mind. Nevertheless, Lin Yue still dispatched quite a few additional people to stand guard. After all, there were servants in the house who were idling away with nothing to do, so even if they took turns, there would still be enough hands.

After this incident, the servants of the household, who became lax due to having nothing to do for days on end, were now all alert and spirited. It turned out that the refugees had schemes in mind and were actually laying in wait outside the door, ready to rush in when the opportunity arose. The ensuing sense of crisis became more intense. Some servants, even if it was not their turn to watch, would still roam around in pairs to inspect the surroundings, to prevent refugees from exploiting any gaps.

However, in light of such events, Zhang Guo’s presence here became even more embarrassing. Since he represented the refugees during the negotiations, everyone already held distrust and suspicion towards him. Now, the looks directed at him were somewhat hostile. If Lin Yue wasn’t there as a deterrent, there were likely some who would have walked up and punched him.

There were some things Zhang Guo could confide in Lin Yue and pledge his loyalty to her, but he couldn’t let everyone know his purpose. After all, with so many people, information could easily leak out. There might be one or two servants with ulterior motives. If the fact that he was already siding with Lin Yue got out, the refugees would not trust him as before and would even resent the Zhao Family along with him, making the situation uncontrollable. However, despite the hostility towards him, once things were resolved, the situation would naturally improve. Being someone of an open nature, Zhang Guo did not dwell on it further.

After resolving the matter, Lin Yue and others still returned to the main hall to continue the discussion. "Madam, it seems that the refugees outside are getting restless. There are some with malicious intentions stirring up trouble among them, so it’s necessary to make a decision sooner rather than later. After all, if the refugees are willing to trust me, it’s because I let them know I could solve this issue. If the outcome is not satisfactory, it might be beyond my power to hold them back."

"Don’t worry, I have already figured out the solution. For this matter, it is best for you to handle it." So many days had passed, and after pondering for so long, Lin Yue had already thought of several solutions. After considering them, she still felt this was the best approach. Initially, she hesitated to send someone out due to finding no suitable candidate, feeling that something was amiss, but with Zhang Guo now pledging loyalty, her previous concerns and anxieties were gone. Lin Yue then shared her plan with Zhang Guo.

Upon hearing Lin Yue’s method, Zhang Guo’s eyes lit up. Indeed, the lady was as her grandfather had described her—not only kind but also very wise. She could manage the household well even in the absence of the male master. "Madam, this is an excellent plan. It really kills several birds with one stone. It not only resolves the current difficulties but also avoids causing too much loss and can even divide the refugees outside. As long as the majority of them are willing, those with ill intentions won’t be able to stir up trouble," Zhang Guo praised.

What was the method that Lin Yue had thought of which won Zhang Guo’s admiration? It was simply offering porridge. This was the most common practice among large households, but Lin Yue’s method was different. She did not offer porridge unconditionally or to just anyone. Instead, it was according to her particular system. She was willing to provide porridge, but the refugees also needed to contribute labor in exchange. They couldn’t expect to get something for nothing.

As for what work the refugees would do, the Zhao Family estate had been in the making for several months now. In the beginning, everyone was busy manufacturing goods for Zhao Erhu’s overseas venture, leaving no one spare to help build the house. And then it was the busy springtime planting season and everyone was too occupied with their own tasks. Moreover, the house being constructed was large, and the foundations were just laid; plenty of manpower was required. Although most of the refugees lacked skills, they did possess strength. They could assist with strenuous physical labor. Ancient construction mostly relied on brute force, so even with many refugees, there would be work available, and the construction of the estate would progress rapidly. As for expenses, these were already within the anticipated budget.

Zhang Guo communicated Lin Yue’s proposal to the refugees, and their initial reactions were mixed. Some were content to have food to eat and had no problem with working, as they would have been engaged in their own farm work at this time of year if not for the crops being destroyed by flooding, which forced them to seek out a meal for their families.

Others, however, felt Lin Yue’s method was excessive. They were accustomed to receiving "free meals" in recent days. Now being told they must work if they wanted to eat upset their sense of fairness. They thought it was much easier to take by force than to put in hard labor. Understandably, this group was in the minority.

"Why should we? Who ever heard of giving porridge for nothing, only to have to toil to get a bowl of thin porridge? This household is too stingy. Could it be that they see us down on our luck and think they can take advantage of us, bully and exploit us because they believe we are easy to push around? Don’t fall for their trick. Let’s storm in together; I refuse to believe that we can’t overpower a few household servants," someone in the crowd incited the others. Jian San was leading the agitation again, simply unwilling to accept Lin Yue’s terms. He had originally planned to seize any opportunity to create chaos and break in, having heard that the head of this household made a fortune at sea and was living in prosperity. If they managed to barge in and loot, he might be set for life, no longer having to endure poverty and even potentially rise in status. Moreover, considering the numerous conditions accompanying Lin Yue’s porridge distribution, he promptly incited others to make a fuss.

When someone stirred up trouble, many shared Jian San’s mindset and looked to take advantage of the situation, unwilling to agree to Lin Yue’s terms. Echoing him, they began making a ruckus, and the commotion nearly spiraled out of control.

Zhang Guo felt infuriated with the troublemaker Jian San, but this was not the time for impulsive actions. With his mind set on calming down some of the more agitated refugees, he pleaded, "Please, everyone, calm down and listen to me. I am in the same situation as you all, having lost our homes and seeking a way to survive. Now, this family is willing to give us a way out. What else is there to be unwilling about? Instead of risking danger and guilt by looting and robbing, isn’t it better to earn an honest, peaceful living through our own work?

Furthermore, their grain is earned through their own efforts. Why should they have to distribute their hard-earned grain to strangers they don’t even know? Would you be willing to do that in their place? If you yourself wouldn’t be willing, then on what grounds do you expect them to do so? Being insatiably greedy will not lead to a good end. One must act according to conscience."

With these words from Zhang Guo, many people in the crowd were persuaded, and the explosive scene calmed down significantly.