"Zhen Mi?" Liang Xiao looked at Mi'er before him with surprise.
Legend had it that Empress Wenzhao Zhen's name was Zhen Mi, a renowned beauty in history.
There was even a rumor that the "Ode to the Luo River Goddess" was written about this beauty!
However, this child was only ten years old. After a moment of surprise, Liang Xiao felt more concern for her.
Yue Lian took out two more steamed buns and offered them to Zhen Mi. Zhen Mi shook her head and weakly pointed to the refugees in the distance.
Liang Xiao's eyes showed more admiration. He had his guards fetch several baskets of steamed buns from behind, distributing them to those most severely suffering from hunger first.
Only then did Zhen Mi secretly gaze at the solemn Liang Xiao, who was looking at the refugees, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Zhen Mi silently took off the fox fur coat and returned it to Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao smiled gently and draped it back over Zhen Mi. "Good child, don't catch a cold."
Zhen Mi held back her tears and nodded obediently, not daring to disturb Liang Xiao's thoughts.
Behind the crowd, two furtive figures watched Liang Xiao from afar.
"Did you see it just now? Liang Xiao beat those two refugees? Hurry back and report that Liang Xiao beat refugees. The Dugu family can definitely use this opportunity to bring Liang Xiao down!"
The two rejoiced, and one of them quickly ran back to deliver the news.
Most of those who received the steamed buns were the elderly, weak, women, and children, who all kowtowed to Liang Xiao in thanks.
"I am not your master, and you are not slaves. No kneeling. Get up!" Liang Xiao responded sternly.
The refugees nervously stood up, still bowing in gratitude.
Liang Xiao then smiled and responded to them, leading Zhen Mi to the carriage. He asked, "Mi'er, are you willing to return to the Liang manor with us?"
Zhen Mi immediately burst into tears and knelt before Liang Xiao, crying out, "Mi'er greets Master!"
"No, no, no, I don't want to take you as a slave." Liang Xiao quickly helped Zhen Mi up.
Zhen Mi stopped crying, wiped her tears, bit her lower lip, and felt a great sense of loss.
She had thought she had found a good master who could provide her with food.
Liang Xiao said softly, "From now on, the Liang manor will be your home. Yue Lian and I will take care of you. You won't have to go hungry or cold anymore, and you can even learn to read and write."
Upon hearing this, Zhen Mi, who had intended to return to the refugee camp, was overcome with tears again. She stammered, "Mi'er dares not overstep her bounds. She only wishes to be a servant to the master..."
Liang Xiao smiled. "You don't have to. Yue Lian is also my family, and from now on, so are you. Just call me Brother."
Zhen Mi was extremely frightened and kept shaking her head, only wanting to be a servant. Finally, unable to refuse the persuasion of Liang Xiao and Yue Lian, she tearfully bowed to them separately.
"Mi'er greets Brother Xiao and Sister Yue Lian..."
"Good!" Yue Lian affectionately patted Zhen Mi's small head and, under Liang Xiao's arrangement, led Zhen Mi into the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Zhen Mi and Yue Lian gently pulled back the curtain and looked at Liang Xiao's retreating figure in the distance.
He stood alone in the wind, like a snow pine, exceptionally calm and composed.
The two sisters looked at Liang Xiao intently, as if wanting to imprint his image firmly in their minds.
Liang Xiao waited for a moment and finally welcomed the granary official, Li Ping.
The old man approached with a few bailiffs, looking at Liang Xiao with a puzzled expression.
"Are you perhaps the second son of General Zuo's manor?"
Liang Xiao nodded and asked, "Master Granary Official, I have something I don't understand. Why are these refugees starving, to the point of fainting from hunger?"
Li Ping was startled, then gave a wry smile. "It's because the relief silver for disaster relief is limited, and the grain merchants in the capital are taking advantage of the situation to raise prices."
Liang Xiao said gravely, "With His Majesty's wisdom, how could he not have foreseen such a situation? The key is whether this disaster relief silver has been siphoned off at various levels, or if someone intentionally reduced it?"
Li Ping looked at Liang Xiao with suspicion and whispered, "Second Young Master Liang, you are not in official circles. It is best to be cautious and reserved. Do not offend people over this matter and affect General Zuo's position in court."
Liang Xiao glanced at the refugees, as if talking to himself. "I have already consulted my grandfather about this matter. He supports me and allows me to act with discretion. I have already inquired and learned that you, Master Granary Official, are an upright official. This disaster relief silver was certainly not withheld by you, right?"
Li Ping said solemnly, "How would I dare commit such a capital offense? There is no withholding. It's just that the Ministry of Revenue only allocated this much, and I can only count every coin as I spend it."
"Ministry of Revenue?" Liang Xiao narrowed his eyes, as if remembering something.
Li Ping earnestly advised, "Precisely! The Minister of Revenue, Ouyang Ji, is Ouyang Sheng's second uncle. I have already heard of the enmity between you and Ouyang Sheng. The waters here run very deep; it is best you do not get involved!"
"It seems I'll need to find Grandpa or Xiao Shuangzi to help resolve this matter."
Liang Xiao made up his mind, suppressed his anger, and no longer troubled Li Ping. He asked, "Master Granary Official, I plan to recruit over five hundred workers from these refugees, providing food and lodging. Is that alright?"
Li Ping was overjoyed. "This is a win-win situation, of course! I believe that Second Young Master Liang, who composed 'Man Jiang Hong,' will surely treat the refugees well!"
The two agreed, and Liang Xiao selected six hundred people from the crowd, most of whom had families.
The six hundred people looked at Liang Xiao ahead with unease.
Liang Xiao simply asked loudly, "Do you want to eat your fill?"
The crowd was stunned, and they all nodded. "Yes!"
"Very well, follow me back to the Liang manor!"
Liang Xiao waved his hand, instructing his guards to escort the group back to the Liang manor, and returned to his carriage.
Zhen Mi blinked her large, watery eyes and weakly asked, "Mas... Brother Xiao wants to recruit workers?"
Liang Xiao nodded. "Employing them can reduce the number of refugees and create jobs. It's a win-win situation."
"Then Mi'er will also do it with everyone," Zhen Mi said happily.
Liang Xiao repeatedly shook his head. "This is not something a child can do. You should focus on your studies."
"But there are children and the elderly among the people Brother Xiao is recruiting!" Zhen Mi asked, confused.
Liang Xiao explained, "The main workforce will be adults. They will be taking care of their families, elders, and children. We will also hire a few tutors and physicians so that they have medical care when sick and support in old age, and education for the young. With their worries removed, both they and I can be at ease."
Not only Zhen Mi, but even Yue Lian looked astonished.
They had never heard of someone being so generous and magnanimous.
If things continued like this, what kind of business would not incur losses?
Liang Xiao did not elaborate further but chatted with them.
With a place to live, Zhen Mi couldn't help but cry with joy. After crying until she was exhausted, she fell into a deep sleep in Yue Lian's arms.
Yue Lian stroked Zhen Mi's hair and couldn't help but shed tears.
"I was like Mi'er back then. My parents died, and because I was frail, I fell ill. I knelt by the roadside, wanting to sell myself, but no one wanted me. Three ruffians tried to snatch the food I had received, and it was Young Master who came out to save me..."
Yue Lian spoke with great emotion, unable to help but look at Liang Xiao, her eyes brimming with tears.
Liang Xiao chuckled. "It's just that I was also young then and couldn't beat them. So I had to hold you in my arms and let them kick and beat us until my parents arrived."
He understood that his arrival in this world was both as the former Liang Xiao and the present Liang Xiao.
"So, the Yue Lian of that time had already resolved that even if she were to be a slave for the Young Master for all eternity, she would have no regrets. Yet, the Young Master treats Yue Lian so well," Yue Lian said, her tears, which she had finally managed to hold back, welling up again.
"You are my Liang Xiao's family. If you ever call yourself a servant again, I will eat you!" Liang Xiao comforted her, pretending to be angry again.
Yue Lian was startled and then wiped away her tears, nodding obediently.
Behind the crowd, the remaining furtive figure's eyes gleamed.
"This Liang Xiao even dares to recruit refugees? Perfect! Just say he's recruiting private soldiers and raising loyalists. Let's see when his head will roll!"