Chapter 290: Unfortunate People

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Liu Yi arrived at a straw shed. An old woman with gray hair was carefully scrubbing her clothes. Her fingers were bent and deformed, and her hands were white and wrinkled from the water.

“Aunt Xue,” Liu Yi shouted. Aunt Xue looked up and saw Liu Yi smiling. “Team Leader Liu, you’re here to patrol the streets personally?”

“I’m here to look for you,” Liu Yi told her the news. Auntie Xue didn’t believe him and said suspiciously, “Really? Do you think it’ll be like Rong Yang Hall a few years ago? They made it sound good, but in the end, they coaxed people into doing hard labor and threw them to the mass grave after they fell ill.”

Liu Yi thought for a moment and shook his head. “I don’t think so. During the magistrate’s patrol this time, two of my brothers were guarding him. When they came back, they all said that Lord Zhou is not bad. Besides, the magistrate’s wife is a First-grade Madam conferred by the Imperial Court. I don’t think Lord Zhou and his wife are like those hypocritical and cunning aristocratic families. I’ve also invited the three siblings. When the time comes, you can take care of one another.”

Auntie Xue nodded and smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Shui Sheng and the others.”

Liu Yi strolled around West City and went out to talk to a few young beggars before returning to the government office. He listed the people he had informed and went to find a few other colleagues. Those people provided some more people they knew. There were seventeen or eighteen old people in total and more than twenty children.

When Ruyi, Zhao Cai, and the others returned, Zhou Jia told them about Li Yu’s decision to take in some lonely old people and orphans. He asked them to buy some bedding, cotton, and rough cloth tomorrow morning.

The sun rose and it was another new day. Li Yu saw that Yangyang and Seven

Pounds were unwilling to go to Mr. Lu. She smiled and asked the two of them,

“Why aren’t you going to Mr. Lu’s classroom yet? Sir is going to class later.”

Yangyang twisted his butt and pouted. “It’s not fun. I’m not going.” Seven Pounds nodded honestly.

Li Yu looked at the two of them and thought to herself that they were only at the age of going to kindergarten in the modern world. It was indeed a little difficult to make them sit obediently. She thought of applying for leave for them and bringing them West City to take a look.

“Alright, I’m going to West City to take a look today. You guys go with me to take a look. Go and ask Sir for leave yourself.”

Yangyang pulled Seven Pounds and said, “Alright, we’ll ask Sir for leave.”

The two of them held hands and cupped their hands awkwardly when they reached Mr. Lu. “Sir, Mother (Madam) said that she wants to take us to West City and asked us to apply for leave from you.”

Mr. Lu looked at the two of them and smiled. He said gently, “Go!” The two of them happily held hands and returned to the main courtyard.

Li Yu brought Gu Yu and Xing Hua to the front hall with the two children. Mr. Qian brought Liu Yi there. After greeting them, Mr. Qian took out the list Liu Yi had given him and handed it to Li Yu. “Madam, this is the list of people provided by Team Leader Liu. Please take a look.”

Li Yu took the list and looked at it. “Team Leader Liu, explain first. Let’s go take a look together.”

Liu Yi took the list and said to Li Yu, “Madam, the eldest of the three siblings in this family is called Shuisheng. His sister is six and a half years old, and his third brother is less than five years old. His parents died less than a year ago and he was chased out of the house by his uncle’s family. When he was begging at the city gate last year, he was forced to steal something. After I saved him, he and his siblings were brought to that empty house to stay. Madam Xue was chased out by her adopted son and daughter-in-law. She has always lived in that straw shed and lives by washing clothes. Those children often rely on her to support them. Otherwise, they would have been long gone.”

When Li Yu heard this, she thought about the validity of the saying about those with happy lives were the same and those with unhappy lives had their sorrows.

“Alright, as expected, you guys know better. Let’s go take a look at the families you mentioned!”

Mr. Qian looked at Yangyang and Seven Pounds and said, “Does Madam plan to bring Young Master and Seven Pounds along?”

Li Yu smiled and replied, “Yes, let them take a look and realize that not everyone lives the same way as them. Let them know that there are still hardships in the world.”

Liu Yi heard this and looked at Li Yu in surprise. He didn’t understand why a family like Li Yu’s would let a child know this.

The group took a carriage to West City. Liu Yi cupped his hands at Li Yu, who was carrying Yangyang. “Madam, the alley at the corner of the city is very dirty. Why don’t you wait here? I’ll bring her out for you to take a look.”

“It’s fine. Let’s go in and take a look.” Li Yu carried Yangyang and strode into the alley.

When Li Yu walked in, she realized that the dark ditches on both sides of the alley were probably blocked, causing the sewage to flow to the middle of the road and emit an unpleasant stench. A pile of green-headed flies buzzed where the sun was shining.

Seeing Xing Hua covering her nose, Yangyang and Seven Pounds imitated her and covered their noses with their fat hands. “Mother, it stinks.” Yangyang and Seven Pounds covered their noses and wa tched curiously. The people in the house by the roadside opened the door to take a look. With a bang, the door closed again. The house at the intersection in front looked a little decent. However those at the back of the corner were probably built casually. They saw rows of low straw houses that appeared on the verge of collapse.

Liu Yi saw that Shuisheng, his siblings, and Aunt Xue were already waiting at the door. It seemed that they had specially washed up.

Yangyang and Seven Pounds looked curiously at the rows of straw sheds and the siblings standing at the door. Yangyang pointed at the patch on Sanzi’s pants and said to Li Yu, “Mother, Brother’s clothes are torn. Let him wear Yangyang’s clothes.”

Li Yu looked at the three children’s sallow and thin faces and felt a little sad. She said gently, “Alright, I’ll get someone to make new clothes for Brother.”

Liu Yi went forward and said to the stunned people, “Auntie Xue, Shui Sheng, this is the magistrate’s wife, and this is Mr. Qian.”

Auntie Xue and Shui Sheng pulled the two children and were about to kneel when Li Yu took a step forward to stop them. She smiled and said gently, “There’s no need to be so polite. I wonder if Team Leader Liu has made it clear to you?

Auntie Xue and Shui Sheng nodded in fear. “Madam, don’t worry. Team Leader

Liu told us that we’ll work hard.”

Li Yu looked at Madam Xue’s gray hair. She was less than 50 years old but looked like she was 60 years old. She smiled and nodded. “Alright, when you’re done packing, follow us to pick up the others.”

“Aye!” Aunt Xue replied happily.

The few of them continued forward and suddenly heard a woman’s miserable scream in front of them. Yangyang was shocked and hid his head in Li Yu’s arms. Li Yu patted his back and looked at Seven Pounds who was being carried by Gu Yu. He also looked terrified. Li Yu comforted the two of them and said to the vigilant Liu Yi, “Team Leader Liu, go and see what happened?”

Liu Yi hesitated and did not move. “Madam, this place is very chaotic. What if.. ”

Li Yu looked at him and said unquestionably, “Go!”

Liu Yi ran toward the source of the sound. When he reached two wooden houses, he could no longer hear anything. Liu Yi determined that the scream he had heard just now had come from inside. He went forward and knocked on the door. “Open up. The government office is patrolling the streets. Open up.”

Liu Yi went forward and knocked on the door. A man in the house scolded arrogantly, “Get lost, son of a bitch. If you knock again, I’ll tear you apart..”

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