Chapter 29 Li Haoniu

  Li Haoniu

  Seeing a group of beggars eating with great relish, the sound of chewing and swallowing was deafening. Each one seemed to be trying to swallow their own tongue. Yao Feng was startled and hastily instructed: "There's enough food for everyone, from now on, you'll be fed every day, but be careful not to choke to death! Li Haoniu! Li Haoniu! Keep an eye on them, don't let them eat too much!"

  Li Haoniu had already stuffed a white steamed bun into his mouth and was chewing hard, while the other hand still tightly grasped three more. When Yao Feng called him, he only responded with a muffled sound, Yao Feng couldn't make out what he was saying, so he shook his head and went back to the courtyard.

  He Shicheng, Zhou Di, Wang Gui, Wang Xin and six other partners stood at the door with their hands in their sleeves, watching these beggars eat, with a look of contempt on their faces, and a million unwillingness in their hearts.

  Wang Gui saw Yao Fan enter the house and discuss matters with Su Sanjie, so he quietly opened his mouth to scold: "Shi Cheng, Fourth, you two are really stupid, urging Master Dong to bring these flowers back as partners! If Second Master finds out about this later, he will definitely slap your faces!" Wang Gui had been working at He Wannian's pawnshop for over a year, although he was still an unpaid apprentice, but he had more experience than others.

  Zhou looked at He Shicheng without making a sound for a moment.

  He Shicheng, who had previously been moved to tears by Yao Weng's words, thought he was going to serve Yao Weng for the rest of his life. Now, with a high opinion of himself, he couldn't bear this remark and cursed: "You...! Don't try to use Second Master to pressure me! I'm now one of our master's people, not some shop assistant! Besides, it was our master who came up with this idea! Who dares say no? Which mouth is so insolent again, I'll beat him with a stick!"

  Fourth week saw He Shicheng speaking in a hard tone, also opening his mouth to say: "That's right! Since the master has made up his mind, we should shut our mouths and follow the master's orders!"

  Wang Gui's face turned bright red with anger after being scolded by He Shi Cheng, and to make matters worse, Zhou Di who had come with him also betrayed him. In a fit of rage, he turned around and stormed into the courtyard. Wang Xin was from the same village as Wang Gui, seeing that Wang Gui had lost face, he could only follow Wang Gui into the courtyard.

  Su Sanjie also heard that Yao Feng brought back ten ghosts at the door, and asked Yao Feng strangely: "Brother, you went to recruit people, how did you recruit a group of ghosts?"

  Yao Feng smiled and said, "I also wanted to recruit some clever and agile ones, but I didn't expect that the people of Qingdao are all stubborn, so I'll just spend a thousand gold coins to buy a horse's bone and let everyone here take a look."

  Su Sanjie smiled and said: "So brother is reading 'The Strategies of the Warring States', I understand what you mean, I'll make sure to dress up these dolls nicely."

  Yao Feng finally laughed from the heart, grasping San Jie's hand and saying: "San Jie you're really clever, I had even forgotten that this was an anecdote from 'The Strategies of the Warring States'!"

  Third sister was caught off guard by Yao Feng's grasp of her hand, and her heartbeat almost jumped out of her throat. She hurriedly tried to pull her hand back from Yao Feng's "I read it at home when I was young, I didn't dare forget."

  Yao Feng then felt a bit abrupt, haha laughed and let go of San Jie's hand, changing the subject: "This Qingdao doesn't even have a bathtub, it seems we'll have to give them a bath in the courtyard."

  Third sister's face was still red: "I'll get Shicheng to go and set up a pot of boiling water, then move the wooden tub into the courtyard. Even if it's hot weather like this, I'm not worried about catching a chill."

  Yao Fan nodded and went out to watch the beggars eat, only to see that these beggars had already eaten their bellies full, but still stuffed food into their stomachs like starving ghosts.

  "Li Haoniu! Tell them to stop it, or someone will die from eating!" Yao Feng commanded.

  Li Haoniu heard Yao Fangfa's words and immediately stopped the sumptuous feast of the beggars. Two beggars who refused to stop eating were slapped by Li Haoniu with a loud slap on the ears.

  Yao Feng looked at him silently, but in his heart, he felt that Li Hai had some leadership skills and was not the kind of person who would nod and agree but couldn't get things done.

  "Get someone to help you carry the bathtub into the yard, assist Third Sister in pouring hot water into it, and then bring out a few bars of soap for them to bathe with in the yard."

  He Shicheng hurriedly got busy.

  "Xiao Si, you bring people to call the water car in the city, buy some water and fill up the water tank in the backyard, I'm afraid there won't be enough water."

  Zhou also hurriedly went on Thursday.

  "Wang Gui, you go to the pawnshop and find some decent clothes for them to change into. Get ten sets of single-layer shirts and pants, twenty pairs of underwear, and twenty pairs of cloth socks. If they don't have any at the pawnshop, then go to the fabric store and buy new ones. Also get shoes in various sizes, just bring back as many as you can, and let them try on until they find a pair that fits. If He Wannian asks, just say it's for me, and put it all on my account."

  Wang Gui had been serving at Yao Fang's place, this could be considered the first time he got an errand, he responded with a "yes", and then jumped out three feet high.

  Li Hai's lean face was slightly flushed, and it was clear that he was stirred up in his heart: "Mr. Yao Dongjia, you are really too good to us, tomorrow we will definitely work hard to repay the master."

  Yao Fan smiled faintly and said, "There's no rush to get things done, and determination isn't just about talking. Now the five of you go in and take a bath together, make sure to wash thoroughly, use soap to get rid of that stench from before, and throw away all your dirty clothes, change into new ones from head to toe." After speaking, Yao Fan turned around and entered the backyard house.

  By the time these ten beggars had all bathed and changed their clothes, two hours had passed.

  Under the oil lamp in the shop, Yao Fan looked at these ten beggars with a sense of pride, their bodies emitting a fresh soap smell, wearing clean single-layer clothes. He sat on the chair in the center of the shop and said to the people standing in front of him:

  "Now that you've entered our door, from now on we're one family. As long as you work hard, you won't have to worry about food and drink, and your monthly pay will be sufficient. There aren't many rules here, and we don't bother with formalities like bowing, but absolutely no deceitful or cheating behavior is allowed."

  Li Haoniu stood at the front, led these ten new partners to make a long bow, and after standing up, he said: "I, Li Haoniu, and everyone else thank the master for his great kindness. The master is willing to take in us, who were waiting for death by the roadside, and treat us so generously, giving us good food and clothes. We can't repay him even if we work like oxen."

  Yao Fan interrupted his nonsense and said directly: "I don't want you to be oxen, you are all born of parents just like me, with two legs and two hands. There's no reason for anyone to starve to death. You used to beg because you were forced by circumstances, it's not your fault. From now on, as long as you work hard, good days will come."

  These ten people were moved by Yao Fan's words, excitedly learning from Li Haoniu, and one after another bowed to the ground, saying: "We will definitely listen to your teachings."

  He Shicheng and Zhou Di, Wang Gui and others stood on one side of the shop, looking at them with disdain in their hearts.

  Yao Fan watched the beggars' every move, and in his opinion, Li Haoniu seemed somewhat different from the others. Although this man was thin, he spoke with a tone that seemed wise, and unlike other beggars who would kneel down and kowtow at the slightest provocation, he bowed and made gestures with great dignity.

  Yao Fan said with a glance: "All of you go down, follow He Shicheng to the outer courtyard, and sleep in the wing room that has been tidied up. You can squeeze together on the big kang."

  Li Haoniu, you stay behind.

  Li Haibull was stunned after hearing this.

  The dim oil lamp flickered and shone on Li Haichao's face, it could be seen that he was somewhat uneasy about being left alone.

  Yao Fan stared at Li Haoniu's face for a long time before suddenly speaking up: "Li Haoniu, you said earlier that you can read."

  "If I go back home, it's just recognizing a few big words, can't make an article." Li Haibei hurriedly explained.

  Yao Fan said noncommittally, "I think you're thin, but your appearance is impressive. After this grooming, I feel even more that I didn't misjudge you. Li Haoniu, how did you end up becoming a beggar?"

  "If I go back to Dongjia, Haicow's hometown is in trouble, and Haicow escapes to Qingdao Port."

  Yao Fan said nonchalantly, "All partners must register in the book for future reference when the government checks the family origin and birth. What do you plan to do? How will you register?"

  Li Haibei heard this, obviously becoming tense, and stammered: "Haibei... Haibei's family had long since dispersed, the villagers also all escaped, afraid that it would be impossible to find the original clan for verification."

  Li Haibei knelt down with a thud and said, "Please accept me as your servant, I am willing to change my surname!"

  Yao Fan had previously suspected that Li Hai Niu was not an ordinary beggar. With this probe, he roughly understood the situation in his heart.

  He took a step forward and helped Li Haoniu up, personally dusting off the dirt on his pants and saying: "Didn't I say no kneeling was allowed here?"

  Never mind, I won't ask where you came from either. No matter where you came from or what you did before, just follow me from now on. One day when you have a clear understanding of my character and think it through clearly, you will naturally tell me.

  "Manatee, you've got a good foundation, although you're a bit gaunt now, but it's clear that you used to be a sturdy big guy. I just saw how decisive you were in taking action and being able to control others, this is something I appreciate. If you follow me and do well from now on, I'll definitely help you make a name for yourself."

  Li Haoniu was shocked by Yao Fan's words, and he couldn't guess how much Yao Fan had seen through him, nor could he figure out why Yao Fan had let him off despite having seen some clues. He also didn't know what Yao Fan's intentions were in letting him go, or what tasks he would be asked to do in the future.

  Just thinking about staying and having the delicious food they had earlier, the fragrant pork fat stir-fried with salted vegetables, the fragrant white steamed buns, and the golden millet porridge, Li Haichao felt that even if he would face a knife pit in the future, he would still be willing to jump into it.

  Li Haibei immediately bowed deeply and said: "Haibei thanks Dongjia for taking care of him! Haibei will definitely work hard to repay the kindness of rebirth!"

  According to Yao Fang's speculation, Li Haoniu might have been a bandit or an escaped member of the Nian Rebellion before becoming a beggar, and was possibly involved in more serious violent crimes rather than soft crimes like fraud.

  Yao Feng found that Li Haoniu's gaze was very determined and profound, but not cold. He had previously taken action at the door, pulling out those two beggars who didn't listen and continued to eat, just looking at his movements, he knew the degree of calmness in his mind.

  Yao Fan wants this kind of person. He has made up his mind to rebel, and he needs a large number of capable people, even fugitives.

  "Go and rest," said Yao Fang with a wave of his hand.

  Li Haoniu lowered his head and retreated a few steps back to the door, turned around and walked out of the store.

  Yao Fan muttered to himself, "The greatest crime of the Qing dynasty is rebellion. Li Haoniu's past crimes were probably just rebellions, right? If so, it's actually good. Once you've done something once, doing it again won't be a psychological burden."