Chapter 1396: Being a Doormat Is Out of the Question
Chapter 1396: Chapter 1396: Being a Doormat Is Out of the Question
A long drought met with sweet dew, after two months of dryness, at last a heavy rain arrived, not only making the drought-affected people cry with joy, but also many officials breathed a sigh of relief. Rain is good, the Emperor’s mood should lighten up too.
The heavy rain continued intermittently for several days, taking away much of the summer heat. However, due to the prolonged duration of this disaster, the influx of refugees into the capital was rather large.
The Court issued daily frequent directives; as the disaster dissipates, various places are waiting for rejuvenation, and additional crops must be planted to cope with the winter. The officials working in the Court were all worn so thin that they lost a size, among them, several Princes were competing for credit, causing chaos.
National affairs are in turmoil.
Song Ci visited the Charitable Hall. Since the onset of the disaster, the number of refugees taken in by the Charitable Hall has been increasing, and the porridge stall of the Prime Minister’s Mansion would set up from time to time. The newly opened Cixi Hall of the mansion also provided medicine and free consultations from time to time.
Indeed, Song Zhiyuan and Song Zhi discussed the possibility of partnering with Buhui to start a medicinal venture under Song Ci’s name, named Cixi Hall, primarily selling medicine. Some branches had one or two doctors to sit and consult, like the main store in the capital where there were two well-reputed doctors. During this period of disaster, the free consultations and medicine distribution swiftly established Cixi Hall’s reputation.
The carriage wheels clattered on the cobblestones of the street, as Song Ci looked out, there were many little beggars on the street. Some beggars were being driven away and scolded by shopkeepers, while some men in tattered clothes knelt on the ground, their hair flying, selling themselves.
Of course, such people rarely appear in front of noble residences and are mostly found in the West City.
"Sigh."
Chun Fen fanned herself and said, "Madam, what troubles you?"
"Great Qing isn’t a time of chaos, yet merely due to disaster already there’s selling of sons and daughters, some even separated from their families. If this were a time of chaos, wouldn’t it be worse?"
Nanny said, "Whenever there is a natural disaster, it’s inevitable."
"Relying solely on charity isn’t a long-term solution. Teaching a man to fish is better than giving him a fish. It’s better to let these people be self-reliant; sometimes charity only breeds laziness," Song Ci said calmly.
"Do you have any ideas?"
Before Song Ci could speak, the carriage suddenly came to a halt, and the driver began to curse.
"What happened?"
"To answer Madam, two little beggars blocked the carriage, the servants have already had the guards drive them away."
Song Ci lifted the curtain and looked out. There were two beggars about eleven or twelve years old, a boy and a girl; the girl was slightly older and shouted loudly, "Noble one, please buy me, I can do anything."
Song Ci said, "Give them some broken silver, send them to the Charitable Hall, don’t frighten them."
"Yes."
The cries faded away, and Nanny smiled and said, "I thought you would be kind-hearted enough to buy them."
Song Ci retorted, "I’m old but not senile. There are countless people like them in this city. If everyone rushed to my carriage wanting me to buy them, wouldn’t the Prime Minister’s Mansion be like a chicken coop without doors, open to anyone? I have kindness, but also selfishness. The first consideration is the safety of my family. The more people like this, the more cautious I must be, not foolishly bring them into the mansion."
Who knows what kind of people they are at heart?
If you accidentally bring a poisonous snake into the mansion, wouldn’t it be a great disaster?
"But, I have thought of leaving something here." Song Ci smiled mysteriously.