Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Chapter 337 Wage Arrears

In just six months, the transformation of Jia Village is truly astonishing. Zhang Jingwei still remembers the last time he passed by: a desolate scene: crooked thatched huts, muddy country roads, and a dilapidated waterwheel creaking at the village entrance. Now, the thatched huts have been replaced by neat tiled houses, the bluestone-paved roads are clean and smooth, and the newly repaired waterwheel is happily turning, splashing crystal water.

The early morning chill hadn't yet dissipated. Several peasant women squatted by the river, washing vegetables, their hands red from the cold, yet they worked briskly. Children in thick cotton jackets chased and played on the roadside, their chubby figures resembling little balls. Strangely, the village, which should have been bustling, seemed unusually deserted.

"Why is there no one here?" Zhang Jingwei frowned and looked around.

Huangfu Ling gathered her cloak and whispered, "I'm afraid I'm going to the county town to meet you, right?"

Zhang Liu stroked his beard and nodded, "It's very likely. Old Jia values ​​friendship, so he must have taken his men to the county town early this morning."

Mu Tou carried his axe and looked around cautiously: "This village feels strange today. From the moment I entered the village until now, I haven't seen a single man."

Liang Dahai grinned and said, "If we want to receive the young master, we have to find some pretty young girls, or at least some charming young women..." Before he could finish his words, Huangfu Ling glared at him and he shut up quickly.

Zhang Jingwei jumped off the carriage and walked towards a young woman who was hanging clothes. "Miss, is Village Chief Jia here?"

The woman turned around at the sound, and was startled at first, then exclaimed in surprise, "Master Zhang! You've become stronger. I almost didn't recognize you!"

"Do you know me?" Zhang Jingwei was a little surprised.

"Of course!" The woman put down the clothes in her hands and gestured excitedly. "You even told me a story! Back then you always called us 'little sisters'."

Zhang Jingwei studied the woman's face carefully, then suddenly realized, "Oh! You're... Xiaotao?" He patted his forehead and said seriously, "Uncle Jia, what is going to Yaoying for?"

Xiao Tao's smile instantly vanished, and she lowered her voice, "To demand wages. Earlier, the military said there was demolition and construction work going on in the kiln camp, and we sent over twenty strong men from our village, but they didn't pay us a cent and even beat us up. Yesterday, a servant named Qian showed up, claiming to be one of your men, and today all the men in the village went to demand an explanation."

Zhang Jingwei's face suddenly changed: "The military bank owes wages? This is impossible!" He knew the rules of the military bank too well. Military wages have always been paid on time and have never been delayed.

Xiao Tao curled her lips: "I knew you wouldn't believe it. Sister Xiao Cui is at home, you know her well, go ask her yourself!"

Zhang Jingwei turned and walked quickly back to the carriage, his face solemn. "Change the route to Yaoying. I must personally take care of this matter." He jumped on his horse and turned back to instruct Xiaotao, "Tell the villagers that I will take care of this matter."

Mu Tou was already carrying his axe, eager to give it a try: "Master, I will lead the charge into the camp this time!"

Huangfu Ling gently held Zhang Jingwei's arm and said, "Don't be impatient. Ask clearly first. The military has always followed the rules. There must be something fishy going on here."

Zhang Jingwei took a deep breath and nodded. But as he looked toward Yaoying, his brow furrowed ever deeper. Above the sky, faint wisps of black smoke rose, appearing especially glaring in the morning light.

……

Zhang Jingwei and his group followed Xiao Tao to a small blue brick courtyard at the east end of the village. The door was half-closed, and a suppressed cough could be faintly heard from inside. Xiao Tao gently pushed the door open and called out, "Sister Xiao Cui, look who's here!"

There was a rustling sound inside the house, and then a haggard young woman parted the curtains and emerged. She was about twenty years old, and though her face was pale, her eyes still showed her former beauty. When she saw who it was, her previously dull eyes suddenly lit up. "Young Master Zhang... Young Master Zhang?"

"Sister Xiao Cui!" Zhang Jingwei hurried forward, but was shocked by Xiao Cui's appearance. The elegant girl in his memory was now so thin that her cheekbones were prominent, and her right hand was still wrapped in a thick cloth, with faint traces of blood.

Xiao Cui awkwardly gathered her messy hair, her voice trembling a little: "Sit inside, it's cold outside." She staggered obviously when she turned around, and Huangfu Ling quickly supported her.

The room was tidier than expected, but the medicine jars and herbs hanging out to dry in the corner were particularly eye-catching. Xiao Cui poured everyone some coarse tea, so bland that the color was almost invisible.

"Your hand..." Zhang Jingwei couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Cui subconsciously hid her injured hand in her sleeve: "It's okay, I just accidentally burned myself in the kiln a few days ago." She forced a smile, "I heard that the young master became the county magistrate? That's great..."

Zhang Jingwei interrupted her directly: "Sister Xiao Cui, what's going on? Why did Uncle Jia and the others go to the kiln camp to ask for their wages?"

Xiao Cui's smile froze. She stared down at her tea bowl, and after a moment's pause, she spoke: "Three months ago, the military came and said they wanted to expand the kiln camp and offer generous wages. Over twenty men from the village went, and they agreed to pay them every ten days..." Her voice trailed off. "In the end, after two months of work, I didn't get paid a penny. My father-in-law went to argue with them, and was beaten up..."

Huangfu Ling suddenly grasped Xiao Cui's bandaged hand and asked, "This burn was caused by someone using a branding iron, right?"

Xiao Cui pulled her hand away abruptly, tears finally falling. "They...they said the workers in our village were lazy and slacking off, and they wanted to deduct their wages. Later, they simply said our people stole materials...The soldiers came a few nights that day and turned the village upside down..."

Zhang Jingwei slammed his fist on the table, making the teacup clink. He gritted his teeth and said, "How dare they... do this!" He stood up suddenly and said, "Sister Xiao Cui, don't worry, I will get to the bottom of this matter!"

Xiao Cui grabbed his sleeve tightly and said, "Don't go! Those people are very fierce... Yesterday, Brother Qian said you were coming, so my father-in-law and the others mustered up the courage..."

Huangfu Ling felt something was wrong and quickly reminded him, "Calm down and think about it. If someone from the real Junxing knew you were coming to Gaoyang, how could they not come to greet you?"

Zhang Jingwei frowned, his expression extremely grim: "You mean... they are not military troops at all?"

Just as everyone was about to leave, a sudden commotion erupted from the village entrance. Xiao Tao ran in in a panic: "Oh no! Uncle Jia and the others are back, and many people are injured!"

Zhang Jingwei rushed out the door and saw a group of villagers stumbling towards the village entrance, some supporting the wounded, some carrying stretchers. Jia Renyi, who was at the front, had blood all over his face, but he was still shouting, "Quick! Carry the injured to the ancestral hall! Xiao Cui! Bring the medicine box!"

When Jia Renyi saw Zhang Jingwei standing in the courtyard, the fifty-year-old man's legs suddenly weakened and he fell to the ground: "Master...you have to make the decision for us!"