Qiao Hu also accompanied Li Chengru in going to the tribe. Li Chengru meant to visit Ye Xiaoxian and her companions this time. But out of courtesy, he had to meet the tribal leader first. It was a good opportunity to test this leader’s character. But Mahal was not at home. The tribe was so large that it was not easy to find a missing man.
When Dati learned about Qiao Hu’s visit, she hurriedly asked her daughter to look for Mahal. After riding quite some distance, Guri finally found her father at the foot of a mountain. She was confused about why her father was there. But time was limited. “Dad, the official has come again with a handsome guy. He asked you to go back quickly.”
Hearing this, Mahal mounted his horse immediately.
On the way back, Guri asked, “Dad, why did you go there? Nobody lives in that place.”
Mahal hummed and hawed. But with the dignity of a father, he said, “I just passed by and wanted to see whether there are places to grow things at that mountain. I have to consider the refugees who may come later.”
Guri was convinced.
After they went back, Mahal greeted Qiao Hu respectfully. Next to Qiao Hu was a handsome, imposing young man who had an impatient look on his face. A cup of milk tea was placed in front of him, barely drunk and cold.
Mahal scolded, “Why don’t you refill the cup with warm milk tea for our guest?”
Li Chengru waved his hand. “No, thanks. I’m not used to this.”
Only then did Qiao Hu introduce the young man. “This is the Seventh King.”
The Seventh King? No wonder he looks like a man of noble birth!
Shocked, Qiao Hu hastened to ask, “Is there a problem which brings you here in person?”
Li Chengru said, “Some time ago, my friends were assigned to your tribe. I’m wondering how they are doing now.”
“Friends? Which friends?” Mahal felt a cold shiver of fear running through him.
He had never treated any refugees well. Instead, he either used them as slaves or sent them to live far away.
Li Chengru frowned at Qiao Hu. “Didn’t you tell him?”
Qiao Hu explained, “Before we came here, Mrs. Ye told me they didn’t need special care from the tribe. So I just escorted them here. They didn’t say they were your friends.”
Li Chengru said, “It’s okay. No big deal. I believe our tribal leader must have resettled them well, right?”
Mahal rolled his eyes and thought for a second. Then, he clapped his thigh and replied, “Yes, I’ve resettled them well. When they arrived here, I gave them yurts and taught them how to plant potatoes and trees. Gradually, their lives become better with their own business. I’ve also sent a local to teach them the dialect. Now, many locals have a good impression of them.”
Li Chengru became suspicious when he caught a hint of mischief in Mahal’s eyes. “Good. Then take me to see them.”
There was a huge difference between going alone and having the tribal leader’s company. If he went with the leader, the leader would be completely at his disposal. If he went alone, the leader wouldn’t admit to his mistakes.
After a while, they rode their horses to where Ye Xiaoxian and her companions were living.
Li Chengru asked, “Why is it so far?”
Mahal replied timidly, “They wanted a plot of land to grow something, but most of the pastures have been allocated. Only this land is available, so… they have to live a little far out. Ho ho.”
At this moment, Ye Xiaoxian was making crisps outside the yurts. When she turned around, she saw a group of people approaching. As they came nearer, she recognized Li Chengru, Mahal and also Qiao Hu.
Why is Li Chengru here? Does he get bored in downtown?
As they moved closer, she finally noticed Xiao Baofeng. Cheerfully, she shouted at the yurt, “Mom, Baofeng is back!”
Hearing that, Li Hongmei and Xiao Baozhu hurried outside. Most people had gone to catch fish and cut firewood, so only a few were in the yurts. Learning of the news, Squire Liu and all the others came out at once.
In the past, they had usually chatted and laughed with Li Chengru, who was just like one of them. But after discovering his identity, none of them dared to talk to him casually.
With quick thinking, Squire Liu said to the others instantly, “Hurry up! Greet our king!”
All of a sudden, some knelt to kowtow, some saluted and some bowed. Their ways of greeting were all different, which created a funny effect.
Li Chengru sighed softly. “Don’t stand on ceremony. Just call me Mr. Li as usual,” he said.
His words relaxed them a bit. Xiao Baofeng also ran to Li Hongmei and Ye Xiaoxian.
When Ye Xiaoxian invited them in, Li Chengru noticed the patches on the yurts and asked, “What’s wrong with these? Didn’t my sixth brother give you new yurts? Why are you living in the old ones?”
Mahal’s legs trembled uncontrollably. He coughed, trying to stop them from talking nonsense.
Of course, Squire Liu was an honest man who never talked nonsense. He only told the truth. “Oh? Really? We don’t know about that at all. The yurts we got had many holes, but we repaired them ourselves.”
Li Chengru turned to Mahal, questioning him with his piercing eyes.
Thinking fast, Mahal hastily explained, “Well… We indeed received some new yurts. But when they came, the yurts hadn’t been cleaned. So I let them live in the old ones for a while.”
Li Chengru asked, “Have they been cleaned yet?”
“Ye-yes.”
“Then why don’t you give the new yurts to them? Do you think it proper to let so many people live in only three yurts?”
Mahal wanted to respond that the yurts were big enough to accommodate them all. But he couldn’t defy a king.
“I see. I see. I’ll give them the new yurts later.”
After they took their seats, Ye Xiaoxian gave each of them a cup of warm milk tea. The goat milk here was very cheap at 10 yuan per bucket, if calculated in a modern way. It was rich in protein which was good for both adults’ and children’s health. So, every day, Ye Xiaoxian would cook a pot of milk tea for people to drink.
Li Chengru didn’t like the milk tea served in Mahal’s home, but he was soon attracted by the delicious smell as Ye Xiaoxian handed him the cup. As soon as he took a sip of the milk tea, the combined tastes of sweet milk and mellow tea gave him a good appetite. After drinking a cup, he even wanted to have another.
Xiao Baofeng was also savoring the milk tea which he had never tasted in the palace. How he wished that he could stay here and drink it every day!
Li Chengru put down his cup and turned to Squire Liu. “Do you have enough food?”
Every time Li Chengru asked a question, Mahal’s hands would shake involuntarily.
“Yes, I suppose so. We’ve planted some potatoes and fruit trees, but we have to wait a time for the harvest. Fortunately, we have some money to support our living. Besides, Little Ye is running a small business and we catch fish every day. So basically, we can manage.”
Li Chengru asked, “Have you eaten all your relief food?”
“Relief food?” Squire Liu pretended to be confused. “Do we have relief food?”
Li Chengru gave a fierce look to Mahal again.
Mahal excused himself nervously, “It was autumn when they came here. Considering their need for food in winter, we decided to distribute it at that time.”
“Oh? How much can we get then?” Squire Liu asked.
“Ten kilograms for each person,” Mahal replied.
Squire Liu cheered. “Great! With that, we can at least get through this winter. When can we get the food then?”
Mahal said, “Tomorrow morning. We’ll distribute it to you after the language class.”
Squire Liu praised him. “Mr. Mahal is such a good leader. He’s considerate to us in all aspects and even let a teacher teach us the local dialect.”
His words pleased Mahal greatly.
But Li Chengru got Squire Liu’s implication and asked, “Do you need to pay any tuition fees?”
“Of course not. It is included in the taxes.” Squire Liu assumed an air of innocence.
“Taxes?” Li Chengru was perplexed.
Squire Liu explained, “Mr. Mahal said everyone here has to pay taxes. We paid two silver taels yesterday and got a receipt.”
Mahal rolled his eyes with anger.
Squire Liu added, “I’d say Mr. Mahal is very foresighted. Some people may enjoy the tribal benefits, but say they don’t have money when it’s time to pay taxes. It’s wise to collect money early. Am I right, Mr. Mahal?”
Li Chengru asked, “What are the taxes for?”
Mahal tried desperately to wriggle out of giving a clear answer.
Getting no response, Li Chengru said to Qiao Hu, “Check if others also pay so much and if the refugees are well looked after. Do a thorough investigation.”
These days, Li Chengru had been helping his brother with refugee resettlement, so he had the right to manage that.
Mahal suddenly felt depressed.
With a “puzzled” look, Squire Liu asked, “Mr. Mahal, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” he said as hatred welled up inside him.
Well done! Just you wait and see! I’ll definitely teach you a lesson!
When Mahal expected Li Chengru to leave immediately, this distinguished guest said that he would spend a night here. Of course, Li Chengru stayed to supervise his work.
