Chapter 229 - Chapter 229: Giving Porridge
Chapter 229: Giving Porridge
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Jiang Peihuan was feeling anxious at the moment. As winter days grew dark quickly, she really had no mood to deal with Xue Ru.
Upon hearing Jiang Peihuan’s words, Xue Ru looked upset. “Why waste good food on beggars? You must be overly fed.”
“Miss Xue, please be careful with your words!”
“Beggars are also humans. We should have compassion in our hearts. How can you speak like this?”
Jiang Ruyun looked furious hearing Xue Ru’s comments. Jiang Peihuan, however, didn’t even glance at Xue Ru and turned to Jiang Sijin. “Is everything ready?”
“Don’t worry, Eldest Sister. Everything is ready.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Jiang Peihuan exited the main door and mounted her horse. Seeing her actions, Jiang Ruyun and Jiang Sijin also mounted theirs, following behind Jiang Peihuan.
Watching the impressive convoy depart, Xue Ru’s eyes darkened.
“Elder Sister, why is Cousin Ru so annoying?”
“Just ignore her. Pretend she’s invisible.”
The group went straight to the city center market. As Jiang Peihuan dismounted, Deputy General Liu immediately approached, “Eldest Miss Jiang?” “Let’s start cooking the porridge.”
“Yes.”
As Jiang Peihuan proceeded, numerous beggars had already gathered, crowding the place. She didn’t need to think to know there were even more outside the city. As heavy snowfall continued, these beggars were still dressed in thin clothes.
Seeing this, Jiang Peihuan frowned.
“Deputy General Liu?
“Eldest Miss.”
“Go to the city’s cloth shop and buy ready-made cotton clothes. They don’t have to be of fine quality; coarse cloth will suffice. Buy in bulk.”
“Eldest Jiang, these clothes aren’t cheap.”
Hearing Jiang Peihuan’s instructions, Deputy General Liu glanced at the beggars. There was a hint of pity and sympathy in his eyes, but he still voiced his concerns. Jiang Peihuan simply smiled, “It’s fine.”
As she spoke, Jiang Peihuan handed a thick stack of silver notes to Deputy General Liu.
“Yes, I’ll go right away.”
Taking the silver notes from Jiang Peihuan’s hands, Deputy General Liu nodded softly.
“Remember, be quick!”
“Yes.”
After Deputy General Liu left, Jiang Peihuan instructed the people to start cooking the porridge. When the rice was poured into the pot, the eyes of the beggars were filled with desire.
Jiang Peihuan walked over to them, speaking softly, “Everyone, this porridge stall will be here for the next few days, ensuring everyone gets some. However, I request you to form a line.”
“Also, let the children and the elderly come forward first. The strong men stand behind.”
Though her voice was soft, due to the stillness of the night, everyone could hear her.
“Miss Jiang was here last winter, distributing porridge. This year, she’s here again. Line up and follow Miss Jiang’s instructions.”
Many of these beggars were farmers nearby. However, due to the continuous war in the past two years and the sudden snowfall this year, these farmers had no choice but to become beggars.
Among the beggars, many were local farmers. Continuous warfare and sudden heavy snow this year left them with no choice but to become beggars. Many had seen Jiang Peihuan distributing porridge before, so they naturally started to form a line.
First came the children, then the elderly, followed by women, and lastly men.
Most obeyed the rules, but a few were always troublemakers.
“It’s time to start distributing the porridge.”
With Jiang Sijin’s command, the crowd began to buzz with excitement. Although most of the crowd could restrain themselves, just as a little boy at the front, around five or six years old, was about to receive his porridge, two men pushed their way to the front.
The little boy, barely able to hold the bowl steady, was jostled by the two men. His porridge spilled, but luckily it splashed onto the ground and not on him.
However, when Jiang Peihuan saw this, anger flashed in her eyes.
“What are you two doing? Go to the back of the line.”
Jiang Sijin, known for her temper, was also filled with rage.
But the two men not only refused to leave, but they also replied with brazen confidence, “Such a small child will only slow things down. They should wait until the end.”
“Exactly, just serve us first. It’ll save time for the others.”
“You two?”
Upon hearing their shameless words, Jiang Sijin’s face reddened with anger. She was about to step forward to deal with them when Jiang Peihuan’s voice rang out, “Go to the back.”
Jiang Peihuan’s eyes were dark and icy as she stared intently at the two men.
Facing her intense gaze, the two men felt a shiver of fear. But recalling that she was just a young lady from a wealthy family, one of them tried to charm his way out, “Miss, we are genuinely hungry. We’ve been waiting for so long, so we thought to… ah…”
Jiang Peihuan’s patience snapped. She drew a whip from her waist, and with a swift move, wrapped it around one man’s hand. With a tug, she threw him onto the snowy ground. The other man met a similar fate.
They saw Jiang Peihuan’s black whip coming straight at their faces. Before they could react, they felt a burning pain on their faces.
“Throw these two people out. If they dare to shout, break their limbs.”
Without waiting for their response, Jiang Peihuan ordered her servants.
“Yes, Eldest Miss.”
Upon Jiang Peihuan’s command, several servants came forward, dragging the two men away and quickly silencing them.
Others had contemplated cutting in line, but after witnessing the scene, they silently returned to their place.
“Here, your porridge. Hold it steady.”
Jiang Sijin then began distributing the porridge. On another line, Jiang Ruyun did the same. The queues were so long they seemed endless.
“Set up another pot.”
“Yes.”
“Elder sister?”
Just as Jiang Peihuan was preparing another distribution line, she heard Jiang Songbai’s voice. He was dressed in his academy uniform, with Ping An closely following him.
The two brothers of the Jiang Family, Jiang Changbai and Jiang Songbai, learned martial arts and civil arts respectively. The followers of the two of them were brothers by blood. One of them was called Chang An, and the other was called Ping An.
“Eldest Sister.”
Seeing the young man rushing towards her, Jiang Peihuan’s eyes softened with a gentle smile. “Did you just return home?”
“Third Young Master had just returned to the mansion. When he learned that you and the other mistresses were here distributing porridge, he came straight here,” Ping An quickly relayed.
“You should go home and rest.”
Jiang Peihuan suggested to Jiang Songbai after hearing Ping An’s update.
However, the young man shook his head, “Elder sister, I’m not tired. Let me help, okay?”
Seeing Jiang Songbai’s determination, Jiang Peihuan nodded in agreement.