Chapter 17: Have Refugees Become Sought-After Goods?
The steward’s words left Shang Wangshu somewhat puzzled.
Stop it?
Someone was kindly bringing gifts. What reason was there to stop them outside?
What was wrong with everyone today? Shang Jujiu and Shang Zhizhou, the two brothers, were usually clever, obedient, and lovable. Yet now they were being so willful that they were rolling around on the floor as if they had suffered some enormous grievance, tears falling like strings of curtain beads.
However, when Chen Bai walked into the inner hall, everyone sucked in a sharp breath. They probably understood why the steward had said Brother Bai’s gifts were somewhat strange.
Only Shang Jujiu, Shang Zhizhou, and the group of children had their eyes opened wide, as if light could shoot out of them.
They saw Chen Bai with one creature tucked under each arm.
One of them was clearly a wolf cub with three flame-like markings on its head.
The other was no less striking, with a big bottom and short little legs, paddling nonstop.
Who did not know that wolves were savage? And these were being given to two children.
Even Madam Ronghua could not help calling out, “Bai’ge…”
The person giving the gift was actually more afraid of something going wrong than the recipients.
What was going on with Bai’ge? He had gone out to buy gifts to make children happy, so how had things turned into this?
Chen Bai thought to himself that he still had some skill when it came to dealing with children. If he gave them something precious, at most they would find it fresh for a few days. After playing with it for a few days, they would just press it at the bottom of a chest. There was not much meaning in that.
Chen Bai also knew what these people were worried about.
He directly placed the two puppies on the ground.
As a result, the crowd stared blankly.
They saw the two little dogs wagging their tails like they had just seen their own father.
If anyone said they were savage and would bite, they would probably be too embarrassed to open their mouths.
“This… is this still a wolf?” someone muttered. It truly was rare. This was their first time seeing such a wolf.
Chen Bai said, “Of course they’re not wolves. These are strange beasts I bought from a Western Regions merchant. One is a husky, and one is a corgi. They have both been domesticated and are especially affectionate toward people.”
Modern pet dogs had memories of coexistence with humans written into their genes. They had long since lost the wildness needed to survive in the wilderness and had become humanity’s most loyal friends.
Humans could betray, but a dog raised from puppyhood would not.
Strange beasts?
Everyone was extremely curious, staring without blinking at the two dogs on the ground whose tails were wagging like windmills. Mm, one of them was wagging its butt, because its tail was too short.
Some of the women watched and, before they realized it, covered their mouths and laughed. That little wolf cub did not look too bright. It was silly and adorable. To think they had initially thought it might bite people. As for that little short-legged one, it was even funnier, its butt wiggling so much that people wanted to cover their eyes.
For some reason, something in their hearts seemed to melt.
Chen Bai added, “At present, these are the only two in our Great Qian. They are one of a kind.”
One of a kind. That made them precious. Added to the fact that they were strange beasts no one had ever seen before, their ability to attract attention was obvious.
Some people present had kept pets before, but now they only felt that these two little animals were far too spiritual.
Yes, spiritual. They were definitely no ordinary creatures.
Actually, they were not entirely wrong. Modern studies had long shown that dogs of this kind had intelligence roughly equal to that of a three- or four-year-old child. They responded to all of their owner’s actions. In a certain sense, they had already gone beyond the category of pets and belonged to intelligent creatures.
The fluffy little dogs were especially lovable once everyone confirmed they were not aggressive.
Chen Xiaobu’s eyes shone. “Ah, Brother, you should have kept them to give to me.”
He wanted to raise one too, but there were only these two unique ones. Once they were given away, there would be no more.
When Shang Jujiu and Shang Zhizhou heard this, how could they allow it? They hurriedly hugged the two dogs in their arms. “How… how can there be any reason to take back a gift after it’s already been given?”
Even if Chen Xiaobu used his skateboard to trade with them now, they would not exchange.
Even quite a few adults showed envious expressions. Affectionate, spiritual pets were loved by adults and children alike.
As soon as the two puppies were hugged, they stretched out their tongues to lick faces. They were extremely endearing.
Shang Jujiu and Shang Zhizhou’s little faces were grinning so widely they looked ruined from joy. How could the puppies be so close to them? Tsk, tsk.
The group of children immediately gathered around. “Let us touch them too, just once.”
The twins looked wary. No one should even think of trying to take their dogs.
When Chen Bai bought them, he had paid special attention. Since they were gifts for two children, he bought puppies that had already received three vaccine shots and one rabies shot, about four months old.
Puppies this age already had strong survival ability. Taking them outside for walks was no problem.
Of course, he still had to explain the things that needed attention. After all, giving living creatures as gifts would be unlucky if something happened.
Chen Bai took out the two leashes he had bought along with the puppies and put them on the two dogs.
Then he began explaining the precautions for raising them.
“Brother Bai, wait. I’ll have someone write it down.”
Chen Bai thought that was good too. There were quite a few precautions. Raising a dog was a profound discipline, and the two children definitely would not remember everything.
As a result, aside from a few uninterested guests, a crowd of people actually gathered around to listen to Chen Bai explain how to raise dogs. Groups of two and three even asked questions.
Shang Wangshu: “…”
These were all Great Qian officials or their family members. Look at that old official asking questions the most happily, the father of the Chamberlain for Attendants among the Nine Ministers. He looked as if he wished he could raise one himself.
The happiest people were naturally Chen Shouye and Madam Ronghua.
Madam Ronghua directly pulled Chen Shouye over to Shang Wangshu’s side. “We’ve truly caused trouble for your residence. Our Bai’ge has no ambition. He only knows how to fiddle with these unpresentable things.”
Shang Wangshu looked at the smiles on the guests’ faces and said, “Not at all. Just now, the two children were the rude ones…”
They chatted, one sentence after another.
Chen Shouye truly did not like private socializing, so he only talked about very ordinary topics.
But in the eyes of others, it was different.
Some were happy, while some were worried. For example, Wei Ran’s expression was no different from someone who had swallowed a dead fly.
Quite a few people looked at Wei Ran with strange gazes. At the beginning of the banquet, Wei Ran had acted as though the celebration were for him, so proud and pleased with himself.
As proud as he had been before, that was how awkward he must be now.
The appointment to the position of Court Commandant might not necessarily go the way the rumors outside claimed.
Chen Bai did not see Wei Ran’s face, because the Shang twins were currently walking the two dogs and dragging Chen Bai along with them.
For some reason, the Shang twins now walked exactly like Chen Xiaobu, faces forward, bottoms back, holding the leashes, their mouths never closing from smiling.
A group of children followed behind them, so happy they could barely contain themselves, little hands pressing the almanacs they always carried, glancing sweetly at Chen Bai from time to time.
Chen Bai: “…”
Who said building connections could only happen through exchanges between adults? He could also save the country by taking a roundabout route.
Look at these children. They were either from the residences of the Three Dukes or descendants of the Nine Ministers.
A tiny gift could exchange for connections with so many noble and meritorious families. This was an enormous profit. For example, if he wanted to visit the Shang residence in the future to check on the two puppies he had given them, could the Shang family stop him from entering?
So, although the gifts were small, their meaning was completely different.
The entire banquet was unexpectedly lively to the extreme. Laughter never stopped. Even the madams and young ladies of noble families came over from time to time to watch the children walk the dogs.
By the time the banquet ended, Chen Bai had no idea how the conversation between Chen Shouye and Duke Shang had gone, but at least they had spoken.
The only unhappy one was probably Chen Xiaobu.
In the carriage, Chen Xiaobu still hugged his skateboard and kept looking back. “Brother, wouldn’t it have been so impressive if we raised them ourselves? You didn’t see it just now. Everyone was staring at our dogs. Shang Jujiu and Shang Zhizhou loved them so much they wouldn’t even let anyone touch them.”
Chen Bai smiled. Sure enough, children had no resistance against fluffy things like that.
Actually, it was not only children. Were adults not the same?
The next day, news spread throughout Shangjing that the Court Commandant’s residence had given two strange beasts to the Shang family twins as birthday gifts.
Because people had not seen the strange beasts with their own eyes, the rumors became more and more fantastical.
“I heard that wolf cub has three flames on its head. It looks extremely divine.”
“I heard it can seek fortune and avoid disaster. Even ghosts and gods have to retreat when they see it.”
“And that short-legged strange beast too. Rumor says anyone who sees it can’t help laughing. I wonder if it’s true.”
On the way to Shangjing Academy, these kinds of discussions were everywhere.
“But it’s still a wolf, isn’t it? Does it really not bite?”
At that moment, the window of a carriage opened, revealing a little head. “Our husky doesn’t bite people.”
It was none other than the Shang twins.
Chen Bai’s carriage happened to be behind them, and he laughed at the sight. These two children were still fierce in their babyish way, specially arguing with others about it.
When they arrived at Shangjing Academy’s entrance, it was even funnier.
Shang Jujiu and Shang Zhizhou were being stopped at the entrance by the teacher, because each of them was holding a dog on a leash and preparing to bring them inside.
“Which rule of the academy says people aren’t allowed to bring dogs inside? Don’t think you can ignore the academy rules just because you’re a teacher.”
These second- and third-generation young masters were terrifying once they had even a little bit of reason on their side.
“Besides, if we can’t see our dogs now, we won’t be able to study. Even our food won’t taste good.”
After saying that, they hugged their dogs and ran inside.
Teacher: “…”
The academy really did not have such a rule.
Inside the academy, Chen Xiaobu and the twins had practically become the Three Tyrants of the academy. Wherever they went, a crowd followed behind them.
Chen Bai, however, encountered some difficulties. He had run out of money.
Recently, he had bought many things intensively, and none of them had been cheap. Especially the compound bow he had given Qi Zheng and the two dogs, which were both excellent breeds with very good appearances.
If it had been before, as the dignified eldest young master of the Court Commandant’s residence, he would not have become poor just from buying a few things. But now his monthly allowance had been cut off, and he had no source of income.
Looking at the few bits of broken silver he had left, he thought, “Great. In a few more days, I won’t even have the money to buy chicken for Chen Xiaobu.”
Ask Court Commandant Chen for some?
Forget it. Chen Shouye’s anger still had not subsided. It was already good enough that he did not beat Chen Bai with a stick whenever he saw him.
Most importantly, his competition with Crown Prince Jiao’s retainers was not over yet. If he had no silver, most of the functions of his phone would basically be restricted.
“I can lose to anyone, but I cannot lose to Crown Prince Jiao.”
Chen Bai lowered his eyes. But where was he supposed to get money?
While Chen Bai was worrying, the topic for the second round of competition against Crown Prince Jiao’s retainers also came out.
It was said that Crown Prince Jiao had taken the initiative to bring it up to Shang Wangshu. He was extremely impatient.
For someone who cared so much about face, the force of rumors among the common people was enormous. Crown Prince Jiao had endured it for several days, so he was probably waiting for the competition to arrive at every moment.
It was said that they were even at court when Crown Prince Jiao urgently asked Shang Wangshu to set a topic, unwilling to wait even a moment. His gambler’s mentality stunned quite a few people.
Given Shang Wangshu’s status, getting involved in this kind of competition had already been unexpected. But since he had agreed, it was not good for him to refuse.
Chen Bai learned the topic through a voice message Qi Zheng sent through the phone.
Qi Zheng’s tone was somewhat odd. “This time, there is only one topic for the competition. Whoever can properly settle the refugees outside the city wins.”
Settling refugees was a problem the court needed to solve. Qi Zheng had only just established his residence, so strictly speaking, he was not yet qualified to handle such a problem.
Yet Shang Wangshu had actually allowed Qi Zheng to participate in advance.
In Shang Wangshu’s view, the refugee problem had always been handled by Crown Prince Jiao in the past. But after so much time, he had only seen Crown Prince Jiao find different ways to narrate his own achievements in court until Shang Wangshu’s ears were practically calloused. In reality, the fundamental problem had not been solved at all.
Therefore, Shang Wangshu had set this topic not to help Qi Zheng, but because only with competition would people truly put in effort.
There was another reason as well. He did not have the energy to get involved in royal children’s struggles. Setting a difficult problem should keep them occupied for a long time.
Only, even Shang Wangshu did not expect that his so-called difficult problem… would be solved rather quickly.
When Chen Bai received the topic, his eyes lit up.
In other people’s eyes, refugees were a burden. In his eyes, they were labor.
Give them a meal, and they would already be deeply grateful.
Chen Bai sent Qi Zheng a voice message. “Want to get rich?”
“Isn’t your fief sitting empty? Bring all these refugees to your fief. Don’t let anyone snatch them away.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
Why did it sound like refugees had become sought-after goods?
Chen Bai said, “I can’t explain it clearly in just a moment. I’ll come to your residence. Once you see what I give you, you’ll understand.”
After saying that, Chen Bai looked at the pitiful bit of broken silver left and opened the shopping app, buying a few things.
Great. Now he was completely broke. But it did not matter. He should have money again very soon.
