Xiao Ji looked at the lists in his hand, his heart filled with emotion.
The world often said that merchants valued profit above all else and were heartless, thus they were greatly ostracized. Little did they know that without these peddlers going door-to-door to trade goods, how could the Great Jin have developed to its current state?
Much like Jinling City, Liangzhou City was also a hub for merchants. However, Xiao Ji had guarded it for many years, and the previous old prefect had also poured his heart and soul into Liangzhou, thus earning it the reputation of being the foremost city in the Northwest.
The Feng family was also a prominent clan here for a century. Watching officials come and go generation after generation, a rule had been passed down from their ancestors.
When the dynasty thrives, the family prospers. When the dynasty falls, the family perishes.
Therefore, they never hesitated to use their family's wealth to do whatever they could for the Great Jin, for the people, or even for outsiders.
It was precisely because of this that those people brought back by Xiao Muqian found a place to stay.
Sufficient food, shelters to ward off wind and rain, and medicinal soup from the imperial physicians—everything was provided for those outsiders.
In the past, they had never considered submitting to the Northern Di or the Great Jin, always believing that freedom was the most comfortable.
Now, after experiencing this ordeal, they felt that having a place to call home was not a bad thing.
Thus, after staying for more than ten days, the one among them who spoke the best Jin language found Xiao Muqian as their representative.
"General, thank you for saving us."
"You've said that many times already. Don't always say that when you see me, Anli."
The man called Anli was now the new leader chosen by the outsiders. The reason was none other than his ability to communicate normally with the people of the Great Jin. Many matters were discussed through him, so, naturally, he had to shoulder the responsibility for the safety and well-being of his entire clan.
"General, if we wish to stay in Liangzhou, can we?"
Xiao Muqian frowned. What did it mean to stay in Liangzhou? Did they intend to settle down here?
Seeing his silence, Anli quickly added, "We won't eat and drink for free. We can work! We're not afraid of getting tired!"
Anli's words were practical, but Xiao Muqian was unsure of the specific meaning behind his desire to stay.
"You mean, all your clansmen will stay in Liangzhou City and live here?"
"Yes."
"But aren't you accustomed to a nomadic life? Won't settling here abruptly affect you?"
Anli gave a bitter smile. Their nomadic lifestyle was merely a facade to maintain their dignity. They didn't raise cattle, sheep, or horses, nor did they need to chase pastures. They had no clan disputes. For so many years, their migration was simply for survival.
Thinking of this, Anli looked at Xiao Muqian with even greater determination and said,
"If people have a roof over their heads, they won't build makeshift shelters. If they have food to eat, they won't dig for grass roots. We don't want our children to go through the same hardships we did. So, General, could you please take us in? We have the strength to work. The elderly and women can weave clothes. Oh, and our clan has a blacksmith who is very skilled. He can forge anything—iron pots, iron carts, iron helmets. He's very good!"
Hearing this, Xiao Muqian couldn't help but chuckle.
The crafting of daily necessities was not particularly difficult, and ordinary blacksmiths in the city could accomplish it. Yet, such a person was rare in their clan.
It wasn't that he was unwilling to take them in, but he worried that their ability to survive here was not strong enough.
Liangzhou City, though inclusive, could not constantly look after them. If they wanted to stay, they had to find a means of survival to live a stable life.
So, after thinking for a moment, he said solemnly to Anli.
"I cannot agree to your request immediately. In an hour, I will bring my uncle and the Feng family patriarch to the shelters to see you. Have your clansmen bring out whatever they are most skilled at for us to inspect. If you truly have the ability to survive in Liangzhou City, then you may stay."
"Yes, yes, yes! We definitely won't disappoint you!"
Anli's excited reply made Xiao Muqian feel a little embarrassed.
An hour later, the four arrived as scheduled.
Feng Shan had also brought his wife, Madam Hua, this time. She was intelligent and had a keen eye, devising many strategies that brought considerable profit to the Feng family. Thus, it was not unusual for her to be brought along for the assessment.
As the four entered, they saw Anli and his clansmen were ready.
Upon entering the shelter, they saw some exquisite woven items with patterns they had never seen before. Xiao Ji and his nephew were not very knowledgeable about these, so they looked to Feng Shan and Madam Hua.
Feng Shan didn't understand these feminine objects well, but Madam Hua's eyes lit up. She stepped forward, picked up the woven items, and exclaimed, "In all my years of doing business, I've never seen such craftsmanship. These are just ordinary threads, yet they are woven so vividly! May I ask who made these?"
Anli translated her words to his clansmen. Soon, some of the women and elders from the clan shyly stepped forward.
One of them spoke fluently to Anli, and the answer was obtained.
"Grandma Man says these are the simplest styles. If there were more silk threads, she could weave even better. The women in the clan can all do it. It's passed down from generation to generation. Mothers teach daughters, grandmothers teach granddaughters!"
Madam Hua nodded. From her perspective, if these patterns were incorporated into clothing and accessories, they would be striking and much more valuable than these woven items.
"Do you know needlework?"
Anli looked confused. Madam Hua rephrased, "Can you sew and mend clothes?"
"Yes, yes, all the women can."
Being able to do it was one thing, but Madam Hua wanted to see it in practice. So, she casually picked up a knife and cut a piece of fabric from the hem of a garment, which had exquisite embroidery on it. This cut severed the threads in many places.
Handing the fabric over, she stated directly, "If anyone can mend this perfectly, then my Tian Si Pavilion will hire her as an embroiderer, with one tael of silver a month, and triple that at the end of the year. How about it?"
One tael of silver had no concept for Anli's clansmen. So, Madam Hua smiled and rephrased, "You can buy a thousand steamed buns with that amount in a month."
A thousand steamed buns—a number they had never imagined.
Therefore, everyone was overjoyed and immediately stepped forward to take the fabric and begin mending.
Indeed, they were skilled and dexterous. Their clan's ready-made clothes were well-made, so mending these patterns was not a problem.
Each person mended a section, and the fabric, which had been broken into two pieces, was seamlessly repaired. Although the stitches were a bit rough, this was something that could be taught.
She selected more than a dozen who were quick learners and told them directly that they could start working at Tian Si Pavilion tomorrow.
With her arrival, she had already solved the employment for more than half of the women. The rest, who were also capable of cooking, were also incorporated into the Feng family's shops to work in the kitchens.