A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Chapter 180 Sending away Ji Yiru’s servants and the opium den

Gui'er found that Ji Yiru's attitude towards Sha Yanxiao had softened a little, and she would occasionally try to find topics to talk about, but Sha Yanxiao was always impatient.

On the other hand, Ji Yiru became more and more concerned about money. Now her servants were paid by Sha Yanxiao. Except for a few personal servants, the others were basically on Sha Yanxiao's side. Although Ji Yiru said they were disloyal all day long in a sarcastic tone, they just laughed it off. After all, she was still the master.

Ding Xiang said, "Those servants the young lady brought with her are not easy to deal with. They were originally gangsters in Shanghai. Now that the Ji family is bankrupt and the young lady can't pay them, naturally whoever has money becomes the master. I also heard them complain privately that after the Ji family fell, they ignored them. Some of these servants were reluctant to follow the young lady to Jiangcheng, thinking that they would find a reason to transfer back to Shanghai in a few years. Now there is no hope at all, so some of them are very resentful."

Seeing that those people usually dressed in black silk gowns and top hats, Guier always felt that she was superior to other servants. Some of them even wore pistols on their waists, which was a safety hazard after all.

So she told Sha Yanxiao what Dingxiang had said, and said to him, "Brother Yanxiao, our guards in the mansion are armed, but they won't enter the yard. These people are showing off their power in the yard all day long, and they have guns. Now they have resentment in their hearts. I'm really worried that one day, if something goes wrong, they will draw their guns and attack us."

Sha Yanxiao pondered for a moment, patted Gui'er's head, and said, "It is indeed a problem. You have considered it very carefully."

The next day, when he came back from outside, he asked the steward to call the servants that Ji Yiru brought with her.

Guier secretly stood on the second floor and looked down. Usually these people were scattered everywhere and she didn't pay much attention to them, but now they gathered together and there were more than 20 of them.

Sha Yanxiao walked up to them with his hands behind his back and said, "I believe you all know what happened to your family. I'm afraid the Ji family won't be able to take care of you from now on. I've been with you for a while now and I know that you all have some talents. Being a servant is really a waste of them. I've thought about it for a long time and have sorted out a few places for you brothers. Now I'm telling you all where you are willing to go."

After hearing this, the servants all looked at each other.

Sha Yanxiao continued, "The first way is to join the army. The monthly salary is about the same as your current wages, and as long as you make merit, you can get promoted and make a fortune. That goes without saying."

"The second is the security team going to Fengcheng. They are plainclothes and have more freedom, but their main task is to eliminate the remaining bandits. We will ban them in Fengcheng next. The security team will also be responsible for reducing the number of opium dens and casinos, and they will be rewarded according to their merits."

"Third, we have some family businesses in Shanghai that need help to look after them. However, since you all came from Shanghai, you should know that Shanghai is a mixed bag. You need real skills to do this. And this job doesn't require many people, only four or five will be enough."

"If the above three options are not satisfactory to you, brothers, then there is a fourth option. I will set you free and give you five silver dollars as your resettlement allowance. You can choose."

As soon as Sha Yanxiao finished speaking, the group of people started discussing in whispers.

At this time, Dali suddenly led a group of soldiers in from the door. Guier almost didn't recognize him because he usually didn't wear military uniform, but he suddenly put it on today. There were more than 30 soldiers in the team carrying long rifles. After entering the yard, they lined up in every corner of the yard.

The group felt that the atmosphere was a little off, so someone asked Sha Yanxiao, "Young Marshal, what do you mean by this?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, everyone. We're letting everyone choose. If you're in the military or security team, you can join our army right away."

Even Gui'er didn't believe this. Sha Yanxiao must have been afraid that these people would cause trouble and they had guns on them, so he was just taking precautions in advance.

Sure enough, after the soldiers came in, the group became much more obedient.

After waiting for a while, someone stood up and said he wanted to go to Shanghai. Then, all of a sudden, most people said they wanted to go to Shanghai. Sha Yanxiao nodded and said, "Okay, then let's see what you can do first."

As he spoke, he had a row of broken porcelain bottles and jars placed in a corner of the yard and said to them, "Those who want to return to Shanghai, come and test your marksmanship."

It is conceivable that these gangsters usually have no chance to practice shooting. Except for one or two relatively qualified ones, the others are really mediocre. However, after a round of shooting, some people ran out of bullets in their guns. In the end, Sha Yanxiao selected four people whose shooting skills were pretty good.

Afterwards, some people chose to join the security team, some took 5 silver dollars and left, but not many people went to the army. Maybe these people were used to being lazy and were afraid of being disciplined in the army.

In less than half a day, Sha Yanxiao got rid of the more than 20 ferocious servants brought by Ji Yiru who frightened everyone.

At this time, the steward came over and said to Sha Yanxiao, "Young Marshal, the young lady has ten maids besides the servants..."

Sha Yanxiao was stunned for a moment. Not only Sha Yanxiao, but Gui'er was also stunned.

The servants had to be sent away because these people had guns and came from the Ji family. They were originally hooligans from Shanghai. The maids were all women. They usually did some rough and fine work in the yard and were not a problem. But the manager brought it up. It seemed that Ji Yiru had really offended the people in the yard. Although Gui'er didn't know what the grudge between the manager and Ji Yiru was, when she moved to Sha Yanyao's yard to avoid Ji Yiru, the manager also voluntarily transferred to the farm to work. He must have been bullied by Ji Yiru.

Sha Yanxiao said, "The maid won't be a problem for now, just discipline her more often."

The manager nodded repeatedly.

In the evening, Ji Yiru played outside all day and came back to find that all her servants had been sent away. She was furious and went to Sha Yanxiao to question him.

Was Sha Yanxiao still playing chess with Gui'er? He said calmly, "Yes, with so many people, the expenses are too high, so we have to send them away."

Ji Yiru said angrily: "You sent my people away without asking any questions. What do you think of me?"

Sha Yanxiao said lazily, "Why? Just asking you, will you pay me?"

When Ji Yiru heard this, she was speechless and turned around to go upstairs.

Sha Yanxiao glanced at her back and said, "I'm thinking of selling those two opium dens you brought as a dowry."

When Ji Yiru heard this, she turned back and went down the stairs halfway up and said, "Why? That's my dowry. You keep complaining about me being broke. If I don't have these two opium dens, my expenses will be even greater. Where will I get the money from then?"

Gui'er was very surprised that Ji Yiru didn't get angry and throw a tantrum. If it were the same as usual, she would have turned hostile to her long ago.

Sha Yanxiao said, "Fengcheng is currently cracking down on opium dens and casinos. As the wife of the Young Marshal, it's really inappropriate for you to still be running two opium dens."

Ji Yiru was still reluctant and said, "My two big opium pipes are in Shanghai, not in Fengcheng, let alone Jiangcheng. How can they bother you?"

Sha Yanxiao rolled his eyes at him and said, "It's precisely because you two opium addicts are in Shanghai that, when the Ji family was still around, they could have helped you keep an eye on things. Now that the Ji family is bankrupt, I have to send people over to help you keep an eye on things. If word gets out, they'll say I'm banning smoking in Fengcheng while running an opium den in Shanghai. How's that for real?"

Ji Yiru didn't say anything, and judging from her expression, she still didn't want to. She just stood there and looked at Sha Yanxiao with resentment.

Sha Yanxiao sighed and said, "How about this? Sell the tobacco from the pipe and rent out the shop. The money from the sale of the tobacco will be yours, as will the rent from the shop. I'll also give you a farm near Jiangcheng with a hundred acres of fruit trees and farmland, which will yield a good harvest every year."

Ji Yiru thought for a moment, curled her lips and said, "The harvest of a poor farm is nothing compared to the profit of a big opium den."

Sha Yanxiao spread his hands and said, "If you don't agree, then from today on, you'll have to find someone to take care of those two big pipes of yours. I won't take care of them anymore. I can't afford to lose this person."

After hearing this, Ji Yiru looked at Sha Yanxiao hatefully, stomped her feet and went upstairs.

Sha Yanxiao turned to the manager and said, "Send someone to arrange the sale of opium."

The steward said respectfully, "Yes."

Sha Yanxiao then turned around and said to Gui'er with a smile, "Is it my turn now?"