Family affection? Is it important to have rights?

Chapter 167 Basement

"What kind of emergency could happen?" Ji Qichen asked cautiously.

The waiter turned around with a tinder in his hand. Under the light of the fire, his smile became weird.

Ji Qichen looked at him calmly, his hand quietly on the dagger hidden at his waist.

"Well, like hiding from enemies, hiding to chat, etc."

The expression on Ji Qichen's face froze for a moment, "Ah?"

He thought this guy was going to talk about the place where the murder was committed and the body was buried, but this is it? !

The guy looked at him suspiciously and asked, "What else can you do?"

Ji Qichen twitched his lips and waved his hand, "It's okay, you continue."

The guy quickly led Ji Qichen to the empty space below.

In the middle of this floor there is a large table with some leftovers on it, and next to it there is a row of bookshelves and even a desk.

There were rows of torches on the surrounding walls, illuminating the space very brightly.

When Ji Qichen saw this scene, he didn't know what to say.

I don't think the people in this restaurant play here during their break, do they?

When the waiter saw this scene, he patted his head in annoyance and said, "Sorry, boss, I forgot to clean it up yesterday."

Yesterday, their restaurant argued with the people from the Treasure Pavilion until midnight about who could satisfy the owner more!

As a result, he fell asleep in a daze, and when he got up in the morning, he was busy opening the door and forgot to clean the place.

Ji Qichen reluctantly accepted the restaurant's offer to build a basement just for fun.

He even walked to the bookshelf to look through the books, and found that in addition to many repeated poetry collections, there were also books that taught people how to read, and several books titled How to Run a Restaurant?!

He gave the guys a complicated look and said, I didn't expect you guys are so studious.

The waiter smiled at Ji Qichen, his eyes secretly on the bookshelf behind Ji Qichen.

The host only told them to bring the young man in front of them to identify the secret door, but did not tell them to identify the passage.

The owner asked them to dig a passage in the secret doors of each store, connecting the basements of each store.

The passage switch to the restaurant is right behind the bookshelf.

"Boss, are you ready? We should go up."

Ji Qichen nodded. It felt like a good deal to just buy a restaurant that came with a basement.

The waiter carefully introduced the private rooms on the second and third floors to the boss. Every room was very clean.

While checking, Ji Qichen casually asked, "You don't look like you're from Beijing. Where were you from before?"

The guy's face and exposed neck were all black, his hands were covered with thick calluses, and he spoke with a faint accent.

The guy lost his smile briefly and looked at Ji Qichen expressionlessly. Although he looked like he didn't want to say it, he still said it.

After all, the man in front of them would soon be the master's husband, and the master told them to say anything as long as it was not important.

The guy couldn't help but shiver when he thought of the devastating flood a few years ago. He calmed down and said.

"I am indeed not from Beijing. My hometown was hit by a flood a few days ago, so I came to Beijing to seek refuge. Fortunately, the owner of this restaurant is kind-hearted and let us stay."

The first half of the man's words had some flattering meaning, but the second half was full of sincere emotion.

There was strong admiration and respect in his eyes.

After listening to this, Ji Qichen realized that he seemed to have touched the wound in his fellow's heart, but what about the place that was hit by the flood?

He had heard a little about it in the court a few years ago, but he heard that the flood had been well contained and the refugees in that area had been rescued.

But he had never heard of refugees running to the capital.

And from what this guy said, he is not the only refugee.

Previously, he thought the restaurant owner wanted to cheat him, but now it seems that this is like entrusting these people to him?

The waiter slowly added, "The owner of this restaurant is a very nice person. He taught us how to read and keep accounts. We spent a lot of money on this. Maybe that's why we didn't have enough money to treat our illness."

Ji Qichen suddenly understood. Now he knew why there were various books on reading in the basement and why the hotel owner did not have enough money.

He was silent for a moment and then suddenly asked, "How many refugees have you brought from your hometown to the capital?"

The guy looked at him with sad eyes, and Ji Qichen almost thought that the guy was going to cry, but he didn't.

The waiter paused and said, "A large number of people from my hometown came to the capital. There were so many that it was impossible to count them. In the end, only a few dozen people arrived in the capital."

Ji Qichen's breathing stagnated, and he suddenly opened his eyes wide, "Most of the people from your hometown came to the capital?!"

"That's impossible! Local officials said they have already resettled the refugees!"

The guy looked at Ji Qichen silently without saying anything.

Ji Qichen spoke with difficulty, "After you came to the capital, did any officials settle you down?"

He asked with his last hope.

The guy remained silent for a long time, but finally, unable to withstand Ji Qichen's inquiring gaze, he spoke out.

"No, nothing. We worked so hard to get to the capital, but were blocked outside the city by soldiers!"

"I don't understand. We don't understand why this is happening!"

The guy couldn't control his emotions when he mentioned this matter, and even almost broke down. He vented his pain and confusion to Ji Qichen uncontrollably.

Some even blamed Ji Qichen for insisting on getting to the bottom of the matter.

Do I have to appreciate their miserable experiences to be happy? !

The clerk took a deep breath and managed to control his emotions. "Boss, let's go check the account books."

Ji Qichen stood there in a daze, watching the waiter walking forward. He quickened his pace to catch up with the waiter.

Refugees from the flood were blocked from entering the capital? How is that possible?

The guys have regained their relaxed expressions; they have attended several lessons taught by the master himself.

He knew that it was not the soldiers' fault for keeping the refugees out of the capital. Tracing the root cause, it was the emperor's incompetence that caused him to fail to manage his subordinates well.

So, if we just change the emperor or the person in power, would these things not happen?

The guy didn't know that this idea was outrageous, he just knew that he didn't want anyone else to go through that scene again.

That feeling of despair towards everyone in the world, as if death would be a relief.

Ji Qichen observed the waiter's expression. He wanted to ask many questions, but was blocked by the waiter's sad expression.

He picked up the account book casually, thinking that he would try to ask about the specific situation when he became more familiar with it.

But when he saw the account book, Ji Qichen was shocked. So much money was deposited in one month!

A little more than what the restaurant owner said!

Could it be that the restaurant owner wanted him to continue protecting these people because he was dressed richly?