Chapter 10: Refugees, Recruiting Apprentices

Just when Yang Zhengshan was hesitating whether to go into the mountains for a walk, a boy of about fourteen or fifteen came to his house.

“Grandpa Zhengshan, my grandpa is looking for you!”

The boy's name is Yang Chengze, and he is Yang Zhengxiang's eldest grandson.

"What happened?" Yang Zhengshan asked, putting down the hatchet in his hand.

Yang Chengze walked up to him quickly and said, "There are some refugees from outside the village who want to seek shelter in our village."

"Refugees? Where do the refugees come from?" Yang Zhengshan asked in surprise.

It is the autumn harvest season now, and it should be the most affluent time for ordinary people. Fleeing now would be the only way to escape a man-made disaster.

"The people in Xiaolin Village suffered from banditry the night before yesterday, and the whole village was burned down! Hundreds of people died, and only a dozen or so escaped. Now they have all come to our Yangjia Village!" said Yang Chengze.

Yang Zhengshan frowned slightly. The notice he saw in the county yesterday was about banditry. He didn't expect to encounter refugees caused by the banditry today.

Xiaolin Village is just to the north of the back mountain of Yangjia Village, about ten miles away from Yangjia Village.

Winter is about to come. The villagers of Xiaolin Village have escaped the banditry, but without food and houses, and facing the cold winter, it is difficult for them to survive.

Among the surrounding villages, Yangjia Village may not be the richest, but it is the most powerful. It is reasonable for Xiaolin Village to seek refuge in Yangjia Village after encountering banditry.

"Let's go and take a look!" Yang Zhengshan did not refuse and walked out of the village with Yang Chengze.

He is now the elder of the Yang family, and Yang Zhengxiang likes to take him with him whenever he does anything.

In fact, Yang Zhengxiang's thoughts were very simple. He was already old and didn't know how long he could live. If he died, Yang Zhengshan would be the only warrior left in Yangjia Village, and the Yang family would have to rely on Yang Zhengshan in the future.

When he arrived at the entrance of the village, Yang Zhengshan immediately saw a group of disheveled villagers standing in the open space at the entrance of the village, and there were many villagers from Yangjia Village watching the fun around them.

"Chief!" Yang Zhengshan walked into the crowd and greeted Yang Zhengxiang.

"Zhengshan is here." Yang Zhengxiang pulled Yang Zhengshan to his side affectionately. There were also several elders of the Yang family nearby who greeted Yang Zhengshan affectionately.

In fact, Yangjia Village has experience in sheltering refugees. Most of the villagers in Yangjia Village are from the Yang family, but there are also seven or eight households with other surnames, and they all fled here in the past.

It is not difficult for Yangjia Village to take in a few refugee families.

Of course, although Yangjia Village provides shelter, it does not provide it for free. All expenses are lent to them, and they will have to pay it back in the future.

"These two families are simple, and there are two dilapidated houses behind the village. We can lend them the houses. After the winter, they can return to Xiaolin Village!"

Yang Zhengxiang pointed at the two families standing together and said.

It is not a good choice for these people to live in Yangjia Village. The fields around Yangjia Village have been divided up long ago. Except for some wasteland in the back mountain that can be developed, there are no other vacant fields.

Without land, there is no basis for survival. They can stay in Yangjia Village temporarily, but they cannot settle down in Yangjia Village.

"The trouble is those three kids!"

Yang Zhengshan looked in the direction Yang Zhengxiang pointed, and saw two people standing there, a boy and a girl, both about ten years old. The girl was holding a crying baby in her arms.

"The boy's name is Lin Zhan, the girl's name is Wang Daya, and the baby in her arms is Wang Daya's younger brother. He is only three months old. Their families were all killed by bandits." Yang Zhengxiang said with some pity.

Yang Zhengshan also felt sorry for the three children, but he didn't say anything. Although Yang Zhengxiang had always wanted him to get more involved in clan affairs, he didn't want to be a village chief who mediated neighborhood disputes, so he had been listening more and talking less during this period.

"That Lin Zhan is quite handsome, and your Yun Xue is about the same age!" Yang Zhengxiang suddenly said, changing the subject.

Yang Zhengshan was stunned and didn't react for a while.

"What does it have to do with Yunxue?"

As soon as he said this, he understood what Yang Zhengxiang meant.

Lin Zhan was about ten years old, and Yang Yunxue was also about ten years old. Although they were not yet old enough to get married, they would be there in a few years.

Son-in-law?

Yang Zhengshan thought about it and felt that it was unnecessary.

He has money and food now, and the Yang family will definitely be better off in the future. He can definitely help Yang Yunxue find a good husband, so there is no need to find a son-in-law.

The status of a son-in-law is too low, and if not handled properly, he may become an enemy more easily.

"Forget about recruiting a son-in-law. Let them come and take a look. If they are suitable, I will accept two apprentices!" Yang Zhengshan said casually.

An apprentice is much better than a son-in-law. Anyway, the Yang family has enough food for three people, so it is not difficult to raise a few apprentices.

"Accept a disciple!" Yang Zhengxiang did not expect Yang Zhengshan to accept a disciple. "If you accept a disciple, you might as well accept a disciple from the clan."

Yang Zhengshan's expression froze. He had completely forgotten about this.

If he were to accept a disciple, it would naturally be more appropriate for him to accept a member of his clan.

But he didn't want to take in disciples. He just felt sorry for the three children and wanted to take them home.

But now that he had spoken, it seemed inappropriate not to accept him as a disciple.

"There is no need to accept disciples in the clan. Just select a few outstanding younger generations and send them to me! Just choose three, who should be around fifteen years old." Yang Zhengshan thought of a compromise.

"That's great!" Yang Zhengxiang said with a smile, stroking his long beard.

Yang Zhengshan was willing to help train the younger generation in the clan, which was naturally a good thing. In fact, Yang Zhengxiang had trained the younger generation in the clan before, but he did not seem to have the talent to be a teacher. He trained more than a dozen people, including his own children and grandchildren, but in the end he did not train a single warrior.

He didn't know whether Yang Zhengshan could train a warrior, but he was still very happy that Yang Zhengshan was willing to contribute.

Yang Zhengshan didn't say much, and said to the three children: "Follow me!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhan walked directly behind Yang Zhengshan without saying a word. Wang Daya was a little timid, but when she saw Lin Zhan leaving, she hurriedly followed him, holding her brother in her arms.

"Okay, everyone disperse. Follow me!" Yang Zhengxiang also took the two families away.

Yang Zhengshan's home is located behind Yangjia Village, relatively close to the back mountain. It takes almost all of Yangjia Village to get from the village entrance to his home.

Yang Zhengshan didn't say anything either, he just walked home with his hands behind his back.

Lin Zhan followed closely behind him, his bright eyes seemed full of anticipation.

He did not hear the conversation between Yang Zhengshan and Yang Zhengxiang, but he knew that he needed someone to rely on, and the elder in front of him might be his future support.

In comparison, Wang Daya was much more timid and just kept her head down and followed.

Although Yang Zhengshan didn't say anything, he was observing the two children.

Lin Zhan was obviously a child with his own ideas. As for Wang Daya's cowardice, Yang Zhengshan didn't hate her. After all, she was just a ten-year-old child who had suffered a disaster and lost her family. It was understandable that she was cowardly and panicked.

"Dad, who are they?"

After returning home, Yang Mingcheng looked at Lin Zhan and the other two and asked in confusion.

"Let's talk inside!" Yang Zhengshan walked into the main room.

The crying of the children attracted all the people in the Yang family, and they all looked at the three children with confusion.

"How old is this child?" Yang Zhengshan asked Wang Daya gently.

Wang Daya lowered her head and said softly, "Three months!"

Yang Zhengshan nodded and said to Wang, who was full of curiosity: "Wang, you take care of this child."

He was three months old, the same age as the eldest granddaughter Qingwan. The only person in the family who could provide food for the child was Wang.

Wang didn't ask any more questions and walked forward to take the child from Wang Daya's arms.

"This is my brother!" Wang Daya was a little confused and a little scared, and hugged her brother tightly.

"He's hungry!" Wang said gently.

Wang Daya looked at her and hesitated for a moment before letting go of her brother.

Wang took the child back to the house, but after a moment, the sound of the child's crying disappeared.

Yang Zhengshan asked about the situation of Lin Zhan and Wang Daya.

Both were nine years old. When they encountered banditry, their family members died in an attempt to protect them.

However, their situations are different. Lin Zhan is the one protected by his family, while Wang Daya is the one who protects her younger brother.

Lin Zhan was the main speaker of the two. Although Lin Zhan was also very nervous, he spoke very logically.

"Have you been educated?" Yang Zhengshan asked Lin Zhan.

"My father enlightened me!" said Lin Zhan.

Yang Zhengshan's expression changed slightly, "You are Lin Xiucai's son!"

There was a scholar named Lin in Xiaolin Village. I had never seen him, but I had heard of him.

"Ok!"

When talking about his father, Lin Zhan felt a little depressed.

"Do you want to continue studying in the future?" Yang Zhengshan continued to ask.

"I am willing to follow my uncle's arrangements!" Lin Zhan replied respectfully.

The corners of Yang Zhengshan's mouth curled up slightly. This kid is a smart one. He knew how to get close to her so quickly.

"Call me Master from now on! My Yang family has a martial arts tradition. You should learn martial arts first. As for studying, we can talk about it later!"

Studying and practicing martial arts are not contradictory. Whether or not to support Lin Zhan's studies depends on Lin Zhan's character. If Lin Zhan is a grateful person, Yang Zhengshan does not mind supporting him in his studies.

"Disciple kowtows to Master!" Lin Zhan was really smart. He kowtowed and became his disciple very straightforwardly.

In comparison, Wang Daya was much slower. After Lin Zhan finished kowtowing, she followed suit and said, "Disciple kowtows to Master!"

"Get up!" Yang Zhengshan nodded with satisfaction, and turned to Yang Mingcheng and said, "Clean up your third brother's room and let Lin Zhan stay there first."

"Yunxue, Daya will live with you from now on!"

Naturally, the family members did not dare to oppose Yang Zhengshan's decision. When they heard his order, Yang Mingcheng and Yang Yunxue immediately agreed.

(End of this chapter)