Chapter 111: Eleven Understands
"Please have mercy, give us something to eat..."
As a faint begging voice echoed, a raggedly dressed woman, holding a frail little boy, staggered to the table where Han Lei and the others sat.
The little boy’s eyes were fixed on the food on the table, filled with longing.
The waiter frowned and immediately waved to chase them away, "Go away, go away, this is not a place where you can beg!"
Han Lei’s heart instinctively softened, as she looked up at the mother and child. The woman was disheveled, her face exhausted and helpless, and the little boy was not only frail but also showed bewilderment and fear.
Begging while holding a child?
"Wait a moment," Han Lei called softly to the waiter, stood up, and gently asked the woman, "Where have you come from? How did you end up like this?"
The woman looked down, tears welling in her eyes, and chokingly said, "We are villagers from outside the city. My husband went to Beiguan battlefield the year before last and never returned."
"Beiguan battlefield?"
Han Lei furrowed her brows. Wasn’t that Zhao Zun’s former army?
"Then your husband is..."
Eleven hesitantly asked.
He had been in the Beiguan Army for a long time; perhaps he knew the woman’s husband.
The woman pursed her lips and shook her head.
"Later, the county office sent ten taels of silver as compensation, but my vicious mother-in-law snatched it all for my brother-in-law and despised my son for being disabled, driving us out of the house."
Upon hearing that the child was disabled, Han Lei’s professional instincts kicked in, her eyes falling once more on the child sitting quietly in the woman’s arms. She couldn’t see anything wrong.
The woman continued, "I went back to my family for help, but they said a married daughter is like spilled water, refusing to take us in. Since I have a child, no one would hire me for work. My son and I could only beg along the streets..."
At the emotional point, the woman couldn’t hold back any longer; tears poured down. The little boy seemed to sense his mother’s sadness and burst into tears.
Eleven and Fifteen listened, their eyes turning red, and Eleven couldn’t help but speak.
"Your husband... What is his name? Perhaps he was one of our comrades in arms."
"Comrade?" The woman looked tearfully at Eleven and said, "His name is Li Dashan."
Eleven’s heart shook violently; Li Dashan’s name was too familiar to him.
Indeed, he was a brother who fought alongside him, killed in action last year at Beiguan battlefield. Unexpectedly, his wife and child were now in such a miserable state.
Han Lei looked at the mother and child before her, feeling inexplicably pained.
In her world, soldiers who sacrificed themselves to protect their countries were heroes, and the nation would take good care of their families.
But here, it seemed there was no such concept. The court’s compensation was only ten taels of silver.
She turned to the waiter, "Bring two more sets of bowls and chopsticks, let them eat with us."
The waiter showed difficulty, "But..."
"No buts!" Eleven interrupted him, "If our lady says it’s okay, then it’s okay."
The waiter sighed helplessly and went to get the bowls and chopsticks.
Seeing this, the woman quickly waved, "No, no, we are too dirty, can’t sit at the table. Thank you for your kindness, we’ve already satisfied with just getting a bun here."
Fifteen held back the tears in his eyes, stepped forward, and lifted the little boy, placing him on the stool.
"The child is starving, let him eat."
With that, Fifteen picked up a bun and placed it in the little boy’s small hand.
The little boy was stunned for a moment, then shyly turned to look at the woman. The woman nodded, and the child devoured it ravenously as if it was the most delicious food he had ever eaten.
The woman watched her son eat with relish, tears slipping down her face again. She gratefully looked at Han Lei, Eleven, and Fifteen.
"Thank you, thank you..."
Han Lei smiled and shook her head, "Sister-in-law. My two brothers here were also soldiers at Beiguan battlefield. Come, sit down and eat with us!"
"Yes, sister-in-law. Sit down and eat!" Fifteen pulled out a seat for the woman.
The woman, with tears in her eyes, timidly sat down. Mother and child finally sat at the table with Han Lei and the others, eating their first warm meal.
During the conversation, they learned the woman’s husband’s family surname was Li, farm tenants in the village. Though life was bitter, they barely maintained family sustenance.
That day, Ms. Li was busy in the fields, her child played nearby, but he fell from a small slope by the ridge, breaking his leg. Though he received treatment from the village doctor, he was left disabled.
Han Lei squatted down and gently checked the child’s injured leg, feeling the problem was not severe. She was confident she could help the child’s leg recover and was eager to assist the soldier’s widow.
Han Lei looked at Ms. Li and softly said, "The child is still young, his bones haven’t fully formed, there’s still a chance for recovery. If you’re willing, why not come with us to Canzhou, I can help the child. Plus, once in Canzhou, I can find you a job."
Eleven and Fifteen were overjoyed at her words, knowing well their lady’s kindness and capability, they were quick to support her.
"Yes, Ms. Li. Come to Canzhou with us! Our lady is skilled in medicine and has a restaurant, surely there will be work for you."
"Sister-in-law, come with us! It’s better to have someone to rely on together than you begging around with your child!"
"I... Can I?" Ms. Li couldn’t believe such fortune.
"Why can’t you? If our lady says it’s possible, then it is." Eleven said, glancing at Han Lei for confirmation.
"Yes!" Han Lei nodded with a smile.
"This, this is too wonderful."
Ms. Li’s eyes flashed with surprise, quickly replaced by grateful tears. She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and choked in agreement.
After dinner, Han Lei sent Fifteen to buy clothes for Ms. Li and her son, while she and Eleven took them back to the inn.
Today’s encounter with Ms. Li and her son inspired Han Lei, an idea welled up inside her.
She called Eleven and said, "Eleven, tomorrow Fifteen will escort us to Canzhou, you stay in Jingzhou to handle something for me."
Eleven was slightly startled, then nodded, "Lady, tell me."
"Gather all beggars and struggling war hero families in Jingzhou, and bring them to Canzhou, if they are willing. I want to help them establish a new home there, living a stable life."
Han Lei’s eyes were filled with determination and resolve. She had heard from injured soldiers about how most Beiguan soldiers hailed from Jingzhou and Canzhou.
The locals from Canzhou aside, the hero families and homeless beggars from Jingzhou could be gathered. Not only could they aid Canzhou’s development, but also provide them with a stable life.
It’s a win-win.
Eleven heard this, a hint of surprise in his eyes, followed by deep admiration.
"Lady!"
Eleven stared at Han Lei, speechless with excitement, unsure how to express his feelings. He simply lifted his robe back, knelt on one knee.
"Eleven thanks the lady on behalf of all comrades who fought and died bravely." He said clasping his fists.
"Alright, stand up!" Han Lei chuckled lightly, giving a gentle gesture. "I’m not helping them for nothing, they need to work like you do, to earn a good life."
"Of course, that Eleven understands." Eleven nodded vehemently.
Han Lei took several silver notes from her storage space and handed them to Eleven, giving him detailed instructions before he returned to his room to rest.
Once Eleven had left, a system notification rang in Han Lei’s mind.
This time, the system rewarded much gold.