Vol 2 Chapter 8 (2/2)

“That, that’s not really an activity…”

So, so suffocating… I have no idea what to talk about. Could this be because I have no experience in conversing with girls?

Or could it be that conversation from her flows freely only when it’s about work? When Tao Qian had said that she was good to speak with, he couldn’t be just referring to work right.

“Un… Is Sun Qian the ‘mukuchi’ type?”

(TL: Mukuchi or 无口 is an ACG (anime, cartoons and games) archetype for females that don’t speak. In short, Chinese otaku lingo.)

“What is that?”

“No, nothing.”

She probably wouldn’t understand even if I tried explaining.

I looked about left and right listlessly.

I wonder what Feng Xian, Yun Chang and the rest are doing now. It wouldn’t be strange for them to be having fun somewhere somehow in a city this big.

“Sun Qian, how did you 3 end up working under Tao Qian?”

“I was here from the very beginning. Mi Zhu was originally a merchant who switched over while Jian Yong came to join Tao Qian from the north.”

What a simple and clear summary.

“Look at that–” Sun Qian pointed to a 2-storey tall building. “That’s Mi Zhu’s house.”

Oh~~~ Having this sort of house in the city should be quite the luxury in this era.

I really couldn’t tell that the Mi Zhu who was always happy-go-lucky was actually an accomplished merchant.

No wonder old man Tao Qian put her in charge of finance.

“Un? What’s up over there?”

I saw that there was some commotion over at the city gates and asked Sun Qian.

“… Could be refugees from the north.” Sun Qian said as she headed in that direction, as I followed behind. “I’ve received information that Yuan Shao has been expanding her lands recently.”

Yuan Shao is it?

I wonder if Gongsun Zan and Han Fu are alright.

When we neared the city gates, I involuntarily gulped. The sight before me was much harsher than I had imagined.

The refugees at the gates were numerous. By my rough estimations, there were at least 7-8,000 of them and Xu state city definitely does not have the s.p.a.ce to accommodate all of them.

“Sun Qian, what do we do with them?”

We wouldn’t be chasing them off forcefully right?

The term ‘refugees’ does not elicit much optimism and what I saw before me reminded of scenes of disaster I’d only seen before in movies and TV shows.

“… In any case, we should give them some food first.” While I was still dealing with the swirling feelings of pity and sadness inside me, she had went to speak with the city guards and returned to where I was. “Lord Liu Bei, please wait while I go ahead and hear about the situation from the refugees.”

“Ah, wait.”

As she said so, Sun Qian made to leave but I managed to catch her by the sleeve.

“I’ll go too, though I don’t know how much help I can be of.”

“…” Sun Qian nodded wordlessly and so we headed to where the refugees were together.

The refugees were from all over the country but the bulk of them were from the north. All of them shared the same reason for running southward – To escape the flames of war.

Wars and conflicts over territory can happen anywhere and anytime in this era, and many commoners will inevitably suffer greatly because of this. Though it seemed peaceful here, I must not forget that we are living on a knife-edge.

“Un, I understand the overall situation more or less.” Sun Qian said as she nodded.

When Sun Qian was asking around just now, most of the time she was listening and gave an ‘un’ in reply, and did not raise many follow-up questions either.

Just then, Sun Qian walked over to me.

“How is it?”

“There are almost 100,000 refugees. I’ve decided to let some of them stay here in Xu state city while the rest will be sent to other commanderies and counties under our jurisdiction.”

“So you’re taking all of them in then?”

“If we don’t take them in, they have no choice but to head further south. Judging by their condition from speaking with them before, they probably won’t make it,” Sun Qian said as she looked at them, “And I think that they probably aren’t too willing to leave. When I was speaking with them just now, their eyes and faces told me that they hope to be able to find a place they can stay here. At the same time, their timidness stems from fear that we will drive them off.”

“…” I looked at Sun Qian and was amazed at how much she understood those people despite speaking so little.

Perhaps it’s not that Sun Qian speaks little, but that she understands most things through observing, listening and coming to an understanding without having to elicit answers from the other side.

There’s no way to ask the refugees if they can still make a longer journey elsewhere after all without alarming them. The things that others aren’t willing or able to say can only be ascertained by one’s efforts to understand their point of view and how they think.

Just like when I said I had to go to the toilet, my frustrated look had already exposed my true intention of escaping to her. At the same time, she agreed to come out with me as a solution to the problem of my lack of focus and will.

Being good to speak with and being good at speaking are 2 different things as the former emphasises listening and understanding while the latter emphasises projecting what you mean.

I see, I see.

I now more or less understand what Tao Qian means. Sun Qian is indeed the one who is most suited to be one’s confidante.

These were my thoughts as I looked at Sun Qian who was directing the refugee work flows amongst the officials, troops and guards.

“Alright, I’ve delegated all the work. It’s not getting any earlier so let’s…” She had finished making the necessary arrangements and turned back to me and said, “Un? Is there something on my face?”

“Ah? No, nothing.” I realised that I was staring at Sun Qian the whole time I was lost in my thoughts and shook my head I replied.

“Un… Let’s go then.” Sun Qian might have felt something from my expression but she did not ask further.

“Go back?”

“Un, it’s going to be noon soon, Lord Liu Bei should go get lunch.” Sun Qian said.

“And you?”

“I have other plans.”

“To do my administrative work for me?”

“…”

Sun Qian did not reply. She probably doesn’t lie, and her silence is an affirmation of what I said.

As I thought, Sun Qian probably never intended for me to go through all those doc.u.ments from the very beginning.

When Sun Qian said to return before noon, she actually meant that for herself. She had to fulfill her responsibilities of supervising me, and intended to return before noon to finish the work so that there wouldn’t be n.o.body there when Mi Zhu and Jian Yong came to check on things. Even if I wasn’t there when they came, it would have been fine as long as the work was done.

“I’m not in a rush to get lunch so I’ll help you too… Ah, haha, it’s actually my duty to begin with though.” I smiled as I said so to Sun Qian.

“But…”

“Aiya, you don’t need to be too concerned about taking care of me,” I smiled to Sun Qian as I placed my hands on my hips, “When you’re with me, you can relax a little.”

“… Un.” Sun Qian stared at me for a bit before nodding. As she raised her head, she used the calmest voice and said, “As long as you don’t end up giving me more work.”

As she said so, Sun Qian began walking off.

“Haha, I’ll try my best…”

I said as I laughed and quickly followed her.

It might be better if I don’t go, but I intend to help where ever I can, no matter how small of a contribution it may be. After all, I can’t continue being so ignorant and useless.

“And,” Sun Qian who was ahead turned and said with a slightly reddened face, “Please call me Gong You from now on, my lord.”

<script>