Chapter 248. Accomplices
The meeting lasted for over two hours. With the Seventh King present, all the people were earnest about the task a.s.signed by the Sixth King. Li Chengru also promised that they could do it boldly because they didnât need to be responsible for the result. Even if they failed, it would be the Sixth King who bore the loss.
Then, they decided detailed arrangements and division of labor, including who purchased cattle, who cheese, and who cotton. Tarico was in charge of the affairs of the Tianshan tribe, but he couldnât manage it alone and needed to hire some people. Therefore, he suggested inviting Dillyâs family to join them.
The officials who had come with Li Chengru would gather the refugees in this tribe and ask them to help Ye Xiaoxian to dry beef, pick cotton and so forth. These refugees would be paid salaries rather than getting only two naans a day by herding.
Wong Mudan and some other women were still responsible for logistics. The Sixth King would provide food for them to cook in the early stages. If they needed help, they could also hire some refugees.
After the discussion, everyone knew their respective responsibilities. Then, they began to busy themselves with their jobs.
In Mahalâs house.
Dati had been worried for days because Ji hadnât returned with the camel team and n.o.body had told her why. No one cared about this widower or bothered to report anything about him to Mahal. Even so, Mahal and Dati couldnât take the initiative to ask Ye Xiaoxian where Ji had gone.
Helpless, Dati was overwhelmed by anxiety.
One day, she said to Mahal, âJi has disappeared for half a month. Shall we send somebody to ask about it?â
Mahal was somewhat angry about her thoughtlessness. âNo! What if Ji was killed when he tried to murder them? If we ask them about him, they will suspect us of being his accomplices!â
âBut youâre the tribal leader. You have the responsibility to care about your people.â
Mahal didnât care about whether Ji was alive or not. âIâm not going to ask. Or, at least, I should wait a while first.â
Soon, Dati and Guri found that Ye Xiaoxian and her companions were busy again. The tribe also became lively. First, the officials asked Mahal to gather all the refugees and told them they could work for Ye Xiaoxian from then on. Then, Tarico advertised job openings among the tribe and finally hired Dilly and her family, several butchers and some camel drivers.
Mahal asked an official, âSir, what is going on in our tribe? Are you supporting the Xiaosâ and the Liusâ business?â
The official said, âYes, but to be exact, they are working for the Sixth King now. Youâre the leader here. If they need your help, please do your best to a.s.sist them.â
âAh? Why donât I know about that?â Mahal was surprised. How could he know nothing about something which even Tarico knew? At the same time, he believed those people could earn a lot of money by working for the Sixth King. Why was it not him doing this enviable job?
The official said, âThe Seventh King is responsible for this. I also donât know why youâve not been informed. Perhaps he will soon tell you. Now that youâre the tribal leader, he will need your help.â
Upset and stubborn, Mahal secretly pressed a gigot into the officialâs hand. âSir, I feel that the Seventh King doesnât like me, but I canât figure out why. Is it because I didnât treat the Xiaos and the Lius well at first? I corrected my mistake afterward. Sir, could you tell the Seventh King that Iâm experienced and capable in the tribe and will help him a lot?â
The official didnât want to take the gigot. But Mahal insisted, so the official could only agree to speak for him if there was any chance.
One day, Mahal happened to meet Tarico outside. On seeing Tarico, he gnashed his teeth with jealousy. Tarico had become a success in the tribe. Many locals scrambled for the jobs he posted and even fawned over him. But Tarico insisted on his principles and just asked them to raise more cattle, milk more goats and pick more cotton. Some people believed his words and actually bought more calves.
âHey, Tarico!â Although Mahal hated Tarico, he had to approach this man for some reason today.
Although Tarico was busy, he stopped and asked, âYes?â
Looking at Taricoâs face, Mahal felt even more envious. Since Tarico began cooperating with Ye Xiaoxian, he had become more confident and even his eyes appeared more firm. In the past, he had been a flippant man, goofing off by fis.h.i.+ng, herding and singing folk songs.
âWell, itâs nothing particular. Do you remember Ji? He went across the desert with you, didnât he? But yesterday, when I walked past his house, his neighbor told me he hadnât been back for a long time. Do you know where he is now?â
âOh, heâs enjoying his life in the Central Plains. He said his life in the tribe was too boring. Now that heâs earned some money, he just settled down in the big city. Perhaps heâs now savoring fine liquor and holding a beauty in his arms.â
Mahal asked in disbelief, âReally?â
âYes. You can ask the others if you donât believe me,â Tarico said.
Actually, he had discussed with Ye Xiaoxian in advance how to reply if someone asked about Ji, and they had worked out a solution. They could say that Ji didnât want to come back and had stayed in the Central Plains.
That was because Tarico thought that some people might have colluded with Ji. After all, Ji couldnât take care of so many camels alone and must seek one or more conspirators to run the business. Tarico thought they might wait and see who was the first to ask about Ji.
Ji was a widower who held bad relations with his neighbors and was always out. Who would care about where he was? The one who cared about him most must be working with him. As such, Taricoâs suspicion was aroused when Mahal revealed a look of doubt.
But Mahalâs face soon became calm again. âI see. Iâm just checking. After all, Iâm the leader and have a responsibility to care about my people. If you disappear one day, Iâll also ask about you. Now that heâs living a good life there, Iâm relieved.â Then, he looked at Tarico again. âHas the Sixth King really invested a lot of money in your business?â
âYes,â Tarico replied as he continued with his work. âIâm just an a.s.sistant. Little Ye is the chief.â