Chapter 71 Liverpool Slaughterhouse

Liverpool Labour Camp was a perfect combination of a sweatshop and a prison.

There were soldiers patrolling the square, sentries on high ground, and even searchlights.

The rows of simple houses were dormitories for Chinese workers. The doors were made of iron, with iron windows for the guards to check on the situation.

There were more than 400 people in their group.

Among them were more than 300 male laborers who had signed contracts with compradors and more than 40 girls who were sold by their relatives or abducted by human traffickers. The oldest of these girls was only 12 years old and the youngest was 7 years old, and most of them were eight or nine years old.

Luo Jiu and his four companions seemed out of place in the team.

Cheng Yaoyao instinctively went to line up with the girls. Luo Jiu shook his head, "They are going to be sold to a brothel. They are young and can still work in a brothel for two years. If we go there, I'm afraid we won't be able to escape tonight."

Cheng Yaoyao looked with pity at the group of children who knew nothing about their future and sighed helplessly.

The four hid among the men, secretly praying that they could get away with it.

Everyone was pushed forward by the soldiers and lined up in the square to receive clothes and register their numbers.

Next to the registration office, there was a pot of burning charcoal, glowing red.

It was just mid-September and the weather in early autumn was not cold.

Zhong Jialing couldn't help but mutter: "Are foreigners so afraid of the cold? Lighting up the stove so early?"

Before he finished speaking, a sharp wail suddenly came from the front row, "Ah!"

The crowd was in an uproar, and everyone looked over, only to see the person in the front falling to the ground in pain, holding his bleeding arm.

The soldier next to him cursed, kicked him twice, and gestured to him to go back to the dormitory.

Everyone was terrified and didn't know what was going on. Some information flashed through Luo Jiu's mind, and he said in a deep voice: "It's a branding iron. They will print numbers on everyone's arms to prevent everyone from escaping."

After hearing this, Ding Hua said angrily: "We are here to work, not to be slaves. Why do they treat us like this?"

Father Qi frowned and said, "Now that things have come to this, it is no longer up to us. Let's just leave it to fate."

Gu Dali helped Old Man Qi move forward, and Zhong Jialing looked at Luo Jiu and asked her to make the decision.

Luo Jiu pointed at the girls' team and said, "Go over there."

Cheng Yaoyao hesitated, "Didn't you say that if we go there, we'll have a hard time tonight?"

Luo Jiu was helpless, "It's going to be very difficult here now."

There were constant wailing sounds coming from the square. Everyone seemed like pigs in a slaughterhouse, being driven by hunters with knives, and constantly entering the next procedure.

Luo Jiu and others stood among a group of children, watching those who had received their clothes being assigned to the dormitories nearby.

Through the open door, you can vaguely see the bunk beds inside.

There are two floors, one room, and about forty people.

The line kept getting shorter and shorter, and it was almost the girls' turn.

Zhong Jialing felt a little uneasy, "Will they give us numbers too?"

Luo Jiu answered confidently: "No, the goods we sell will not be damaged in appearance."

Sure enough, when it was the girls' turn they just had to pick up their clothes and do some simple registration.

The four of them were at the end, moving forward step by step.

Suddenly, two trucks drove in from the gate, and a dozen soldiers jumped out, followed by a group of workers with Chinese faces.

This group of people were covered in dust from their work. Most of them looked tired and hurried towards the dormitory without even raising their heads.

However, the last few people who got off the car looked full of energy, as if they had just gone out for a stroll.

After getting out of the car, they walked up to an officer and took out a cigarette and lit it for him.

They were old hands who had arrived here a year ago and were already familiar with the officers.

There were a large number of Chinese workers, and some of them were good at scheming and quickly found the most advantageous positions.

They formed gangs and factions to form a force that, on the one hand, could plunder newcomers to gain benefits, and on the other hand, helped foreigners manage the Chinese, saving them a lot of effort.

There are currently more than 8,000 people in the Liverpool Labor Camp. The troublemakers there are divided into several major gangs. These are from the Qinglong Gang. The leader is called Da Dao Xiong.

Da Daoxiong was chatting with Lieutenant Andre and soon noticed the newcomer in the square. His bored look quickly turned into interest.

Luo Jiu, Feng Qi and others received their clothes and were queuing up to enter the girls' dormitory. They had already stepped in when they were suddenly stopped by white soldiers who rushed over.

The other party pointed a gun at them and signaled them to go to another dormitory.

Luo Jiu calmly withdrew his foot. Zhu Jiumei called out with worried eyes: "Sister! Where are you going?"

Luo Jiu raised the corner of his mouth, "Don't worry, maybe we will be back tomorrow."

Suddenly, Da Daoxiong's mocking voice sounded behind him: "Maybe you will have a brother-in-law tomorrow."

Luo Jiu glared at him, followed the soldier's instructions, and entered Da Daoxiong's dormitory.

The four bunks that were temporarily vacated were obviously prepared for them.

The four of them put down their clothes and turned around to see a dozen men surrounding them with smiles on their faces.

Feng Qi shook her neck, rubbed her hands together, and stretched her strong muscles. She was very angry today and had no place to vent.

Luo Jiu patted her back gently and said, "Don't worry, we are all Chinese, so let's make it clear to avoid any misunderstanding."

Da Dao Xiong chuckled, "There's nothing to misunderstand. We brothers have been vegetarians for too long and want to try some meat. If you're willing to follow me, Da Dao Xiong, I'll make sure you have enough food and clothing."

Luo Jiu smiled and said, "Should I hang out with you or sleep with you?"

Da Dao Xiong laughed, "Is there any difference? If you want to hang out with me, you have to sleep with me, otherwise what do I need you women for?

Well, you said we are all Chinese. For the sake of our compatriots, I will give you two choices.

1. Take the initiative to follow me and make Brother Xiong happy, so that you can suffer less.

Second, wait for me to come find you, but by then we won’t be so gentle with you.

It's dinner time now, please think about this carefully.

Time is short, seize the opportunity. After lights out, I will assume that you like rough play."

Da Daoxiong, holding a cigarette in his mouth, went out with his brothers.

Luo Jiu's cold eyes swept over the rest of the people, "Are you also from the Qinglong Gang?"

Everyone lowered their heads, avoiding her gaze. Someone lamented, "We are nobody. Girl, please don't force us to take sides. We really can't afford to offend these people. They are the living hells here. No one dares to help you. You're on your own."

Luo Jiu sneered and said, "It's best if you don't take sides. If there is any disturbance tonight, I hope you will all remain silent like you are now."

The four of them left the dormitory and lined up in the square to get food.

Each person had a bowl, and several black women were responsible for distributing the food. They would use a large spoon to scoop a spoonful of sticky food and then give out two slices of dry bread.

The four of them looked at the food in their hands and lost their appetite.