Chapter 68 Moving House, Opening Ceremony, and a Gift from the Entire Town...

As the first hint of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon, Hope Town awoke from its slumber, and the entire settlement was enveloped in a restless yet joyful atmosphere.

Today is an important day for Hope Town – the day of the collective relocation.

A restless atmosphere, a mixture of tension and anticipation, filled the air. Residents, who had barely slept all night, quickly took care of their personal matters and then spontaneously gathered in Central Park.

The children, instructed by the adults, dressed early in their cleanest clothes, mostly patched linen, but every wrinkle was smoothed out and every button was neatly fastened. Then, like a flock of cheerful little sparrows, they chased and played among the crowd, their laughter injecting the warmest vitality into this cold morning.

In the center of the square, a huge bonfire was lit again, dispelling the chill of the morning. Beside the bonfire, a mountain of mysterious supplies, covered by a thick, meticulously woven straw mat, became the focus of everyone's attention.

"Ahem," Lin Yue stood on the makeshift stage made of a few thick wooden planks and bricks, holding a tin megaphone. Looking at the sea of ​​faces below, all beaming with happiness, he was filled with emotion.

"Fellow builders of Hope Town," his voice rang out clearly through the loudspeaker throughout the square, "I know that you have all worked very hard over the past few days. We dug soil together, fired bricks together, felled trees together, and built walls together. With our own sweat and hands, we have built our own home on this cursed land."

"Today is the day we reap the rewards. All the families who have worked hard for this home will say goodbye to the cold and damp sheds and move into sturdy and comfortable red brick heated kang houses where cooking a meal once can keep the house warm all night."

As soon as the words were spoken, the crowd fell silent for a moment, as if processing the long-awaited news, before erupting into a cheer that was more enthusiastic and sincere than ever before. It wasn't just a simple shout, but a resonance of complex emotions—a blend of joy, catharsis, and boundless gratitude.

An elderly woman with gray hair knelt down excitedly, kissing the land beneath her feet that had given them new life; several strong young men excitedly tossed their companions into the air; and many more mothers held their children tightly, tears silently streaming down their faces—tears no longer of sorrow, but of relief at the end of a life of hardship and of boundless hope for a brighter future.

Lin Yue smiled and did not stop it immediately. He let the wave of joy roll freely in the square for a while before raising the megaphone again to signal everyone to be quiet.

“I know everyone is eager to return to their new homes, to feel the warmth of the heated kang bed, and to touch the smooth tables and chairs. But before we go home, we have something more important to do.”

He smiled mysteriously and pointed to the pile of supplies next to him that looked like a small mountain.

"For the past two weeks or so, several core workshops in our town have been secretly producing goods. Many people are curious about what we've been doing. Now I can tell you."

He turned his head and nodded solemnly to Stonefist, Ella, Kaylan, Aunt Lydia, and Old Bard.

With smiles of immense pride on their faces, the leaders stepped forward and, under the breathless gaze of everyone, suddenly unveiled the huge straw mat covering the pile of supplies.

"Whoosh—!"

The moment the straw mat was lifted, sunlight streamed in, dazzling everyone's eyes. This was followed by a deathly silence, then an incredulous gasp and gasps of shock, like a landslide or a tsunami.

That wasn't some mysterious resource at all; it was clearly a mountain of treasures piled up from happiness and abundance.

The outermost layer consisted of bags of refined snow salt and faintly glowing starlight wheat flour, all sealed in sturdy linen, piled up like a low wall. Each bag was clearly labeled with its weight using charcoal, neatly and systematically arranged.

Inside were bundles of smoked meat and dried sausages, carefully tied with rattan, their golden-yellow color and glistening appearance filling the air with a rich aroma of meat and smoke, forcefully penetrating everyone's nostrils and making everyone swallow hard.

Further inside were rows of brand-new, exquisite celadon ceramic tableware. Bowls, plates, cups, saucers, spoons… each piece was as smooth as jade, shimmering with a warm luster in the sunlight. The quantity was roughly estimated to be enough to give every family in the town a set, with some to spare.

At the very top of Baoshan, the most dazzling sight is a collection of gleaming iron tools. These include not only sharp iron knives and sturdy iron spatulas, but also delicate iron forks and ladles. Each piece has been meticulously crafted by a blacksmith; though devoid of superfluous decoration, its simple yet cold metallic sheen represents the pinnacle of lifestyle of this era.

Even in the corner, there was a pile of meticulously carved toys: a small wooden horse, a spinning top, and a rattle that made a crisp sound. It was clearly a surprise that Kailan's woodworking workshop had specially prepared for the children of the town.

"Oh my god...Is I dreaming?" A woman covered her mouth tightly, tears streaming down her face. "So many...so many good things...are they all for us?"

"Those iron spoons...we can finally use iron spoons that only men used to use to eat?" A young man's voice trembled with excitement.

The Silent Ones were utterly stunned by the unprecedented, mythically abundant spectacle before them. They stared in disbelief at the exquisite ceramics and gleaming ironware.

Seeing the crowd's almost fainting with excitement, Lin Yue raised the tin megaphone again, his voice loud and proud:

"That's right, these are all housewarming gifts we've prepared for everyone, and they're also a way for Hope Town to give back to every hard-working builder."

"These are not my personal contributions, but the wealth created by each and every one of you with your sweat, wisdom and hard work. It is what we all deserve."

"From today onward, salt will no longer be a luxury, and meat will no longer be something we only eat during holidays. Exquisite tableware and convenient tools will become standard equipment in every household. As long as we continue to work hard and unite as one, there will be more and more of these good things, and our lives will only get better and better."

"Now, the housewarming gift packages are officially being distributed. Families, come and collect your gifts, and then head back to your new homes."

Under the organization of Aunt Leah and Mia, people lined up, their faces beaming with happiness, to receive their share of the rich fortune from that treasure mountain.

When they opened the door to their new home with generous gifts and great excitement, another huge surprise brought tears to their eyes once again.

What was originally thought to be an empty brick house has now been completely renovated and is filled with the warmth of home.

A sturdy, flat oak square table sits in the center of the room, next to several chairs with gracefully curved backs. In the corner is a storage cabinet carved with exquisite vine patterns, and it is even thoughtfully lined with dry straw for moisture protection.

What warmed their hearts the most was the kang (heated brick bed) connected to the kitchen stove, spacious enough for a family to sleep on. The kang surface was worn smooth and flat, covered not only with thick straw mats woven from newly harvested rice straw, but also with several cotton quilts neatly folded on top of the mats. These quilts were simple yet exceptionally soft and clean.

In another, slightly smaller room, there was even a bunk bed made of oak with guardrails, clearly intended for the children or elders in the family.

Passing through the living room, you'll find the separate kitchen and bathroom area that everyone longs for. The kitchen is small, but it has everything you need. The stove, built of red bricks and cement, is right next to the heated kang bed in the master bedroom, and a brand-new iron pot sits securely on it.

Above the stove, a chimney carefully constructed with ceramic pipes and mud leads straight to the roof, ensuring that cooking fumes can be smoothly expelled outdoors, so that the house will no longer be filled with smoke after cooking a meal, as it used to be.

On the other side of the stove was a sink made of bluestone slabs, and above it, a ceramic faucet waited quietly to be turned on. That was the waterworks' pipeline terminal, meaning that clean, purified water could now be directly supplied to every household's kitchen.

The separate bathroom that caused a sensation throughout the town was cleverly placed to the side and rear of the kitchen, completely isolated from it, which ensured hygiene and prevented moisture from directly entering the living area.

Stepping into the bathroom, the space was small, but the floor and half of the walls were covered with light blue ceramic tiles, which are more waterproof. In the corner, a clean, smooth ceramic toilet, shimmering with a holy light, stood quietly, next to a flushing device connected to the tap water system.

On the other side was a simple shower area enclosed by stone slabs, with a faucet installed on the wall. Although there was no hot water yet, being able to use clean purified water to wash one's body at any time was an unimaginable luxury.

All of this was a surprise that Kalan and his woodworking workshop, along with the logistics team led by Aunt Leah, had been secretly preparing for everyone over the past few days, working overtime.

At this moment, the shape of home becomes incredibly clear and incredibly warm.

By the afternoon, when all the families had basically completed their relocation and tidied up their new homes, and the entire Hope Town was immersed in a peaceful and happy atmosphere, Lin Yue once again sounded the call to assemble.

He led everyone to the most magnificent and mysterious new building in the town, which had always been hidden from view.

"I know everyone is very curious about this place." Lin Yue stood on the tall steps of the building, a smug smile on his face. "Today, it will officially unveil its secrets."

"Hope Town No. 1 Store"

"From today onwards, this will be the commercial center, dining center, and window for external exchanges of Hope Town."

Amidst everyone's expectant gazes, Lin Yue personally unveiled the enormous straw curtain.

A magnificent, spacious, and bright building, exceeding everyone's expectations, officially appeared before them. Above the entrance hung a huge plaque meticulously carved from a single piece of ironwood. The plaque bore the words "Hope Town Store No. 1" in the common language of the mainland.

Above the word "Hope" is a trademark representing the harmonious coexistence of industry, agriculture, and nature in Hope Town. Most interestingly, in an inconspicuous place in the lower right corner of the plaque, four small characters are engraved in a peculiar, square script that no one can understand: "Lin's Restaurant".

Yihaodian represents the creation and rebirth from zero to one, while the four Chinese characters "Lin's Restaurant" that only he can understand are a memento and a piece of his original aspiration that he left for himself.

When everyone entered Yihaodian, they were once again completely amazed by the interior layout and design.

The hall was spacious enough to accommodate hundreds of people at the same time. Directly opposite the door was a backdrop wall made from a single, massive obsidian slab. On the wall, two huge menus were clearly written in different colored mineral powders.

On the left is the familiar [Hope Town Internal Work Point Exchange Area], which details the work points required for various daily necessities. On the right is the brand-new [Hope Town Foreign Trade Area], which uses the common language of the mainland and Arabic numerals invented by Lin Yue to indicate the common currency prices of local specialties such as snow salt, starlight wheat flour, ceramics, and ironware.

This huge menu wall, like a solemn declaration, shows everyone the wealth and confidence of Hope Town.

To the left of the hall was a spacious and bright dining area. A dozen or so brand-new oak tables and chairs were neatly arranged. Behind them was a huge, semi-open kitchen, fully equipped with brand-new iron pots, spatulas, and ceramic spice jars. Mia was leading several cooks, busily preparing today's complimentary lavish meal.

To the right of the hall was the shopping area, which drew everyone's attention even more. Rows of meticulously crafted, two-meter-high wooden shelves, crafted by Kaylan, stood neatly arranged. The shelves were categorized and displayed a dazzling array of goods: packaged salt and wheat flour, bolts of fabric in various colors, sets of exquisite ceramic tableware, gleaming iron tools, and even sachets made of dried flowers by Ella and small trinkets carved by Kaylan from scraps of fabric.

Under each item, a small wooden plaque clearly indicates the work points required and the suggested universal currency price.

This is simply a treasure trove filled with rare and wonderful things.

Passing through the lobby, you'll find a separate courtyard where rows of neat and clean guest rooms stand quietly. There are standard rooms suitable for singles or couples, as well as four-person rooms with unique bunk beds, perfect for groups or families. Each room has its own en-suite bathroom.

Seeing the astonished expressions on everyone's faces, as if they were Liu Grandma visiting the Grand View Garden, Lin Yue cleared his throat and began his long-planned speech on the future prospects of Hope Town's economic system.

"Everyone, I know you are all familiar with work points. They represent your labor and contributions. In the past, because we were isolated from the world and had no external currency, work points were the only means of circulation within our organization."

“However,” he changed the subject, “we cannot shut ourselves off forever. The last visit of the Golden Libra Merchant Guild has proven that Hope Town has both the ability and the necessity to trade with the outside world. And trade requires the use of the currencies commonly used on the continent—gold coins, silver coins, and copper coins.”

"Therefore, after discussions with the heads of various workshops, we have decided to gradually implement a more flexible salary and exchange system in our future development."

"From now on, everyone's earnings, that is, wages, will consist of two parts: one part is basic work points, which will be used to ensure that everyone can exchange for basic living supplies such as food and water within the business. The other part is performance bonuses, which will be distributed directly to you in the form of the common currency of the mainland, namely copper coins and silver coins, based on your work performance and contribution."

"What does this mean? It means that, in addition to meeting your basic needs, you will have wealth that you can freely dispose of. You can use this money to buy more advanced, non-essential goods in Hope Town No. 1, such as finer ceramics, sharper tools, and even... spices, wines, and all sorts of novelties that we might bring back from the outside world in the future. Of course, you can also save the money to accumulate more wealth for your family and for your future!"

"And to celebrate our housewarming and the grand opening of Yihaodian, the whole town will be on holiday for three days. During these three days, everyone can redeem a free deluxe meal in the dining area of ​​Yihaodian by presenting their family household registration card. Afterwards, you can use your accumulated work points, as well as the extra housewarming bonus work points awarded to everyone, to freely spend at Yihaodian. Enjoy the wonderful life you have earned with your hard work."

Hope Town was completely engulfed in a sea of ​​revelry.

While the whole town was immersed in the joy of the festival, a heartwarming and touching scene was quietly unfolding in another corner.

On the morning of the third day of the holiday, Lin Yue was still sleeping in his simple main house, thinking about how to renovate his Senate, when he was awakened by a familiar clanging and banging construction sound.

"Who is it? Can't a person get any sleep this early in the morning? Is everyone this busy on holiday?" he muttered, rubbing his sleepy eyes as he pushed open the door.

Then, he was stunned.

Outside his somewhat dilapidated Lin family restaurant, a large crowd had gathered.

Aunt Leah and Ella were leading a large group of women, busily carrying the precious stone blueprints and various experimental specimens out of the house. As they moved, they laughed and said, "The mayor's family just can't function without a woman. Look at this mess, it's like a pigsty."

Meanwhile, Li Ge and Kailan, with their respective construction teams and carpentry workshops, were already working feverishly. Instead of enjoying their vacation, they were voluntarily using the best materials and the most exquisite techniques to renovate the home of their mayor, who had led everyone out of despair.

"What...what are you doing?" Lin Yue was speechless for a moment, looking at the bustling scene before him.

“Mayor,” Li Ge smiled sheepishly and wiped his sweat, “everyone in town has moved into new houses. We can’t let you, Brother Gray, and Uncle Stone Fist, the three great contributors, still live in the most dilapidated houses, can we? If word gets out, where will we put our faces in Hope Town?”

“That’s right,” Aunt Leah said with a smile, carrying a steaming bowl of Starlight Porridge. “Mayor, please rest assured. We’ll be here to serve you these next few days. This isn’t just about building a house; it’s a return gift from the entire town.”

Lin Yue, along with Gray and Stone Fist, who were also warmly invited to rest, felt an indescribable warmth welling up in their hearts as they looked at the bustling scene before them and listened to everyone's heartfelt words.

For the first time, Stonefist, the hot-tempered dwarf master, didn't roar, "You've built this wall crookedly!" Instead, he awkwardly turned his head, rubbed his eyes with his rough hands, and muttered, "Hmph... a bunch of nosy bastards... the wind's too strong, sand got in my eyes..."

Gray sat quietly, his usually calm eyes now reflecting the smiling faces of everyone before him like melting glaciers. He tightened his grip on the spear, then quietly loosened it, gently placing it on his knees.

Lin Yue's eyes involuntarily welled up with tears as he watched this scene.

He didn't say anything more, but silently took the bowl of porridge and nodded heavily.

Over the next few days, with the joint efforts of all the residents of the town, a brand-new "Lin Family Elders' Courtyard" rose from the ground on the original foundation of the main house.

It is larger and more robust than any residential courtyard house. Inside, there is not only a spacious living room and kitchen, but also separate rooms specially designed for Lin Yue, Gray, Shi Quan, and even Xiao Fen, each tailored to their individual lifestyles.

Lin Yue's room connects to an office/laboratory with floor-to-ceiling windows and a huge workbench, filled with bookshelves and blueprint cabinets that Kailan specially built for him.

Gray's room, on the other hand, was more like a quiet meditation room, simple and spacious, with the window facing the vibrant Son of the Sacred Tree.

Stone Fist's room was right next to his beloved blacksmith shop, with walls reinforced with firebricks. Inside was an oversized bed made from a single piece of ironwood, capable of supporting his entire weight.

When Lin Yue, Gray, and Stone Fist stood before this new home, built spontaneously for them by the entire town's residents and filled with warmth and love, the three grown men, who had struggled and weathered countless storms in the cursed land, remained silent, speechless.

At this moment, what they gained was not just a house, but also the profound love and sense of belonging from the entire Hope Town.

This home is now unbreakable.

As Lin Yue was immersed in this immense sense of happiness, he chatted with Elder Farador, who had just finished praying, under the sacred tree.

Gray suddenly appeared behind them. Stone Fist, who was showing off his newly polished iron spatula to Amu not far away, also stopped and looked warily to the east.

Little Fen, who was dozing in her new den, suddenly raised her head and let out a low whimper. The lightning bolt mark on her forehead brightened again.

Elder Farador slowly raised his head, gazing at the distant horizon still shrouded in a thin mist, his eyes flashing with a complex light.

He turned his head, looked at Lin Yue who looked completely bewildered, and said very clearly:

"They're here."