Without further ado, Liang Wen and the others immediately stood up. "Okay, let's go back and pack our things now."

The woman placed the basket in front of Lin Yinan and said, "Thank you for saving my son's life. This is a small token of our appreciation. We hope you will accept it."

Lin Yinan nodded and did not refuse.

Seeing that she accepted the money, the woman smiled and she and the man were about to leave with Liang Wen and the others.

"The child's fever has just subsided, and he's still weak. It's not advisable for him to travel back and forth with you. I suggest you leave him here," Lin Yinan said, seeing that the child looked sickly and lacked energy.

The woman paused, looking troubled. "Won't this be too much trouble for you?"

"If you don't want to trouble us, you can stay and take care of him."

Upon hearing this, the man decisively placed the child in the woman's arms. "Yu Niang, you stay here and take care of Gou Dan. I'll go back and pack up the things at home."

Reluctant to leave her child, the woman could only nod solemnly.

With enough bricks and tiles, and with the help of good weather, the city wall was finally completed three days later.

At the same time, the Yun brothers received a letter from Yun Zhenchuan.

The letter stated that the eldest son of the Yu family had recently taken Yu Qiutao as a concubine, and her brother Lin Zhaohui had become a staff member in the Yu household. The wedding date with Lu Yuejia was set for half a month later.

First they take a concubine, then they get married. The Yu family really doesn't give the Lu family any face at all.

Since Lu Xueli's death, signs of decline have already appeared in a short period of time.

Lu Xueli's eldest son was almost locked in a life-or-death struggle with his second and third uncles.

The Yu family has been secretly eroding the Fan family's influence and lucrative businesses. Although Yun Zhenchuan didn't mention it in his letter, it's likely he has taken action as well.

It's true what they say, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter!

This also shows that Lu Xueli was too arrogant and failed to cultivate a successor early on.

In the days following reading the letter, Lin Yinan repeatedly reviewed the information about the prominent families of the South that Yun Zhenchuan had given her.

On the third day after the wall was completed, Liang Wen led over a hundred people who had come down from the mountain to Longtan County.

Gazing at the city walls gleaming in the sunlight, they stood majestically before everyone, like a silent guardian.

The heavy city gate, with its inlaid copper nails and ornaments, gleamed in the sunlight.

The watchtowers on the city walls stand high above, overlooking the boundless wilderness beyond the walls.

"Who goes there?" the guards on duty in the watchtower shouted at Liang Wen and the others.

Liang Wen stepped forward and bowed to the guards, saying, "I am Liang Wen. I have come here to seek refuge at the invitation of Young Master Yun. I hope you will inform him of my presence."

Before half an incense stick had burned, the small door on the side of the city gate slowly opened.

Yun San came out from inside and said, "Mr. Liang, please come with me."

Apart from Liang Wen, everyone else was intimidated by the murderous aura emanating from Yun San and dared not even breathe loudly.

The group arrived at the county government office with all their possessions. Looking at this place that was both familiar and unfamiliar, they couldn't help but sigh.

Upon entering the county government office, Lin Yinan, the Yun brothers, Lin Yiheng, Lin Yuanzhi and Lin Tiezhuang who were in charge of document recording, the clan chief, and other respected figures from the village were already waiting in the main hall. A thick stack of documents was placed on the table in front of them.

The people on the mountain were filled with unease, hesitant to move forward in the face of an unknown future.

Yu Niang, who was standing under the eaves holding her child, saw her husband and mother-in-law and quickly went over to stand with them.

Lin Yiheng stepped out of the chair, glanced at the people standing in the courtyard, and then said loudly, "I am Lin Yiheng, and I am currently the chief steward of the entire Longtan County."

Next, he introduced Lin Yinan and the clan leader to Liang Wen and the others one by one.

Liang Wen also handed Lin Yiheng the list of people on the mountain and the recorded family information.

Lin Yiheng asked Liang Wen and his men to sit down on chairs in the courtyard, then picked up a draft contract and began to explain it to them.

"Starting today, everyone will sign a ten-year contract. During the contract period, you must unconditionally obey our work arrangements and assignments..."

After the explanation, the people below began to whisper among themselves.

"Manager, what if I decide I don't want to continue halfway through?" an elderly woman asked.

Lin Yiheng smiled and said, "If you don't want to continue halfway through, you need to tell the person in charge at least half a month in advance, and then we will find someone to take over your work."

"About the house?"

"The house will only be registered in your name after you've worked for ten years. If you quit halfway through, we will stop paying all bonuses and benefits from the day you stop working, and you will have to move out of the subsidized housing you live in," Lin Yinan said calmly from the side.

The people below fell silent. Having struggled to survive in the mountains for many years, they each had their own little schemes.

Lin Yiheng picked up the roster Liang Wen had given him and looked at the people in the courtyard, saying, "Now, those who want to stay, come up and sign."

Liang Wen, as the leader, and his brother Liang Xiaodi were the first to step forward.

Then, one after another, people came forward to sign the contract.

Lin Yiheng, who had signed the contract, would tick off the name on the list, noting that there were still eight family members left who hadn't come forward.

Lin Yinan looked at the couple who had come to seek medical treatment. Their faces were filled with anxiety. She remembered that they had not yet signed a contract.

"Manager, I see there are many dilapidated houses in this city. Can I live in one of them instead of your house?" the old woman who had spoken earlier asked shamelessly.

Lin Yiheng looked at his younger sister. He felt this was wrong, but he didn't know how to tell her.

Lin Yinan's eyes turned cold. "No!"

The old woman refused to listen and started howling.

"Why not? Those dilapidated houses aren't your place. Don't be so heartless. You don't want me to do hard labor for you for the rest of my life."

Her shrill voice made Lin Yinan's head buzz.

Seeing this, Yun Mo's face darkened, and he said coldly, "Shut up! Longtan County is now under our jurisdiction. The city wall was built by us brick by brick. You want our protection without putting in any effort? You're dreaming."

After saying that, he impatiently waved to his guards, "Throw them out of the city, they're so annoying."

Holding her child, Yu Niang ignored her husband's objections and quickly stepped forward to kneel before Lin Yinan. "Third Madam, I want to stay. Please allow me to divorce my husband!"

"Why are you doing this?" Lin Yinan asked, somewhat surprised.

Yu Niang burst into tears. “Look at my child, and then look at my sister-in-law’s two children. It’s one thing for my mother-in-law to favor the eldest son’s family, but she even wants to kill me and my child. My husband is blind and stupid, and he’s extremely filial. Whenever there’s something good to eat, he always gives it to the eldest son’s family first, and then to him. I’m afraid my child and I won’t be able to survive.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yinan and the others looked over and saw two plump and sturdy boys leaning against the woman. Compared to the boy Yu Niang was holding, the contrast was stark.

The man realized something was wrong and stepped forward to pull Yu Niang away, saying, "Yu Niang, don't do this. Mother is doing this for our own good!"

"She'd love for my son to die soon so she could give your eldest son to you," Yu Niang said stubbornly, gritting her teeth in resentment.