Chapter 115
Yichun Military Colony and Military Area
Sister Yu put the things she had prepared for her family into the basket. After checking that nothing was left out, she told her husband, who was weaving baskets in the yard, to look after the house. She would go back to her family and would be back in the afternoon. She had already prepared the food and put it in the kitchen. She told him to wait for her daughter to come back from the private school, and then heat it up so they could eat.
She rambled on and on, and her husband responded good-naturedly.
She changed into a set of half-new clothes and shoes and went out.
On the way back to her parents' home, she found that more people were looking at her and greeting her.
Her family joined the Yichun military settlement at the beginning of the year, during the most difficult times. The head of the family fell ill, and they had no money for medical care. Their two children, only thirteen or fourteen, were half grown, and no one would hire them. They also had an eleven-year-old daughter, and the situation was so difficult that she cried and begged to sell herself to pay for her father's medical treatment.
Later, the Yichun military garrison was recruiting soldiers. The head of the family gritted his teeth, took his whole family to apply, and reserved his two sons for the other side.
At that time, her family members were against it, but she, the head of the family, told her, "Just wait and see, in Yichun, if you don't have a soldier in your family, you will be bullied to death."
In this way, their family moved into the Yichun military settlement. Her eldest and second sons went directly to the recruit camp and stayed there for half a year. They grew taller and stronger. Now, because of their agility, they were selected by General Zhou to go to the cavalry camp.
Their family was all hardworking, and in just over six months, they had managed to get by. The merit points earned by the two boys were used to pay for the head of the household's medical treatment, and over the past six months, his illness had gradually improved. He still couldn't do heavy work, but he could weave baskets and do some handicrafts, which earned him work points.
Thinking back on the past six months, Sister Yu had returned home in the blink of an eye. Her family was very happy to see her back.
This time when she returned to her parents' home, she brought six Huoxiang Zhengqi pills, two taels of salt, and a pound of purple glutinous rice for her parents... Actually, there was more salt at home, but she didn't want to give more.
Seeing her taking things out one by one, her family members were very excited.
"Is this table salt? It's so fine and white, and looks really good." Her mother said, and she pinched a few grains to taste them. The salty taste in her mouth made her face smile.
"And this purple glutinous rice is something only nobles can eat. I am really filial to you two elders." Her sister-in-law grabbed a handful of purple glutinous rice and smelled it. The fragrance of the rice was intoxicating.
Sister Yu took a look before looking away.
Her son told her that after saving enough seeds from the purple glutinous rice harvested during the summer, most of it was used to make wine, with only a small portion kept for emergencies. She had exchanged this pound of purple glutinous rice for her son's merit points. She had heard that this purple glutinous rice was very nutritious and suitable for the sick and the elderly, so she gritted her teeth and exchanged a pound for her parents.
"Nothing else matters. What I am most proud of are these Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills." Her father was a connoisseur and he took a liking to these six Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills at first sight.
"Oh, this is Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills?" Her sister-in-law's eyes lit up. Now everyone in Yichun City knew that the genius doctor Ba Yuanba had settled in the Yichun military settlement and started to accept disciples. Not only that, he also started to make medicines, and the first medicine was called Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills.
A nearby doctor told her it was a medicine for "resolving exterior symptoms, eliminating dampness, regulating qi, and harmonizing the middle." She didn't understand the specifics, but she knew it was a common remedy in the summer. The doctor had also advised that if possible, she should keep some at home so that family members could use it if they experienced the corresponding symptoms. This was much more convenient than having to go to the doctor after feeling unwell, get a prescription, and then boil it. Once the symptoms were identified, the medicine could be taken directly. The patient wouldn't have to suffer for two or three hours.
While making lunch, her elder and younger sisters-in-law asked about the life in the military settlement, "How is your life in the military settlement?"
Sister Yu said affirmatively, "I think it's good. In fact, whether it's good or not, you can tell by looking at me. Look, I'm dressed decently now, and my face has gained weight and color. Your two nephews are now in the cavalry camp. They've grown taller and stronger, and have learned some skills. Who wouldn't give them a thumbs up when they see them? And your youngest niece is now learning to read and a few maths skills in the private school in the military settlement. When she's fifteen, we can send her to the workshop to work. After a year or two, we can pick a son-in-law from the military settlement for her to marry off. Besides, we have everything we need in the military settlement. Even these days, when there was a severe shortage of salt outside, we never lacked it."
Her sister-in-law was surprised. "My little niece can actually go to a private school to learn to read? And after graduation she can even go to work in a workshop? This is too good to be true." She could not hide her envy in her voice.
"Yes, both boys and girls can study in private schools. As for working in workshops, it is not difficult. Some of our neighbor girls went to flower shops, and some went to medicine shops." And what she didn't say was that new workshops were constantly being built in the military settlement.
"How much is the monthly salary?"
"Lunch is provided, and ordinary workers receive one or two taels of silver per month."
Her sister-in-law nodded. This was not a small amount. "By the way, his sister-in-law, can you get some more Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills? I want to send a few pills to my parents' home. I don't want them for free. I can pay for them."
Sister Yu was embarrassed. "Sister-in-law, I'm afraid that's not possible. This isn't a matter of money. You might not know that some of the things in our military settlements that are rare are usually limited in purchase. Otherwise, we have to rely on robbing them together. If we can grab them, we get them. If we can't, we just accept our fate. For these Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills, ordinary residents are limited to nine pills each. Your two nephews are in the cavalry battalion, so you can buy more. But it's so hot, and they have to train under the scorching sun. We really don't dare to use their quota."
"What about purple glutinous rice? Can you help me exchange two kilograms?"
Sister Yu had already refused once, so she couldn't refuse a second time. In the end, she had no choice but to agree.
"I'll get you the money!" Her sister-in-law quickly took out the money, fearing that her sister-in-law would go back on her word. After giving the money, she said, "I heard that the things in your military settlement are quite cheap. Why don't you use your work points to exchange for some and sell them? It's good to make a little profit from the difference."
When Sister Yu heard this, she shook her head like a wave drum.
What was the point of exchanging money? The exchange office only accepted work points and merit points, not silver. Besides, what could one buy with silver? The exchange office had everything. And what about buying food outside? But the food outside was about 10% more expensive than what they could exchange for work points in the military settlement.
The military settlement leaders weren't stupid. Someone had calculated that the work points earned by the settlers, based on twenty days of work per month on the public land, were barely enough to buy enough food to keep one person 80% or 90% full for a month. But after meeting their basic needs, if they wanted to live a more respectable life, they had to buy more. This required them to work even harder.
If you are willing to use your work points to exchange for things to support relatives and friends, that's fine too. Just work harder and be diligent. If the villagers are willing to put themselves in a difficult position, the higher-ups won't care.
Among a hundred thousand people, there aren't many such people. After all, everyone has a herd mentality, and since we all work the same, we should all have the same life. But because I support my friends and family, my family's life is worse than others. Over time, I feel bad.
After sending her sister-in-law away, Mrs. Yu pondered for a long time. That evening, she said to her family, "Mom and Dad, head of the family, why don't we also go to the Yichun military settlement?"
She pondered for a long time and felt that her aunt was right. Now her aunt's family had a good life. The military settlement provided them with shelter from the elements. Under the protection of the settlement, they didn't have to worry about much. If they were sick, they would go to the infirmary. When their children grew up, they would go to school. If they needed food, drink, or daily necessities, they could go to the exchange office and use their work points to exchange for what they needed.
Their adults just need to work. Now even the divine doctor Ba Yuanba has settled in their military settlement. Besides, isn't it just work? Doesn't it mean you don't have to work outside? I'm afraid the more you work, the more you pay, and the less you get. For example, their family has worked hard for over six months, but they're clearly not living as well as their aunt's family. Most importantly, Yichun is not peaceful right now. They've heard of several cases of Di Luo sneaking into small villages in Yichun, burning, killing, and looting. These were all committed by small groups of Di Luo people, and the authorities have yet to apprehend them.
Bao Gang, the population registrar for the Yichun military settlement, had noticed a surge in the number of people seeking to move in with their families. He accepted all of them, but he also followed instructions to create a separate register, one for public and one for private. This way, even the government couldn't determine how many people were hiding in the settlement.
At this time, news came that old King Di Luo had died suddenly.
Marshal Zhu had previously ordered preparations for war, but despite waiting, no Diluo troops arrived. As for those small groups of Diluo people who committed crimes, they ignored them.
Marshal Zhu sent someone to investigate and learned that when the old King Diluo died suddenly, he left no will to specify who would be the next King Diluo. So his sons all thought they had a chance, and then a civil war broke out. The fighting was so fierce that everyone was brainwashed.
Marshal Zhu was speechless. So, was his preparation for war in vain? Looking back at the Yichun military settlement, they had been training leisurely, without any sense of tension, as if they were certain the battle wouldn't happen, at least not in the short term. This reaction was bizarre, as if they had grasped some secret. But even if he were beaten to death, he wouldn't believe that they were the ones who had orchestrated the current civil unrest in Diluo. It couldn't be that powerful. He didn't believe it.
He thought about it, but couldn't help asking, "What is Yichun Juntun doing recently?"
The people below replied, "They've been sending small teams of soldiers to patrol Yichun lately. Wherever the Diluo people are causing trouble in the village, they rush over without hesitation."
Marshal Zhu was stunned. So positive?
"Yes, the key is that every time they go out, they never return empty-handed. They tie up those Diluo people and drag them away, parading them through the streets. The people of Yichun see this and they all feel very happy."
"Those Di Luo prisoners were not killed on the spot? Humph, scheming!" Marshal Zhu's tone was a little sour when he thought of the way people in the city praised the soldiers of the Yichun military settlement.
They were not interested in ordinary Diluo prisoners, and would kill them on the spot, cutting off their heads or ears for military merit. Who would want to go to the trouble of capturing prisoners?
Marshal Zhu had no idea that after these Di Luo prisoners were taken back to the Yichun military settlement, they would face a life worse than death. They would be fed only half full at every meal, then shackled and forced to open up wasteland. If they worked too slowly, they would be whipped.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
