Seeing this, Li Lao Er said calmly, "Let's discuss how to deal with this matter first. The bad habit of gambling must be eradicated in the four villages of Suijintan, otherwise even if we earn mountains of gold and silver, we will lose them all one day!"
"Yes," the village chief said, offering a timely reward. "We were thinking of sending a few people to your three villages this year to guide you on how to grow melons... Last year, your melons were really bad, and you didn't sell them for much money. You were going to have to work hard anyway, so we wanted to make sure everyone sold more and got more money so that life would be a little easier."
"Who would have thought that Zhang Jin, that wicked bastard, would show up and divert attention from this matter. Let's deal with Zhang Jin first, and discuss planting melons later when we have more free time."
“Hey, brother, let’s not wait until later. Let’s discuss this important matter today!” The village head of Dahuaishu Village quickly interrupted.
The village heads of Dawangzhuang and Xiaowangzhuang also nodded vigorously in agreement.
The village head of Xiaowangzhuang glared at Zhang Jin and cursed, "Just kill this kind of thing! Burying him in the ground to make fertilizer can at least help the crops, he's somewhat useful! Besides, he's the only bachelor in his family, no one will care if he dies..."
The other villagers' eyes shone like oil lamps, their faces filled with surprise and anticipation.
You know, they're all so eager to get rich like the new village, they're practically green with envy.
They're both growing melons, but one of them sells for a few hundred coins, while the one from the new village can sell for several taels of silver.
A tenfold difference!
If the people in the new village were willing to teach them step by step, they too could grow the jade melons and golden fruits that were presented to the emperor. Wouldn't everyone get rich then?!
The village chief was very satisfied with their statement. After thinking for a moment, he turned to the Li family and asked, "Lord, Madam, Princess, Zhang Jin's mistake is hateful, but since the New Year is not over yet, killing someone would also ruin the luck of Broken Gold Beach. Why don't we beat him up and kick him out?"
Li Lao Er nodded, "The death penalty can be waived, but the punishment will not be spared. Break his arm, let the family's fleet take him away, and leave him to fend for himself wherever he is along the way."
"Furthermore, nothing can be accomplished without rules. From now on, let's carve a stone tablet under this archway. The Ironclad Rules of Broken Gold Beach: First, gambling is prohibited. Second, theft is prohibited. We'll add more as we think of them, but anyone who violates them will be dealt with in the same way as Zhang Jin."
"Yes, Lord Bo's considerations are indeed very thorough," the village chief quickly echoed.
The other three village heads breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the result, especially the village head of Xiaowangzhuang.
He was sweating bullets just now, fearing that because of Zhang Jin, the new village wouldn't include their Xiaowangzhuang village in the melon-growing program...
The village chief stood up and called to Liu, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), "Give Zhang Jin twenty lashes, cut off his right hand, then lock him up and throw him south with the fleet after some time."
"Yes, village chief." Liu, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), pulled out a whip from his back and swung it at Zhang Jin.
Zhang Jin was still trying to beg for mercy when the fight broke out.
The long whip struck him, causing him to scream in pain, which made everyone else shrink back, their teeth aching.
But that's not all. As soon as the whip was lashed, villagers helped to unload Zhang Jin.
Liu, the head镖师 (bodyguard), grabbed Zhang Jin's arm and placed it across the stool, but the villager responsible for wielding the stick hesitated for a moment, his hand trembling.
Li Laosi, who had been standing silently to the side, stepped forward without even using a stick and kicked Zhang Jin's arm, breaking it with a crack.
Zhang Jin rolled his eyes in pain and simply fainted.
The two villagers, feeling ashamed, immediately dragged Zhang Jin away.
For the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, no one dared to utter a single word.
Liu the镖头 and his men were simply too fierce; their actions were as swift and powerful as tigers!
By the time they came to their senses, Zhang Jin was already half-dead...
Just imagining such a thing happening to them made everyone instinctively squeeze their legs together, afraid of urinating...
Li Lao Er clenched his fist to his mouth, coughed twice, startling everyone back to their senses, and then said, "Village chief, register all the villagers in each village and record them clearly. From now on, the four villages of Suijintan will be a whole. Whether it is providing labor or receiving welfare, it will be based on the household registration book."
"Spring is just around the corner. Before the spring plowing season, everyone gathered to dig the ditches. The hot spring water from the valley will be diverted to the three villages of Dahuaishu, Dawangzhuang, and Xiaowangzhuang. If it's too troublesome to distribute water to each household, we'll build a few public bathhouses so that everyone will have a place to bathe and relax after a busy day."
"Furthermore, this year we'll focus on teaching everyone how to grow melons well. If it goes well, we'll plant fruit trees next year. As for how to contribute and how to distribute the profits, you can discuss it and report back. In short, Broken Gold Beach doesn't tolerate lazy people. The more you work, the more money you get; if you make a mistake, you'll be kicked out!"
The village leaders and villagers of the three villages were so excited that they had long forgotten their fear from before.
Everyone was excited and making noise.
"Are you really going to bring us hot springs for bathing?"
"If they teach us how to grow melons this year and how to grow fruit trees next year, won't we be rich?"
"This is wonderful! Waaah, I'm so glad I'm going to have a good time from now on."
The village head of Dahuaishu Village waved his hand, signaling everyone to shut up, and then led the way in kneeling down, saying, "Thank you, Princess! Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Madam, for your generous gift!"
The other villagers quickly followed suit and knelt down, loudly expressing their gratitude.
There was still some snow on the roads at the end of winter, and it was very cold, but they didn't feel it at all.
At such moments, their hearts are burning with passion, and their minds are filled with longing and anticipation for a new life.
They used to envy the new villages, but they didn't know how to get closer to them or how to become one themselves.
Now things are better; they have a direction.
As long as you don't make mistakes, as long as you work hard, and as long as you are obedient, you will have a good life!
Li Lao Er smiled and looked at his niece, Jia Yin, who was just a background character, finally had a chance to appear.
She secretly swallowed the snack in her mouth, put on a serious face, and said in a soft voice, "Get up, everyone. We're all family now. Let's all protect our home and not let bad people bully our Broken Gold Beach!"
All the villagers kowtowed again, got up and secretly glanced at the young princess, all of whom thought she was exceptionally noble and beautiful.
This is their master, the most important person in the Broken Gold Beach!
Grandma Li touched her granddaughter's little hand and felt it was a little cold, so she said to her son, "Second son, let's call it a day."
Li Lao Er nodded, gave the village chief a few instructions, and then took his mother and niece onto the carriage.
The three village heads also told the villagers to disperse, and then discussed important matters such as digging ditches and planting melons with Village Chief Wu.
The Li family hadn't removed the screen, brazier, or hot tea, and the four old men also benefited, drinking tea, warming themselves by the brazier, and chatting.
Suddenly I feel that we should hold more conferences like this in the future...
Jiayin was still a little curious, wondering where Zhang Jin had been imprisoned. But when she heard that Doctor Zhang had offered to treat Zhang Jin's injuries, she immediately understood.
Don't ask, the answer is that Dr. Zhang has a passion for studying medicine...
Before you know it, another half month has passed.
The villagers from the three villages are busy digging ditches every day, working with great enthusiasm.
Construction has also begun on the Li family's backyard.
Zhao Yuru couldn't come back from Luo'an, and Tao Hongying had to figure out new dishes and go to the restaurant every five days, so she couldn't help her family much.
Grandma Li decisively took on the household chores...?
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