Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Jiang Wan opened the system, and in the center of the interface was...
Jiang Wan opened the system. In the center of the interface was the phrase "Chinese Fine Arts and Crafts System," surrounded by four sections: "Tool Box," "Master Class," "Raw Material Storage," and "Paradise." All four sections were locked.
Judging from the names, the tool chest should provide production tools, the master course is to teach how to make, the raw material warehouse is to provide raw materials, and Jiang Wan still doesn’t know what the last one, Paradise, means.
"Host, your original points are 100. You can use these points to unlock sections. After unlocking, you can redeem points for corresponding products within the sections. You can earn points by promoting the development of the contemporary handicraft industry and contributing to the popularization of handicrafts. The amount of points you earn depends on the size of your contribution."
An icon for remaining points appears in the upper right corner of the system interface, with a yellow number 100 next to it.
"The host can use this system at any time. Just close your eyes and enter the interface with your mind. Open your eyes and the interface will automatically close. Good luck to the host!"
"Hey! Wait, what do we need to do to promote the development of the handicraft industry? We're not going to rectify the industry, are we? I'm still a criminal slave?"
The system didn't respond. Jiang Wan tried calling a few more times, but still nothing.
She had no choice but to try clicking the unlock button of the "Tool Box" section, and then a prompt box popped up: Are you sure you want to spend 100 points to unlock this section?
100 points? She only had 100 points total. If she used them to unlock this section, she would have no points left. Not being able to buy things was one thing, but what if there was a rule that deducting all points would result in death? Wouldn't that mean she would even lose her life? Besides, she didn't know when or what conditions would be required to earn new points. It would be better to look for other sections.
Jiang Wan clicked the unlock button for the other three sections in turn, each requiring 100 points. She sighed and shut down the system.
It's better to wait. Anyway, the most important thing for her now is to escape from slavery and gain freedom of movement. Otherwise, let alone developing handicrafts, it will be difficult for her to even survive.
The next evening.
The sky gradually darkened, the last rays of the sun fading, and a north wind, carrying a biting chill, invaded the small border town. In a small courtyard near the county government office, twenty or thirty female slaves squatted, washing clothes. Xiaofangpan City was sparsely populated, and industries like salt and iron mining were not prosperous. Therefore, for criminal slaves sentenced to hard labor, men were usually assigned to carry heavy objects and repair houses, while women were mostly assigned to wash clothes or weave.
A table and a chair stood at the entrance to the courtyard. On the table lay a register and a pen. Sitting on the chair was a man, about thirty years old, who looked like a supervisor. He sat with his legs crossed, his head propped up on his left hand, staring at the female slaves. In his right hand, he held a wooden ruler, which he would occasionally bang on the table with, shouting, "Everyone, pay attention! No slacking off!" or "You! You have to wash each piece of clothing five times, do you hear me? If you slack off again, I'll beat you to death."
By this time, several slave girls had finished washing the clothes they needed, waiting only to fold them neatly and hand them over to the supervisor for registration. Their hard labor for the day was complete. Jiang Wan was even quicker than them, already stacking twenty pieces of clothing neatly and carrying them to the registration desk. Tonight was her first time working at Manager Xu's shop, and she couldn't be late. Therefore, Jiang Wan skipped her lunch break and started washing clothes early, aiming to finish by evening.
If we leave now, we will arrive at Xu's Pawnshop in just the right time, and we can also buy two buns at a nearby restaurant to eat on the way.
But the overseer didn't seem to be going to let her go easily.
He raised the wooden ruler and slammed it hard on the table. There was a loud "bang" that frightened several female slaves. Those who had finished folding clothes and were planning to come over to register also gave up the idea and squatted back.
"Twenty pieces of clothing, each one needs to be washed five times. How can it be done so quickly? You must be slacking off!" the supervisor shouted. "Go back and wash them again!"
Jiang Wan thought to herself, this is bad. The government doesn't care about the lives of these criminal slaves. Although the Great Zhou has clear regulations on the amount and duration of hard labor for criminal slaves, even if their guards violate the regulations, the criminals have no way to appeal. If this overseer is determined not to let her go, then she might really be late.
She didn't know what the shopkeeper was talking about, but if she didn't want to be late, she must not wash the clothes again.
Then we have no choice but to fight hard, and I hope the "way" will come soon.
Jiang Wan made up his mind and said calmly, "I didn't take a lunch break today and have been doing laundry, so I was able to finish early. I made sure I washed each piece five times. Look, these clothes are very clean."
"You said five times, so that's five times? Go back and wash it again!" The supervisor looked arrogant, obviously sure that she would not dare to resist.
The female slaves squatting by the water in the distance said nothing, and washed clothes very carefully, trying to drown out even the sound of the water.
In this world, the weak have no chance to speak.
Jiang Wan took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Jiang Wan had understood this in her previous life. She had been a helpless orphan, subjected to constant bullying and contempt. Later, she ascended to the top of the Hangzhou antique world, commanding the attention of all and receiving adulation. She knew then that only by carving out her own niche could she possess and protect what she desired.
It was impossible to get the supervisor to let me go by giving in now. So why not——
When Jiang Wan opened his eyes, there was a look of disdain in his eyes: "You've been watching over me while I was doing the laundry all day. Are you trying to say that you didn't supervise me enough and didn't see how many times I washed clothes?"
The overseer's arrogant expression froze. He opened his mouth, but for a moment he was speechless, perhaps because he hadn't expected a mere criminal to dare to contradict him like that.
There was a hissing sound in the distance, and Jiang Wan heard the female slaves whispering, "How dare she go against the overseer?" "Oh my God, she's not going to get beaten, is she?"
"You, you are so brave!" The supervisor also reacted at this time, raised the wooden ruler angrily, and hit Jiang Wan hard on the thin back.
The wooden ruler was heavy and hard, and it made a sharp, crisp sound when it struck her back. Jiang Wan felt a searing pain, followed by an old wound tearing open, heat spreading up her back, and blood staining her thin clothes red. The sharp pain pierced through her flesh and reached her heart, like a dense mass of tiny needles pricking her.
Then came a wave of dizziness, her vision blurred, her body swayed, and she almost lost her balance. This body had been starving for three months, and its foundation was already poor. Adding new injuries to the old ones was undoubtedly worse.
A girl of about thirteen or fourteen twirled her fingers nervously by the pond, as if wanting to come over and check on Jiang Wan's injuries. A woman next to her, about forty years old, tugged at the girl's sleeve. Both mother and daughter glanced fearfully at the supervisor, then lowered their heads in silence.
The supervisor was smug: "You little bitch, do you think I don't know? You're in such a hurry to leave work, are you going to be a dog for the Xu family?"
Very good, as long as he says this, it will be over soon, just bear with it a little longer, bear with it a little longer——
Jiang Wan gritted his teeth, sweat beads on his forehead. Due to the pain, his voice became hoarse and incoherent: "The laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty do not prohibit criminal slaves from working outside."
The supervisor was furious: "How dare you talk back! You little bitch, I will definitely teach you a lesson today!"
The pain became more and more intense. Jiang Wan lowered his head, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Amid the sound of the wooden ruler hitting her skin, she heard hurried footsteps outside the yard.
"Stop!" A loud shout came from the courtyard gate. In came a man in a black police uniform, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, who looked somewhat like Shopkeeper Xu.
The man glared at the overseer: "Are you abusing the slave girl again?"
The overseer changed his arrogant attitude and stood up hastily, offering the chair to the officer. He hunched over and said in defense, "No, no, sir, this slave girl was disobedient, and I was just giving her a little warning."
In the county town, the guards of the convicts were run by runners, typically holding the ninth rank. However, due to the large number of convicts exiled to Xiaofangpancheng, which was already sparsely populated, the runners were unable to manage them all. Furthermore, the runners were afraid of the cold and hardship, and unwilling to stand outside with the convicts in the draft. Therefore, they recruited civilians to serve as overseers, with the runners merely overseeing the work. The government provided these overseers with a salary, but they held no official position and could be dismissed at any time.
In other words, the supervisor's stay or departure is in the hands of the police, no wonder this man has to fawn and please him.
The officer kicked him in the leg, knocking him to the ground. "Just a brief admonition? Shedding so much blood is still considered a brief admonition? What did she do that was against the rules? Tell me."
After saying that, he nodded to Jiang Wan and pointed at the chair, "Sit down and take a rest."
The supervisor was about to argue again, but seeing this scene, he understood that his boss was biased towards Jiang Wan. He had no choice but to admit his mistake: "It was my negligence. Please forgive me this time."
"According to the regulations, one hundred copper coins will be deducted for mistreating criminal slaves. Besides, I think you don't know how to manage criminal slaves at all. When this month is over, you can get your wages and go home. The government will hire someone else." The officer said seriously.
The supervisor panicked and quickly crawled to the officer's feet: "No, sir, I was wrong. I apologize to this girl."
He turned around and grabbed the corner of Jiang Wan's clothes: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was blind and wronged you. Please, as this is my first offense, forgive me!"
Jiang Wan lifted the corner of his clothes, but he missed and lost his balance, falling to the ground. He still looked up at her pleadingly.
Jiang Wan looked at him coldly without saying a word.
But the little girl by the pond couldn't help herself and accused him, "How dare you say you're a first-time offender? You just beat me and my mother the day before yesterday! Look, sir, the wound on my arm hasn't healed yet."
The little girl rolled up her sleeves, revealing clear red marks on her thin arms.
Jiang Wan whispered softly, "Sir, please let these slave girls go."
The officer nodded, and the slave girls hurriedly sorted out the washed clothes, registered them in the book, and left the courtyard. Several slave girls gave Jiang Wan grateful looks as they passed by.
The girl who had just spoken stuffed some medicine into Jiang Wan's hand. After thinking for a moment, she timidly said, "Sister, this is all I have. It might not be enough for you. If I ever get another chance to get some medicine, I'll definitely give it to you. Thank you so much!"
They all knew that after this time, they would not be treated harshly, at least until the new supervisor arrived.
Jiang Wan smiled gently.
After the female slaves left, the officer kicked the overseer and said coldly, "What else do you have to say?"
The supervisor's face flushed with anxiety, tears welling up in his eyes. "Sir! Please don't fire me! I have elderly parents and young children to take care of. My child is only three years old—"
"If I had known this, why didn't I treat the criminal as a human being?" Jiang Wan stopped looking at him and bowed to the officer. "Thank you for saving me. I wonder if you are Shopkeeper Xu's—?"
"I'm his cousin," Officer Xu said. "He greeted me last night, but I only knew you were assigned to the laundry. I didn't know which yard you were in, and I was worried. Fortunately, Miss Jiang, you were smart and got the supervisor to shout out that sentence, so I came to find you."
Jiang Wan nodded. When the shopkeeper mentioned a connection yesterday, she'd suspected one of the officers was close to him. She'd been waiting for Officer Xu to search one location a day, and he'd probably find her, but unfortunately, she'd been detained by the supervisor today. In a desperate situation, she'd resorted to irritating the supervisor to lure Officer Xu over.
"What a coincidence! I ran into this supervisor yesterday when I came out of the shop. I think he saw me and knew that I was working as a laborer outside. Otherwise, I don't know how you would have found me." Jiang Wan said.
"The county town is treating criminals so harshly. It makes me angry, but I'm just an officer," Officer Xu sighed. "I'm sorry, young lady. I'll have my wife bring you some medicine later."
"Thank you, sir. I'm in a hurry to get to work, so I won't say much." Jiang Wan said goodbye to Officer Xu, hurriedly found a toilet, applied the medicine given by the little girl, and rushed to the pawnshop.
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