Chapter 3065 Dragon Pool
The servants blushed, and one couldn't help but ask, "How could you do this, sir?"
The headman jumped up and down, "Why didn't you think about how to do this when you were lazy? If you were serving in the past, would you dare to be lazy? The yamen runners would not have beaten you to death with a big whip. Now that the master is good to you, you are taking advantage of it..."
The village head repeated the words he had used to scold them before and scolded them again until his voice was hoarse.
The servants' faces turned red, they lowered their heads and dared not say a word.
After scolding the people, the village head said, "My lord, you are so kind. After this section of road is repaired, you will be given half a day off to go home and get your luggage. Then you will go to Longchi to serve."
One person couldn't help but ask, "Village head, we have been serving for forty days, so shouldn't we go back until the New Year?"
The village head raised his eyelids and said, "Why, you still want to choose the date? Then how about letting you choose the place of punishment as well? Or maybe just not punish you at all?"
No one dared to speak anymore.
The village head sneered at them and said, "Work hard on repairing the road. Once you have completed it, just wait and see."
Although the servants felt ashamed at this moment, they did not feel it too deeply because they had all committed the crime together.
But Li Zheng's whole face was burning with anger, especially when he met County Magistrate Bai, County Magistrate Fang and others just now. He wished there was a pit on the ground so that he could jump in and bury himself.
Although they were ashamed and lowered their heads, they did not show much emotion. Some of them even had a feeling of giving up.
The village head looked at them and sneered.
In fact, the section where they cut corners was not very long, less than five miles, and it was in the last few days. They probably felt that this service was not as hard as before. When people slack off, they become lazy and can't help but do things perfunctorily.
The yamen runners didn't pay much attention and just let them get away with it.
Although the road needs to be dug up and rebuilt now, it is easier than before. The two layers below are still well compacted. They just need to add a layer of stones and then two layers of soil to make sure it is solid.
It took less time than the first road construction, but it still took three days.
Bai Shan stood on the road, kicking the dirt under his feet. A yamen runner beside him checked with his tools, confirming that it was pressed well. He nodded slightly and said to the servants standing by with their tools, "You will be given half a day off. We will meet you at the village head's door at 3 p.m. If you are more than a quarter of an hour late, you will be treated as a deserter."
Bai Shan had lost the gentle smile he had shown them in the past few days. He said with a stern face, "Okay, go away."
Everyone hurried back to their residence, picked up their packages and things and ran towards home.
No one dared to doubt Bai Shan's words anymore, and no one dared to evade military service.
If the monk can escape, can the temple also grow legs and run away?
Who doesn't live in the village with their whole family? No one can run away for such a thing, and they can't escape in half a day.
So Bai Shan could let them go home without worry.
Of course, he didn't take this vacation because he felt sorry for them, but because the weather would be getting colder when they went to Longchi, and they had to go back and get more clothes, shoes and socks. Otherwise, if they got sick when they got to Longchi, not only would they not be able to work, he would have to spend money on their medical treatment. How unlucky!
In addition, it also allows them to feel the "love" of their family members so that they don't commit crimes outside without any scruples.
Sure enough, when the conscripts ran home, they were greeted by fighting, cursing and crying.
Most of the people who beat people were from their grandfathers and grandparents. They would beat people and curse them, "You've brought shame upon the county. Everyone in the surrounding area knows that you're so cunning that you even cheated on the road. How will your children ever get married in the future?"
Most of the scolding came from the female elders in their family. "If you had saved effort during your previous service, it wouldn't have been a big deal. Everyone knows service is hard. You knew how to save effort, and you were really good at it. But this time, the county magistrate only lets you work four hours a day, and he even staggered it out of the scorching sun. He also gave you plenty of food and drink. You're being so cunning and sly now. Do you know what people outside are saying about our family? Your sister (daughter) hasn't even been engaged yet, and you're trying to kill them."
As for those who were crying, they were naturally their wives, sisters and daughters.
It's such a headache.
But this is not the most difficult thing. The most difficult thing is when they go out. Although they can only go home for half a day, because it is the slack season, most people in the village gather together to talk. When they pass by people's doors, some people point at them and talk, and they don't know what they say, making ambiguous noises.
The brothers in the village who had served with him also came back, but the two families could not unite against the enemy, but instead blamed each other.
One said, "I don't know who you learned these bad habits from. You were diligent at home, so how did you pick up these bad habits?"
One said, "This isn't your first time serving in the military. I've never heard of you being lazy and skimping on effort. How come you came back a leper after taking your cousin with you this year?"
Anyway, they didn't get any comfort after going home, but instead felt even more upset and irritated, so it would be better for them not to come back.
They only had time to shower, eat a simple meal, and then pack their belongings before leaving. This time, there were no earnest instructions, only an angry shout: "If you slack off and commit trouble again, don't come back. You can't afford to lose face like this."
All sixty servants, without missing a single one, gathered in front of the village head's house on time.
Bai Shan saw that his complexion had improved slightly, and said to Bai Erlang Yin Huo, "There is still hope."
Bai Erlang said excitedly, "Let's go quickly, set off early and get to Longchi early."
He wanted to go to the beach to see the sea, and at this time he was no longer thinking about Mingda.
The group then headed to Longchi. Because it was far away, they camped on the road for one night and arrived at Longchi in the evening of the next day.
Longchi has changed a lot.
The salt field was previously full of people living there, and the stoves that were not dismantled were used for cooking, so they were not wasted.
A number of houses have been built on some vacant land near the salt field. They are all simple thatched houses, and are occupied by farmhands who come here to work.
The servants came and could directly choose a house to live in.
When they arrived, the farmhands and craftsmen had just finished their work and were queuing up with their bowls to get their meals.
Seeing so many people suddenly coming, everyone turned their heads to look at them, but just a glance. After confirming that they were also here to work, they looked away.
Bai Shan had already asked Mr. Cui to go back and only brought County Magistrate Fang with him.
This was the first time that County Magistrate Fang had come to Longchi since Bai Shan took office. He was shocked for a moment because this was no longer the Longchi he was familiar with.
Bai Shan threw the servants to him and went to find Lord Cui with Bai Erlang and Yin Huo.
"Master Cui is at the dock."
Bai Shan then pulled his horse over and mounted it. Seeing Yin Huo standing there, he asked with a smile, "Do you want to ride a horse or a carriage?"
Yin Huo was very tempted. After hesitating for a moment, he turned around and said to Changshou, "Go get the horse."
See you at 11:30 pm
(End of this chapter)
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