Chapter 90: Some people: Using the blood of the untouchables to make the Qin people stained with indelible hatred
It was still the same courtyard, but there were several more people in gorgeous clothes. They were of different ages and identities, and the only thing they had in common was the anger in their eyes.
"I've always said that the Qin people are as vicious as tigers and wolves and will never settle down. It's only been a few years, and they're already trying to attack us."
The head of the family had changed into a purple robe suitable for meeting guests and was now angrily throwing down his tea bowl. "This is like not taking us seriously."
The old man sitting next to him had gray hair and wrinkles on his face, but from his hands, which showed no signs of labor, one could tell that he was another aristocrat who had lived a life of luxury.
He smiled cheerfully, like a calm and composed Maitreya Buddha. "The Gao family is so wealthy and powerful, why would they care about such petty profits? They've only hired a few people, barely enough to open up a few plots of land. Look at Madam Bai! Even when people are trying to get their hands on the creatures in the sea, she remains calm and composed, unfazed."
Madam Bai raised her hand and stroked the tasseled hairpin at her temple. The shimmering silk hairpin, inlaid with layers of pearls, betrayed her extraordinary wealth. "Oh, you're so lazy, pushing a weak woman like me to lead the charge. I'll get a bloody head on, and you'll just have to take advantage of me from behind?"
"You can't say that. Our families have been friends for years. With a powerful enemy at our doorstep, how can we start a quarrel among ourselves and give others an advantage for nothing?"
The elegantly dressed young man twirled a jade-framed folding fan, revealing a landscape painted with gemstones. "If the Qin people really manage to gain a foothold here, our lives will be in jeopardy," he said.
"News has come in from Dongmen Que that the shipyard there has grown quite large. The Qin people are more cunning than before. Most of the veteran shipbuilders have been recruited. However, they want a lot of people, and there are quite a few spies among them."
He waved his fan confidently, "Once the boss leaves, the shipyard over there will be a bargain for us."
The head of the Gao family still looked grim. He listened to their ramblings but refused to express his opinion. In his anxiety, he even spoke in a much more aggressive tone: "You have Dongmen Que as a retreat, of course you don't mind. Your family originated from there, unlike us, who have been doing business here for generations. I think if we are not careful this time, even our ancestral graves will be dug up!"
Mrs. Bai's expression darkened. "How does Patriarch Gao plan to proceed?"
The young man with the folding fan was also hiding, and he was the first to speak out: "A single chopstick is easy to break, but a bundle of chopsticks is hard to break. We must not let internal strife occur again this time. We must clench our fists and unite to face the outside world. First, drive these troublesome Qin people away. This is our Qi territory, and we will not tolerate their rashness."
"We will arrange for people to lurk among the people and incite them to cause trouble."
The white-haired old man blew the hot steam from the teacup and asked, "What if the Qin people can't help killing people?"
The young man with the folding fan covered the lower half of his face with it, revealing only a pair of pupils flashing with coldness. "Isn't that perfect? Using the blood of some untouchables will inflict an indelible hatred on the Qin people."
The head of the Gao family was very satisfied with this idea and cheered loudly: "Our Gao family will take the lead in this matter, and everyone should lend a hand."
The few of them then discussed for a long time and finalized specific targeted measures, and only slowly dispersed at dusk.
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The registration point for the kelp breeding base was set up in a bungalow near the county government office, which used to be the residence of minor officials. The place was large enough to accommodate the crowds that flocked to it.
All the windows on all sides were opened, and thick candles were lit in the room, illuminating the room so brightly that there was not a trace of darkness even in the corners.
Two teams of yamen runners stood in the crowd and struggled to maintain order. They relied on the intimidation of their status to barely prevent a stampede from occurring in the team.
"Sir, I saw a notice saying there's a job twisting hemp ropes. My wife is good at it. Can she come?" A man who squeezed into the registration office held on to the table tightly to resist the pushing and shoving behind him, and asked in a hoarse voice.
The person in charge of registration glanced at him and pulled out a piece of white paper with a pink tint on the upper left corner from under the table. "Anyone who can do it will be accepted. First, let's register. How old is your wife? Does anyone have any limb defects and can't do heavy work?"
Every time he asked a question, the man would yell at the top of his lungs, so loud it could have blown the roof off.
Seeing that he was really determined to get this done, the people in front also became anxious. They also had women in their families who could twist hemp ropes, so they could come too!
The person at the registration office refused. "Those who have registered, take the signs and leave. Don't disturb the rest of the people." He raised his voice, "Bureau officer, take them out."
Even though they were unwilling, they did not dare to make any noise when faced with the tall and strong yamen runners armed with knives, and followed them out obediently.
The rest of the people watched them leave, and even the pushing and crowding stopped for a long time, daring only to move forward slowly.
"Sir, I can drive wood stakes, so I'd like to apply to be a stake driver. My two sons are quite strong, so let them carry the sacks. Also, my wife, mother, and one daughter are all used to spinning hemp at home, and the hemp ropes they make are smooth and strong. Could they be rope twisters?"
The people at the registration desk wrote it down as usual and waited for subsequent screening.
…
“That’s a lot of people.”
Wei Shengxue, Yang Zi, and the others stood on the opposite building, watching. They were also shocked by the crowded crowd. "It's not the slack season yet, is it? Is it okay to abandon the work in the fields like this?"
No matter who is here, Liu Ji has to be the one who knows the land best. "It's not too busy right now. As long as a few people are left at home to look after it and prevent any accidents, the others can just about free up their hands to do other things."
What's more, the monthly salary is much higher than the market price. Even if you work at the cheapest labor position, the harvest is equivalent to the harvest of half an acre of land.
This is real, tax-free food! Mixed with wild vegetables, it's enough for a couple to survive for two months. Even without the wild vegetables, it's enough for one person to eat dry rice for more than half a month. Add a little water and it's enough for a month.
Liu Ji glanced at the people around him and thought to himself: They are really like young masters and young ladies. I wonder how hard life will be in the future.
"When there's a lean season, the leaves and bark are chopped up and mixed into soup. This bushel of grain can feed the whole family for a whole month with some left over."
Facing the crowd's wide eyes, Liu Ji sighed, "One bushel of grain a month is really a lot. He even adds to it with some skills. This is simply charity. From now on, everyone who sees him will call him a great philanthropist."
As they watched, those who were selected after registering ran out of the crowd in ecstasy, probably going home to report the good news.
…
In a village on the outskirts of Buning City.
The first man who reported the names of his family members came running back, and without even catching his breath, he loudly announced the good news.
"Dad, from now on you'll have to take care of the housework with the kids. After this month, we'll have the autumn harvest holiday. The housekeeper said we can rent sickles at a low price!"
His mother cheered and came over to hit him a few times, complaining, "Why don't you sign up our eldest daughter as well? She works so well, she's as capable as an adult."
The man cried out, "Why didn't I report it? They don't want me. They won't accept anyone under 15. They say they don't want child labor." "Look, she's already married, and yet she's still a child laborer. But that's the rule, and we can't argue. It's just what they say, and that's what it is."
He patted Danier's head, his eyes gleaming with hope. "We can do it again after the autumn harvest. By the end of the year, we'll have a pair of rabbits. We'll raise them for a few months, skin them, and sell them. Then we can buy Danier a red hairband. When she goes out, she'll wear it. It'll be unique and dignified."
The next morning, before daybreak, the villagers gathered at the village entrance together with their friends.
The summer breeze blew through the hall, blowing away the heat but could not take away their fiery passion.
The village chief stood on a wooden block, holding a torch, and shouted a lecture, saying things like "Don't bring shame to the village" and "Look after each other." Then he asked his eldest son to take them to the county town before sunrise.
…
In order to solve the problem of feeding hundreds of people, Weishengxue directly had a large cafeteria built.
The cafeteria imitated the structure of later university cafeterias, with different small windows, but the variety of items was much smaller, with only ordinary steamed buns, porridge, and side dishes.
"So early."
When the workers came over, Liu Ji, who was in charge of reception matters, was still brushing his teeth. He was using the sea salt toothpaste that Wei Shengxue and his team had developed some time ago. It must be said that its cleaning ability was really good.
He gulped down a mouthful of water, gurgling to rinse off the bubbles in his mouth, then stood up and greeted, "Have you eaten yet? If you haven't eaten yet, come with me to the cafeteria."
"This, how can this be done!" The leading people quickly waved their hands to refuse.
Firstly, he was afraid that he would eat before working, and the owner would be dissatisfied and want to replace him; secondly, it was to make his life easier. If he had to eat now, how could he endure the whole day?
"You're welcome. We'll be colleagues from now on. It's normal for us to lend a hand to each other. There's no need to be so calculating."
Liu Ji knew their concerns and said, "From now on, we'll provide three meals a day. If you don't want to go home, there's a place to stay here. Come on, there are a lot of rules here. I'll show you around."
Seeing that they couldn't refuse, everyone followed him obediently and walked towards the big house not far away.
As soon as they entered, they were shocked by the bright and spacious cafeteria.
Is this where the gods live?
"Sir, can we really eat here?" The person who spoke took a step back as he spoke, fearing that the mud on the soles of his shoes would get on the smooth and clean floor of the cafeteria.
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