Chapter 1164: What kind of exploitation? This is called high-end renovation! [Seeking monthly votes]
What are you looking at?
Cui Hui turned his head and saw that Cui Zhi was unusually flustered.
Thinking something serious had happened, Cui Zhi took two steps forward, then nervously put away the secret letter, saying with an unnatural expression, "It's just a small matter within the clan, don't worry."
When Cui Hui heard him being wary of him, he scoffed, "I have no right to worry about matters within the Cui clan, whether big or small."
The position of mistress of the Cui family was exhausting for her.
She was tired of all those trivial, petty things.
Seeing the hard-won easing of tensions reignite due to a secret letter, Cui Zhi cursed Shen Zhongli inwardly. This woman was a complete genius! Under the guise of a martial arts contest to find a husband, she was actually trafficking people to work illegally for her. The men Cui Zhi sent weren't particularly skilled, but compared to the rough-and-tumble wandering swordsmen of the martial world, they were presentable. Even so, they fell for her trick!
From then on, he was mired in hardship and oppressed, forced to do manual labor.
Listen to this, is this something a human being could do?
There are only twelve hours in a day, yet she made these martial arts masters work for eleven hours straight; it's utterly insane.
Having led the Cui family for many years, aside from his first marriage, nothing had ever caused him such a humiliation. This was the first time he truly understood what it meant to throw a meat bun at a dog—gone and never to return. The mangy dog not only felt no pain, but shamelessly snatched the meat bun away!
Snap!
He gathered literary energy in his palm and shattered the secret letter into pieces.
They also temporarily abandoned the idea of testing Shen Tang.
Judging from the current situation, sending someone over to test the waters would only be providing free labor for the other side. They'd just fill the gaps one by one, and who knows where she really is! Cui Zhi calmed himself down without showing any emotion, composed himself slightly, and instructed his spies to keep an eye on that area and find out where the group of wandering knights were trapped and what kind of labor they were doing. After doing that, he continued hunting and archery with the others.
The blazing sun hung high in the sky.
The summer sun in the southwest of the mainland is much stronger than in the northwest.
Shen Tang submerged her feet in the icy stream, the coolness traveling from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head. She shivered with pleasure and exclaimed, "Hiss—this water is so refreshing, so comfortable!"
Once she got used to the temperature, she lifted her right foot and kicked the water around.
A short while later, familiar footsteps came from behind.
Shen Tang asked without turning her head: "Were these ten people well-behaved today?"
Cui Mi said, "It's almost turned upside down."
"What exactly is going on?"
“They all say we’re cheating, running shady competitions, and deceiving them.”
Shen Tang scoffed: "You didn't show them the contract? They have their own signature on the bamboo slip. Do they want to go back on their word?"
Cui Mi has become numb these past few days.
These wandering knights have caused trouble more than once or twice.
When they were told they would have to do hard labor like prisoners, how could those wandering knights possibly stand it? They immediately disregarded the contracts and only wanted to tear those who had mocked and humiliated them to pieces! Cui Mi was the first to be targeted, and as for the so-called Mi Fei, she wouldn't have a good end either!
Brothers, what are you afraid of?
[Yes, how many people do they have, and what is their strength?]
[Let's join forces and make this woman regret ever being born! We'll kill her to avenge our humiliation!]
The crowd's anger nearly burst through the roof.
They wished they could slaughter every living person in this area.
Cui Mi frowned and took a step back.
He knew it would turn out this way.
The term "wandering knight" sounds very dashing and romantic, seemingly referring to chivalrous people who uphold justice, rob the rich to help the poor, and act righteously. In reality, however, it is a mixed bag, with most of them being thugs, bullies, and scoundrels who have failed to make it big and act arrogantly without regard for the consequences.
These people have no sense of proportion when they do evil!
At first, Cui Mi was flustered and afraid that things would escalate beyond control, but this Sister Shen in front of her was full of courage and simply made an example of someone. Oh, that's not quite accurate. She didn't kill anyone, but she beat up the troublemaker in front of everyone.
Yes, they were brutally beaten.
He grabbed the troublemaking monkey by the neck with one hand.
She easily pinned the man against the wall, the force so great it even shattered the stone. The ranger, his vital point gripped, coughed up a mouthful of blood. The others exchanged hesitant glances, then, realizing their superior numbers, a surge of malice rose within them: "Everyone, attack!"
Then--
And that was it!
Just as Cui Mi was pondering how to help Shen Tang escape, she suddenly shifted her feet, her figure as swift as smoke, leaving afterimages as she passed before the group of wandering swordsmen. Then came a series of sharp, resounding slaps—each of them had been slapped twice. The first slap landed on their left cheek, the second on their right cheek with a backhand—the handprints were all the same size!
Those wandering knights didn't even see how Shen Tang moved; they only felt the immense force of the slap that sent them spinning in place.
Yeah, it's like a spinning top.
Some of the stronger individuals managed to regain their footing, but when they looked up, they saw that Shen Tang was still in the same spot, the unfortunate soul in her hand already unconscious from being choked. She raised her hand and conjured a gleaming whip as thick as an infant's arm, its blade covered with fine, dense blades, resembling dragon scales.
A powerful and terrifying aura precisely locked onto the group.
The whip tightened suddenly in her hand, shattering the sound barrier with a muffled thud that sent shivers down one's spine, making one shudder at the thought of the excruciating pain it would inflict on one's own head. Yet, this person calmly instructed Cui Mi: "Go, prepare a basin of salt water!"
I'd like to see—whether your bones are harder, or whether my salt-soaked whip hurts more!
Cui Mi pointed to himself: [Me?]
Shen Tang said, "If it's not you, then who else could it be but me?"
This development was far beyond Cui Mi's expectations. He obediently found a wooden basin, scooped half a basinful from the small pond inside the government office, and brought it to Chen Tang. He then took out a salt block from his pocket. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he chiseled a few pieces of salt into the basin. Seeing that the salt was dissolving slowly, Cui Mi impatiently stirred it with his hands.
The trembling group of wandering knights: [...]
They were already struggling to breathe under Shen Tang's imposing aura, and now, seeing the basin of salt water, their skin began to sting even before the whip lashed out. The less resolute wanderer cried out with a mournful face, "What exactly do you intend to do with this poison?"
He simply dared not utter the words "poisonous woman."
Shen Tang poked the contract scroll with her finger, saying righteously, "What are you doing? Didn't I say it? When I went up to the arena, I said, 'Heaven is the witness, a bet is a bet.' And you two, you're going to back out now. The contract scroll is right here; you think you can just walk away without paying?"
How much do you want?
The scoundrels also have a considerable amount of gray income.
Shen Tang admired his whip.
One second he was all smiles, the next the whip ripped through the sound barrier, its tail like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, licking the man's cheek with a chilling, agonizing force. The man screamed in terror, his legs instantly going limp.
【Ahhhhhh——】
Shen Tang chuckled: "With that little guts, you dare owe me money? You can afford such a vulgar thing as money, but I, Shen Tang, can't? Talking about money is too lowly! I just want you to work for me! Nothing else matters to me!"
The group of wandering knights were about to cry.
Where did this lunatic come from?
"Given your prior breach of the contract, the construction period is doubled according to the regulations; you'll have to work for me for two months. I'm not some heartless devil. If you can complete the project ahead of schedule, even if it doesn't reach two months, I'll let you go early. How about it?"
Such a generous creditor is rare.
Shen Tang maintained his imposing aura, and the group of wandering knights, whose strongest were only fourth-rank unranked, were finding it extremely difficult to withstand. Almost all of them were drenched in sweat! Someone retorted: "When did this clause appear on the contract?"
Shen Tang pointed to the tiny print that looked like a smudge at first glance and reminded everyone: "I reserve the right to interpret everything. If I say this line exists, then it exists. Understand?"
The group of wandering knights: [...]
What's more troublesome than this person's tantrum is that he possesses even more terrifying strength!
"Pah! I don't believe you'd actually dare to kill us!"
Then--
Then Shen Tang soaked the whip in salt water.
He gestured towards Cui Mi with his chin: "Get out!"
Cui Mi felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly ran away.
He ran outside, and amidst the despairing gazes of the crowd, thoughtfully closed the door. The door closed, but that didn't stop Chen Tang's voice from reaching his ears: "Also, cast a soundproof spell!"
Before the sealed space was created by the Word of Power, he heard screams rising and falling.
The screams were so shrill and piercing that they gave him goosebumps.
A little while later, Sister Shen came out carrying a whip.
He instructed: "Take them to work."
Cui Mi, honest and simple: [Hmm.]
It was ostensibly a martial arts contest to find a husband, but in reality, it was a clandestine human trafficking ring.
The wandering knights came and kidnapped one by one.
They were all thrown over there to do hard labor.
Those who work honestly are spared by Shen Tang; they can be released after a month. Those who refuse to cooperate are dealt with by dipping the whip in salt water, disinfecting it as she whips them, until they beg for mercy and obediently return to work. She learned this whipping technique from Gong Xi Chou; with her deep understanding of the human body, she knows where to strike most painfully yet without causing serious harm.
The reason she didn't beat people to death wasn't because she was kind, but because her goal was to get people to work for her. If people were crippled, who would do all these construction projects? In just over ten days, more than a hundred people have suffered. Shen Tang has been walking with a brisk pace these past few days.
Hearing that this group wanted to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, Shen Tang spat and said, "What do you mean we're fighting a gangster scam? You're all seasoned criminals with countless lives on your hands. What are you pretending to be innocent for? In the underworld, who can avoid getting hurt? Lust is a dangerous thing, don't they know that? If they hadn't been lustful, would I have forced them onto the stage? Would I have forced them to sign contracts? I just wanted them to keep their promises!"
Cui Mi nodded in agreement: "That's true."
Except for a few who are relatively upright, most of the wandering knights are not good people, and their bad luck is their own fault.
Well, as the saying goes, evil people will always be punished by evil people!
Shen Tang was very satisfied with Cui Mi's sensible behavior.
"Exactly! They coveted my body, lusted after my beauty, and even wanted my life. I only made them do hard labor for a month, providing them with food, drink, and lodging. They're practically paragons of virtue in this day and age. And they still have complaints? Cui Erlang, take me over there and have a good talk with them!"
Shen Tang's efficiency is well-known.
Before the sun had even set, this batch joined the infrastructure construction workforce. Seeing new people joining, the hundred or so elderly workers remained expressionlessly calm, quietly enjoying their generous meals.
The newcomer was seething with anger.
He had just lain down when the manager kicked him awake.
The group was practically bursting with suppressed anger: "What are you doing?"
It's not even midnight yet!
The foreman said, "Get up and get to work!"
The newlyweds pointed at the elderly couple who were snoring loudly on the same kang (heated brick bed) and angrily questioned, "Why didn't you call them?"
The steward said, "They still need to sleep."
"Then why should we work?"
Is this also part of the regulations?
Yes, because the right of interpretation lies with Shen Tang.
She doesn't bully hard-working people, but she also can't let troublemakers disrupt the project's efficiency—that's unfair! To make up for the delays caused by these troublemakers, they have to work longer hours than others. The biggest troublemaker worked eleven hours!
"Eleven hours?"
"Isn't this like squeezing in a hole even when you're taking a dump?"
Supervisor: "Under normal circumstances, it only takes eight hours to work!"
These new recruits are disobedient; they're the troublemakers today, so it's eleven hours. If there's even one hour missing, we have to make up for it!
The newcomer was bewildered: "..."
The steward sighed, "Listen to me, after all, life is more important."
These wandering knights were used to bullying and oppressing others; the stronger ones were even local tyrants or town bullies, and it wasn't uncommon for them to prey on the villagers. Now that they'd encountered someone surnamed Shen, it could only be said that this was their destiny! If they behaved themselves, they would simply sell their physical strength.
If you're not honest, someone can crush your skull with their bare hands.
Because, the person surnamed Shen really did crush one.
The second young master, acting like a lackey, handed her a silk handkerchief. She slowly wiped the foul-smelling brain matter from between her fingers, her tone calm: "Do I need to teach you this lesson—that you're at my mercy? He kidnapped the cook who delivers your meals, attempted murder, and severely offended me. And offending me means certain death! This is his fate!"
The newcomer gritted his teeth in hatred: "She really dares to kill us?"
"Your lives aren't that valuable either."
People generally believe that the lives of a hundred ordinary people are not worth as much as one brave martial artist, but they don't know that in the eyes of those with greater strength, these wandering knights and warriors are not important at all.
If they don't obey, kill one batch and replace them with another.
The newcomer was so frightened by the manager's words that he broke out in a cold sweat.
The supervisor said, "Just get to work and don't have any other ideas."
The newlyweds were filled with deep regret.
They shouldn't have been seduced by some unparalleled beauty. If they hadn't been blinded by lust, they wouldn't have fallen into this trap and been trapped here, nor would they have suffered so much. The martial arts warriors had excellent night vision, so they didn't need to light candles to work at night. The foreman squatted above, watching the warriors toiling away, sighing deeply.
"May my fellow Daoist die, rather than this humble Daoist."
With more people, the project can proceed faster.
The sooner the project is completed, the sooner you will regain your freedom.
While everyone was busy working, Shen Tang was leisurely putting on her act, not worried about the truth of the arena being exposed. The earliest she could expect was when the first batch of unlucky souls were released from prison… no, when the construction was completed. A month would be enough for her to finish her plan.
"Free things are still more appealing."
Shen Tang divided her mind into three parts, using her attention to three things at once.
The warriors of Kangguo are accustomed to fighting and building simultaneously, their official slogan being "Build a beautiful new Kangguo" and "Build whatever Kangguo you like." In their eyes, this isn't hard labor, it's like giving your home a luxurious renovation!
Skilled workers are worry-free everywhere, but they cost money.
Every year, the royal court allocates large sums of silver to the two countries for transportation.
The situation is different for Wuyou and Zixu.
Especially in Wuyou, these suckers attracted by the martial arts contest for marriage, though unskilled and ill-tempered, requiring her to "train" them before starting work, are cheap. The nation's fortune is the real money-maker! How much does it cost to include food, drink, and lodging?
Thinking of this, she hummed a little tune in a cheerful mood.
The soldiers outside the tent relayed the message.
Shen Tang regained her composure and said, "Come in!"
Gu Chi presented the first draft of the biographies of famous ministers and scholars: "Your Majesty, please take a look and see if there are any problems. We will circulate it to our colleagues for review tomorrow."
Since this is the first volume, the quality must be guaranteed.
Shen Tang opened the book, and the first page contained the prayer for goodness.
Qi Yuanliang's life story is difficult to write. First, he was an inhumane man who served seven different masters over many years, which is utterly depraved. Second, his identity is mysterious, and the identity of the head of the Northwest branch of the Gods Society cannot be exposed. Gu Chi could only rack his brains.
Since we can't be realistic, let's resort to emotional appeal.
The focus is on portraying Qi Shanmei as a beautiful, strong, and tragic figure, while downplaying his inhuman side. Shen Tang closed the book with satisfaction: "Well written."
No wonder she's called the "Five Elements Lacking Morality" wife!
Gu Chi has almost collected enough material for his colleagues' various evaluations of Qi Shan, but he doesn't know when this guy will arrive.
"According to the news, Yuanliang will arrive in half a day."
Shen Tang has been in a very good mood lately.
She reached under the table and pulled out a box. The lid opened, revealing it to be completely filled with sparkling diamonds.
Diamonds of different colors are separated by small grids.
Shen Tang pushed the box towards Gu Chi.
"Let's take a look at the tide and see which one we like."
Just one?
"Of course not, you can have as many as you want."
This box of diamonds was all handcrafted by Ji Moqiu and just delivered to Chen Tang this morning. She plans to make a batch of diamond rings when she has some free time, giving one away every now and then. Not only that, she also gathered jewelry artisans from the community to design the pieces together.
What is made by artisans is certainly exquisite and beautiful.
But what she did had a different meaning for her subjects.
(Ｔ▽Ｔ)
I logged into the JX3 mobile game today, and where did my Ice Silk Saint Hand go? I can't just mindlessly use Drunken Dance, can I? Waaaaah...
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