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"Village chief, building a house with cement is really fast and good. It is estimated that it will be completed in half a month! But the price is a bit expensive. We just run a cloth shop. Do we really need such a good house?" The manager of the Sun family who was in charge of the cloth shop was happy and worried, and kept muttering to Sun Erlang.
Sun Erlang stared at the house rising from the ground in front of him in a daze and did not answer.
Unlike ordinary adobe houses, this kind of red brick house does not require pillars. It only requires red bricks coated with cement and stacked up layer by layer. After the four walls are built, a crossbeam is placed, and the roof frame is installed and covered with tiles. Of course, it can be built very quickly.
But this brick and tile house is much cheaper than a real blue brick house. If there is a rainstorm or flood, it is estimated that it will be as stable as a blue brick house...
"village head!"
Sun Erlang came to his senses and said to the manager, "Repairing this red brick house is not about money. The gang leader has his own intentions. Tell Manager Lin to pay more attention to it and not rush it. Just make sure it is solid."
They were all Red Flag Gang properties, so it was just a matter of greeting. The manager smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. I see Old Lin is in high spirits, so he wouldn't want to lose face."
It seemed that Manager Lin also understood the importance of this house. Sun Erlang nodded slightly and said, "After this rainy season, the cement workshop will definitely be expanded."
Houses by the sea are most afraid of wind and rain. There have always been more houses built with wood than with adobe, but they are much less warm and are easily damaged by wind disasters.
With this kind of red brick house, there are definitely many people who are willing to spend money to build one. No wonder Manager Lin has been recruiting people from the boat people. He wants to build more houses.
The manager couldn't help but whisper, "It's a pity that we can't invest there..."
Previously, the three big bosses all took out their rewards and wanted to buy shares in the gang’s workshops. Unfortunately, not everyone could do so this time. For example, in the cement workshop, only Lin Meng invested 1,000 taels, which gave him a 10% stake. You can imagine the future scale of the cement workshop.
Neither the Sun nor the Li family was able to acquire shares, which made many people feel regretful.
Sun Erlang said, "Now is not the time to build a rice mill. We are lucky enough to get shares in the cloth mill."
When the rice mill was first built, all three companies held 20% of the shares, but now no one dares to think so.
These workshops must be the gang leader's property and were built by him. It is a huge benefit for each of them to be able to manage one.
Just like this cloth shop, Sun Erlang got 20% of the shares for the same 1,000 taels, but is the cloth shop really not profitable? Ultimately, it all depends on how it is managed.
Li Niu was much more straightforward. He actually used his own money to open a grocery store and split the profits 4:6 with the gang, with him taking 4%.
If this thing is done well, it will probably be no less than a big trading company. It is really the most profitable business besides the salt field.
However, compared to making money, Sun Erlang still values industry more.
If no one makes the goods, who will sell them? Besides, the cloth workshop built by the gang leader obviously has a purpose. I heard that they are also looking for someone to improve the loom.
If new cloth could be produced here, it would probably be an industry no less than that of cement houses.
After thinking for a moment, Sun Erlang gave another instruction: "You can use the loom first, but also keep an eye on the women among the boat people. Any women with skillful hands should be retained. In the future, our weaving workshop cannot be without weaving girls."
The men may go back to sea fishing after the windy season, but the women may not.
As long as the money is enough and they can learn some skills, they will probably be willing to stay.
The number of women in several Tanka villages is not a small number, and I think their cloth workshops will be able to develop quickly.
But the situation is not very stable now, so it depends on whether the gang leader's trip goes smoothly.
…
"Boss, since it's a matter of life and death, why don't you take me with you?" Yan Yuan frowned and refused to retreat even a step.
I clearly brought him with me when I went to Panyu. Why do you leave him behind now that you are going on a long journey?
"We don't know when the Long Whale Gang will take action, so naturally someone has to guard the island. I'm worried even if you leave." Cheng Xi looked Yan Yuan up and down and said with a smile, "Besides, you're too eye-catching and easily arouse suspicion."
This expression was really laughable. Yan Yuan said helplessly: "Now is not the time to joke."
"Who said I was joking? If Erlang hadn't been stuck in Dongning, I should have brought him with me. But now it's not a bad idea to change him to Lin Meng. He looks like a boatman no matter how you look at him, and you look like a soldier no matter how you look at him. Temperament is something that can't be changed just by wanting to." Cheng Xi said bluntly without any hesitation.
After all, she had received professional training and had the cover of being a woman. But Yan Yuan was not like that. It was difficult for him to conceal his military background when he really took action. Even with makeup, he couldn't change his height. He didn't look like a sailor at sea at all. Staying around would only cause trouble.
Yan Yuan was speechless this time. He had spent half his life in the military camp, and some things really could not be changed just by wanting to.
This trip to Tingzhou is of great importance, and there must be no mistakes. Although he trusts Cheng Xi, he is always worried when he is not by her side.
The most annoying thing is that old bastard Fang Tianxi.
When Yan Yuan heard that he had come to his house, he almost exploded with rage. Among the many people around the general, he was the most cunning and often came up with plans that made people frown.
As a result, when the military commander got into trouble, he just left. How can such a disloyal and unrighteous person be trusted?
Thinking of this, Yan Yuan couldn't help but say, "Boss, Mr. Fang might not have good intentions, so we should be on guard."
"He's a strategist for the Minoco Gang, not the Red Flag Gang. I won't forget that." Did Cheng Xi trust Fang Tianxi? Not really.
It is certainly necessary to be sincere when poaching, but the necessary precautions must not be reduced at all.
As for why he was asked to understand the Red Flag Gang's military and business methods, arousing his curiosity was only one of the reasons. Cheng Xi also wanted to use this ancient strategist to convey some of his own ideas. No matter how much could be implemented, it would be beneficial to the standard ancient righteous army, and the beneficiaries would definitely be ordinary people.
However, this kind of thing is not something that can be told to outsiders.
Seeing her so determined, Yan Yuan knew he could no longer persuade her. He sighed and said, "In that case, let's bring more elite soldiers. Bring those who can fight from the Lin family. At least we can have someone to look after us."
Cheng Xi smiled slightly: "Not only is he an elite soldier, he should also bring a maid."
…
Putting his feet on the wooden stool, Lin Mo rubbed some medicated oil on his hands and rubbed his blue calves vigorously.
Ever since she started practicing martial arts, she has been constantly injured. At first, she used hot and cold compresses. Later, when Doctor Zhang came, she also started using medicated oil. Although it was a little painful, it healed much more smoothly than before.
After fixing the injury, she rolled down her trouser legs, sat down at the table, and sighed thoughtfully.
Today she had another quarrel with her brother. It was not the first time, but this time both of them were really angry and it was a little difficult to end the quarrel.
In fact, her eldest brother did not want her to learn martial arts. He had told her more than once that she should learn more from He Ling, learn to read, and take care of things so that she could find a good family to marry in the future.
But that was not what she wanted. Since the gang leader could fight in the battlefield and command the army, why couldn't she learn some martial arts?
Not only does she want to be able to protect herself, she also wants to protect others like the gang leader.
If she ever encounters a thief, she would rather die fighting than end up being bullied.
However, as soon as she said this, her eldest brother became furious and said that she was a girl and he, as her older brother, would take care of her.
He also said that not everyone can imitate a remarkable woman like the gang leader, and that wishful thinking will only hurt oneself.
In fact, half of the responsibility for today's quarrel lies with her because she failed to control her mouth.
The eldest brother excitedly told her that he would give her shares in the cement factory as a dowry in the future, but she said that she was the best dowry.
This is too outrageous, but also too shocking. No wonder the eldest brother turned against me.
But privately, Lin Mo felt that he was not wrong. She was not a commodity to be sold at a price, and there was no need to measure her with money.
If a poor scholar can marry a wife with his knowledge, why can't she find a husband with her martial arts?
It's just the skills I learned by myself. Is it really just fancy tricks as my elder brother said?
Lin Mo reached out and touched her palm. Thick calluses had grown on her hands. However, unlike those of ordinary fishermen's girls, her calluses were not caused by needlework, mending nets, or handling seafood. Instead, they were caused by holding a crossbow and a short stick, just like all men who practiced martial arts. Now, there was no blood on her hands, only a thick layer of wood.
Isn't her effort enough? Why is the gang leader still unwilling to let her join the battle...
"Amo, are you injured again?"
A voice came from outside the door, and Lin Mo stood up suddenly: "No, it's just a bruise, Gang Leader..."
Cheng Xi smiled and waved to the little girl: "Sit down and let me see."
Not daring to disobey, Lin Mo quickly sat down and pulled up his trouser legs.
Cheng Xi just glanced at it and said, "Did you practice target kicking today?"
Lin Mo nodded immediately: "You said that the legs are stronger."
This is not a lie. The strength in the legs is definitely greater than that in the hands. Therefore, whether it is self-defense or fighting, women should pay more attention to training the strength and flexibility of their lower limbs, which can save lives when encountering danger.
The little girl in front of him obviously listened to him. Just looking at her scarred legs, it was not difficult to imagine how hard she practiced.
Cheng Xi smiled and said, "Ask Doctor Zhang for more medicinal oil to push away the blood stasis."
She didn't ask her to stop practicing. Lin Mo's eyes lit up and he nodded vigorously.
However, the next moment, her expression darkened again, and she whispered, "Boss, is what I'm training really useful? Why are those new recruits able to go to the battlefield in just a few months, but I have to keep training forever..."
Looking at the somewhat depressed girl in front of him, Cheng Xi did not say anything to comfort her, but said frankly: "Because you are a little girl, not very tall, not very strong, you are not as good as those men who are older than you."
Lin Mo was stunned, then whispered: "But you are also a woman..."
"That's right, so I spent a very long time honing myself, making myself stronger, faster, and more accurate. Others need two hits, but I must finish my opponent with one hit. Otherwise, due to the difference in physical strength, I might be the one to die. This requires time, patience, and even more, desperate hardship." Looking at the girl in front of him, Cheng Xi suddenly said, "Of course, if it's just self-defense, what you've learned now is enough..."
Lin Mo immediately shook his head: "Not enough! I not only need to protect myself, I also need to go to the battlefield!"
There was fire in the little girl's eyes, quiet but persistent, burning non-stop, just like herself back then.
Cheng Xi said, "As a soldier, you haven't trained enough, so you can't go into battle."
"Then I'll continue practicing!" Lin Mo's voice became louder, and he refused to back down at all.
Cheng Xi chuckled softly: "Then keep practicing, not only you, but also your sisters. If you practice well, you can also take charge of the fleet in the future and fight on the sea, just like me."
For the little girl, the power of idols is infinite. She doesn't mind being an idol, a role model that makes people feel powerful and full of yearning when they see her.
Once there is the first one, there will be the second, the third, the hundredth, thousands and millions... The sea is a wonderful place. It bullies the weak, but also respects strength. Women on ships also have to fish and fight against the wind and waves. Compared with women raised in the boudoir, they are of course more eager to control themselves and everything around them.
All these do not require a stomach, do not require enduring humiliation, only knowledge and strength.
Lin Mo felt his blood boiling. A Ling had already gone to the shore and taken over the important task entrusted to her by the gang leader.
But she herself was still practicing, endlessly, but to no avail.
She thought she had been abandoned by the gang leader, but after hearing this, she felt the same way as the gang leader...
However, before she could finish her excitement, Cheng Xi changed the subject: "But now, there are other tasks. Are you willing to pretend to be a maid and accompany me on a mission?"
Lin Mo was stunned for a moment, then immediately shouted, "Yes!"
Cheng Xi said seriously, "This is extremely dangerous. There are many levels to overcome, and some thrilling events will occur. This is definitely not a joke. You might even lose your life."
Lin Mo didn't hesitate at all: "I'm not afraid! If big brother can do it, I can do it too!"
Her brother Lin Meng also risked his life and fought on the front lines for the leader, so how could she be afraid?
Although she is not as smart as He Ling, Lin Mo is very quick-witted, courageous, and has learned martial arts for such a long time. She is indeed the most suitable candidate.
Cheng Xi said: "Then pack up and get ready to go."
Lin Mo nodded vigorously, and then said: "My eldest brother..."
"Don't worry, he's going this time too." Cheng Xi replied.
If he still had some doubts before, Lin Mo would be completely relieved after hearing this.
It's all an adventure, and my brother is going too, so what right does he have to criticize her?
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