Zhang Daoquan was not a talkative person. He waved his hand and led the villagers to start working, and the construction speed increased a lot.
Xie Wei was very satisfied seeing this.
The busy work lasted until noon. The aroma of food and meat wafted in the air, making people salivate.
When the sound of the gong was heard, everyone stopped what they were doing, walked over with their bowls and chopsticks and lined up consciously. When they saw that there was really meat, their eyes almost popped out.
The villagers excitedly said, "Village Chief, it's a stew with meat. Everyone gets two slices of meat. It smells so good."
Zhang Daoquan's eyes lit up, but he still had a serious face: "Well, then you have to work harder and not take other people's money for nothing. We are not the kind of people who are cunning and treacherous."
"Yes, don't worry, Village Chief. We know what to do."
Everyone holds a bowl, finishes their meal in no time, and then goes straight to work without taking a break. There is no such thing as laziness. The people are simple and honest, and they work very hard for the money they are paid.
It's not easy to live these days, and it's even harder to find a job. If you go to town, you can only earn about ten copper coins a day. For meals, there is no meat, only black steamed buns.
If you have to work even if you don't have enough to eat, your body will become weak after a long time.
We worked until dark, and the frames of more than ten houses were completed. All we had to do now was mix the mud and cover the roof with straw, and it would be done quickly.
Xie Wei glanced at the sky, and after the people finished eating, he urged them to go back and rest: "It's getting dark, everyone go back and rest. Those who want to come can continue tomorrow morning and collect their wages."
After the meal, more than 20 men left happily with copper coins, and all shouted that they would come again tomorrow.
In a blink of an eye, ten days passed and dozens of houses in rows were built. They were surrounded by mud to prevent wild beasts from coming in the cold winter and causing casualties.
After finishing their work, the villagers all felt a little melancholy.
The work during these ten days was the most comfortable for them. Not only was the work not so tiring, but the food was also particularly good, as if it was New Year's Day every day.
Xie Wei walked up to Zhang Daoquan and said seriously, "Village Chief, the house construction is over, but there are other things to do later, such as how to arrange for those who are not infected with the plague."
"That piece of land can be reclaimed and potatoes can be grown two or three times a year. It's not too late in the season now."
"It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. The disaster victims came to the Northern Wasteland and were confused and in pain at first. The Northern Wasteland can support them temporarily, but once the plague is over, these people will have to fend for themselves."
When Zhang Daoquan heard his words, his eyes became brighter and brighter.
He said respectfully, "General, you mean to hand over those disaster victims to us and help us plant potatoes, right?"
"Yes, this general has to recruit soldiers and train them, so he really doesn't have time to help them farm. But if we don't take care of them, the disaster victims will be idle and easily cause trouble."
“People can only be content if they are busy and have food to eat.”
After Xie Wei pulled the man aside and explained it carefully, he patted him on the shoulder and looked at him approvingly: "I think you, the village chief, are very suitable to lead those disaster victims. You are brave, resourceful, and kind."
Zhang Daoquan felt a little embarrassed by the praise, lowered his head and whispered: "If the general trusts me, I am willing to lead people to work even without money."
"As long as... we have food, that's all that matters. If the disaster victims can settle down, it will be good for Misty Village. When it develops into a big village, we won't have to go to town all the time."
"It's inconvenient to travel back and forth. Besides, the disaster victims are no different from us. They're just trying to make a living and stay alive."
Xie Wei smiled and said, "That's right. The disaster victims will arrive in a few days. You will be in charge of the farming, and we will take care of the security. If anyone disobeys, we will expel them from the Northern Wilderness."
Zhang Daoquan nodded, understanding what he meant, and a smile appeared on his face: "Okay, I will definitely cooperate with the general."
*
On the other hand, many people from the fiefdoms escaped and made a long journey to the Northern Wilderness according to the instructions of the court. With the yellow sand blowing along the way, they became more and more desperate in their hearts.
There is a lack of water in the northern wilderness, so come here and you will find a way to survive.
"Hoohoo, Old Wang, how far is it to get there? We haven't seen any people along the way. What if there's no one? We don't have the energy to go back."
Village Chief Wang glanced at him and said unhappily, "Old Zhao, what are you thinking about? This is a road of no return. If you take the right path, you will settle down in the future. If you take the wrong path, you will die."
"The fiefdom is like hell on earth. We can't go back any more. Let's hurry on. At least there's a chance of survival."
Everyone walked with their heads down, their eyes empty and numb.
Goudan didn't know what he saw, and shouted: "Grandpa Village Chief has seen the village. We have reached the Northern Wasteland. We must have reached the Northern Wasteland. Haha, we can drink water now."
He shouted at the top of his lungs, his cracked lips torn open and blood dripped from the corners of his mouth. He ignored the pain, wiped his lips and rushed forward.
The patrolman also saw them, looked them over, then instinctively raised his bow and arrow and pointed, shouting, "Where did you come from?"
Village Chief Wang was supported by someone and tremblingly stepped forward, saying respectfully, "Sir, I am from the fiefdom XXXX. I heard that I could come to the Northern Wilderness to seek a living, so I came here."
"Don't worry, sir. None of us have contracted the plague. If we had, we would have died along the way and wouldn't have gotten here."
The patrolmen also knew about it, but it was a plague, so they still had to be vigilant. He couldn't afford if something went wrong.
"Keep your distance, tear off your shirts one by one, and only those with pus-filled lumps can go to Hope Village. There will be people to take care of your food, drink, and medical treatment, and you can pay them back later."
"Anyone who disobeys the instructions will be expelled from the Northern Wilderness. Listen carefully, everyone. Only those who have no problems lining up can enter."
Village Chief Wang's cloudy eyes lit up, and his gruff voice rang out, "Everyone, line up obediently. No one is allowed to act recklessly. We will do whatever the official says."
In less than half an hour, everyone had finished checking. The patrolman put down his bow and arrow and said in a much more relaxed tone, "Come here, everyone else, continue patrolling."
Bring the person into the village, hand him over to the next person, and then turn around and leave.
After everyone was arranged into their rooms and sat on their beds, they were still a little dazed and muttered, "We weren't evicted this time... We still have a place to live."
"Yes, we've come to the right place this time. I thought I would have to fend for myself and be driven away, but I didn't expect someone to build a house in advance and wait for us to come."
As he spoke, he thought of the sadness along the way. When he was driven away from one city after another, the grievances surged in his heart and suppressed tears came out.
Goudan walked around for a while and then came in trotting.
"Grandpa Village Chief, I saw another village, but the officials said we are not allowed to approach. After we see a doctor and are confirmed to be free of plague, they will give us land to farm."
"Divide the land and plant it? But we don't have money to buy seeds."
"...It seems that they don't need money. They say that Beihuang City provides seeds for free without paying money. The taxes here are also very low."
"As long as the second transaction is completed, the rest will be kept by me. This is the Peach Blossom Spring, how can there be such a wonderful place?"
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