Chapter 140: No Way I'm Working for Someone Else
It finally rained in Shuangqing City today, so cool and refreshing, but I'm stuck on this chapter and can't write, it's so frustrating. Adding an extra update for this writer's block.
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Under Cheng Xu's adjustments, the artisans of Gao Family Village transitioned from haphazardly crafting equipment to manufacturing it with meticulous planning.
Previously, Li Daoxuan would issue casual instructions and then leave them to it, unwilling to micromanage.
Now, with Cheng Xu, someone was finally taking charge of the finer details.
"I need fifty small hand crossbows."
As soon as Cheng Xu issued the command, several carpenters were assigned, halting their work on furniture and doors to focus solely on producing the small hand crossbows.
Before, the artisans would all rush to produce the same items in a frenzy, simply because they had no clear understanding of Gao Family Village's actual needs.
However, with each new "management talent" acquired by Gao Family Village, the artisans' objectives grew progressively clearer.
Gao Yiyi now presided over the Craftsman Well, wielding considerable authority.
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The festive air of the Spring Festival enveloped the entire land, yet it failed to touch Padi Tu.
Padi Tu was a greenwood hero, or rather, a bandit—a fact evident from his very name.
Only a bandit would adopt such a moniker.
Several months prior, when Wang Er sparked his rebellion, Padi Tu joined in. But with no real prestige, no one was willing to follow him. So, he set out alone, armed with a rusted sword passed down from his grandfather, two meager biscuits, brutally beat the tax collectors who came to his village, and embarked upon the "rebellious" highway to greatness.
His first objective was to find Wang Er; merely serving as a messenger by the side of the "world-renowned" Wang Er of Baishui County would be enough to fulfill his ambitions.
However, before he could even find Wang Er, news reached him that Wang Er had been captured and beheaded by Patrol Inspector Cheng Xu, and with that, all the rebels in Chengcheng County instantly vanished without a trace.
Now Padi Tu was in an awkward predicament: he'd beaten an official, couldn't go home, couldn't go to the county town, and couldn't join the righteous army. What was he to do?
He was left to forage for wild vegetables, chew on grass roots, and steal grain from local gentry and landlords, struggling to survive for several months until he was on the verge of starvation.
Yet, heaven never bars all exits. As Padi Tu reeled from hunger, his vision blurring, he suddenly perceived, amidst the hazy, yellow-tinged world, a lush green village. Surrounding it were flourishing wheat fields, encircling a fortified manor and two smaller hamlets...
Padi Tu felt a surge of hope for survival and, summoning his last ounce of strength, staggered toward it.
He wasn't sure if he could beg for food in this village. If not, he'd simply steal from that grand manor.
It looked like a wealthy household, and taking a little from them would count as robbing the rich to aid the poor.
The moment Padi Tu entered the village, a sentry with a bow on the fortress wall shouted down at him: "Newcomer?"
Padi Tu froze, bewildered: "What?"
He looked up. Well, it seemed like the retainer of a wealthy family, and he couldn't afford to provoke them in his weakened state. Of course, he had to play along first: "Just here to beg for food."
The sentry was Gao Laba, on duty for his shift that day. Seeing the newcomer's dusty, disheveled, and utterly wretched appearance, he called out loudly, "For food, go to the manor gate! Steward Tan is handing out meals there."
Padi Tu: "Huh?"
This was somewhat baffling, but he didn't care. Someone was giving out food; he should hurry.
He stumbled to the manor gate and saw a platform set up there. A man dressed as a steward directed a group of assistants, who had arranged tables and chairs outside Gao Family Fortress and were distributing steamed white flour buns.
Excellent quality steamed white flour buns, two per person.
Overjoyed, Padi Tu lunged toward the platform with his last bit of strength: "I... I'm hungry..."
Steward Tan looked down at the pitiable man, unsure how long he'd been starving. He sighed, grabbed three buns for him, then, after a moment's thought, added another. "Eat slowly," he advised, "don't choke yourself to death."
Padi Tu sat on the ground, frantically tearing into the buns. He choked on a mouthful, and a nearby assistant quickly offered him a bowl of water. Padi Tu tilted his head back, gulped it down, and finally caught his breath before quickly thanking those around him.
Only then did Steward Tan ask, "Brother, have you come to Gao Family Village looking for work?"
Padi Tu, curious, asked, "Do they offer work here?"
Hearing this, Steward Tan realized the man had stumbled upon the village by chance and was evidently unaware of Gao Family Village's customs.
In recent days, Gao Family Village's population had been growing rapidly. After all, it wasn't far from the county town, merely thirty li away. Once the initial group of people who came seeking food and wishing to become "labor reform" prisoners transformed into temporary workers, they ate their fill and earned money. When they went to the county town to purchase goods, it was inevitable that they would spread the news.
Thus, more people learned about Gao Family Village, and refugees begging for food in the county town arrived, adopting a "let's try it out" mentality.
Gao Family Village's population swelled daily.
Refugees newly arrived at Gao Family Village often hadn't yet found work, had no wages, and couldn't sustain themselves. So, Steward Tan set up a daily gruel distribution at the manor gate, providing them with buns.
After the refugees had eaten their fill, they would stay in the Short-term Workers Village, awaiting work assignments.
In simple terms: arriving at Gao Family Village meant escaping starvation, but to earn more beyond mere subsistence, one had to take on work, demonstrating their value.
The Heavenly Lord permitted rest, but also encouraged striving.
They must grasp both firmly, upholding both with unwavering resolve.
While Padi Tu ravenously devoured his buns, Steward Tan softly explained the rules to him.
Padi Tu listened in silence, thinking to himself: *This wealthy family, they are truly good people. I, Padi Tu, am a hero of renown, one who punishes evil and promotes good. I only deal with wicked, merciless rich folk, not benevolent people who give out gruel and aid the common folk. So, I won't steal from this family.*
*But, work as a temporary laborer? Hmph, working for someone else is out of the question, never in this lifetime! Only by joining a righteous army and becoming a fierce general can I barely maintain a semblance of a decent life.*
*Once I've eaten my fill, I'll be off!*
Just as Padi Tu reached this thought, a man emerged from Gao Family Fortress, hurrying out.
This man was none other than Gao Yiyi, newly appointed Master Artisan. He ran to the entrance of the Short-term Workers Village, bellowed at the top of his lungs, "Carpenters! The Craftsman Well desperately needs carpenters, especially those skilled in making hand crossbows. The monthly wage is a hundred catties of rice or flour, ten catties of meat, one catty of salt, one catty of sugar, and one catty of oil! Those unfamiliar with carpentry can also apply as apprentices. Before mastering the skill, there will be no wages, only food, but once proficient, the pay will be the same as a master's!"
With a resounding cry, several people surged out from the Short-term Workers Village.
"I can do carpentry!"
"Me too!"
"I'm willing to work!"
Padi Tu rubbed his ears, wondering if he had misheard. All those provisions, was that truly the wage for a single carpenter?
Oh, my mother!
Padi Tu, with a sudden motion, shot his hand into the air: "Me, me, me! I don't know carpentry, but I'm willing to be an apprentice!"
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