Chapter 184: The Labor Reform Completion Assembly
San Shier, after hearing Gao Yiye's relay, had a sudden realization and immediately understood the Heavenly Lord's intent: "The labor reform prisoners truly need some incentive. At first, they were simply content to be fed, but after the short-term workers arrived, who not only received food but also earned wages, the labor reform prisoners began to... develop a certain attitude."
Li Daoxuan chuckled: "Starting to slack off, huh? Too bad there's no word for 'laying flat' in the Ming Dynasty; you can't quite articulate it, can you? Hahahaha."
Just as he thought this, San Shier struck his characteristic pose and declared with exaggerated emphasis, "That, it is called... 'Content with poverty, adhering to the Way!'"
Li Daoxuan nearly choked on his cold noodles. "Holy cow! You can use that to describe that too?"
So, ancient times already had an idiom for 'laying flat'! What a shame I'm such a literary illiterate. My apologies, ancestors; this junior will definitely read more in the future and strive to carry on the lost wisdom of the sages.
San Shier said, "I understand the Heavenly Lord's meaning now, and I have a plan for how to handle it. I will see to it immediately and ensure it's managed perfectly."
Gao Yiye suddenly lowered her voice. "I'll tell you a secret: the Heavenly Lord's expression appeared quite distressed."
San Shier blinked. "Oh?"
Gao Yiye explained, "It was right after you uttered those four words, 'content with poverty, adhering to the Way,' that the Heavenly Lord's expression immediately darkened. It seemed he felt a profound anguish and deep regret."
Gao Yiye nodded. "That would be for the best."
San Shier's spirits soared, and his zeal burst forth. The mere thought that this matter had saddened the Heavenly Lord galvanized him. As the Heavenly Lord's chief aide, he vowed to pull out all the stops today and bring a smile back to the Heavenly Lord's face.
"Tan Liwen!" San Shier bellowed at the top of his lungs. "Bring all the assistants and gather all the labor reform prisoners! I, your administrator, am holding a major assembly for them!"
Tan Liwen's voice echoed from the next room. "Master, just a moment. I shall go and do it at once."
Not long after, San Shier, accompanied by his clerk Tan Liwen and over thirty assistants, arrived at the labor reform village.
It was still early morning. The residents of the labor reform village had just risen, finished their breakfast, and were preparing to start their day's work.
San Shier yelled at the top of his lungs, "All labor reform prisoners, assemble! A major decision is about to be announced!"
At that shout, the labor reform prisoners suddenly perked up. They had been undergoing labor reform in Gao Family Village for several months, yet had never been truly acknowledged. San Shier and Tan Liwen would only occasionally pass by, casually tossing out phrases like "Cut trees today," "Make furniture today," or "Someone go cut bamboo," before striding off. They never expected a proper assembly today?
With a surge, the labor reform prisoners rushed to surround them.
Li Daoxuan had long forgotten what the five new labor reform prisoner figurines looked like, but when their names were called, the five men stepped forward hesitantly, their faces bewildered and even a little scared. Their expressions were full of confusion; they feared they had done something wrong. Fortunately, Administrator San had always been amiable, not a cruel or wicked man, which helped calm their nerves slightly.
San Shier's tone was as gentle as he could make it. "You five have been labor reform prisoners for three months now, haven't you?"
The five quickly answered, "Yes, sir."
San Shier continued, "Do you understand your mistakes?"
"Yes, we do!" the five quickly declared. "When we first arrived at Gao Family Village, we didn't understand that this was the territory of benevolent people. We resorted to sticks, assaulted people, and stole food, committing grave offenses. Thanks to the compassionate Heavenly Lord and the kind people of Gao Family Village, for allowing us to eat here for three months, we now understand how utterly foolish our original actions were... We truly shouldn't have attacked and robbed. If only we had simply entered the village honestly and worked diligently, we would have had plenty to eat."
San Shier nodded. "Good! It's excellent that you understand your mistakes. By the Heavenly Lord's decree, after three months of labor reform, you have repaid the transgressions you committed through your hard work. From this moment forward, your status as labor reform prisoners is revoked, and you are restored to commoner status."
The five men were stunned by these words, then instantly overwhelmed with joy.
"Restored to commoner status? Does that mean... we'll not only receive food and lodging for our work, but also wages?"
San Shier smiled. "Yes, you'll earn wages now."
"Wow!"
All five men simultaneously leaped to their feet, overjoyed beyond measure. Unsure how else to express their emotions, they simply embraced their companions standing nearby.
San Shier continued, "Rooms have already been prepared for you in the Short-term Workers Village. You can move there starting today. As for what tasks you take on, what work you do, and how much you earn, that will be entirely up to you from now on."
The five cheered and leaped with joy as the assistants led them away from the gathering and toward the Short-term Workers Village.
Remaining in the assembly were nearly two hundred other labor reform prisoners. These were the men who had been part of the initial attack on Gao Family Village, subordinates of Zhong Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu.
Watching the joyful expressions of the five newly freed individuals, the eyes of the two hundred remaining prisoners glowed red with envy.
San Shier turned to the remaining men. "Are you all very envious?"
The labor reform prisoners remained silent. After a long pause, Zhong Gaoliang finally spoke. "Yes, sir! Dying of envy, we are. Administrator San, when... when will the rest of us be restored to commoner status?"
San Shier replied, "When you attacked Gao Family Village, you harbored the intention of slaughtering everyone in the village and plundering all its grain. Your transgressions are far greater than those five's."
As soon as he uttered these words, all two hundred labor reform prisoners bowed their heads in shame.
Zhong Gaoliang quickly said, "Administrator San, you've misunderstood. We didn't have any intention of slaughtering everyone in Gao Family Village. Second Boss Zheng and Third Boss Zhong claimed there was a very wealthy patriarch in this village. We were to seize that patriarch's wealth and grain, and then lead the common villagers to join the rebellion... That's what they said at the time, and that's what I believed, which is why I followed them in attacking Gao Family Village."
San Shier pressed, "What about Wang Er? You betrayed Wang Er, showing not an ounce of loyalty?"
Many men once again hung their heads in shame.
Zhong Gaoliang's face also showed a flush of shame, and he clenched his fists. "We were tricked by Second Boss Zheng and Third Boss Zhong. They claimed Brother Wang had been bought off by the wealthy and was unfairly siding with them... I... it was only after living here for a few days that I realized there was no wealthy patriarch here at all. There was only the benevolent Heavenly Lord, and a group of Gao Family villagers just like us. All the wealth and grain here isn't from some rich master; it's bestowed upon us by the Heavenly Lord from the heavens. I deeply regret it... I truly regret it..."
Every labor reform prisoner's face was etched with shame; they kept their heads bowed, too embarrassed to speak.
This, perhaps, was what Wang Er had once described as 'shamed to death on the spot.'
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