Chapter 355: The Coal Miners
San Shier chuckled inwardly at Feng Jun’s astonished expression. This county magistrate had no idea how boundless Dao Xuan Tian Zun’s divine power truly was, nor did he grasp the full extent of Gao Family Village's capabilities. Well, it was amusing to tease him.
He shook his head at the three fingers Feng Jun had extended. "Of course, it won't be just three days. You underestimate us far too much."
Feng Jun stammered, "Then... thirty days?"
San Shier continued to shake his head. "More than that, much more!"
Feng Jun ventured, "Three months?"
San Shier smiled. "Magistrate Feng, why do you always think so small? Can't you be a little bolder, think a little grander?"
Feng Jun took a deep breath, cautiously probing, "Could it be... three years?"
San Shier burst out laughing. "It is called... 'Three lives, three worlds'!"
Feng Jun gasped, incredulous.
San Shier knew he wouldn't. He smiled faintly. "Magistrate Feng, you don't actually need to worry so much. Heyang County now has the Four Dragon Kings bringing rain, and it's precisely the season for spring planting. The crops are already sown. It won't take 'three lives, three worlds' that long. In just half a year, the grain produced in Heyang County will be sufficient to sustain its people. At that point, why would Gao Family Village need to continue providing you with relief?"
Feng Jun nodded; there was indeed logic to that.
As they spoke, they arrived at Jingshui Ditch.
The place was surprisingly close to the county town. They had simply walked and chatted, ascended a small slope outside the town, turned into a narrow ravine, and arrived within moments.
Drawing closer to the coal mine, the entire ravine turned black. The mountain walls on both sides were solid black ore, and the formerly yellow dirt road underfoot had also become a deep, inky black. This was likely due to the continuous transport of coal along this route, with countless fallen coal slag staining the road over time.
Ahead, a cluster of crude shelters appeared, built from mere branches and dry grass. Adjacent to these hovels lay a vast open-pit coal mine, where a throng of dark figures, looking as grimy as the coal itself, toiled incessantly.
The conditions here were far from pleasant. Feng Jun cast a slightly anxious glance at the carriage carrying Gao Yiye, thinking to himself, *I hope this esteemed Lady doesn't find this place too dirty.*
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the carriage curtain swept open. Gao Yiye swiftly leapt out, her face completely devoid of distaste, instead brimming with excitement. She dashed towards the group of coal miners. "Wow! So this is what a coal mine looks like!"
She actually approached one of the blackened miners and asked, "Uncle, how is coal made? Is it dug out as black rock and then processed with some special technique?"
The miner, startled to see a "wealthy lady" approaching him with questions, wasn't sure of her identity but dared not offend. He quickly and respectfully replied, "Reporting to Madam, coal is coal when it's dug from underground. No special techniques are needed."
"Oh? It's that simple? Then I can dig it too!"
She knelt and picked up a fist-sized lump of coal from the ground, playfully turning it over in her hands. In a flash, both her hands were blackened, and her sleeves were stained. "When I was little, I thought this stuff was so expensive, completely unaffordable. I never imagined it could be used just by digging it out of the ground. Haha, I'm going to dig two pieces to take home and play with."
The miner broke into a cold sweat. "Madam... that piece in your hand, I dug it."
"I know, I won't steal yours," Gao Yiye said, returning the coal to the man. She glanced around and spotted an unused iron pickaxe lying nearby. She swiftly ran over and picked it up. "Whose is this? I'll just borrow it for a bit."
The pickaxe belonged to a miner who was resting. How could he refuse the request of a wealthy person? He could only respond with a faint, weary sound, "Madam, please use it as you wish."
Gao Yiye, pickaxe in hand, jumped into the mine pit. She swung it with all her might at a large black rock. All that was heard was a sharp "clink!" as the pickaxe bounced back, sending Gao Yiye tumbling onto her backside. Now her dress was truly ruined, completely covered in black grime.
She rubbed her numb, vibrating hands. "Wow, digging this isn't easy either."
The miner gave a wry smile. "Madam, that strike you just made wasn't at coal. It was just a very hard black rock. Coal isn't actually that hard."
Gao Yiye blinked.
Qiu Ju and Dong Xue, her two secretaries, quickly rushed over, helping Gao Yiye up and gently coaxing her back towards the carriage. "Madam, you're all dirty! Your entire body is covered in grime! Please hurry back to the carriage, we'll clean you up."
In a blink, the three women disappeared back inside the carriage.
Feng Jun watched, dumbfounded. "What just happened? This Lady of the Li family, the Saintess, turns out to be quite the lively one!"
San Shier cleared his throat. "Ahem! Magistrate Feng, please don't mind her. Our esteemed Lady is still just a young girl, after all."
Feng Jun cleared his throat in return. "Indeed! It's quite good for a young lady to be so spirited."
He perked up, remembering he was here for serious business today. He took a few steps forward, standing at the edge of the pit, and addressed all the miners loudly: "Listen up, everyone! I announce that from today, the Jingshui Ditch coal mine will no longer be managed by the government. It will be contracted to the Li family of Gao Family Village. The young lady you just saw is the esteemed Lady of the Li family, and the man beside me is Manager San of the Li family—not the third in rank, but his surname is San. From now on, you will follow their commands. Is that clear?"
The miners uniformly saluted, their movements stiff and mechanical.
To them, digging coal for the government or for some great lord made no difference. They were still miserable laborers. What difference did it make who they toiled for?
Feng Jun said, "Alright, now Manager San will say a few words to you."
He stepped aside, yielding the spotlight.
San Shier, a wide grin on his face, walked to where Feng Jun had stood. He scanned the miners, noting their lifeless appearance, but he didn't mind in the slightest. Years as a strategist had taught him precisely what was most important when dealing with the common people.
Time to play his trump card!
San Shier announced, "From now on, you will be working for my Li family, and you will be part of my Li family. The Li family never treats its workers unfairly. Therefore, I declare that starting this month, your monthly wages will be increased to three taels of silver!"
At these words, all the miners froze simultaneously, as if struck by a paralyzing spell, rendering them immobile.
In fact, not only they froze, but Feng Jun beside them also stiffened. "Three taels of silver? Has the Li family gone mad? These coal miners are the lowest rung of indentured servants, whose ancestors were captured in battle and forced into this grueling work. They've been of a despised status for generations! To suddenly grant them three taels of silver a month? This is practically the same income as the common folk in the wealthy counties of Jiangnan!"
Unexpectedly, San Shier wasn't finished!
He added, "Oh, and not just wages, but free meals too."
Only then did the miners cry out in utter astonishment: "Ahhhhh!"
Comments