Chapter 547: I've Got Blue Hats
Bai Yuan's plea for help was the last straw.
San Shier and Tan Liwen, the two civil administrators, nearly threw up their hands in unison.
But this was a divine decree from the Heavenly Lord. They couldn't simply abandon their duty. The Heavenly Lord's commands had to be fulfilled, even if it meant selling everything they owned, pawning the very clothes off their backs.
San Shier and Tan Liwen could only pull out their thick stacks of documents again, frantically sifting through pages. "Blue hats, blue hats, where are we going to find more blue hats?"
Just as they were racking their brains, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance of the council hall: their old acquaintance, the warden, Zhong Gaoliang.
Zhong Gaoliang was now a profoundly important figure in Gao Family Village. He oversaw a staggering 120,000 labor reform prisoners, a number nearly matching the entire civilian population of Chengcheng County. The sheer scale of manpower at his disposal was immense.
A popular jest in Gao Family Village claimed that if a small mountain blocked Zhong Gaoliang's path, he'd merely point a finger and declare, "Dig it away!", and that mountain would be entirely gone by the next morning. Such was his formidable influence.
As Zhong Gaoliang entered the room, he offered a warm smile to San Shier and Tan Liwen. "Gentlemen," he chuckled, "I'm back to make another request. I have a few labor reform prisoners who've performed exceptionally well, and I'd like to offer them a special reward. Do you happen to have any of those peculiar, wondrous foods bestowed by the Heavenly Lord that you could share a bit of with them?"
San Shier replied, "I have no time."
San Shier grumbled, "No time to think of idioms!"
Zhong Gaoliang, quite intrigued, asked, "What on earth are you so busy with?"
Only then did San Shier explain the shortage of Blue Hat technicians.
Zhong Gaoliang laughed. "Oh, is that all? If you need manpower, you should come to me! I have 120,000 people over there; surely, there are talented individuals among them."
San Shier raised an eyebrow. "It's no surprise you have Yellow Hats over there, but can you really produce Blue Hats?"
"Of course I can!" Zhong Gaoliang declared. "You underestimate the labor reform prisoners too much. Their former professions spanned all thirty-six trades; we have all sorts of skilled artisans among them, and quite a few can read and write. They've been working everywhere — clearing mountains, building roads, doing odd jobs, participating in all sorts of tasks for Gao Family Village. After working alongside our people a few times, some of the more capable ones have already developed into Blue Hats!"
San Shier was overjoyed. "So that's how it is! Excellent!"
His joy quickly turned to gloom, however. "But these people are still serving their sentences!" he fretted. "How can we let them wear Blue Hats and go all the way to Shanxi? What if they run away en route? The Heavenly Lord would surely blame me."
Zhong Gaoliang explained, "We'll have to select them carefully. We'll choose those who are skilled, but also of good character, thoroughly reformed, and with a relatively high level of ideological awareness. We'll allow them to leave the prison and atone for their past misdeeds by earning merits."
At this point, Zhong Gaoliang lowered his voice. "I already have a few candidates in mind," he confided. "One is Qi Cheng, another is Chen Ergou, and... these individuals are sufficiently reformed. It wouldn't hurt to bring them out and give them a trial."
San Shier was still hesitating.
Just then, the golden-thread Heavenly Lord embroidered on his chest appeared to open its mouth and speak: "You may try it!"
Since the Heavenly Lord had spoken with divine authority, there was naturally no further argument.
San Shier nodded. "Alright! Zhong Gaoliang, you are to select this group of people. Choose carefully; we absolutely cannot afford any trouble."
One day later.
Huanglong Mountain, Labor Reform Valley.
Today, the Labor Reform Valley was bustling with excitement...
In front of the fortress at the entrance of the Labor Reform Valley, a group of "Labor Reform Model Workers" stood at rigid attention. Among them were the two beleaguered companions, Qi Cheng and Chen Ergou.
Today, their attire was different from usual.
Normally, they wore undyed, natural-colored cotton clothes, the standard uniform for labor reform prisoners.
But today, they were dressed in uniforms identical to those worn by Gao Family Village's technical workers: blue work clothes and blue safety helmets. The only distinction from regular workers was a character for "trial" emblazoned on their helmets, indicating their probative status.
As soon as they donned these uniforms, it instilled in them the fleeting illusion of having "regained their free status."
Tens of thousands of labor reform prisoners who had gathered to witness the event gazed at them with openly envious eyes.
Zhong Gaoliang stood atop the fortress, holding a tin megaphone, and announced loudly: "Everyone, congratulations! Because of your outstanding performance in labor reform and your technical skills, the Heavenly Lord has granted you a special dispensation. You will leave the Labor Reform Valley for an extended period, deployed to Shanxi. There, you will briefly enjoy the same treatment as free citizens!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the crowd burst into exclamations of "Wow!"
Zhong Gaoliang continued, "During this deployment and assignment, you will receive wages just like free technical workers. However, the wages will be slightly less than those of truly free individuals, but this reduced pay can be exchanged for 'sentence reduction,' giving you the chance for early release!"
Qi Cheng and Chen Ergou were simultaneously overjoyed, excitedly clasping each other's hands. "Wow," they murmured, "the chance for sentence reduction has arrived!"
Although they could eat their fill and dress warmly in the Labor Reform Valley, the old adage remained true: human aspirations are always upward-bound. When hungry, there's only one worry; when full, there are countless worries.
Several years of labor reform had long since taught the prisoners to seek more than just a meal. They now pursued a better life, yearning for freedom beyond the Labor Reform Valley.
Now that they had the chance to go out, who wouldn't be overjoyed?
Qi Cheng was the first to shout out, "Warden, rest assured, I will definitely perform admirably!"
Chen Ergou quickly followed suit: "I will certainly not disappoint the warden!"
Zhong Gaoliang chuckled, "Warden or not warden, you're answering to the Heavenly Lord! You must prove yourselves to the Heavenly Lord, not to me."
The crowd gasped in unison.
Zhong Gaoliang instructed, "Look down, at the chest of your work uniforms."
The labor reform prisoners all lowered their heads to examine their uniforms. On the chest of each, they saw an effigy of the Heavenly Lord, intricately embroidered with five-colored cotton thread.
Just as they were looking down, the Heavenly Lord effigy on Qi Cheng's chest suddenly appeared to grin, startling Qi Cheng.
Then, as that effigy's expression returned to normal, the Heavenly Lord effigy on Chen Ergou's chest then appeared to grin...
The Heavenly Lord effigies seemed to be moving like dominoes, each appearing to grin in sequence across the chests of the labor reform prisoners.
The crowd exclaimed, "Wow!"
Zhong Gaoliang announced loudly, "There are spirits three feet above your head; people act, and Heaven watches. The Heavenly Lord is always watching! If any of you harbor wicked intentions, you'd best take a knife and slit your own throats right now. Don't even think about plotting mischief right under the Heavenly Lord's gaze!"
Qi Cheng, once again, took the lead in shouting, "I wouldn't dare! I respect the Heavenly Lord most of all, and I will surely perform admirably, never disappointing the Heavenly Lord!"
Chen Ergou quickly followed suit, and a large group of Blue Hats cried out in unison, "We will never disappoint the Heavenly Lord!"
Zhong Gaoliang declared, "Good! You may now depart."
A retainer from Bai Family Fortress stepped forward. "Follow me," he instructed.
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