Chapter 26: Wait and see, I'll change your name to Tian Wenjing when the time comes!

Guangzong County, Shangbai.

"Is the weather of the Little Ice Age really this cold?"

Lin Dao, wearing a Lei Feng Hat, shook the snow off his greatcoat. "It's already March, and it's still snowing."

Looking up, within the vast military camp, patches of military green were everywhere.

Li Zong, who dealt in labor protection supplies, had his warehouse stock taken by Lin Dao.

Even that wasn't enough; additional orders were added in large numbers.

This big order of Lin Dao's could be said to have made Li Zong's fortune.

He was so enthusiastic and grateful that he insisted on taking Lin Dao out for a full night of pleasure, short of actually asking him to stay over.

There was no refusing.

The weather suddenly turned cold, and the temperature plummeted.

A few days ago it was only drizzling, but now it has started snowing.

On cold nights, people living in earthen pits could very well freeze to death.

Even those living in tents risked frostbite.

Before the prefabricated houses were completed, greatcoats and military green blankets were necessities for keeping out the cold.

His boots crunched on the ground, leaving a string of footprints.

Lin Dao walked through the camp, inspecting for any accidents.

"Most of the shipping orders from those domineering CEOs are being sent to Africa."

"Are the people of Africa starting to become wealthy?"

In Lin Dao's mind, he pondered the warehouse goods in-and-out records he had noted during work.

He wanted to bankrupt the domineering CEO, so first he had to figure out where the company's business was being done.

That way, he could carry out targeted interception.

As a warehouse manager, he could see these data clearly.

Su Tongtong at the company headquarters could not access these data.

Even indirect probing would absolutely not be as detailed as what Lin Dao had here.

His pondering was interrupted by a burst of noisy shouting and cursing.

Looking up, a group of people not far away were fighting.

To put it accurately, one person was being beaten by a group on one side.

"Stop!"

Lin Dao shouted loudly and strode over.

Sun Dalang and the others who had been following him all gripped the hilts of their waist knives and hurried forward to escort him.

"Langzhu~~~"

Seeing Lin Dao coming, everyone hurriedly saluted.

He glanced at the person groaning on the ground.

He was wearing a fur coat, not a greatcoat, meaning he was not from the camp.

Lin Dao did not fly into a rage, but calmly asked, "Speak clearly, what is going on?"

When encountering unexpected situations, one must first find out the cause before making decisions and responding.

Not the other way around, starting trouble right away.

"Replying to Langzhu."

Someone in the crowd stepped forward. "This person has ulterior motives; he actually cursed that the cold and snow are Langzhu's fault."

"He also incited us to return to the settlement, saying that at least there are houses in the settlement to keep out the cold."

Everyone spoke up, angrily blaming the person who had been beaten.

Zhou Shuren once said, "The poor may be poor, but the poor are not stupid."

There are indeed houses to live in within the settlement.

But those dilapidated houses cannot block much cold wind and snow.

They all knew that returning to the settlement meant returning to their previous life.

What kind of life was it before in the settlement?

Military households had only millet rice full of sand and gravel to eat, and only one meal a day.

As for family members, being able to drink a bowl of thin porridge a day was considered good fortune.

Even more life-threatening was that Generalissimo Baobi and the others wanted to snatch the rewards and departure fees that the military households had received from Langzhu.

In this era where grain is life, how could the military households possibly throw themselves into a wolf's den?

Did they really think we're stupid~~~

"I see."

Lin Dao nodded, stepped forward two paces, and looked at the person lying on the ground. "Was it Generalissimo Feng who arranged for you to recruit people?"

"Take a message back to Generalissimo Feng for me: from now on, I will no longer do business with him."

"If he does such shabby things again, I will fly into a rage and turn against him."

He waved his hand, and some men stepped forward, picked up this person, and threw him outside the settlement gate.

After handling this small matter, Lin Dao continued inspecting the camp.

"The construction of the prefabricated houses must be sped up."

Looking at rows of prefabricated houses under construction not far away, Lin Dao instructed Sun Dalang, "You personally lead the team to supervise this matter."

As he spoke, Lin Dao looked up at the sky. "It will probably get even colder in a few days."

If it were in the Modern World, erecting a prefabricated house would be like building blocks, as fast as could be.

It might even be assembled in just a few minutes.

But here in Yonghe Spacetime, first there were no large machines.

Second, the workers had no relevant experience at all.

Third, the weather and environment also affected the construction progress.

Seeing the weather getting colder and colder, Lin Dao had no choice but to increase the intensity.

"Rest assured, Lord."

Sun Dalang nodded vigorously, "Those gluttons are all fierce when eating, but if they don't work hard when laboring, I definitely won't spare them!"

Those building the prefabricated houses were mainly the Later Zhao Army's accompanying civilian laborers captured earlier.

After interrogation, those who had committed evil were all beheaded, and the rest were locked up.

Though they were locked up, their treatment was actually better than when they were civilian laborers.

Not only were they given three meals a day that were shocking, but every meal was porridge that wasn't too thin.

There was even a side dish of pickled vegetables to replenish salt.

The civilian laborers were moved to tears.

Was this the treatment of captives? When they were at home before, they couldn't even eat this well! Or this full!

In Lin Dao's view, this food standard was already far below the treatment at Caifen School on Tanqi Bridge.

But in the eyes of the people of Yonghe Spacetime, Master Lin Jia was simply a living bodhisattva.

Following Master Jia, three days and nine meals.

Having food to eat means being able to survive.

In this damn world, the greatest pursuit is just to survive.

Once the prefabricated house construction began, the food treatment was immediately improved.

Not only did they eat steamed buns, rice, and corn porridge, but they could even have braised pork with cabbage every day.

Pangu above!

Is this the Immortal Realm~~~

Actually, there was no need for Sun Dalang to watch over them at all.

The civilian laborers were already working extremely hard and devotedly.

What constrained the construction speed was lack of experience and lack of proficiency.

The construction of prefabricated houses in the camp was in full swing.

Lin Dao was not idle either.

In a crude workshop enclosed with cloth and tents temporarily.

He was teaching over a hundred selected women from the families of the mendicant army, known for being clever, nimble, and diligent, how to use the foot-tread sewing machine.

"This is actually not difficult~"

"Step on this pedal back and forth~"

"This is where the needle drops~"

"Place the cloth here~"

"Remember to thread the needle, adjust the thread~"

"Start with straight stitching, then learn curves and corners~"

"~~~"

Lin Dao himself had just crash-learned it.

Mainly by watching videos and reading materials.

What he taught others was just barely passable.

Fortunately, the women were all very serious and hardworking in their learning.

Their learning attitude was in no way inferior to senior high school students cramming for exams.

These foot-tread sewing machines, in the Modern World, had long become old antiques.

But here in Yonghe Spacetime, they were undoubtedly National Treasures.

When Lin Dao finally sewed a so-called piece of clothing, long in front and short in back, crooked and lopsided, the women all burst into irrepressible exclamations.

It was truly too amazing!

"Alright."

Lin Dao stood up and greeted them, "I give you one week, seven days, to become proficient in operation."

"After that, you will also serve as masters, each taking several apprentices to teach."

"As for the specific work."

Lin Dao took out the style diagrams and exploded diagrams, "First cut the cloth; there are markings on it, cut along the lines."

"Then use this kind of sewing machine to make the style on the blueprints."

"As for treatment."

"Three meals are provided during the work period."

"Afterward, based on the quality and quantity of finished products, you can take the remaining cloth home."

Wages and such were not mentioned at all.

It wasn't that Lin Dao didn't mention it, but that the women didn't mention it.

In these times, being given a meal to eat means there are plenty willing to sell themselves, sell their lives, and sell their whole family.

And under the ancient odious master-apprentice system, working for free for the master for ten years is considered little.

Still want wages?

Must've drunk too much corn porridge and fried your brain.

Watching the women sit at the sewing machines and start work, the sound of turning wheels filled the ears.

Lin Dao clasped his hands in his sleeves, and the figure of that domineering CEO with the standard capitalist posture rose in his mind.

"Turning the business toward the African clothing market, huh."

"Even if I lose money on it, I'll intercept every single one of your orders!"

"Just wait, when the time comes I'll help you change your name to Tian Wenjing!"

By the time it reached noon.

"Meal time~~~"

With the cooks' loud calls, the entire main camp seemed to boil over.

Men, women.

Able-bodied, old, young.

The Qihuo Army, refugees, captives, and everyone else.

All put down the work in their hands and gathered toward the various meal points.

"Not bad, knowing to queue is progress."

Seeing everyone queuing orderly for food, Lin Dao nodded in satisfaction.

Queuing for food isn't innate.

It was actively learned after many people lost their qualification to eat because of scrambling, and went hungry as a lesson.

Not queuing is fine, then there's just nothing to eat.

Just as Run Tu said: 'People teaching people doesn't work; events teaching people, one lesson and they learn.'

Going hungry for one meal because of not queuing, they can only watch helplessly as others eat before their eyes.

By the next meal, they'll surely have learned.

"Langzhu."

Wearing a military greatcoat that only revealed half her head, Jin Lian came trotting over.

"The food is ready, please dine, Langzhu."

Returning to the main tent, Lin Dao's core team in Yonghe Spacetime, apart from Sun Dalang who was watching outside, were all waiting here.

Two female secretaries, and a dozen or so scribes assisting them.

Qin Lang, mainly responsible for managing military households, and a dozen or so middle-ranking colonels from minor surnames and cold families.

And also Liu Hu, towering like an iron pagoda.

The same Liu Hu, squad leader from Chen Shuai Wu Bu, who previously claimed the reward by single-handedly beheading seven Qianghu heads.

When Sun Dalang went to recruit Liu Hu, he was refused by him.

Liu Hu expressed that he wasn't someone who betrays his master at the sight of benefit.

But a dramatic scene occurred.

Liu Hu, returning to the wu bu with large amounts of reward supplies, was robbed by Chen Wall Commander.

Not only were the rewards he fought for with his life seized, Liu Hu was also beaten and humiliated by Chen Wall Commander's relatives.

"You mud-legged military household, have good things and don't know to tribute them up, don't understand any rules!"

"If there's a next time, watch your dog life!"

(End of Chapter)