Chapter 29 - Work Preparations

A thing like vine armors, their manufacture takes a long time. But the materials required to make it are easily available. Lin Yuan does not have 2-3 years to make vine armors——by that time the dishes would already be cold (TN: expression for it being too late). He can only explore and experiment on a method that would not only take less time but also have sturdy results.

Tung oil and wild vines are easy to find, they are in the south after all. Originally vine armor had been the invention of some ethnic groups in the southwestern region.

But their weakness was revealed in Romance of the Three Kingdoms written by Luo Guanzhong in which Zhu Geliang used a fire attack scheme to break through its defense.

Right now Luo Guanzhong should still be in Hangzhou and has yet to write his famous novel. So the method for dealing with vine armor soldiers not many should know——bandits are all made up of uneducated people so using vine armors against them should be enough.

Thinking of this, Lin Yuan wants to meet Luo Guanzhong. Luo Guanzhong had been an advisor of Zhang Shicheng and it was his advice that had them win against Zhu Yuanzhang in a battle. It’s a pity Zhang Shicheng was an idiot, causing all of his advisors and aids to leave in disappointment.

In truth, rather than discribe Luo Guanzhong as a literary scholar he is actually a military expert, only no one remembers since his accomplishment in literary is so big.

If possible, Lin Yuan truly does want to meet the man and have a chat so that it would do justice to the many times he read the Romance of Three Kingdoms and himself as an ardent fan.

Even the dramas and movies he had watched numerous times.

The vine armors are woven by the women, after being soaked in tung oil it is dried and then soaked again in tung oil, and then dried and soaked again. Finally it was dried with a low fire with someone constantly watching the fire.

Lin Yuan uses a hoe to try its sturdiness. Although it has not reached the level of being completely immune to sharp objects, but it is indeed a layer of protection. With a hit from a hoe a few vines broke but no harm reached the bamboo mouse underneath——a few were smashed to death but their bodies show no wounds.

This is enough after all bandits use knives unlike hoes which are heavier.

The vine helmets are also usable and very light.

Yang Zi’an puts on the armor and helmet and has Lin Yuan use a knife left behind by brother Dao to slash at him with.

Lin Yuan’s strength can not be considered small so while the knife is not too sharp it still left a few scratches on the vine armor.

Yang Zi’an examines it and smiles:”It’s enough.”

Lin Yuan put away the small knife:”In total 50 are made.”

Yang Zi’an:”Enough to spare.”

“I will bring 20 people with me.” Yang Zi’an says, “you must stay in the farmstead otherwise the hearts of the people will not be at ease.”

Lin Yuan:”But there aren’t many weapons left.”

Last time brother Dao and the others left they took almost half with them.

Yang Zi’an:”I am no fool, I won’t pick large numbers to attack, only the small groups. Nowadays even bandits can not eat fully, in a competition of strength and endurance they are not our opponents.”

Lin Yuan:”Then I will wait for second brother to return victorious.”

Yang Zi’an smiles at Lin Yuan:”I won’t have fourth brother disappointed.”

When Yang Zi’an left with the men, Lin Yuan became dejected. He discovers he has nothing to do, everyday it’s just to supervise the farmstead people at work.

Just when Lin Yuan thought his life’s motive is just to eat well drink well and wait for brother Dao and Yang Zi’an to return, the heavens sent him a big present——a white bearded old man, Chen Half-Immortal.

Chen Half-Immortal arrived in rags but he still put up the mysterious front he uses when swindling. Behind him follows his fellow co-workers. This group of daoists had escaped when Wu city fell and went to seek a living in other nearby cities. Everyday relying on fortune telling and lying to make a living. Later refugees began to show up at the city they were at and seeing so they once again made a getaway.

But Chen Half-Immortal has a good memory and remembers that brother Dao said his brother has a farmstead not far from Wu city. The group of old daoists gathered together and decided, this one, let’s go.

They practically wandered through all of the surroundings near Wu city. If they see a farmstead that is still running they would go inside and carry out their swindling. Sometimes they would recieve some food and other times they would be directly thrown out. In the end they actually found themselves to Lin Yuan’s farmstead.

At this time the wall is already nearly half finished and even has a watchtower. The person on duty sees several old men walk over and had at first thought himself to be seeing things and reported it to Lin Yuan.

At such turbulent times, they are actually lugging along wooden cases filled with their fortune telling instruments and other things and maintaining an air of masters of daoism despite their ragged and shabby appearance.

When Lin Yuan saw them he couldn’t help feeling a smidge of admiration.

Chen Half-Immortal sits in his chair and spouts endless flattery:”Young master Lin is just like when I first saw you with a broad forehead, just your appearance convey fortune and auspiciousness. I said it that time, young master Lin would definitely achieve big accomplishments.”

Lin Yuan:”……” You clearly did not say such things.

Chen Half-Immortal took a handful of fried beans put out on the table to chew on with a rather carefree and familiar attitude:”Looking at young master Lin’s fortune…..”

Lin Yuan quickly interrupts:”Stop, Half-Immortal let’s not talk about empty things. You can remain here but you must work.”

Chen Half-Immortal nods his head and replies deadly earnest:”But of course, the group of us with just our fingers can calculate……”

Lin Yuan:”……I meant physical labor.”

Chen Half-Immortal points at his nose with a finger:”Farming?”

Lin Yuan is about to nod when Chen Half-Immortal says:”Young master Lin, you don’t know, anyone can farm the fields but not anyone can fourtune tell. Let’s talk about the Book of Changes (TN: an ancient Chinese divination text and among the oldest of the Chinese classics) for example, can just anyone read it? Can just anyone read and understand it?”

Lin Yuan:”No fortune telling. Do you have any other abilities?”

Chen Half-Immortal says quickly:”I can concoct pills. If you require I can even have a 70 year old man return to the height of his prime.”

So you mean aphrodisiacs?

Chen Half-Immortal:”Definitely no negative side effects.”

Lin Yuan could only feel admiration, it seems talents can be found everywhere.

Wait a second!

Lin Yuan suddenly realizes something. He stares fixatedly at Chen Half-Immortal causing the old man to blush. Clearing his throat, Chen Half-Immortal says:”Young master Lin, although I have a handsome appearance……”

Lin Yuan:”Half-Immortal, when you are concocting pills have you ever exploded your furnace?”

Chen Half-Immortal’s eyes flickered, touching his beard he says seriously:”I am the 81st generation successor of Daoism, how could I possibly commit such mistakes?”

Lin Yuan slaps the table:”Tell the truth!”

Chen Half-Immortal immediately replies:”I exploded!”

Lin Yuan smiles and grabs Chen Half-Immortal’s hand with a warm and ardent expression:”Do you still remember the steps to blow up the furnace?”

Chen Half-Immortal:”…….” Does this young master have special interests?

Why so interested in explosions?

In actuality, there are already gunpowder, except the formulation is still not perfected. And the ones who has access to its formulation is only a small group of people.

The flintlock was invented during the Ming dynasty but unfortunately its power is not enough and depends on distance.

In Lin Yuan’s tentative plan, if they could create grenades——a simple version is also fine, with iron or metal balls added inside, once it explodes the powerful force will propel the the tiny metal balls in all directions like bullets. The armors of now can not hold up against such force.

Although the scope of damage would not be too wide but it is still a considerably destructive weapon.

“You can just focus on experimenting and finding the method for exploding the furnace.” Lin Yuan looks at Chen Half-Immortal and sees a treasure chest. This is an old man treasure chest, so he promises, “the duration before you find it I will still have food provided with a dish of meat every week. If you can find the method then not only can you eat your fill but also meat everyday.”

Scientific talents, he must put down huge money.

“Are you serious?” Chen Half-Immortal asks stupefied.

Lin Yuan guarantees:”If I lie let me be struck with lightning by the heavens.”

Chen Half-Immortal looks at Lin Yuan and privately thinks, could this be a fool?

But Lin Yuan also warns:”Keep it small scale so as not to hurt anyone.”

“Your safety is very important.”

Chen Half-Immortal:”The people I brought with me…….”

Lin Yuan:”Excellent, do they also know how to explode furnaces?”

Chen Half-Immortal:”…….”

How should he reply to this question?

If he says yes, it would be undermining their pill concocting abilities, but if he says no he is afraid Lin Yuan will not let them stay.

Chen Half-Immortal could only tighten his scalp and say:”They all do.”

Those who concoct pills, who hasn’t exploded a furnace or two?

There are even casualties, so the practice of concocting pills is not common among the people. But the daoists in the imperial palace have impressive pill concocting skills.

Chen Half-Immortal even thinks, if not for his lack of a influential sect, with his skills he can even concoct pills for the emperor.

Lin Yuan:”Then we are agreed!”

Afterwards, Chen Half-Immortal rested for the night and when he woke up he finds everything had changed. New clothes were left at the side of the bed and someone even came to lead him to the dining hall. Although it is just rice porridge mixed in with husks, but it is already extremely good in these time. There are also two mixed grain buns and pickled vegetables. After eating and drinking fully Chen Half-Immortal is lead to a room already furnished with a furnace.

The person who lead him there has a very good attitude:”Half-Immortal, Boss said, there is enough charcoal and even some saltpeter (potassium nitrate). Anything else you need you must come up with a solution yourself.”

Chen Half-Immortal is shocked by Lin Yuan’s extensive preparations but he still held up his air of mystery, with his fingers he calculates and says:”I have calculated, today is a good day to use the furnace.”

The man smiles:”What Half-Immortal says is right.”

When the man left, Chen Half-Immortal sits and looks at his old mates as they lug their cases in with content expressions on their faces.

“Ai, old Chen, you have the big capability after all. Taking only a day to become an honored guest.”

“Even getting a furnance, say, what are we concocting today? I have all the zhuang yang recipes with me (TN: pill recipes for boosting the male sex drive lol).”

Chen Half-Immortal sighs.

Everyone:”What’s wrong? Is there a problem? Should we……make our escape?”

Chen Half-Immortal waves his hand:”It’s not trouble.”

Everyone lets out a relieved sigh.

Chen Half-Immortal says with a pained expression:”Boss says, he wants us to find a recipe that will explode the furnace.”

“……Boss, does he want to let out fireworks?”

Chen Half-Immortal rubs his chin:”I feel that we got ourselves into serious business. Looking at Boss, I am afraid it will not be for fireworks.”

Everyone exchanges looks.

Chen Half-Immortal:”Sometimes furnaces exploding can cause death.”

Everyone finally understands.

Chen Half-Immortal:”Shall we…..do it?”

“Will it harm the natural order of things?”

“Yes, we are all people with conscience.”

“We cannot offend the heavens and reason.”

Chen Half-Immortal sighs again:”I also said the same thing, but Boss says, if we succeed then we can eat our fill everyday, everyday there will be meat.”

Everyone:”Let’s do it!”

So, these half-immortals began their vigorous journey on inventing gunpowder. Luckily, the cases they lugged along with them have materials for pill concocting, so for now Lin Yuan does not need to worry about the lack of materials.

“Ai, this thing of exploding furnaces, normally when you don’t want it to explode it explodes faster than anything. But now that we want it to explode, it just refuses to do so.”

“That’s right. I already concocted several batches, but none exploded.”

They are sighing on this side and on the other side Chen Half-Immortal listens with his eye twitching. If a fellow co-worker (TN: another daoist who is not part of their group) hears this who knows what kind of expression they will show.

Lin Yuan also knows not to rush so he doesn’t go and hurry them along. The new arrivals are still adapting to their surroundings. Unlike the people from earlier, their alertness is much stronger. He hears that these people don’t talk much, they are diligent enough but they still have anxious looks on their faces.

Er Liang carries in a bowl of dough drop soup with pieces of meat and vegetables. It smells quite savory.

Er Liang sees Lin Yuan sitting there with a troubled look and asks:”What’s wrong, young master? Do you have troubles?”

Lin Yuan does not have an appetite and pushes the bowl away:”Er Liang, you eat it.”

Er Liang thinks it strange and asks:”Young master you only had two buns today.”

Lin Yuan sighs, and asks Er Liang:”How are the people in the farmstead today?”

Er Liang feels even stranger:”Like always. The weather is becoming colder, all are staying inside the dormitories right after work is finished.”

In order to keep warm, almost everyone in the dorms are sleeping in pairs.

Yun Niu and her young lady lays in the same bed. The single sized bed is rather cramped but the blankets are clean and Yun Niu buries her head in it and took a deep whiff. She says to her young lady:”Young lady, it is cotten!”

“Don’t call me young lady anymore.” The woman rubs Yun Niu’s head, “call me Qiu Niang.”

Yun Niu says sincerely:”The young lady is the young lady!”

Qiu Niang smiles at her and does not say anymore.

It has been a long time since Qiu Niang slept in a bed. After fleeing they lived like vagrants and after being…..by men with evil intentions, it was Yun Niu that encouraged her to live on. Everyday Yun Niu carries her on her back. All the time her body had pieces of grass and dirt, bugs and lice.

Her lower abdomen constantly hurt and the lochia has yet to finish.

“Team leader says, there will be buns tomorrow.” Yun Niu licks her lips, “I can eat three.”

A dormmate laughs:”There are buns everyday, not just tomorrow.”

“That’s right.”

“You came from the outside, what’s it like right now? I came here early, I don’t even know what’s going on outside.” They were all brought along by their families when Lin Yuan bought them. After arriving they worked from sun up to sun down, their lives very simple. Their ages are also not very old, the oldest being only 16, the youngest 8. In their eyes, there are no longer cities but just the ‘inside’ of the farmstead and the ‘outside’ of the farmstead.

Yun Niu is rather talkative, saying from her nest on the bed:”The outside is very bad! When we fled our hometown, we saw so many others also fleeing. At first we went to the nearby city, it was crowded with people. Sometimes kind wealthy people came and provided porridge but later they stopped.”

“The imperial court does not care for us either.” Yun Niu thinks of that time and could not restrain a shudder, “last winter a lot of people died.”

“If someone died then another person would take off their clothes and wear it themselves.”

The girls ask:”Then how did you survive?”

Yun Niu thinks a bit and says carefully:”I found a man, he has a couple brothers, he gave me some food and I survived.”

The girls sigh:”What happened to the man?”

Yun Niu says:”In early spring he was beat to death when fighting for food.”

Not dying when it was the most barren in winter but dying when there is food to eat in the spring.

Yun Niu:”What about you all? What was it like when you came here?”

The girls chattered their stories.

“My family are farmers, when the landowner fled we had no place to go so with my parents we fled too. Seeing that we could barely live on, my dad decided to sell the entire family to Boss.”

“Boss is a good person, he only takes 50% of the harvest!”

“Our old landowner took 80%!”

Lin Yuan made time to see Qiu Niang. One reason he took her in is because he cannot bear seeing someone dying in front of him and another is because she is a ‘young lady’. Normally, to be referred as such they must come from slightly wealthy families. And these families would educate their daughters, particularly in balancing accounts and number calculations.

Nowadays, people are concerned with marrying only within their social status. When a woman marries she must manage the family’s accounts, social connections and relations. Especially in the landowning class, a female head must manage quite a lot.

They may not have read the Four Books and the Five Classics and do not read the works of sages but their ability to do the accounts is quite good. Some are even better than the bookkeepers.

Nowadays, not many know how to calculate using the abacus let along accounting.

It is time for Lin Yuan to find some people who can manage things.

He himself don’t know how to bookkeep, it is all done by Yang shi. But Yang shi is also not too experienced——in the old Lin family home she does not bother with the family’s accounts, it was all done by the head butler. Unfortunately, he was separated from them on the way here.

It would be great if this young lady knows how to bookkeep, not a big deal if she doesn’t. She can hold a literacy class if she is literate.

In any case, cultured people in this era is of the very few, every one is important.

Qiu Niang does not have much expression when she heard that Boss wanted to see her.

She doesn’t know why Boss will take in a cripple. Although everyone here says Boss is a good person but Qiu Niang is still not completely at ease.

She can’t do anything, if she just eats she would be a burden.

“Boss.” Qiu Niang was carried to the chair. Her physique skinny and malnourished, skin yellowed and with freckles, completely does not look like a girl in her best years.

She tucks in her neck and dare not look at Lin Yuan, only lowering her head and looking at the table.

Lin Yuan in truth does not know how to interact with the women of this era, especially educated women. He sits in front of Qiu Niang and asks softly:”This young lady…..”

Qiu Niang says in a small voice:”Boss, you can just call me Qiu Niang.”

Lin Yuan:”Hai, Qiu Niang, are you literate?”

Qiu Niang nods:”I am slightly learned in the four arts (TN: zither, Go, calligraphy, painting).”

This is actually an all around talent.

Lin Yuan is even more satisfied:”Do you know how to bookkeep?”

Qiu Niang lifts her head in curiosity and sees a young man with a pair of upward tilting red phoenix eyes, lips naturally curved in a smile, hair black like ink and dressed in cotten clothes. It is the appearance of a wealthy gongzi but his expression is gentle and eyes even more so and this has her lowering her guards.

“I am slightly knowledgeable.” From a young age Qiu Niang had learned female work and managing a family. The four arts are just additional talents. When she says a little bit she is not being humble, only the part on bookkeeping had she been too humble.

Everyone says an unlearned women is virtuous so women are only educated to the point they can recognize and write words.

The ones truly educated like men are daughters in affluent and noble families or scholarly families.

And their education is all received from their mothers. Female teachers are very rare.

“Qiu Niang.” Lin Yuan says,”take care and recuperate your health, when you are better come and bookkeep for me.”

Qiu Niang surprised:”Bookkeep?”

From then to now, what women does bookkeeping? It is the work of men.

Lin Yuan says perceptually:”Who says women are inferior to men?”

Qiu Niang paused, not knowing what to say. Her expression when looking at Lin Yuan is that of one looking at an alien.

Lin Yuan rubs his nose and realizes this is not the right time to make perceptual remarks and says in a different way:”Currently, no one knows how to bookkeep in the farmstead, so I can only have you fill the position for now.”

Only then Qiu Niang replies with ease:”Boss has asked of me, I will of course be willing.”

That night when Er Liang serves Lin Yuan in washing up he discovers Lin Yuan is humming a song.

Er Liang carries a basin of water over and asks curiously:”Young master, what are you singing?”

Lin Yuan smiles:”A song.”

Er Liang:”Young master, you also know this as well?”

Lin Yuan:”Come, I’ll sing for you.”

“Big brother Liu says, the reason is too prejudiced, who says women only enjoy leisure and idle…..” (TN: from a Henan opera on Hua Mulan)

Er Liang:”…….”

Lin Yuan finishes his tune and smiles pleased with hinself:”What do you think, not bad?”

He only knows this song, the only song he remembers all the lyrics for and learned it when he was young and saw it on TV.

Er Liang:”The lyrics……”

Lin Yuan:”Is about Hua Mulan.”

Er Liang oh’s in sudden realization:”So it’s about General Hua.”

The story of Hua Mulan has long been well known, can be considered a popular tale spread among the people.

Er Liang says against his conscience:”Young master sings very good.”

Lin Yuan:”I’m just so-so.”

Er Liang:”……..” Young master seems to have taken his words seriously, it was just a perfunctory praise.

Er Liang copies Lin Yuan and sings a few phrases.

Lin Yuan looks at Er Liang with bulging eyes, scaring Er Liang.

Er Liang asks carefully:”Young master, is something wrong?”

Lin Yuan pats his shoulder and sighs:”The country has talents all over, Er Liang, I didn’t expect you to have such a good voice!”

Er Liang is praised and is quite happy:”Really? Young master, teach me another line.”

So Er Liang learned the whole song and sang to Gou zi the whole night causing Gou zi’s dreams to be filled with the song, his whole person feeling not right after waking.

Very soon, Lin Yuan discovers the women in the farmstead have all learned the song and would hum it unconsciously, even singing it together during work. After hearing it so many days Lin Yuan is already feeling rather numb.

So he taught Er Liang another song, The Exoneration of Su San (TN: from a peking opera also known as Su San left Hongtong County from one of the lines in the song).

The result is repeatedly hearing:”Su San left Hongtong county…..”

Fine, with two songs taking turns it is better than just having one repeated over and over.

Yang Zi’an came back much earlier than brother Dao and Zhu Yuangzhang’s party. When he left it was just some men and a few hoes but when he returned it was with a crudely made wooden cart that is almost falling apart by the time they arrived at the farmstead.

Not only that, Yang Zi’an took 20 men with him but he returned with 40, the other 20 were all tied up.

But Lin Yuan sees them and knows that even if they aren’t tied they wouldn’t run far either way with them so skinny and weak.

Only one is rather sturdy but only in comparison with the others. Just in terms of physique he could not even compare to Lin Yuan who doesn’t exercise often.

Yang Zi’an has a smile on his face as he jumps down from the back of a donkey:”I went through the surrounding areas and only found this group of people.”

Lin Yuan:”They set up camp nearby?”

The sturdiest looking man says:”We just got lost!”

“Who would come to this desolate place to set up camp!”

“Taking advantage of us sleeping to steal our things!”

On the side one of the farmstead men says:”We call that rob…..no! That is called strategy!”

The tied up men say indignantly:”Strategy my butt! You just took advantage of us sleeping and knocked us out!”

Yang Zi’an coughs and says to Lin Yuan:”They have knives, long blades.”

Lin Yuan looks at them and asks calmly:”How did you come by these things?”

The sturdiest man lets out a huff:”You ask and I’ll tell you? What do you take me for?”

Lin Yuan takes out a large blade from the cart.

The sturdy man immediately changes his tone:”We stole it!”

Lin Yuan:”Where did you steal it from?”

The man:”When escaping we robbed the several blacksmith shops in the city.”

Lin Yuan:”…….” How should he assess such actions?

The man sees Lin Yuan is not coming to cut him up so he looks around him. Just now he had not the attention to truly examine but now he realizes there are actually farm fields here, and strange box like buildings.

“This is my first time seeing such a large coffin!” The man is shocked into a daze by the dormitories.

His underlings also had their attention taken:”How big must the person be to fit this kind of coffin?”

Lin Yuan:”Let’s not talk it out for now, first take them and lock them up for a few days without food.”

They must find out what things they have done before.

In these times, bandits who have not killed are too little.

The result however, has Lin Yuan’s eyeballs falling out.

Originally, these men had been porters who went to cities to make money which they then send back to their wives and children.

The leader is called Zhao Wuliu, seeing the situation not right he gathered the porters he has good relations with to go rob a blacksmith shop and took a bunch of blades and knives along their escape from the city and returned to their hometown.

What they find however, is a hometown in complete disorder with no sight of their families. They could only wander like vagrants.

Although they have weapons but they don’t have it in them to kill and rob. They could only wander around and see if there are any advantages they could take.

The result however, is that they got lost on their wanderings and were knocked out by Yang Zi’an and the others and finally brought to the farmstead.

Zhao Wuliu complains inside the shack they were locked up in:”They lock us up with not even a bite of food. Dragging us here over such a long distance and yet not even feeding a single bean curd cake! They even stole our things!”

“Boss, we should fight back!”

Zhao Wuliu glares at him:”Whad’ya sayin’! Be quieter! Didn’t ya see their farm fields, there’s food here!”

The underlings don’t understand:”Boss, whad’ya mean? How come I don’t get it?”

Zhao Wuliu:”Ai, lemme tell ya, I see that it’s not bad here. If we can stay then we’ll not be hungry anymore.”

The underlings let out oh’s in sudden realization:”Boss, good thing you’re the smart one.”

Zhao Wuliu is also pleased with himself:”True that.”

So when Lin Yuan goes to see them, he discovers every one of them as obedient and submissive as can be. As expected, different people have different wisdom. These former porters, their wisdom is to find a good employer, as long as they eat their full it’s enough.

If they were indeed murderous bandits, they would likely be currently thinking of how to have Lin Yuan killed and then take over the farmstead.

“Boss!” Zhao Wuliu is extremely enthusiastic, “we have all thought it over, if you let us eat our fill then we’ll work for you.”

“We don’t want those blades anymore either.” Zhao Wuliu says lowly, “besides we haven’t used them anyway.”

The blades had only been used to cut up firewood or scare away wild animals.

Lin Yuan is still not completely convinced:”Stay for a few more days.”

Zhao Wuliu immediately throws himself forward and hugs Lin Yuan’s leg:”Boss! Show some kindness! At least give us some food! We have not eaten for several days!”

Lin Yuan suddenly realizes, he had said to starve them a few days but he didn’t specify how many. It has already been 3 days and this group of people had just rely on water to make it through. That they still have the strength to hug his leg is already not easy.

So Lin Yuan says to someone outside:”Make some porridge and bring some over.”

The porridge only has some white grains with the rest being husks and beans.

People who have starved too long cannot immediately eat alot so the amount brought in is also small.

Zhao Wuliu and his underlings ate hungrily, finishing in just a few swallows, even licking the bottom of their bowls so that tue bowls look as clean as if it had never been used.

Although still hungry, but at least not as bad as before, patting his stomach Zhao Wuliu says:”Boss, whad’ya gonna have us do?”

Lin Yuan looks at these people who are just skin and bones, and thinks privately, do I even dare have you do something heavy?

He can only say:”You can first…..ehm……”

Zhao Wuliu and the rest stares with fixed attention, awaiting on what Lin Yuan has to say.

Lin Yuan:”Hmm…..”

Can you please hmm something that they can do?!

Lin Yuan:”How about this, I will have second brother Yang arrange you all, you will all listen to him from now on.”

Zhao Wuliu:”Second brother Yang? Who’s that?”

Lin Yuan:”The person who brought you here.”

Everyone shuddered, that xiao bailian (TN: a derogatory way of referring to an attractive young man) is quite fierce, his hits hurt quite a bit.

Zhao Wuliu:”Boss…..can we discuss this?”

Lin Yuan asks strangely:”Discuss what? Could it be you guys still want to go out and be bandits? That’s also fine, you can go now.”

“……..”

Without weapons what kind of bandits would they be!

The group of people could only express their willingness to listen to second brother Yang’s arrangements.

Lin Yuan finished listening to them swear their loyalty and nods in satifaction:”Good boys.”

Everyone:”…….”

These people may not be of use currently but they do have some news, after all they had done a lot of wandering around. They have visited all the towns and villages in the area. According to them, the people in these villages and towns all have no food left. Right after the fall harvest the imperial court had people come and take away all of the food.

The food left is just enough for the farmers to eat half a month.

Even if they eat sparingly, mixed in with tree bark, the most they can stretch it is 2 months.

The bandits in the area have almost all left. The bandits in the area are after all low in numbers, stealing from the common people or small landowners is possible but not the big landowners or cities.

Unlike the bandits in the north where the numbers are much larger and the bandits themselves much more vicious and daring to steal from anyone.

During dinnertime Lin Yuan and Yang Zi’an ate inside his house where Yang Zi’an told Lin Yuan what had occurred on his trip outside.

Taking a sip of rice wine and a bite of meat, Yang Zi’an let out a content sigh and says:”Our place here is considerably safe. There is not even a hint of bandits in the area, the wall is almost finished building too. The way I see it, it won’t be until next year will refugees begin arriving here.”

Lin Yuan also took a sip of rice wine. It tastes more like sweetened water, not much alcohol. But because it requires precious fine white rice so the amount is not a lot. If not for Yang Zi’an’s return Lin Yuan would not have even been willing to drink his already dwindling stock.

Who would have thought? In the modern times, Lin Yuan drank alcohol until the point of throwing up at the dinner tables with business associates. But now he wishes to drink even just a mouthful of wuliangye or maotai (TN: Chinese white wine brands).

Just a mouthful would be the highest form of pleasure.

“Our grain stock is enough.” Lin Yuan says.

Although you can say the farmstead has farmer tenants and they can just give half of their harvest, but because everyone eats communal feeding and the dormitories can’t cook food, so in actuality the food is all stored together.

The farmer tenants also don’t request to have their 50% share.

After all, the world as it is, they are afraid Lin Yuan will throw them out. Everyday there is food and drink and every 5-6 days there is meat. Everyone is already very satisfied.

This spring they even opened some more of the surrounding lands so the fall harvest was even greater than last year’s.

It filled all the granaries up to the brim.

Yang Zi’an:”That’s good news, next year we can accept more people.”

Lin Yuan nods, they indeed need soldiers, this must be put first on the agenda.

Yang Zi’an says:”Next year the refugees will likely head this direction. Not many will head to the southeast direction, the cities in that direction has already sealed themselves. The refugees won’t be able to go in and neither can the civilians inside the cities come out. Bandit numbers will increase.”

They chatted for quite awhile and Lin Yuan still wants to continue but it is late so he says:”If second brother Yang likes, you can sleep over at little brother’s place tonight so that we can continue talking.”

Yang Zi’an does not refuse and smiles:”Have Er Liang bring a basin of water for me, I need to wipe down and change into new clothes.”

Er Liang brought water and Yang Zi’an directly took off his clothes to wipe down. Though he looks skinny but his physique under the clothes is quite muscular with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

Lin Yuan looks at Yang Zi’an and sighs.

Yang Zi’an hears and turns around:”Why is fourth brother sighing?”

Lin Yuan squeezes at his lack of bicep muscles and says sadly:”I’m just thinking, when will I become a strong muscular man.”

Yang Zi’an could not help laughing:”Like brother Dao?”

Lin Yuan scrunches his nose:”Without the smelly feet.”

Yang Zi’an laughs loudly:”Hahahaha, it truly is smelly. Back then when he stayed at my place and refused to leave, once he takes off his shoes though I ended up leaving instead. That smell is truly——”

“Lingers for 2 to 3 days.”

Regarding brother Dao’s smelly feet, it seems it is no longer a secret.

Lin Yuan lays down and stares enviously at Yang Zi’an’s back muscles.

Maybe he should start cutting up firewood? It’s possible he can gain some muscles that way.

TN: Omfg. This chapter took like an entire day to get out. The word count in Chinese is 9000+ and I also checked the word count after translating into English and it’s 6000+. The whole time I was translating I kept thinking why isn’t this chapter ending? Did I miss the chapter 30 label somewhere?! Turns out that nope this is indeed a monster chapter. And future chapters will be an average of 3000-6000 words too T.T I might not even have time to get to my other project Bird Dude. I sure won’t today now that it’s 11pm.

Anyway, please do enjoy my blood, sweat and tears (Nah, just my aching thumbs-I translate on my phone-and dead brain cells).