Chapter 15 Wu City

It was close to entering winter before the employee dormitories were finally finished building. Artisans had stayed for half a year and it was time for them to leave.

Lin Yuan stood in front of the dormitory, quite satisfied. Compared with modern apartment buildings this building is not bad. Besides it has three floors which is considered rather difficult to build in these times.

Apart from the artisans, the refugees that had built the entire half year had expressions on their faces that look like they are attending a funeral. The refugees who worked here, although they do not have wages, but they can eat well and dress warmly. Every few days they can even eat some meat, this kind of life is too rare during these times.

“Boss, I can farm the land.” The refugees sees Lin Yuan and immediately threw himself on his knees, his eyes tearing, “I don’t need any wages.”

Once he kneeled down the refugees behind him also followed his lead. They are all grown people in their prime, both men and women are all young but they already have the appearance of someone older.

Lin Yuan originally did not plan to have them leave, currently the only people farming the land are Yang Zi’an and his friends. And even among them only 40 our farming while 20 extracts oil. Only 40 people farms the land and handled it well. Aside from them being experienced farmers, the most important reason was because they are all physically strong.

These people are already preparing to bring over their families and settle down here.

Lin Yuan helps the first person to kneel up and pats his shoulder:”I never said to have you all leave. As long as anyone wants to stay they can. As long as you work diligently then you will be able to eat your fill.”

“Boss! Boss! I will give you kowtow!” It was unclear who shouted it but this crowd of people pressed their foreheads to the ground, none of them were feigning it, the kowtows were true and honest.

Lin Yuan does not say anything. He doesn’t know what to say, it was too stunning.

When he still lived in the modern times, no one even bowed at him, let alone kowtow.

In the evening, the artisans left in an ox cart. Their families are all in Wu city. They earned a half a year worth of wages and it was time to reunite with their families.

Speaking of, during the period between early autumn and start of winter, Wu city’s refugees and residents did not have any conflicts.

Jiang Gui sent a message, it turns out several of Wu city’s wealthy families provided flatcakes everyday outside the city. Likely because there are too many refugees, they could not afford to hand out porridge so it was replaced with bean curd cakes. The refugees aren’t picky, being able to eat is enough so Wu city’s tense atmosphere eased up a bit.

It was not easy for Jiang Gui during this period either. The government became increasingly busy. Originally as a minor official he does not need to manage too many affairs but there was not enough staff on hand. On the start of winter, Jiang Gui put on a cotton coat and was about to leave when he hears someone yell from outside his courtyard:”The refugees have charged in! The refugees have entered the city!”

The refugees have starved for this long and should not have any strength but when people are in desperate straits they will be able to burst out unimaginable potential.

Wu city’s military strength has a limit. This group of refugees do not have any weapons only using whatever they picked up on the streets.

When the first person died in a fight, the struggle could no longer stop easily.

One side must be completely defeated before it ends.

And before it ends there will be others who will die one after another.

Jiang Gui immediately bolted the doors and returned inside in large steps, telling his family to not leave the house. He then opened a crack in the window to check out the situation outside. Jiang Gui’s wife Chen shi covered her mouth, almost having cried out.

They saw a refugee clad in rags and appearing like a skeleton, throw himself on a passerby. Opening his mouth he bites down fiercely on the person’s throat. The passerby struggles but their struggle became less and less. The refugee tore at the passerby’s skin and flesh, blood trickling down his mouth.

He no longer looks like a person.

But his motive is not to cannibalize. When the passerby died, the refugee began to search the body for money and valuables.

Chen shi’s face paled, grasping at Jiang Gui’s arm in terror, screams echoing in her ears.

From the refugees, and from the soldiers and passerbys.

If the soldiers are killed, then the refugees will break into the house.

Jiang Gui decisively makes a decision:”Let’s go, you go call mom and dad and Da Wa, I will get the cart ready. Let’s leave now.”

Chen shi ran into the house in a panic.

When entering, she heard a scream coming from the next door neighbor’s place. This almost had her fall down trembling.

But still, with a pale face she called her parents and parents-in-law out.

The Jiangs’ house has two entrances, the back with a small path where the donkey is tied there. A donkey cart cannot be compared to a horse carriage or a ox cart but they have four elderly and one child, using a donkey cart is much faster than walking.

Jiang Gui leads the donkey in the front, Chen shi walking at his side. In the back is Wu city, their home. Chen shi walks some steps and then turns her head to take a look, with every look a tear falls out. When they left, they did not bring anything, it was all left in the house. They fled with nothing, although their life is guaranteed but Chen shi knows that with no money or food, in such a large world where can they go?

“We go to my sworn brother’s place.” Jiang Gui sees his wife’s worry and says, “My sworn brother has land in the countryside.”

Chen shi is a bit hesitant:”We suddenly show up, I’m afraid……”

Jiang Gui knows what his wife is afraid of, afraid that Lin Yuan would be unwilling to take them in, after all in these times, taking in more people would mean more mouths to feed. Besides, they are sworn brothers and not blood brothers. And anyways, even with blood brothers there is strife.

“Still……we must try.” Jiang Gui was also unsure.

They dare not walk the main roads, only the small paths. Once they hear the sounds of people, they would hide in the trees.

Nobody knows how Wu city has turned out, Jiang Gui also dare not think of it. “A fire has started.” Chen shi looked at the direction of Wu city, billowing smoke filling the sky.

Jiang Gui:”Don’t look, let’s go.”

Wu city is finished, Jiang Gui thinks privately.

Lin Yuan was surprised when he saw Jiang Gui. He knows Wu city will be in an upheaval, but he did not think it would be this serious. Jiang Gui practically describes the place as hell on earth. Lin Yuan immediately consoles:”Third brother, you just stay with no worries.”

The Jiang family was settled in the employee dormitories. The beds were all made by the artisans and had upper and lower bunks. Six people can live in one room and there are chairs and stools. But you cannot cook or boil water which must be done outside.

“Brother Jiang.” Lin Yuan visited Jiang Gui in the evening, “in a few days come with me to the nearest village, we must buy some storage grains back.”

Jiang Gui sits on the floor, he has already recovered his spirit, nodding he agrees.

Jiang Gui is clear that even if he and Lin Yuan are sworn brothers he cannot take advantage and must do some things to prove he is not a rice bucket.

Currently, Li Congrong and Yang Zi’an must farm and the oil plant is still extracting oil. But the oil will no longer be used to sell but used by themselves. They will stop when they stock up enough and the 20 people doing the extracting will take up hoes and farm the land.

Yang Zi’an and Li Congrong did not say anything when they heard about Wu city.

The news could not be kept under wraps so very soon everyone also knew what happened in Wu city.

When working, everyone was silent and more strength was used. No one slacked off.

Sometimes, one extra grain might mean a bit more chance to survive.