Chapter Seven: Everything Is Proceeding Smoothly
Xue Chengqian fell silent as he saw Luo Fang and many other brothers brimming with excitement and full of imagination about the future.
He had long witnessed countless refugees succumbing to the harsh winter and starvation, their bodies discarded mercilessly after death.
He couldn’t even blame Luo Fang for showing no concern over the fate of the refugees.
Even he and his sister had to rely on Luo Fang’s protection to escape the clutches of the ruthless Ya Pozi.
Otherwise, when the sun rose tomorrow, no one could guarantee he wouldn’t be among the corpses thrown into the dry riverbed.
Better to be a dog in times of peace than a man in times of chaos.
Xue Chengqian understood all these truths.
Yet, he remained silent, a strange sense of dissatisfaction stirring within him.
“Heh, Xue Chengqian, who do you think you are?”
“Just because you remember some old trick, you think you can save thousands?”
“Focus on taking care of yourself and your sister first!”
Xue Chengqian forced himself to follow Luo Fang’s plan, avoiding direct confrontation with them at this moment, and refrained from becoming the person Luo Fang would see as “ruining his great endeavor.”
Otherwise, no one could predict what Luo Fang, who now called him brother, might do.
“Hey! Xue kid! You’re the big hero now, so why the long face?”
Separating from the group to bring some of the food he’d earned back to his sister, Xue Chengqian was surprised when Kang Yu, who usually looked down on him, approached him first.
And she even brought a bottle of cheap wine!
Xue Chengqian caught the bottle she tossed to him, feeling it was still somewhat warm.
“Kang Yu? What are you trying to do?”
He didn’t relax at all because of Kang Yu’s sudden gesture; on the contrary, he grew even more cautious.
Kang Yu curled her lips. “The person I despise most is someone like you, full of schemes.”
“Even Big Brother Luo thinks you’re the type to fight tooth and nail.”
Xue Chengqian replied coldly, “Who I am will become clear to everyone in time.”
Kang Yu scoffed, “Just because you earned some merit before Big Brother Luo doesn’t mean you’re someone important. You’d better just survive until then.”
“Don’t think you’re really safe just because you have Big Brother Luo’s backing. Ya Pozi has no shortage of fighters, and if they’re ruthless enough to tear things apart with Luo, they’ll still have a chance to kill you.”
“I never thought you’d be this useful. This bottle is my reward to you!”
Without waiting for a response, Kang Yu turned and walked away.
---
“Not a bad person...” Xue Chengqian silently judged.
Compared to Big Brother Luo, Kang Yu, who disliked him, was more straightforward with her thoughts, unable to even pretend naturally.
Even though she spoke like a man, calling herself “I” in a rough tone, and didn’t utter a single soft word.
To Xue Chengqian, this “safety” was far more valuable than the “favor” Luo Fang showed him.
Accepting Kang Yu’s subtle apology, Xue Chengqian uncorked the bottle and took a small sip.
Bitter! Astringent! Sour!
Indeed, it was no fine wine.
Yet it was strong; as soon as it touched his tongue, he felt a blaze kindling in his stomach.
Once the initial throat discomfort passed, in the bitter cold of winter, it brought a surprising comfort.
Moved by a sudden thought, he carefully recorked the bottle and tucked it away.
He was never a drinker; this was the first time in this life he had tasted alcohol.
He valued it because Luo Fang’s group came from military households, many of whom were fond of drinking.
And compared to other struggling refugees, they had more “capital.”
The next day, Xue Chengqian exchanged that bottle of cheap wine for a short blade!
Not one carved from an ice stick, but a real sharpened short knife!
---
Many refugees had heard of Ya Pozi’s name, but no one dared be sure she was truly a woman, for no one imagined a woman could be so dark and ruthless!
Ya Pozi’s past involved trafficking girls and forcing decent women into prostitution; she thrived among the refugees like a fish in water.
Starving refugees, desperate for food, would sell their daughters and sisters without a blink.
Even more men became her enforcers, living outside Wangjiang City entirely at her mercy.
“There’s news from Luo Fang’s side! He’s taken in that Xue kid.”
“Now Luo Fang is building brick houses; they say it’s that Xue kid’s idea.”
Ya Pozi’s eyelids twitched. “Didn’t expect that brat to have such skills?”
“Boss, something’s off. He’s become Luo Fang’s trusted aide, and Luo’s influence is clearly overshadowing ours. I heard officials in Wangjiang City also favor Luo Fang.”
“What will we use to compete with Luo Fang in the future?”
---
Even without Xue Chengqian, Ya Pozi and Luo Fang had long been at odds.
Her subordinates knew their boss was capable and connected, not fearing Luo Fang.
But if Luo Fang truly won favor with the powerful in Wangjiang City, that was a different matter.
Ya Pozi forced a cruel smile.
“What’s there to fear? Luo Fang thinks he can really win the officials’ favor?”
“Bah! A fallen military household—he has no idea what the officials want these days!”
“Let them have their way. Watch closely as Luo Fang walks into his own death. When he falls, I’ll make sure Xue dies the cruelest death imaginable!”
---
Following Luo Fang’s orders, Xue Chengqian divided the dozens of men entrusted to him into several groups, assigning each to different tasks.
Compared to leading them out as apprentices and working individually, this method proved more efficient.
Kang Yu deliberately came over several times to watch their work, mocking Xue Chengqian’s approach at first.
“You really understand the saying ‘the apprentice starves the master,’ huh?”
“With just this little brick-making method, I learned by watching a few times. You really thought you could keep it hidden!”
She assumed Xue Chengqian was deliberately holding back the complete method to save a trick for Luo Fang.
But seeing the piles of mud bricks produced daily, she could only bite her lip in silence while watching Luo Fang praise him lavishly.
This brought Xue Chengqian some comfort.
Even without a solid foundation, houses built of mud bricks and clay still served a great purpose.
For the refugees now, a house that wasn’t even very sturdy, or even just a wall to block the cold wind, could mean the difference between life and death.
Moreover, mud brick houses were hundreds of times better than the mud and thatch huts they had lived in before wandering.
Luo Fang’s efficiency was impressive.
Not only did he gain tremendous prestige, but he also won over many strong men, achieving both fame and fortune with unprecedented momentum!
Within days, the official Luo Fang had been courting, Captain Song, reportedly persuaded the Wangjiang City commander and the Central Prefecture’s chief clerk to personally visit and praise Luo Fang’s efforts soon.
For Luo Fang’s group, these were powerful figures they could barely hope to curry favor with, and they were thrilled.
Only Xue Chengqian sensed something unusual beneath the surface.