"Don’t always call them monsters," Li Banfeng said, his brow furrowing slightly. "That term is grating."
Juanzi looked at Li Banfeng for a mont. Although she hadn’t eaten for several days, she felt slightly more composed, and her voice grew a little louder as she spoke:
"The City of Sinners has continuous Heavenly Light. This year it’s been exceptionally brutal. At a minimum, it happens once every three days; at a maximum, two or three tis a day.
"When the Heavenly Light shines on a person, it doesn’t take many hours before they explode. You’ve probably never seen such a scene, and I don’t know how to describe it."
Li Banfeng nodded. "I understand. I almost saw it myself."
Juanzi continued, "We don’t know how many have died in the city, nor do we know how much longer we can survive. There is a Boundary outside the City of Sinners that we can’t cross. Later, a benefactor arrived and showed us a way to survive."
"Which benefactor?"
"The benefactor didn’t allow us to reveal his identity. He gave us a map and told us to follow it, assuring us that we would definitely find soone willing to take us in. Seventh Master, we’ve survived until now, and every step has been marked by blood. Please convey a ssage to Master Qiu. If he’s willing to shelter us, we would be imnsely grateful. If he’s not willing, that’s alright too. We only ask Master Qiu for sothing to eat; even just one al would be enough."
Li Banfeng fell silent for a mont, then asked, "There’s sothing I don’t understand. When you talk about being sheltered, do you an being provided with food and drink every day, and being taken care of?"
Juanzi shook her head repeatedly. "We just want a place to live; we’ll figure out how to make our own living. If there’s any way we can be of use, we’re willing to do whatever is asked of us."
Li Banfeng looked at ngzi. "What do you say?"
ngzi, with his head lowered, said, "What my sister says, goes."
Li Banfeng then looked at Xiao Shan. "And you?"
Xiao Shan’s voice was very soft. "I’ll listen to my sister."
Their consecutive responses struck a familiar chord with Li Banfeng.
"Words alone won’t suffice. You’ll need to do sothing."
On hearing this, ngzi beca wary; they had been tricked before.
"What is it you want us to do?"
Li Banfeng pointed to a forest in the distance. "First, go chop so wood and build so houses."
ngzi snorted coldly. "It’s the sa trick all over again."
Li Banfeng frowned. "What trick?"
Juanzi bit her lip and lifted her head. "We agree."
They had been tricked before. Why agree now? Because they had no other choice.
They hadn’t eaten for days. Even if it ant laboring for just one al, they were prepared to endure the hardship.
"Just having houses isn’t enough. You’ll need to farm the land. Do you know how to do agricultural work?"
ngzi laughed. These were the sa old deceitful tactics.
Juanzi nodded. "We can do agricultural work."
"From now on, you will all be people of this territory. You have to step up when there’s trouble!"
"Whatever Seventh Master asks us to do, we’ll do it."
"Agreed. Wait while I write up a Contract Book; you all will have to press your fingerprints on it."
Li Banfeng walked away.
ngzi clenched his teeth. "Why bother with a Contract Book? Sounding all official with pretty lies."
Juanzi cautioned, "As long as there’s food, that’s enough. Don’t say any more."
"We should’ve listened to Aunt Fang; we should’ve just taken what we needed by force."
"Don’t talk nonsense! The benefactor said we can’t do those things!"
...
Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Residence and took out a large sheet of paper to write a Contract Book.
The Phonograph spoke from the side, "Beloved husband, do you need such a large sheet of paper just to write a Contract Book?"
"Beloved wife, if I used smaller paper, I’d need to write three thousand copies."
"Three thousand?" Hong Ying was astonished. "Husband, what kind of Contract Book needs three thousand copies?"
A blast of hot steam made Hong Ying flinch. Li Banfeng didn’t explain; he finished writing the Contract Book and left the Portable Residence.
The Phonograph saw the contents of the Contract Book. "Beloved husband has found three thousand permanent residents. Is he really trying to turn this New Land into a Proper Land?"
Hong Ying sighed deeply. "Our beloved husband is truly capable!"
The Phonograph brandished its board. "If I don’t tear your mouth apart today, it’ll an our family discipline isn’t strict!"
Hong Ying, covering her peach, said, "Tear my mouth if you want, but why do you always hit my peach?"
"Do you even have a mouth, you wretch!"
...
Li Banfeng placed the Contract Book in front of Juanzi and watched her press her handprint. "Have all your people press their handprints too."
Juanzi said, "They all listen to ..."
"That won’t do. Everyone must press their handprint; not a single one can be missed. For each person, all three of their heads must consent. If even one head disagrees, that person is not allowed into the territory."
Li Banfeng sat there, watching as more than three thousand people pressed their handprints one by one onto the large sheet of paper until it was densely stamped.
More than three thousand Three-Headed People stood before him; even the Old Hu sent by Qiu Luoye were trembling.
Seventh Master truly isn’t an ordinary person. How is it that he doesn’t feel any fear?
Li Banfeng indeed wasn’t afraid.
What was so bad about having three heads? Usually, they could discuss matters together, co up with ideas, chat, and play cards. Wasn’t that rather nice?
Aunt Fang looked at the Contract Book and sighed. "Juanzi, how can you never learn your lesson."
Juanzi lowered her head. "Aunt Fang, please say less. Let’s get everyone sothing to eat first."
Li Banfeng had already prepared the food: two thousand oranges bought from the Orange Garden. "This is good stuff. One orange between two people should be enough to fill you. Put this week’s al expenses on my account, but you’ll have to repay it later!"
Aunt Fang sneered, "Tricking us into being laborers and still charging us for als. Worse than Liang Zhenjiao!"
That’s what she said, but having starved for so many days, the crowd quickly devoured all two thousand oranges.
"Eat up and then get to work!"
Li Banfeng marked out a piece of land, instructing the Three-Headed People to build houses and till the land there.
Qiu Luoye was very anxious. "Brother, you’re bringing them all in. Is this really okay?"
"Don’t worry, Big Brother Qiu. Isn’t this bringing so human energy to our land?"
A Support muttered under his breath, "Can such monsters even be considered people?"
Zuo Wugang glared at the Support. "From now on, you’re not allowed to call them monsters! Seventh Master doesn’t like it!"
...
Li Banfeng passed through the station, returned to his own territory, found Zhang Wanlong, and bought several bags of fast-growing seed. He handed them to Juanzi.
"Scatter these seeds, and you’ll have a harvest in three days. However, they can only be used for this one crop, or the soil will be damaged. Get through this year first. Next spring, you must plant proper seeds."
Li Banfeng walked away. A few of the Three-Headed People scoffed, "Next year? Once this crop is harvested, they’ll probably tell us to get lost."
Juanzi didn’t say much. She led the people to plant the seeds, water, and fertilize them. Three days later, there was a harvest. Juanzi had her people harvest the grain and pack it into sacks. Then she found Li Banfeng and asked, "Seventh Master, how much did you say we could take with us?"
All the Three-Headed People were prepared to be driven away.
Li Banfeng looked at the grain. "These are all yours. Take them back and eat."
"Take them back..." Juanzi didn’t understand.
Li Banfeng pointed at the wooden houses. "Those are your hos. Go ho and eat."
Ho... The word was too unfamiliar.
A group of Three-Headed People stared blankly at Li Banfeng.
ngzi looked to Aunt Fang, who was speechless for a long mont.
Juanzi couldn’t believe this was real and asked, "Seventh Master, is there any more work for us to do?"
Li Banfeng pointed to the group of people clearing land. "Ask them if they need to hire workers. Earn so more money, and rember to repay for the seeds and oranges."
After he spoke, Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat and walked away.
The Three-Headed People kept watching Li Banfeng’s back until he had walked far into the distance.
This New Land was different. The Heavenly Light here was abundant and bright, allowing one to see far into the distance.
PS: Shalas just love to chat with other Shalas; it’s such a lively affair!
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