Fengmingshan Mine, Yixian County, Shandong Province.
I got off an exquisite four-wheeled carriage and looked at the very familiar scene in front of me.
Li Dingguo, who is now sixteen years old and close to adulthood, has returned to this place again.
He was accompanied by a girl who was two or three years younger than him. She was holding his arm and very clinging to him. She was wearing a very fashionable down skirt and wide-leg woolen pants. She was both lively and cute.
"This place is so dirty. It's dark everywhere. It's better to stay at home and have fun." Seeing that the ground was covered with coal powder and cinders, and her clothes were stained accidentally, the girl frowned and said.
"So I told you not to follow me. Besides, I came here to do business, not for fun. Why are you following me?"
Li Dingguo looked at the girl helplessly and said, but he did not dare to say it seriously. She was the teacher's favorite daughter and became his fiancée. She was also pretty and well-educated. When the teacher forcibly betrothed her to him,
, Li Dingguo didn’t even have the courage to refuse, because the consequences of refusal would be serious.
And Hu Xuan'er was very satisfied and fond of him. She even put aside her daughter's reserve and got tired of being with him when she had time, unwilling to be separated. Therefore, wherever Li Dingguo went, she clamored to follow him, which Hu Wenting laughed at.
He said that his daughter is outgoing and forgets about her father when she has a man.
"Brother, I just like to be with you. It doesn't matter if you suffer a little. I'm not that squeamish."
Hu Xuan'er hugged his hand again and said with affection in her eyes.
The girl's appearance, as well as the jealousy, jealousy and anger of the servants next to her, made Li Dingguo feel both headache and helpless. He had done scenes where hundreds of tons of powerful explosives caused landslides and ground cracks, and he was able to maintain his expression without changing his mind.
, but he is really not very good at facing women, which may be more difficult to deal with than dynamite.
"Okay, it's a bit cold outside. You go to the Wubao to warm yourself up by the fire. I'll go to the mountain to do some errands and I'll be back soon," Li Dingguo said.
"I'm not cold, can I go with you?"
"No, most of the people in this mine are men, rough people, and there are also people with evil intentions. Just don't go there."
"Okay, I'll wait for you here at Wubao."
Hu Xuan'er had no choice but to obey. You must know that the background of the miners on the mountain is very complicated. There are criminals, rebels from the court, and bandits. There are many bad people. If anyone has bad intentions and kidnaps her, it will be dangerous. She should not show her face.
…
Li Dingguo took several mine guards up the mountain and entered the coal mining area.
Counting the time, I haven't been back for almost two years.
Although teacher Hu Wenting has not invested much resources and energy into this mine in the past two years, certain changes have also occurred.
For example, the number of electric mining picks with mining efficiency reaching several tons per day has increased to hundreds of sets. For this reason, some miners have to change their jobs to professional power generators. Hundreds of people are desperately stepping on the flywheel power generation device at the same time, converting manpower into
It is electricity. In fact, the efficiency of this method of power generation is not very high, far less than that of a small hydroelectric power station, but it can still significantly improve mining efficiency, which is much better than having all workers go into the mine.
Therefore, the economic benefits of Fengmingshan Mine in the past two years have been quite good, with an annual income of more than 400,000 silver dollars, which is not much worse than the new mine in Shanxi.
Have someone call the mine manager over.
"Uncle, what are your orders?" The steward surnamed Wang nodded and bowed, feeling quite complicated. After all, the uncle in front of him used to be a miner under him, but things have changed, and now it is his turn to entertain him warmly.
And served.
"Steward Wang, I'm looking for two people named Sun Kewang and Liu Wenxiu. Can you bring them to me?" Li Dingguo said.
"No problem, I'll send someone to look for you immediately." Manager Wang said without hesitation.
Just before noon, the miners walked out of the mine tunnel one after another, carrying baskets of coal on their backs, and ascended the mine shaft.
The mine workers were specifically looking for it.
Soon, two young miners were brought to Li Dingguo.
But they hadn't seen each other for nearly two years. Even with his eyes widened and he looked carefully, Li Dingguo almost didn't recognize them. These two were his brothers.
They all grew more than ten centimeters taller.
The whole body is full of strong muscles.
But they were dirty and covered in coal dust, like two black men.
They all looked more mature. After meeting Li Dingguo, they all smiled with white teeth and asked in flattering, worldly and flattering voices:
"My lord, what do you want from us?"
"This young master, is there anything I can help you with?"
Hearing this, Li Dingguo knew that he had changed a lot in the past two years, and they failed to recognize it at the first time.
"Eldest brother, third brother, I am Dingguo, have you forgotten me?" Li Dingguo could only say.
"Are you Dingguo?"
Sun Kewang was surprised. The noble young master in front of him, dressed in brocade clothes and handsome as jade, was actually his third brother?
"Second brother, you're actually back. I actually recognized you just now, but I can't believe it's you."
Liu Wenxiu rushed over and wanted to pat him on the shoulder in excitement, but he was covered in coal dust, so he stopped and asked with an inferior smile: "Second brother, you have been appreciated by the owner of the mine, and you were taken to Shanxi."
, I have been worried and worried about you for a long time, are you coming back rich this time?"
"Dingguo, what do you want to do when you come back this time?"
Sun Kewang asked in a very uncomfortable tone, and even felt jealous and resentful. Why are people so different from each other even though they have similar backgrounds? Why is God so unfair and good things never happen to him?
"I am coming back this time to help you regain your freedom, and then take you to Shanxi for development."
Li Dingguo took the initiative to step forward, patted the two of them on the shoulders and said: "I, Li Dingguo, have become rich, but I have not forgotten my elder brother and brothers. I will also lead you to become rich together and create a vast world!"
These words immediately made Sun Kewang and Liu Wenxiu excited.
"Second brother, you haven't changed, you are still the same as before."
"Dingguo, I was wrong. I just felt jealous of you. In fact, I should have known that you are the most loyal person in the world and will never forget your brother."
Sun Kewang felt extremely ashamed.
Li Dingguo said that it was okay and would not be taken to mind. Moreover, they had suffered a lot over the years and no matter who they were, they would feel unbalanced.
Since it was time for dinner, the three of them walked and chatted towards the canteen. Then they bought some good food and rice, and sat down to eat together. During the conversation, they learned more about each other's situation.
Liu Wenxiu said: "I have now joined a mining pickaxe mining team. There are ten people who can dig more than 8,000 kilograms of coal every day. Half of the income goes to the mining pickaxe operator. I can get 400 yuan, and my income has increased a lot.
.”
Sun Kewang said: "I still work alone. I go down to the mine every morning and dig 150 kilograms of coal. I work as a generator in the afternoon and ride on the flywheel all afternoon. I can earn 150 Wen, which adds up to 300 Wen. The income is not big.
The change is that the time spent in the mine is reduced by half, and the risk is reduced."
"Then you should have saved some money, right?" Li Dingguo asked.
Liu Wenxiu said: "I have saved 88 silver dollars, and my elder brother has saved 100 yuan."
"Why is it so little? Even if you spend half of your salary, you can save about 50 silver dollars in one year, which will be 150 in three years. In addition, the efficiency of mining has also improved, so it should be easier to save money." Li Dingguo felt unhappy.
untie.
"In Dingguo, after mine owner Hu took some people to Shanxi, you can see that the portions of the meals we ate have become smaller, the taste has become worse, and the price has increased by 50%. In the living camp, it was originally explicitly prohibited
Gambling dens are open, prostitutes are soliciting customers openly, and there are various good places for you to sell money. How can we fight against so many temptations with the salary increase? I don’t think we can dig enough.
After ten years of mining, it is impossible to gain freedom, and you may even have to be a slave for a lifetime until there are no more mines underground."
Sun Kewang shook his head and laughed sarcastically.
"How did it become like this?"
Li Dingguo was surprised, but the stale rice and less oily dishes he tasted in his mouth told him that what his eldest brother Sun Kewang said was true.
The person in charge of managing the Fengmingshan Mine now is the teacher’s wife, a steward promoted by the teacher’s mother. She has faithfully implemented the rules of the teacher’s mother, so the financial reports of the Fengmingshan Mine in the past two years have been extremely good.
"Wenxiu, your salary is higher than that of your elder brother, why do you have less money saved?" Li Dingguo discovered another problem and asked immediately.
"Every time my adoptive father lost everything in gambling, he would come and blackmail me and threaten me, saying that if I didn't give him money, my fourth brother's fate would be my fate. I was afraid, so I gave him a lot of money," said Liu Wenxiu.
As for Sun Kewang, he completely ignored Zhang Xianzhong's threats and took many precautionary measures, such as only digging coal in the safest mine tunnels and adjusting his work arrangements. He would rather have a lower salary and work as a power generator for half a day, so
He saved more money.
"How could my foster father be like this..."
Li Dingguo felt extremely heartbroken. Originally, in his heart, his adoptive father was the benefactor and good man who gave him a second life. He never expected that he would become like this. In other words, Zhang Xianzhong's nature has never changed, he just happened to do a few things.
A good thing, but the ultimate goal is still for himself.
And such people are lifelong evildoers and are unlikely to ever change.
Although Li Dingguo also had the idea of helping his adoptive father Zhang Xianzhong regain his freedom, his teacher Hu Wenting flatly refused and asked him to abandon this kind of womanly kindness. Once people like Zhang Xianzhong are released, it will only bring disaster to the people and kill countless people.
Whoever releases him will be a big sinner!
This made Li Dingguo give up the idea of saving his adoptive father.
But these two brothers, Sun Kewang and Liu Wenxiu, are good people, and they can be guided to a bright and righteous path.
Li Dingguo said to them in high spirits: "Eldest brother, third brother, I am now the chief blasting engineer and already have a small fortune. I helped pay for your atonement. The teacher also allowed me to take you out. From now on, you will follow me."
Go to Shanxi for development, join my blasting team, and learn how to use explosives to mine. As long as you master the essentials, it is not a problem to earn thousands of silver dollars a year. I said I will bring you prosperity together, and I will definitely do it!"
Snap~
Sun Kewang dropped the chopsticks in his hand, and tears rolled down his face. Freedom. Freedom, which you realize is extremely precious only after you lose it, has been regained. You will no longer be bullied and discriminated against, and you can live with an upright and straight back. What do you want to do?
Go wherever you want, no longer carry the sins of the past, and live a new life.
Your greatest desires and dreams have come true.
He had no choice but to bow his hands and say, "Dingguo is a great benefactor and it is difficult to repay him. From now on, he will go up mountains of swords and seas of fire without hesitation!"
"I'm free. I didn't expect to be free now. Okay, great. I don't have to worry about mining every day anymore!"
Liu Wenxiu also laughed out loud, tears falling down her face as she smiled. Needless to say, she was grateful to her second brother Li Dingguo.
…
After lunch.
In the afternoon, with the cooperation of Manager Wang and others, Li Dingguo successfully helped Sun Kewang and Liu Wenxiu to apply for the "Proof of Atonement", allowing them to successfully become free and good citizens of the Ming Dynasty.
They also withdrew all their deposits from the mining bank.
Then I returned to the mining camp and prepared to collect some clothes and belongings. I planned to leave the Fengming Mountain Mine immediately and didn’t want to stay for a second longer.
Even though their actions are low-key and secretive, they dare not show off.
But amid the commotion, someone announced the news.
The adoptive father Zhang Xianzhong, a middle-aged man with a big belly, unhealthy redness on his face, and deep bags under his eyes, who was addicted to gambling and drinking, walked in with a few big men. When he saw Li Dingguo, who was almost unrecognizable, he looked at him after taking a look.
He couldn't help but chuckled: "Okay, okay. When I saw my father, I didn't even say hello. I was appreciated by the mine owner. I came back rich and rich. I also paid the atonement silver for the two brothers and took them out to enjoy the happiness. Then
What about me? Baiyanlang, how should you honor your adoptive father who gave you a second life?"
The minions next to him also started making noises, criticizing Li Dingguo for being "unfilial" and "unkind", "he should have taken Brother Zhang out to enjoy his life" and "this white-eyed wolf should have been allowed to die in the first place!"
Hear these words.
Li Dingguo walked up to Zhang Xianzhong with a calm face and bowed deeply: "Father, you are my foster father for one day and you will be my foster father for the rest of your life. It is natural for me to return my life to my foster father."
, it’s not that I don’t want to take my adoptive father out, it’s just that the mine owner doesn’t agree, but after I plead, the steward will arrange a relaxing job for you to take care of the items. In addition, at the end of each year, I will send someone to send you 500 silver dollars.
, as a way of honoring my adoptive father, I will do this every year!"
"Father, I forgive my child for being unfilial and having trouble serving me by my side. I ask my foster father to take good care of himself and take good care of himself in the future."
Finished!
Li Dingguo knelt on the ground and kowtowed to him three times.
"Father, this money is my last filial piety, please take care of it!" Liu Wenxiu handed the 88 silver dollar deposit she had put in her purse to Zhang Xianzhong's hand, and kowtowed to him three times.
"Father, take this money and take care of it!"
Seeing so many people present, Sun Kewang was helpless, gritted his teeth, handed over his money bag, and kowtowed three times, heartbroken and bleeding.
After kowtowing and having sex.
Li Dingguo and three other people took their luggage and left. No one was there to stop or make things difficult. After all, people's hearts are full of flesh. It was already very good for them to do this.
Only Zhang Xianzhong held two money bags in his hands and fell into a long daze, feeling empty in his heart. His adopted sons just left like this, not one of them left?
"Brother Zhang, why are you so dazed? Let's go to the gambling house to try our luck!"
"There must be a lot of silver dollars here. We need a treat tonight."
"First lend me some silver coins." The big man simply took a money bag, took out a handful of silver coins, and put it into his pocket.
"Hahaha, have fun gambling and having fun today! Brothers, I, Zhang Xianzhong, are going to treat you today and spend all the money!"
Zhang Xianzhong burst out laughing, but for some unknown reason, he burst into tears.
…
Wubao at the foot of the mountain.
"Brother, didn't you say you would be back in a while? I have been waiting for you for more than an hour. In order to wait for you, the food on this large table was all cold and I didn't eat a bite."
Seeing Li Dingguo coming back with two beggar-like miners, talking and laughing all the way, Hu Xuan'er pouted and said angrily, it turns out that her charm is not as good as the two beggars.
"I'm sorry, Xuan'er, for making you wait so long. I've already had lunch, so there's no need to go hungry waiting for me." Li Dingguo apologized repeatedly.
"You can eat all the pig food on the mountain, aren't you afraid of getting upset?" Hu Xuan'er said savagely.
"Everyone can eat it, why can't I? Xuan'er, this is my fault. If you make three wishes, I will find a way to help you realize it, how about it?" Li Dingguo smiled bitterly.
"Hmph~ That's pretty much it."
Sun Kewang and Liu Wenxiu, who were standing behind, couldn't help but look at each other in shock when they saw this scene. They suddenly felt that their brother Li Dingguo may not necessarily live a very chic and enjoyable life.