Chapter 77 Sweet Harbor Storm - The Beginning of the Rout
Chapter 77 Sweet Harbor Storm - The Beginning of the Rout
"It's okay. I can make some money by ghostwriting letters in front of the county government every day. But if it doesn't work, I have a cousin -" His face turned slightly red after saying this, "...she has an engagement with me. My uncle and aunt are engaged."
I’m not a snobbery either. It’s always okay to donate a few meals.”
Chen Tianxiong smiled slightly and thought that he would just give him a small mirror as a thank you gift in the future.
Back at the South China Sugar Factory, Chen Tianxiong made some arrangements. In particular, he sent people to the city to keep an eye on Linzhuang to see if he was "removing rubbish and dirt" to the point of ignoring him. If this person held money,
Continuing to live in a private life, the plan was about to be readjusted. News soon came that Lin Zhuang had left the county and returned to Monk Zou Temple.
"Old Chen, why do you have to convince Lin Zhuang?" Wen Tong asked.
"He is the leader of the sugar factory workers, and he has some prestige." Chen Tianxiong said, "Our people's lobbying alone will definitely have some effect, but it is still not as powerful as what he says.
"
"What if he keeps pushing and blocking? He refuses to help."
"It's not up to him." Chen Tianxiong had already prepared. "He gave us the copy and waited until he handed over his little pigtails to us. With this," he handed over the copy of the list.
, "He can't even deny it even if he wants to."
"You really are yours," Wen Tong admired him sincerely, "How could he be willing to take this bait?"
"The benefit of the 28-year hidden deduction is not just that money is attractive to the eye." Chen Tianxiong said, "As soon as I lured him with the settlement money, he couldn't hold it anymore."
"There are hidden deductions for the settlement allowance. This world is really dark." Wen Tong said with emotion. "By the way, Chang Shide is back."
"Why didn't I see him?"
"He is in Lingao, preparing to carry out his mission." Wen Tong explained the specific plan between the Executive Committee and South China to deal with pirates. "What the navy means is that it is best to learn more about the details of this group of pirates and simply eliminate the evil.
, so as not to leave any future troubles.”
"I understand." In fact, Chen Tianxiong has no idea about this matter, but it depends on people, and intelligence work relies on people to run out. "But now we have to plan the 'recruitment' matter. What did Wu De say to our request for instructions?
?”
Matters involving large-scale accommodation of local indigenous people are now the responsibility of the Civil Affairs Committee. Basically, Wu De has the final say.
"Wude approved it, but he asked us to submit a report on how to arrange this group of laborers," Wen Tong said. "Should they be resettled locally or transferred to Lingao?"
"What do you think?" Chen Tianxiong has his own opinion on this issue, but Wen Tong is responsible for the situation in Leizhou, and he naturally knows better than Chen Tianxiong how much labor is needed locally.
"Of course we will settle them on site." Wen Tong has a big plan. The winery will start construction soon and will need a group of workers. As for the comprehensive processing of sugar industry waste, it will also require a lot of manpower. There is no problem in absorbing these labor forces.
"I think so too. Most of them are locals from Leizhou and Xuwen. If we force them to be sent to Lingao, I'm afraid people won't accept it."
"And how to arrange the family members."
"The factory can't accommodate so many people at one time, but it's probably no problem to support their families with their wages." Wen Tong said, "I plan to make the wages equal to rice silver - half money and half rice. The price of rice here is high, so it's often used
The Vietnamese rice shipped by Shi De is more cost-effective. When the business becomes bigger in the future, we can slowly recruit family members to work."
This is a good idea. After Chang Shide established the maritime rice and sugar route from Xuwen to Vietnam, the South China Factory had a large granary in its hands.
Even so, once the "recruitment" is completed, the food and drink of a thousand people will be Huanan's responsibility. Originally, it was no one to care about, but once there is a master, it is easy to cause trouble if something goes wrong in the handling.
"The problem of food is easy to solve. Chang Shide has shipped rice, so you can eat as much as you want." Chen Tianxiong said, "If it's too late, let Dachang Rice Store pay some of it in advance."
"You also have to pay for settling-in expenses," Wen Tong said. "A worker always gets one dollar."
"Of course," Chen Tianxiong nodded, "it also shows our sincerity."
"But this money cannot be distributed to Linzhuang. He is so greedy that he will eat at least half of it. We can't be taken advantage of."
"Of course, it's up to us to do favors." Chen Tianxiong said, "I'm afraid he'll get away with it."
Immediately, I calculated how much money and food would be needed. I also made plans one by one on how to arrange the arrangements.
"But when are you going to 'recruit'?"
"It depends on Lin Zhuang's consciousness. However, if he really doesn't realize it, we will take advantage of him." Chen Tianxiong said, "Now it seems that it is certain that Xiao Zhanfeng said that burning incense will not cause any trouble, but we
You have to guard against his kick."
After Chen Tianxiong left, Lin Zhuang gained money and became more courageous. He originally planned to hang out with Ai Ai for a day, but then he thought that the situation was complicated now. Both Huanan and Haiyi Tang were eyeing him. Although his worth had doubled,
There is the advantage of being able to have both sides, but how to manage this situation of "having one's feet in two boats"? This is a big deal. If you stay in the hall any longer, you will not be able to control the situation. Although I felt a little regretful, I left quickly.
Sister-in-law Ai's house went back.
On the way, we first went to the Rice Shop, where we bought some old rice with the few taels of silver we had, and sent it to Monk Zou’s Temple. He was already an old customer here, so the Rice Shop naturally complied.
He went to Qian Chun's shop again and put the silver that Chen Tianxiong gave him on the counter. He quickly returned to Monk Zou Temple. He had a room here - it was given to him by Mr. Zhu, who took care of the temple. He is a
The bachelors settled down and spent all the money they had. They usually lived in sugar huts and had no decent household items. There was only a bamboo bed in the house and a few tattered clothes. They were not afraid of thieves. They would go to the temple.
, without saying hello to anyone, he went back to his room, closed the door, lay down on the bed, and started thinking.
It is a good thing to be able to step into two boats and have both sides, but after all, it is not a long-term solution. Sooner or later, you still have to decide whether to go with Haiyi Tang or Huanan.
On this point, Lin Zhuang has no ideological struggle. In his view, South China is an outsider after all. No matter how powerful he is, he can't defeat the deeply rooted Hai Yitang here - at most, everyone will make peace in the end. Following Hai Yitang will never work.
Incorrect.
But Huanan is much more generous than Mr. Zhu. The shopkeeper Chen I met today is fifty taels in one shot. This kind of magnanimity is something that Mr. Zhu does not have. Lin Zhuang couldn't help but sigh, if the two can do it,
On the other hand, he must be completely devoted to Shopkeeper Chen.
What made him salivate the most was the five hundred "double-column" silver coins. Lin Zhuang had never seen such a large amount of money. He was thinking about how he could get this money - at least he had to get it.
to part.
The matter of burning incense and swearing an oath cannot be postponed. This was the idea he had just made. If he postpones it, he will not be able to explain it. Mr. Zhu wants him to take the opportunity to cause trouble. If he does not make trouble, he will already be compromised. If he does not even make a formality,
If not, there will be nothing to talk about in the future.
The problem is that once the oath is taken, it is tantamount to breaking one's promise to South China. If the other party becomes angry and angry, it will be easy to deal with him. This must be guarded against.
I was thinking about whether there was a way to deal with both sides as much as possible. Someone knocked on the door outside the house: "Brother Lin!"
He heard that the person calling the door was one of the leaders of the group, named Ma Sanqiang. He was from Qinzhou and was very prestigious among the unemployed workers in Qinzhou. Lin Zhuang could not help but deal with him.
He quickly got up and opened the door, letting Ma Sanqiang come in and sit down.
"Brother Lin!" Ma Sanqiang got straight to the point, "Someone brought rice outside. This time the rice is old rice. How can we eat it?"
"Can't we eat Chen Mi?" Lin Zhuang knew that he was making a fuss about this matter again, and the boss was not happy in his heart - one of the main reasons why he had been hanging around in the hall was that he didn't want to see these people - he was so depressed.
Living in a temple means being poor all day long.
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Ma Sanqiang was so angry that he trembled all over: "Can it be eaten? Just eat it and see!" As he said this, he shook open a cloth bag and saw that the rice inside was broken into pieces, many of which were discolored, black and yellow.
There was also a lot of barnyard grass and sand. It was not even rice, it could only be regarded as the bottom of the warehouse.
Lin Zhuang felt guilty. He only spent three taels of silver to buy rice. He asked the rice bank to "buy as much as they can, the more the merrier." Naturally, the rice they sold to him was the cheapest. Finally, he settled on three taels per stone, but he didn't expect it.
The quality of this rice is so poor! I'm afraid it can only be fed to pigs.
"It's still rice," he insisted. "Eating it can fill your stomach. Now I don't have to pay attention to the conditions."
"This is not particular! If you eat this food, you might as well eat chaff." Ma Sanqiang felt that he had never eaten in the temple for more than a month. Although he was dressed in rags, his body was not thin at all, but rather fat.
I have been angry for a long time.
Instead, Lin Zhuang lost his temper and spread his hands: "I can't help it! This is the money Mr. Zhu San has given me. I'm not a rich man, so I can give extra money out of thin air. I have good rice, two liang and one stone, how can I feed it?"
So many people?"
These words are plausible. Although Ma Sanqiang is very suspicious that he took it for himself, he has no evidence and cannot speak out.
"I don't believe it. Mr. Zhu will only give this amount of money? Is this how to do good deeds?"
"Mr. Zhu doesn't do good deeds to begin with -" Lin Zhuang said, suddenly feeling that it was inappropriate for these words to reach Mr. Zhu's ears, and quickly changed his words, "I mean, Mr. Zhu has done a lot to help everyone."
You have been so kind, you have to give something back to others! I want you to go to South China to do something, and everyone is resisting." He felt that his reasons were sufficient, and even his throat roared, "How do you want me to go and Zhu San?
What did I say?!"
"I won't do such illegal things." Ma Sanqiang's attitude became tougher, "To tell you the truth, someone has asked me to go to South China to work. I remember that everyone gathered together to file a complaint.
You can't just make trouble for yourself and refuse to agree to others. Now it seems that this is unnecessary." He said and clasped his fists, "Brother Lin, take care of yourself!" and walked away.
Linzhuang was struck by a thunderbolt - "Someone asked him to go to South China to work," he thought in his mind. Shopkeeper Chen clearly said that he wanted him to help "recruit people", so why did he already put his hand in? He hurriedly chased him out. Only
In the yard, Ma Sanqiang and the fellow villagers who usually gathered around him were packing their luggage.
"Three strong men, we have something to discuss!" He took Ma Sanqiang's hand and said, "When you come back, we will discuss it again, don't undermine everyone!" He then whispered, "You helped me maintain it, I
Of course there are benefits for you!"
A look of disgust appeared on Ma Sanqiang's face, and he said loudly: "I don't care about the money. Just keep it for you and spend it yourself! I, Ma Sanqiang, work hard to make money openly and don't use money from unknown sources!"
He waved his hand and said, "Let's go!"
More than a dozen workers from Qinzhou followed him out one after another. Lin Zhuang stamped his feet repeatedly, but knew that he could not stop him. Seeing the workers and family members around him talking incessantly, his heart was filled with excitement. Lin Zhuang cursed in his heart - Chen
Shopkeeper, you are too vicious! Huanan must have sent people to move among the workers a long time ago!
"Master Lin," a sugar cook came over quietly, "some people who used to work in the sugar factory have been here recently for activities. I'm afraid they are people from South China..."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"You are missing all day long, how can I find you?" The other party was very dissatisfied and complained, "You don't take things here to heart!"
Lin Zhuang was speechless. He knew in his heart that Chen Tianxiong had defeated his army. It would be fine if he cooperated with the "recruitment", but if he was playing tricks, he would have already prepared a plan to deal with him. This time, he was completely shattered.
He had a sweet dream of having both sides.
He gritted his teeth and said: Shopkeeper Chen, you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust. He decided to burn incense on time and start the uprising - it was the next day anyway. That night he summoned some prestigious people among the sugar factory workers to discuss the matter.
Unexpectedly, the attitudes of these people have changed a lot.
Among the unemployed sugar factory workers, the most enthusiastic about causing trouble and destroying Huanan are the sugar cooks, but these people are unwilling to do it themselves - although they hate Huanan the most, they have earned more in the past and their families have some foundation, unlike
The other workers looked down and out and didn't want to cause trouble for themselves.
As for the impoverished ordinary laborers, there was already a fierce public sentiment, a firm anti-South China attitude, and they were always ready to fight. However, things have turned around now - the news that South China is willing to recruit them as workers has spread among the crowd.
Now, there is a glimmer of light before our eyes. Naturally, no one is willing to do such illegal things again. No matter how much Lin Zhuang instigates, he always says that this is against the law of the king, for fear that there will be no good fruits to be eaten; some people lament the bitter scriptures and say
My whole family has never had enough to eat, and if something goes wrong and I end up in the prison cell, the whole family will probably starve to death. Some people even suggested that everyone go to South China to work.