Qiao Xin rented a scholar’s stall for ten wen, casually wrote a job recruitment notice, and posted it on the railing behind her.

Then, she leisurely found a spot nearby to bask in the sun, watching as small groups of people gathered around.

She neither shouted to attract attention nor gossiped with others.

She was embodying the philosophy of “Jiang Taigong fishing—only those willing will take the bait!”

This unusual action quickly caught the attention of others in a gathering place for ragged, destitute refugees.

On a large piece of white paper, the notice read:

Job Recruitment

• Number of positions: Dozens
• Requirements: Male, skilled in a craft, physically healthy; carpentry skills preferred.
• Job Description: Land clearing and farming.
• Benefits: Food and lodging included, ten wen per day, payable daily or monthly.
• Location: Lao Hu Town.

Those who share the same vision are welcome to apply!

The handwriting was ugly, but the message was direct and easy to understand!

Niu Dali stared at the strange notice for a long time, unable to move his feet.

The bold words “food and lodging included” filled his entire mind.

He hadn’t eaten for two days, and his money was running out.

Now, he was forced to take shelter in an abandoned temple.

He wasn’t originally from another province.

His home was in Huainan Prefecture, where his family owned a small plot of land.

His parents were still alive, and he had a harmonious relationship with his brother.

But since last spring, it was as if their home had been cursed.

First came the summer floods, destroying fields and houses.

Then, a locust plague devoured anything edible. Before they could recover, the winter brought relentless freezing snow.

His parents couldn’t withstand the hardships and passed away, scattering the once-complete family.

His older brother took him north in search of a way to survive.

The journey was so harsh that it would take days and nights to recount all their sufferings.

Originally, they planned to try their luck in the capital, but they kept getting driven away by government officials while following the waves of refugees.

Somehow, they ended up in Weizhou Prefecture, right under the emperor’s rule.

For the past half-month, Niu Dali had survived by crafting small wooden items using his family’s traditional carpentry skills.

He barely managed to scrape by, always hovering between hunger and fullness—not starving to death, but merely existing.

However, Niu Dali was born with a big appetite.

Even though he worked a lot, he ate even more!

His physical exertion and food consumption were proportional.

No matter how much he tried to eat less, he still needed twice the amount of a regular person. His older brother always had to save half his own food for him.

A few days ago, they encountered a heartless employer who not only refused to pay after the work was done but also beat them.

When they tried to argue, the employer had the backing of a powerful group, far beyond what they could handle.

If they escalated the conflict, they might not even survive in this unfamiliar land. So, they had no choice but to endure the humiliation.

Niu Dali’s thick skin protected him from serious harm, but his brother fell seriously ill that very night with a high fever.

Their remaining coins were quickly spent on medicine, leaving them with nothing.

The two brothers had reached the end of the road, on the brink of starvation.

“What a pity! If this job weren’t in Lao Hu Town, I would have considered it. But I’d rather not risk my life—what if I earn money but don’t live to spend it? Even my meager flesh wouldn’t be enough for the wild beasts there!”

“Exactly! But these conditions are way better than the other jobs I’ve seen lately.”

“I heard the government organizes hunting expeditions there every year, and hardly anyone comes back alive. Could this be some kind of government trap?”

Speculation spread among the crowd.

But the moment “Lao Hu Town” was mentioned, more than half the onlookers immediately backed away!

The name “Lao Hu Town” was infamous in Weizhou Prefecture.

Even outsiders who had heard of it shuddered.

Niu Dali was no exception.

When that ruthless employer threatened them, he had specifically said, “If you don’t behave, I’ll throw you into Lao Hu Town for the tigers and wolves to feast on!”

That memory was deeply ingrained in Niu Dali’s mind—he wanted to avoid that place at all costs.

It wasn’t entirely their fault for being scared.

The fact that Qiao Xin had been clearing out dangers in Lao Hu Town was only known within the elite circles.

Commoners had little access to such information. Their caution was understandable.

The rumors Niu Dali had heard on the streets were a chaotic mix of truth and lies.

But at this moment, he was so hungry that his vision blurred and his legs wobbled.

He desperately needed a stable place to settle down and, most importantly, a steady source of food.

There were always a few people who, driven by hunger, were willing to take a risk despite their fears.

After much hesitation, a few finally decided to give it a try.

Thinking about his own situation, Niu Dali made up his mind to take a gamble. If he waited any longer, he and his brother would starve to death anyway.

He stepped in front of Qiao Xin and asked, “Miss, if what you wrote on this notice is true, how do you guarantee our safety?”

Qiao Xin smiled and replied, “Young man, I’m hiring workers, not sending people to die. Our contract is a labor agreement, not a slave contract. If something happens to you, I’d be accused of murder and robbery. Do you think the government would let me off the hook?”

Her reasoning made sense.

Niu Dali then asked the most pressing question on his mind, “Can I really eat my fill?”

Qiao Xin looked at the tall, muscular man before her.

Even his tattered clothes couldn’t hide his well-built physique.

He fit the profile of the workers she was looking for.

So, she nodded.

“The contract is written in black and white. Of course, it’s valid.”

Niu Dali immediately made an offer. “Then I don’t want the money. I just want to eat my fill. Can I bring my brother? He’s only got a cold—he’s just too sick to be here today.”

Qiao Xin didn’t immediately agree or refuse.

Instead, she asked whether he was a local and what skills he had.

When she learned that both brothers knew carpentry and bamboo weaving, she felt like she had struck gold!

If it was just a common cold, she didn’t mind saving his brother.

After all, Old Mo at her place was so idle he was practically growing mold. It was about time to put his skills to good use!

“Alright, in a while—”

Before she could finish speaking, an angry voice interrupted,

“What are you doing? What’s going on here? Are you trying to start a rebellion?”