Chapter 195

The old village chief also didn’t claim credit, mentioning Shuiqing’s proposal and emphasizing that it was Shuiqing’s idea. If anyone felt it was inappropriate or had a better suggestion, they should speak up, and everyone could discuss and negotiate.

In the courtyard were representatives from each household in the village who could make decisions. When they heard this, they were all extremely satisfied.

Have a better suggestion?

What a joke. If they could come up with something better, wouldn’t they also be able to live as well as Hu Shuiqing!

Realizing belatedly, those who can live a good life are agile-minded. Look, even the village’s defense was planned so thoroughly in such a short time.

With such a nimble mind, making money easily is also well-deserved.

Everyone had no objections and passed smoothly and quickly.

Suddenly, Li Wen said, “Dad, Fan Damu and Fan Qian still haven’t returned. What should we do about these two families?”

The patrol work couldn’t escape Zhang Tuzi’s laziness, but he was indeed too lazy. Even if he was willing, the people in the village didn’t trust him.

Fortunately, his son Zhang Xiaogou is fourteen this year, smart and not lazy like his father. He took over the defense work.

When Zhang Xiaogou heard he was selected, he jumped with joy and was now showing off all over the village.

Now it seemed that most of the boys in the village knew about it.

The old village chief frowned.

Other families in the courtyard also looked at each other.

Defense was a matter for the whole village, affecting everyone; even those who did not participate would benefit from the protection.

But those who did not participate might affect the mentality of others.

In the courtyard, murmurs were heard: “Fan Damu didn’t participate in digging the ditch before. Will he just follow suit this time?”

“That won’t work!”

“Who can say for sure?”

The old village chief raised his voice to stop them: “Wait until those two return before speculating.”

“We don’t know what’s going on. How can they be gone for two days?”

“He went out yesterday and hasn’t returned overnight. It’s not safe outside. Could something have happened?”

“Pah, don’t talk nonsense! Can’t you just hope for the best for others?”

“I’m just saying.”

In the end, everyone in the village knew that Damu had been problematic before, but they didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.

As the courtyard buzzed with talk, a familiar and confident voice rang out, “Old village chief, my son said you were looking for me?”

Everyone turned to see the person they were talking about returning!

Fan Damu was dressed in a neat and clean dark blue short coat, so new it had not a single patch.

He wasn’t wearing straw shoes but a pair of black cloth shoes, fearing they might get dirty. Under the cloth shoes were wooden clogs.

Immediately, a man asked, “Fan Damu, have you… become wealthy?”

How did he go from patched clothes and straw shoes one night to all new ones?

Although the short coat was something that working people wore, it was still new, and it was rough cloth, not the hemp cloth they usually wore.

“Yeah, where did these new clothes come from?”

“Yesterday we went to the prefectural city and found that things are chaotic outside now. Were you okay outside?”

“We were just worried if something had happened to you.”

Fan Damu looked everyone over from head to toe, snorted disdainfully, and laughed, “Trouble? It could only be trouble for others. It would never be my trouble.

As for whether the city is chaotic, whether Guangning Prefecture is chaotic or not, my master decides it all!”

Li Wen and Li Wu frowned at Fan Damu’s arrogant words.

The old village chief asked keenly, “Your master? Have you sold yourself into slavery?”

There was a loud commotion in the courtyard as everyone looked shocked at Fan Damu’s arrival.

Sold into slavery?

“Fan Damu, are you confused? A slave has no freedom. The master can beat, kill, and sell. How could you sell yourself into slavery?”

“I heard…”

Fan Damu interrupted impatiently, “Stop listening! Earlier, I always heard you all complaining about how bad it is to be a slave, and how comfortable it is to be a farmer. But look at me. Yesterday, I signed a contract of indenture and already received two new sets of clothes to change into. I’m eating black noodles, enough to fill me up! I live in a brick-and-tile house. I don’t need to worry about food, drink, clothing, or housing. Isn’t this a good life?”

“Let me tell you something else. The master of our household is the county magistrate Wu from Guangning Prefecture. Do you think I would fear those disaster victims outside? Ha, those victims only fear me!”

Speaking of which, thanks to Fan Jin and Hu Shuiqing for saving the young master of the Bai family. And on that day, the wealthy woman who came to thank them with full jewelry turned out to be the wife of Magistrate Wu.

Recently, with the increase in disaster victims and unrest everywhere, the magistrate’s wife was worried about the safety of her two young sons, so she expanded the recruitment of servants. Upon recognizing him and asking a few more questions, she decided to purchase him since he was from Shanshui Village.

The old village head shook his head helplessly.

Life was hard for farmers, but being a servant was not as good as Fan Damu said.

It’s just that everyone has their own aspirations, and talking too much is pointless.

The highest official the villagers had seen was the village head, so when they heard about the county magistrate, their eyes widened.

Seeing everyone’s interest, Fan Damu adopted an official tone: “I have now shown my face in front of the magistrate’s son. If any of you want to go, since we’re from the same village, I can put in a good word for you. But I can’t guarantee you’ll be chosen.

You know, this is a good opportunity that everyone is fighting for.”

Old Fan shook his head, “As long as my family still has food to eat, I won’t sell myself as a servant.”

Many voices around him echoed his sentiment.

Fan Damu retorted coldly, “When you have nothing left to eat, do you think you can still sell yourself? Will anyone buy you?”

Who would buy an old man? The buyers were not fools; they would naturally choose someone who could work.

If it weren’t for his family being capable workers, the magistrate’s wife would not have agreed!

Uncle Xu asked hesitantly, “Damu, what about your family if you sell yourself?”

“What can they do? They’ll come with me to live the good life, eating and drinking well. From now on, when we go out, we’ll be people of Magistrate Wu!” Fan Damu sneered with disdain.

Uncle Xu choked up, unable to let it go, “If you become a servant alone, can your whole family go and enjoy?”

This was too good to be true. He was starting to feel tempted!

Others stared at Fan Damu closely. They thought, even if they suffered a bit, at least their families wouldn’t have to worry about food and clothing.

It wasn’t impossible…

“You’re dreaming! Stop dreaming and use your brain. Do you really think such good fortune would come your way? Even if it did, would it ever be your turn?” Fan Damu couldn’t bear it anymore and shouted.

These rural folks had such naive dreams.

Uncle Xu, who had been scolded for no reason, asked dumbly, “Then what about you?”

“Of course, I’ve signed a contract to sell my entire family.”

After Fan Damu finished speaking, you could hear a pin drop in the courtyard.

Dozens of people, who had been too noisy to hear each other before, were now so quiet that you could hear the rustling of leaves in the wind.

“So I’ve come to inform you all that the labor protection team and the outgoing team won’t count as part of my family anymore. If you see me in the city in the future, don’t think about using my connection.

Oh right, I’m also selling my fields this time I come back, who wants to buy?”