Upon hearing the number announced through the loudspeaker, Zhao Qianju and the five others shivered.
Even though they had mentally prepared themselves long ago, when it was truly time for them to collect their wages, even the dorm leader Zhao Qianju found himself a bit at a loss.
He was a tailor by trade, and collecting money wasn’t a new experience for him.
But never had he felt as anxious as he did today.
The six of them glanced at one another, and finally, Zhao Qianju gritted his teeth and took the lead to step forward.
The wages were being dispensed by a woman who looked like an accountant, probably in her thirties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
She glanced at them and, using a simultaneous translation device, asked:
"Which one is Chen Ahua?"
Ah Hua obediently raised his hand, "It’s me."
"You’ve moved a total of 23,215 bricks over five days. Each brick earns you 1 cent, so your wages total 232.15 Yuan. (Refer to the author’s notes for exchange rates and purchasing power)
According to the camp’s subsidy policy, wages are rounded to the nearest whole number, so the amount disbursed is 233 Yuan.
A drop of cold sweat slid down Ah Hua’s face:
"I... I can’t write..."
The accountant chuckled and pointed to a box of ink nearby:
"That’s okay, just dip your finger in the ink and leave a finger mark here."
Ah Hua obediently complied.
He rolled up his sleeves, dipped his finger in the ink, and firmly pressed it onto the form as instructed.
Then an assistant handed him a cowhide envelope, saying:
"Comrade, here’s your wages. Please keep them carefully. Inside you’ll find a Damo language denomination guide—if you can’t read the text, you can refer to the pictures or ask someone else."
Ah Hua cautiously accepted the envelope, while the female accountant continued:
"Liu Dazhu, 291 Yuan."
"Which one is Zhao Qianju?"
Upon hearing his name, Zhao Qianju stepped forward, somewhat nervously, "It’s me!"
"You moved a total of 27,332 bricks over five days, earning 274 Yuan.
Additionally, both you and Wang Tiejimu, the dorm leader and vice-dorm leader, receive subsidies of 30 Yuan and 10 Yuan respectively.
Furthermore, you are one of twenty outstanding representatives chosen by hundreds of migrant workers, earning you a special reward of 100 Yuan.
In total, it’s 404 Yuan. Please sign here."
While Zhao Qianju was somewhat in a daze signing his name, Lin Li and Shi Zehong were watching the wage distribution from afar.
Lin Li asked Shi Zehong:
"Director Shi, are the preparations on the Chixian City side complete?"
Shi Zehong adjusted his glasses and smiled, saying:
"Captain Lin, rest assured.
Based on our calculations, in this total wage amount of less than 150,000,
around 100,000 will flow back into our pockets through the living supermarket.
Of the remaining 50,000, roughly 20,000 will be saved by the refugees and temporarily not seen on the market.
So truly circulating in Damo City is about 30,000 Huaxia currency, equivalent to 15,000 Copper Coins.
Equivalent to about five Spirit Stones, this amount can ensure some impact on Chixian City’s economic system without causing a complete collapse due to initial excessive force."
Just as Shi Zehong said.
In the previous agreement between the Rabbits and the Wei Mansion, the exchange ratio between Huaxia currency and the basic currency of Damo Realm—Copper Coins—was ultimately confirmed as 2 to 1.
That is, 2 Huaxia currency can be exchanged for 1 standard Copper Coin. (Calculation formula in the author’s notes)
The Rabbits released 150,000 Huaxia currency this time.
According to calculations from the Commerce Department, about one-fifth of this money will flow into the market.
This circulation level won’t cause an economic collapse (since Huaxia currency can only be exchanged in the Wei Mansion industry), while effectively introducing the concept of Huaxia currency into the trade industry.
As industries under the Wei Mansion gradually begin adopting Huaxia currency for settlements, as trust increases,
it won’t be long before the shadow of Huaxia currency is seen in the civilian sector.
Moreover, as the Rabbits’ influence expands, Huaxia currency will become increasingly stable.
After all, paper money is understandable for those who know.
Turning our gaze back to the refugees.
After the wages were issued.
The migrant workers followed the guidance of the Warriors, queued up onto the buses they had boarded before, preparing to return to Chixian City.
Zhao Qianju still sat in the same seat as when he came.
Compared to the apprehension and fear on the way here, he was much more composed now, at least avoiding the ridiculous scene of not daring to sit.
However, his expression was still somewhat tense—not fearing these Huaxia soldiers, but thinking of his family still in Chixian City.
His wife suffered from a severe illness, abdominal pain and swelling, and his mother’s eyes had gone blind during the escape...
Although his brother and sister-in-law were there to help care for them.
They were ultimately refugees seeking asylum, with no support, only struggling at the corner of a dark and damp alley.
Zhao Qianju tightened his grip on the envelope in his arms, looking a bit worriedly out the window:
"I hope Ah Yun can get through these days..."
The bus arrived outside the city.
The Wei Mansion’s steward, Wei Lianzhang, stood at the door, loudly announcing with a loudspeaker:
"Now we have arrived outside the city gates, everyone may disperse here to return home. The location of the living supermarket is next to the old well in the west of the city!
And remember, if you need to move bricks again, meet at the city gate in two days!"
Zhao Qianju hastily noted the location and time, quickly parted with the dorm mates.
Then, like many workers, with the envelope in his chest,
he lowered his head and quickly dashed towards a certain direction.
Zhao Qianju’s family’s temporary residence was at Willow Leaf Lane in the east of the city, a spot specially set aside by the Wei Mansion for refugee settlement before the beast tide.
But speaking of settlement,
it was merely the provision of two bags of rice and a few sticks—everything else lacked even a wind-shielding cover—because the number of refugees was too many.
Zhao Qianju suddenly sensed something amiss.
In the days he was at the construction site moving bricks, it seemed some changes had happened in this area in the east of the city.
He stopped and surveyed his surroundings carefully.
Then he slapped his forehead:
Indeed, the ground is clean!
Before he left, this area in the east of the city was a mess of excrement and urine.
Some refugees even drowned directly in the filth!
And now the south of the city...
All the previous filth vanished, with a strange smell filling the air that was pungent but far from foul.
Additionally, Zhao Qianju noticed.
In some former refugee gathering spots, a large number of triangular peaked things had appeared.
Zhao Qianju had seen these on the construction site—those Huaxia People called them tents!
Are places people can live in!
An uncontrollable thought emerged in Zhao Qianju’s mind: Could it be that those Huaxia People...
Then he shook his head to dispel various thoughts from his mind: No matter what happened, he must find his family first!
So he quickened his pace, winding through turns and alleys until he reached a path.
This was an old, dilapidated alley.
Before Zhao Qianju left, hundreds of refugees were gathered along the walls of this alley, dressed in rags, flies buzzing, and the whole alley reeked terribly.
The old alley had already shed its previous filth and grime.
Not only had the road been cleaned freshly, but dozens of blue tents had also been added!
Zhao Qianju stared ahead blankly, hoping to find traces of his family.
This isn’t... nor is that...
Suddenly, he froze. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ noᴠelfire.net
He stared intently at a figure not far away:
It was a woman appearing around forty years old, petite in stature, with a somewhat weathered face.
At that moment, the woman was sitting in front of a tent, radiant with a bright smile, chatting with several women around her.
In Zhao Qianju’s memory.
This woman should have been with a face full of despair, hoarse voice, clutching her abdomen in pain every day...
Just as Zhao Qianju was dazed
The woman seemed to sense something, suddenly looking toward the alleyway entrance.
Upon seeing Zhao Qianju, the woman’s face instantly blossomed with an even more brilliant smile: