NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: Opening a New Quarry
Chapter 20: Opening a New Quarry
Returning home and seeing his beautiful wife and concubine, Xu Lian’s heart was filled with warmth. He handed the wine and meat he brought back to Wang Cuiyun, urging her to cook it quickly. “Just heat it up, it’s ready to eat.”
Wang Cuiyun smiled brightly as she took the wine and meat. “All right, master, just wait a moment.”
Li Xiya had become accustomed to the interaction between Wang Cuiyun and Xu Lian. She said to Xu Lian, “Brother Lian, it’s not good for our health to have big fish and meat every day. We should bring some grains and vegetables tomorrow.”
Wang Cuiyun, who was cooking, was displeased and glared at Li Xiya. “You little brat, I’ve only had meat for two days and you’re already feeling sorry for it?”
Xu Lian ignored Wang Cuiyun. From a nutritional point of view, eating meat every day without vitamins could indeed lead to health problems.
He told Li Xiya, “The mine has been shut down for a few days, so it’s not convenient to take grain and vegetables from the mine kitchen. I’ll buy some tomorrow. The higher-ups are opening a new mine and have appointed me as the manager. Once the new mine is under my control, it will be much easier for me to take whatever I need from the kitchen”.
“What?” Wang Cuiyun shouted.
“You’ve just become an assistant manager, and now you’re being promoted to manage a whole new mine on your own?”
Her eyes sparkled and her mouth split into a wide grin, like a hungry wolf ready to pounce and bite Xu Lian.
Xu Lian said, “Stop making such a fuss. You’re spitting all over the food.”
“I can’t help it. You’re so capable, you always surprise me.”
Wang Cuiyun’s mouth couldn’t close, and she hesitated for a moment before lifting a fish from the water basin and knocking it unconscious with the back of a knife. “Since my master is in charge of an entire mine, I can eat whatever I want. Let’s add more dishes!”
Xu Lian didn’t say anything. After all, she had given birth to such a beautiful Li Xiya. Even if he didn’t have a good impression of her, he still had to respect her.
Xu Lian noticed that Yang Chan’er was sitting behind Li Xiya, not saying much and seemingly trying to avoid attention.
When he looked over, Yang Chan’er blushed and shyly lowered her head.
He reached out to pull her closer, but Li Xiya slapped his hand away, chiding him, “Be gentle. You can’t touch Chan’er these days.”
Xu Lian understood and shifted his target, pulling Li Xiya into an embrace. “Then it depends on Sister Xiya’s skills.”
Li Xiya blushed and gave him a playful look, but she also felt a bit of anticipation. She hadn’t slept well last night, but she had caught up on sleep during the day and was in good spirits now, not afraid of his antics.
Dinner was ready.
The four of them ate, each of them with different eating habits.
Xu Lian, with his Muscle Refining Stage physique, had a big appetite and ate a lot, enjoying his food heartily.
Wang Cuiyun ate greedily like a wolf, her eyes alert and always guarding her food with her hands. She could either eat a lot in one meal or go hungry for a long time, but even when she was full, she continued eating as if she wanted her stomach to burst.
Yang Chan’er ate delicately, carefully chewing every bone clean. It was clear that she had grown up in a poor household and cherished the current abundance of food.
Li Xiya had a different way of eating, neither fighting nor rushing. She enjoyed the big fish and meat now, and could even eat the simple bread from before. She always took care of everyone, occasionally serving Xu Lian, Yang Chan’er, and Wang Cuiyun.
One’s eating habits often reflect their personality, and it wasn’t just a saying.
After dinner.
They chatted casually about household matters, helping with digestion, and by the time it was completely dark, they had finished.
Wang Cuiyun took a small pottery cup and a knife from the corner of the kitchen, untied the cloth around her wrist, and cut her wrist to let the blood flow. She looked at Yang Chan’er. “Your turn is tomorrow night.”
Yang Chan’er nodded quickly. “Yes.”
Xu Lian thought. He had no power before, but now that he had it and was about to manage a new mine, he needed to find a way to capture some “blood donors” to deal with the Night Patrol.
Otherwise, it would hurt him to see Sister Xiya and Chan’er suffer day after day. He didn’t want the two women to end up like Wang Cuiyun, who looked like she was fifty or sixty at the age of forty.
Wang Cuiyun opened the door, put the blood-filled pottery cup outside, closed the door, and went into the inner room.
Yang Chan’er quickly followed, closing the door behind her as if she was afraid of being caught by some bad guy.
Now, only Xu Lian and Li Xiya were left in the outer room. They exchanged a glance.
Li Xiya blushed, knowing what Xu Lian was thinking after having experienced it herself.
Xu Lian, having tasted the pleasure, understood her pretense of modesty.
There was no need for words. He blew out the oil lamp, and amidst the sounds of passion, the night was filled with waves of pleasure.
The night patrol came and went seemingly unnoticed.
In the face of a love story, a horror story was worthless.
The night passed without incident.
The next day.
A knock at the door woke Xu Lian up and made him angry. “Who is it?”
A voice came from outside. “Manager Xu, the higher-ups have sent me with the funds and supplies to open the new mine. Please check them.”
The White Fox Mine’s patrol inspector was efficient; the appointment came so quickly? Xu Lian got up, dressed, and opened the door, closing it behind him to prevent Li Xiya from being exposed.
A group of gray-clad swordsmen, escorting carts of grain, lined up like a long dragon in front of his house. The one who knocked was a middle-aged swordsman, expressionless and aloof.
The early risers who saw the carts of grain were envious. These were life-saving provisions. They wanted to ask Xu Lian for a job, but they were afraid of the swordsman and could only watch eagerly.
The middle-aged swordsman took out an account book and a map from his bosom and handed them to Xu Lian. “This book is the first batch of funds and supplies for the opening of the new mine, 5,000 catties of grain and 500 taels of silver. Please check them. The map shows the location of the mine chosen by the higher-ups. You are responsible for recruiting people and purchasing mining tools.”
Xu Lian took them, flipping through the account book while checking the grain and silver on the carts. He asked curiously, “Where are you from?”
The middle-aged swordsman was taken aback, obviously not expecting such a question. “We are personnel transferred from the granary. We will be working under you. Our job is to transport and guard the funds and supplies. The other affairs of the mine are not our concern.”
Xu Lian had long been interested in the swordsmen who guarded the granaries in the mine. Now he understood that the Yi Sect managed the mines and granaries separately, effectively controlling the mines by controlling the food supply, thus preventing chaos.
He thought for a moment and said, “Take the grain to the main street of the town and set it up there. I’ll be there shortly.”
“Yes,” the middle-aged swordsman replied, bowing slightly before waving his hand to lead the carts of grain away in a grand procession. He didn’t ask Xu Lian why he wanted to set up the grain on the street; he was just following orders.
After the swordsmen left, the eager crowd surged forward like a tide, jostling to get in front of Xu Lian.
“Manager Xu, can I work in your mine?”
“Manager Xu, my daughter is very beautiful. Come to my house tonight, and you’ll surely like her. Please give me a job as a stone transporter!”
In this world, people spoke directly and honestly; there was nothing shameful about it. Not having food to eat was the real shame.
Xu Lian stood on the stairs and watched the sea of black heads move. Not long ago, he had been one of them, but now he was the one who could determine the fate of many.
He pressed down his hands to signal for silence. “Everyone, no hurry. The higher-ups have assigned me to open a new mine. I will soon be on the main street of the city to recruit a large number of workers. Anyone who wants to work in the mine and earn grain can come and apply.”
With that, he asked the crowd to disperse. Those who stayed were unlikely to get a job.
The people had no choice but to leave.
Xu Lian returned to the house, where he found Li Xiya already up, reheating some leftover meat from the previous night for breakfast.
After eating, he mounted his horse and headed to the main street of the town.