28. Damn, Why Is This So Difficult?

Upon returning to Xinping Township, Xia Lin carried a bag of local specialties he had brought from the provincial capital into the dilapidated township office. Inside, he found two bailiffs, both older than his own father, sitting with their pant legs rolled up, sipping tea. They greeted him only perfunctorily upon his arrival, yet Xia Lin still shared a portion of the goods he had brought with them.

Pouring himself a cup of tea, Xia Lin sat down and began, "Zhao Da, you hold significant prestige here. I would like you to help me with some matters."

Zhao Da was the head of the bailiffs, a man around fifty years of age. In his youth, he had been a local ruffian who terrorized the countryside before using connections to secure this cushy, reliable post. He did not hold Xia Lin in high regard, viewing the boy as a lowly, incompetent youth who could neither shoulder a heavy burden nor perform manual labor, and who would likely suffer a severe injury just trying to catch a chicken.

As for his status as a superior official, a mere rank-nine petty bureaucrat was nothing. If he were beaten to death and buried, one could simply report that he had encountered a flash flood and his body was lost; no one would bother to investigate. If it were not for the enlightened Magistrate Liang of Poyang County, who had governed the region well over the past few years, a youth like Xia Lin might not even survive his arrival in such a place.

Hearing Xia Lin speak, Zhao Da lifted his head lazily. After sizing the young man up, he asked, "What is it you need me to do, little official?"

Xia Lin noted the attitude but said nothing, merely smiling as he replied, "Find some people in the township to build houses and repair the docks."

"Where would I find them? The township is left with only widows, orphans, and the elderly, all scattered about. It’s impossible, quite impossible," Zhao Da waved a hand impatiently. "Please, sir, do not make things difficult for me."

Xia Lin remained unperturbed, crossing his legs and laughing, "Tell me, how much silver do those who work outside earn in a month?"

Zhao Da’s brow twitched. Though uneducated, he was shrewd. Hearing the question, he naturally inflated the figure: "At the very least, five taels of silver a month."

"Bullshit!" Xia Lin cursed inwardly. This bastard really took him for a fool. Laborers abroad fell into three categories: apprentices, who received no salary but were provided with rice, flour, meat, and vegetables—roughly equivalent to one tael of silver; manual laborers, who earned about two taels plus room and board, making their total compensation worth three to three-and-a-half taels; and skilled craftsmen, who were valuable but rarely exceeded five taels, or seven taels including food. The problem was that skilled craftsmen were rare and had stable work; they wouldn't return to build bridges or roads.

Since the work here only required apprentices and laborers, with skilled craftsmen to be hired separately, Zhao Da’s claim of five taels was clearly an exaggeration.

Xia Lin leaned back, pondered for a moment, and nodded. "Very well, let us set it at five taels per person. You recruit them, and I will provide the silver. What you pay them is your own business; I will not interfere with the rest. Just get the people recruited. Once the autumn harvest is over, we begin immediately."

Zhao Da’s eyes lit up instantly. His entire demeanor shifted as he leaned in and whispered, "Sir, how many men do you need?"

"The more the better. Five hundred is not too few, and three thousand is not too many. It depends on your capabilities. But let us be clear from the start: this money does not come from me, but from Governor Guo. You know that money from the Governor is not easily taken. If you do your job well, it is fine; if you do not, your head and mine will be sent to Hongdu Prefecture and displayed upon the city gates. If you can do it, do it. If not, don't ruin your life or mine."

Zhao Da pondered for a moment, weighing the pros and cons, before asking with some concern, "And sir... what if the project is delayed?"

"I would face a salary penalty, but for you? It might be fifty strokes of the cane and three thousand miles of penal servitude, or perhaps even worse..." Xia Lin chuckled lightly. "As I said, if you can do it, do it. If not, I will find someone else."

"Sir, increase it to six taels per person, and I will certainly get it done for you."

Xia Lin frowned. "Bargaining? You are quite bold."

"No, no, that’s not it. Sir, listen to me." Zhao Da’s tone had shifted to one of respect, as the allure of silver far outweighed that of a petty rank-nine official. "There are few people in this township, so I must recruit from elsewhere. Those who come from outside require food and lodging. These laborers are dogs who won't be happy if the food is poor, so... that extra tael is for their meals."

Xia Lin nodded. "Then I leave this matter to you. If you handle it beautifully..."

He glanced at the other bailiff. Zhao Da immediately explained, "This is my brother-in-law, one of our own."

"There will be land reclamation and mining work later, which is the real prize. I am new here and have few trusted aides, and being young, I lack prestige, so..."

Zhao Da, a veteran of the underworld, understood perfectly. He nodded repeatedly. "Understood, understood. Thank you for your guidance, sir."

"Hm." Xia Lin leaned back slightly. "Let’s speak plainly. I am here for the political achievement. Money is negotiable, but only if you handle this matter well. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to hold you accountable."

Zhao Da felt a jolt of fear. Looking at this sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth, he suddenly felt a sense of dread. As a seasoned veteran, he could see the murderous intent in the young official's eyes—it was genuine. He was someone who would truly kill.

"Oh, right," Xia Lin tapped the table. "The case of the official murdered in neighboring Xiuning County has been settled. Out of one hundred and two primary and accessory offenders, nine were subjected to death by a thousand cuts, thirty-one had their three generations of kin executed, and the rest were beheaded. Let that be a warning, Zhao Da. Do not get yourself killed, or the entire township might be wiped off the map. You are, after all, a government official, even without a rank, and you draw a salary. Be careful."

Though it sounded like well-intentioned advice, it was steeped in hidden threat. Cold sweat dripped down Zhao Da’s forehead. He wiped it with his sleeve, took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed. "Thank you for your concern, sir. I shall go and attend to the matter now."

Watching him walk away, Xia Lin gave a scoff and turned into the inner room. He was well aware of the local customs in such a remote place, where killing an official was not seen as a major crime. However, he ensured they understood that there was no "safety in numbers" here. While such acts happened, the consequences were always brutal. As long as these people could put food on the table, they wouldn't risk their lives.

As an official of the imperial court, it was necessary for Xia Lin to warn Zhao Da. He had seen through the man’s petty schemes; he should not try anything. If he died, or even if he accidentally choked on his water, this small township would be razed to the ground. Doing the job well was the only way to reap the rewards.

Entering the inner room, Xia Lin found Chuntao sitting on a millstone in the courtyard, lost in a daze, staring at the sparrows on the eaves, not even noticing his arrival.

"Sister Chuntao."

Xia Lin called out, and Chuntao snapped out of her trance. She hurried over, her face devoid of any joy, and said in a routine manner, "Master has returned."

"There is no need to call me Master," Xia Lin said, unloading the large bag from his back and handing it to her. "I brought you some rouge, powder, and a few bolts of cloth from the provincial capital. I wanted to bring some meat, but I was afraid it would spoil in the heat, so I didn't. However, I saw a foreign merchant selling donkey jerky, so I bought you a few pounds. I also brought you ten pounds of brown sugar; I couldn't carry any more."

Chuntao was startled. "For me?"

"Yes. You were clutching your stomach these past few days, and I thought it might be painful when your time comes. I don't know any other way, so I thought some sugar might help. Next time, you can boil an egg with some fermented rice and add this brown sugar. Oh, and I also swiped a bag of fine tea from where I ate."

Seeing Xia Lin rambling on, Chuntao was surprised. Her status was that of an object that could be gifted at will. Even when she was with the young prince, where conditions were excellent, she had never been treated as a human being. Yet now, her own master had carried a bag of goods for her across thousands of miles.

To be treated as a person for the first time—it would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. But Chuntao was not one to express herself well. As she silently organized the items, she said in a flat tone, "You don't need to bring me these things next time. I am merely a maid."

"What are you saying, Sister Chuntao? You're only eighteen, no need to be so old-fashioned." Xia Lin stretched his limbs. "I’m going to take a bath. I feel like I’ve grown water weeds all over me after this trip. Tonight, let's find a way to prepare that donkey jerky."

"I will handle it. You should rest well."

After a bath, he lay on the bed as the mountain breeze blew through the small window, carrying the scent of damp earth. Xia Lin listened to the cicadas and gradually drifted off to sleep in the cool mountain air. Even in the last second before sleep claimed him, he was muttering to himself about building the workshop. He knew it would be difficult; after all, this remote and rugged land bred unruly people. The mountains and rivers were easy to manage, but the people were hard to handle.

It was a pity that Old Zhang was no longer by his side; he didn't even have anyone to consult with, which added to his sense of loneliness. But let it be lonely. He could not let his fear of loneliness block Old Zhang’s path. He was a true talent, gifted and extraordinary. To let him miss one opportunity was enough; to let him miss a second would surely be a lifelong regret.