Chapter 31: The Rules

Li Po did not sleep well that night.

Even without a fire, the room was far better than the straw hut. It was equipped with complete bedding, and he was exhausted to the bone, so it should have been a wonderful night. But without that layer of grime to protect his skin and the howling wind outside to drown out his thoughts, he found himself tossing and turning, unable to drift off. Of course, he would never admit that the rather chilling scene from earlier was the root of his restlessness.

Li Chun was sleeping on a small cot across from him. He had whimpered a few times at first, not daring to speak to Li Po, but now he was snoring softly. A single listen was enough to tell that he was sleeping soundly. This made Li Po quite dissatisfied; the little brat had a surprisingly thick skin.

He drifted off eventually, and when he finally woke, the sky was already bright. He shook his head; he didn't feel particularly refreshed, but he didn't have any aches or pains either. His physical constitution was truly solid; the years of tempering had not been in vain. It was just that after years of enduring hardship, he found himself somewhat unaccustomed to comfort.

"You’re just a soul born to suffer," Li Po muttered to himself. As his mind cleared, he instinctively looked toward the opposite bed. It was already empty, though a few clean garments lay folded upon it—clearly left behind by the previous occupants.

Li Po yawned and hurriedly pulled the clothes on. They didn't fit perfectly, but they were warm enough. There was also a pair of boots that looked decent. After putting them on, Li Po sighed in frustration; the damn things were far too large and kept slipping off his heels. *This brat better know how to sew, or I’ll beat his behind until it’s raw.*

He pushed the door open and stepped out, only to be startled. He had heard no noise inside, assuming everyone was still in their respective rooms, but a dense crowd was gathered in the main hall. The moment he appeared, all eyes fell upon him. Suddenly, they all collapsed into a mass of bows, a cacophony of voices flooding his ears.

Children began to wail, adults began to clamor, and a chaotic morning had begun.

"Since everyone is here, let me set some rules," Li Po said, not standing on ceremony. The group was a mix of old and young, men and women—some were entire families, others were solitary wanderers. In the refugee camp, people lacked the energy for trouble, but now that they were under one roof, he couldn't let things remain so disorganized.

The noise vanished instantly.

"First, stop calling me 'Master Li' or 'Benefactor.' Not only is it ridiculous, it’ll draw unnecessary attention from the authorities. From now on, call me 'Dalang,' 'Li Da,' or 'Li Dalang.' We’ve all had hard lives; let’s drop the formalities."

"Second, life will surely get better, but I have no patience for petty gossip. Keep your heads down, work hard, and mind your own business. That is the way to survive. I have no tolerance for nonsense. If anyone thinks this life is too easy and feels the need to stir up trouble, you might as well go back to the straw hut and freeze."

"Third, you all know what kind of place this slave market is. Keep an eye on your children and wives; don't let anyone get snatched away, because once that happens, none of us can help you."

"Of course, we don't look for trouble, but we won't fear it either. If anyone intentionally provokes us, for the sake of this house's peace, we will resort to steel and blood to ensure our safety."

"I’ve had enough of eating husks and freezing in the cold. If anyone is scared, you can go back now. It’s bitter over there, but at least it’s safe. Heh..."

"Also, don't associate with those idlers. We’ve drifted to this point and nearly lost our lives; perhaps it's because we didn't do enough good in our past lives. If we continue to lose virtue now, who knows if we’ll end up as beasts in the next life."

"Fourth, look to the long term. Next year, we will have to register for households. Heaven knows what kind of status they’ll give us, so we must save every coin we earn. I have a plan, but this isn't the time to discuss it."

"If anyone feels that their hard work isn't yielding enough and is unhappy, speak up now. We can part ways amicably. But if you don't say anything now, don't come whining to me when it’s time to spend the money."

"Furthermore, stop being so filthy. We’re living in one house; if sickness breaks out, we’re all in trouble. I intend to live a long time and eventually take a wife and have children."

"Alright, that’s all. Is that clear?"

It had to be clear. After moving from the straw hut and spending one night here, no one wanted to go back. At this moment, Li Po’s words held more weight among them than an emperor’s decree. Seeing everyone nodding, yet hearing not a single sound, Li Po grew impatient. He slammed the table and shouted, "Did you hear me clearly?"

Listening to their trembling replies, Li Po felt a bit deflated. Such good rules, why couldn't anyone offer a word of praise?

"You all saw the supplies we dragged back yesterday. Today, wash them clean. Wash them thoroughly. You cannot be sloppy with what we eat..."

As he spoke, Li Po caught a glimpse of his own hands. They were covered in frostbite, gashes, and scars, the original color of his skin barely visible. He paused, realizing he had forgotten something. With hands like these, washing the offal would be suicidal; by the time he finished, his hands would be ruined.

He had everyone sit in a line and held out their hands for inspection. The sight was heartbreaking. Only one thin, frail woman had hands that were still intact, likely because she had only recently given birth. Her child had already died from the cold, her husband was gone, and she was left with an elderly father-in-law and a young daughter—her family was effectively destroyed. The girl was sensible and took good care of her mother. Then there was Li Chun; he had been well-cared for by Li Po. Though they had been hungry in the camp, he had not suffered too much from the cold.

So, the task fell to the two of them. The woman worked diligently, her spirit crushed by life, hoping only that her daughter might one day marry into a decent family. As for Li Chun, he was eager to prove himself before his big brother.

Li Po directed the others to help fetch and change the water, and in the backyard, he used stones to build a rudimentary stove.