There were quite a few mouths to feed at home.
In the afternoon, Tian Guihua and the two cooks, Mi and Mian, had started preparing dinner early, with the number of kitchen staff increasing to ten.
The kitchen was like a battlefield, but dinner was finally ready.
The mine captives and bandits ate the same food, cooked in one pot, with some leafy greens thrown in and a bit of oil and salt.
Bai Sheng's entire family and Prince Yu, however, had white rice, large platters of chicken, rabbit, and greens. Though simple, the taste was rich and the portions generous.
Bai Sheng had cleaved a patch of land for a vegetable garden and planted some vegetables. Irrigated daily with spiritual spring water, they grew quickly. With the vegetable garden, she could openly use the vegetables from her spatial dimension and eat to her heart's content.
Lu Huo once again shocked everyone with her appetite.
Ever since the lady of the house had personally given her a ceramic bowl the size of a washbasin, she no longer hid her talent for eating heartily.
The lady of the house had said that if she liked to eat, she could eat to her heart's content, as the family could afford it.
She had been a servant for several years, and this was the first lady of the house who had spoken to her like this. In this life, she, Lu Huo, would serve the lady of the house forever. Anyone who dared to bully the lady of the house, or the four little masters who were about to be born, would have to ask her fists first.
She had already started learning martial arts from the master of the house, who had also solemnly instructed her that no matter what happened in the future, her primary task was to protect the lady and the little masters.
She would definitely achieve this.
After dinner, everyone sat in the bamboo pavilion to rest and chat. The courtyard in front of the door was full of people.
Bai Sheng intended to take this opportunity to sort out the household staff and affairs. Without order, she wouldn't be at ease even when giving birth.
"Your Highness Prince Yu, how do you plan to deal with those people from the mine?" Bai Sheng wanted to handle this group of freeloaders first.
Prince Yu replied without hesitation, "Tomorrow, let them report on each other. Those who are extremely wicked will be killed and thrown into the cesspool to fertilize the fields. Those who have committed no great evil will continue to work in the mine if they wish, or be kicked out early if they don't."
General Feces' eyes lit up instantly; he had become obsessed with finding feces recently.
"Then, starting tomorrow morning, I won't provide them with food anymore. Their starvation will be none of my concern," Bai Sheng shrugged, smiling slyly.
Lu Yun, sitting beside Bai Sheng, tugged at her sleeve and said, "Sister-in-law, before they leave, can we give them some laxatives? They've eaten so much of our grain for free; they must leave their feces behind before they go."
Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.
So her little uncle saw all these people as feces-making machines? Bai Sheng also laughed until her stomach ached. She patted Lu Yun's head, "Of course, we will make sure they excrete thoroughly."
"Then I'll go give them water to drink later and bring the chamber pots in. If they clean themselves out tonight, they can get lost immediately tomorrow morning," Lu Yun propped his chin with his hands, blinking his innocent eyes.
Granny Wu took out a small porcelain bottle from her embrace and handed it to Lu Yun, "Yun, this is a laxative, take it."
Lu Yun took the laxative and waved to the younger brothers behind him. They all rushed to give the mine people laxatives.
"This little thing is even more ruthless than I am," Prince Yu couldn't help but laugh as he watched the little fellow's receding back.
After laughing, Bai Sheng turned to Feng Pingyuan and said, "Brother Feng, how have those bandits been lately?"
Feng Pingyuan straightened his chest and replied immediately, "Reporting to Madam, most of those women are quite well-behaved. I have released some who performed well, and five or six who misbehaved are still doing heavy labor.
Among the bandits, those who did not commit great evil have also been upgraded to good citizens and allowed to settle on their own. There are currently over twenty who are extremely vicious. With Granny Wu's poison keeping them in check, they are manageable for now."
"Meaning, currently, there are still nearly thirty bandits eating our food?" Bai Sheng was more concerned about this. The grain she had painstakingly grown in her spatial dimension could not be given to useless people for free.
"That's basically the case," Feng Pingyuan nodded.
"Then, let them work desperately," Bai Sheng said.
"Alright, if we don't make them work desperately, we'll be letting down the food we've given," Feng Pingyuan calculated this cost meticulously.
"Also, Brother Feng, please count the residents who use the well water for free over the past few days, on a household basis.
Any resident who is not eligible for free well water use, but wishes to use it for free, must help plant 365 trees for our family annually and be responsible for caring for these trees. The saplings will be provided by our family, and we will also decide where they are planted.
If they are unwilling to help plant trees, they must help our family with five days of free labor each month.
If they are unwilling to do anything, they are forbidden from using the well water," she stated. Their well water was private; it wasn't for anyone to use indefinitely just because they arrived. If they hadn't contributed to Red Tree Slope, why should they?
"Okay, Madam, I will give you the list tomorrow," Feng Pingyuan replied.
"This method of 'Black Face' is very good; it can encourage them to plant more trees," Prince Yu praised.
"Of course, it's good. It also makes them realize that freeloading and unearned gains are not feasible," Lu Ye glanced at Prince Yu, somewhat proud. The methods thought up by his good wife were naturally excellent.
Ji Chenghe did not notice the silent battle between the two. He stroked his chin and mused, "In the future, if someone wants to move to Red Tree Slope, they must be assessed for their character. Not just anyone can enter, lest it spoil the customs of Red Tree Slope."
Bai Sheng nodded, "Brother Ji's suggestion is very good. Brother Feng, have you noted it down?"
Feng Pingyuan nodded, "Yes, I've noted it down. In a while, I'll work on an assessment charter and show it to you."
"Well, then Brother Feng, thank you for your hard work," Bai Sheng said with a smile.
Lu Ye thought for a moment and added, "To prevent the residents from living in a disorganized manner as their numbers grow, the structure and layout of Red Tree Slope still need careful planning. Brother Feng, please also draft a preliminary plan."
The busy Feng Pingyuan nodded repeatedly, noting down the tasks one by one.
Bai Sheng turned to Prince Yu and said, "Your Highness Prince Yu, your guards can sleep on the floor tonight. There aren't enough rooms in the house, but there are plenty of bamboo mats. Granny Zhong, please send someone to go with Granny Zhong to get the bamboo mats later."
"Understood, Madam. Our bamboo mats will be more than enough," Granny Zhong felt proud that she was playing a significant role in the household.
Prince Yu said to Ah Bian behind him, "Ah Bian, you go get them later. If you can't find the place, you can sleep on the floor under this bamboo pavilion. Starting tomorrow, you all will help build the rooms as quickly as possible."
"Yes! Your Highness!" Ah Bian replied respectfully. They, as guards, could sleep anywhere on the ground, so having bamboo mats was already excellent treatment.
Bai Sheng then looked at the ten new midwives, two maids, and four wet nurses who were sitting quietly. She was thinking about how to arrange them.
Lu Ye, however, spoke up, "The five newly built rooms will have temporary beds set up by Gousheng and Dani. The midwives, wet nurses, and the two young ladies will have to make do for tonight. Tomorrow, I will go to town to buy beds and bedding."
The midwives all nodded and expressed their thanks.
Prince Yu beckoned the two young maids, "You two, come here!"
The young maids walked over generously, their demeanor and actions very proper, indicating they were indeed raised in a prominent family.