Chapter 63: Chapter 61: Payday, Return to the City, and the Huaxia People’s Supermarket (Part 1)
"Fifty-seven point one kilograms!"
"Heavier, heavier!"
Zhao Qianju nimbly jumped off the scale, looked at the long line behind him, and said to Wang Tiejimu beside him:
"I’m half a kilo heavier today, how about you, Tiemu?"
Wang Tiejimu gave him a simple, honest smile:
"Uncle Zhao, I’m one kilo heavier, now I’m at forty-nine kilograms."
Zhao Qianju smiled and patted Wang Tiejimu’s shoulder:
"Heavier is good, heavier is good. Over these days, we’ve become much sturdier."
It’s quite strange when you think about it.
Ever since a few days ago when four of these strange ’weight scales’ showed up at the construction site,
almost every time there’s some downtime.
There’s a large gathering of refugees...oh no, they’re called workmates now, a large number of workmates gather in front of the scale.
All just to see if they’re a bit heavier than yesterday.
Zhao Qianju was one of them.
Even he couldn’t quite say why he liked doing this—the Huaxia people always had meat, and meals were something they never lacked, not getting fat was impossible.
But he just felt like coming to weigh himself every day.
Seeing that number a bit larger than the day before always inexplicably filled him with joy.
But what made Zhao Qianju even happier was that more and more workmates were starting to trust the Huaxia people.
At the very beginning.
Among over four hundred workmates, only a few reckoned these Huaxia people had no malice in them.
Because the refugees had experienced so much darkness, they had become too sensitive to easily trust anyone again.
After all, having one or two filling meals wasn’t really a big deal—put it bluntly, even death row inmates get a last meal before execution.
Who knew what these Huaxia people might do after feeding them?
After all, this world had blood sacrifice rituals, which were downright evil.
But now that a few days had passed.
Almost no one questions this anymore.
The construction site was full of vitality and energy.
The reason was simple:
Firstly, the clothing and supplies from the Huaxia people over these days had long surpassed the worth of a human life.
Secondly...
The refugees could feel it; these Huaxia people truly meant well towards them.
For example, the new ’Political Workers’ who came, each one was not only enthusiastic but also approachable.
They would frequently check if you had enough to eat, if you had enough clothes, or if there were any other difficulties.
And in the evenings, they would gather together and question everyone’s past using a small black box.
The additional ones holding tubes, ’Overseers’, perhaps because of their personalities, were quite shy and didn’t talk much.
But they never scolded or beat any refugee, and they always led by example during emergencies.
For instance, the day before yesterday, when Zhao Qianju and others were carrying bricks, a young laborer next to them suddenly fainted.
After inspection by the Huaxia people in white coats on the construction site, it was said to be severe anemia with shock, needing blood transfusion treatment.
Almost the moment this was said,
the refugee workers around all hung their heads like ostriches.
Although they didn’t understand the principles of blood drawing, one thing was clear to them:
Zhao Xiaowu, who fainted, was a person, so it must be human blood being transfused—was there a more suitable choice than the refugees present?
But what happened?
With over ten overseers nearby not even glancing at the refugees, they instantly rolled up their sleeves, rushing forward, each one shouting what blood type they were, being even more eager than the previous one, and in the end, they actually managed to save that young worker!
Throughout the entire incident, not a single hair was harmed on any of the refugee workers!
Perhaps due to their resemblance to the Huaxia people in appearance,
The impoverished people of the Damo Realm inherited the same nature as the Huaxia nation—as long as someone gave them enough to eat and wear, and treated them sincerely, they would follow you wholeheartedly.
After several incidents, the refugee workers completely trusted the Huaxia people.
And the words Zhao Qianju said on that day, ’because they treat us like humans’,
had become a well-known phrase among the refugee groups.
For example, the cook, Fatty Wang, due to his enthusiasm and generosity with food servings,
even had someone carve a longevity tablet for him, secretly worshiping it daily.
Just as Zhao Qianju regained his senses and prepared to call Wang Tiejimu to go to the construction site,
a loudspeaker at the entrance suddenly blared:
"Attention, workmates of Chixian City, attention, workmates of Chixian City, gather at the entrance of the dorms as soon as you hear this message.
Salaries will be distributed in half an hour!
After the salary distribution, arrangements will be made for everyone to return to Chixian City!
Repeating once more..."
As the voice over the loudspeaker resounded,
the crowd in front of the weight scale fell silent for two seconds, then suddenly cheered with joy.
One by one, they stopped weighing themselves and dashed towards the dormitories.
Zhao Qianju and Wang Tiejimu exchanged a glance:
"Let’s go, let’s join them!"
......
The refugees’ dormitory was located on the northwest side of the construction site, made of lightweight steel frame composite steel panels.
This camp of small buildings consisted of six structures, each with two floors and twenty dorms per floor.
The six buildings formed a three-by-three alignment, with an open space in between, accommodating nearly fifteen hundred people.
Of course,
since the first group of refugees was just over four hundred, only two dormitory buildings were used for accommodation as of now.
Additionally, considering the collective instinct of the refugees in a new environment,
the camp distributed dorms based on familiar relations first, then random placements.
Zhao Qianju’s dorm was a typical group of acquaintances.
Besides Wang Tiejimu,
Zhao Qianju, along with former refugee members Pillar, Ah Hua, Mud, and another named Leaf, formed a perfect six-person dormitory.
When Zhao Qianju and Wang Tiejimu arrived outside the dormitory buildings, hundreds of refugee workers were already assembled in the open space.
These refugee workers, guided by some warriors and political officers, formed orderly squares based on their dorms.
In the center of the open space, a large table was set, where several Huaxia people were calculating something.
"Old Zhao, Tiemu, we’re over here!"
Upon hearing the familiar shout, Zhao Qianju turned his head and saw Mud and others not far away gathered together.
Zhao Qianju and Wang Tiejimu quickly walked over to join their roommates.
Having arrived belatedly, Zhao Qianju worried if they had missed any announcements, so he asked:
"Mud, did the Huaxia people say how we get paid?"
Mud nodded, pointing to a political officer not far away, and said:
"Political Commissar Huang explained, shortly we’ll go up to get paid according to our dorm number.
Our dorm number is Building 3, Room 208, so when 3208 is called, it’s our turn."
Then, Mud lowered his voice and said:
"However, I heard... those Huaxia people seem to be paying with paper money, not coins."
"Paper money?"
Zhao Qianju, having been a tailor before and quite experienced, asked, "Could it be a ticket voucher? Like the ones Hongtong Cabinet Shop, under the Weishi name, in town uses?"
Mud shook his head: "I’m not too clear about that."
Just as everyone was speculating, a man in the center of the field suddenly picked up the loudspeaker:
"Fellow villagers, workmates, we’re about to start distributing everyone’s wages!
This time, the money we’re giving out is called Huaxia Currency, a paper-based currency.
You probably haven’t seen this kind of money before, but please rest assured.
We’ve reached an agreement with the Wei Family, and this currency can be used in all of their businesses in town.
Beside me is Wei Lianzhang, the Chief Steward of the Wei Mansion, many of you may know him, he can vouch for what I’m saying.
Additionally, we’ve also opened a supermarket in Chixian City, where everyone can use Huaxia Currency to purchase all kinds of goods!
Alright, now the dorm I call can come up to receive their wages!
First one, 1101!"