Chapter 42: Boil Yourself To Make A Meal For Everyone?
Lu Chengjing had indeed discussed a method with several elders in the village, namely the Work-Point System.
After major natural disasters occur, the Imperial Court issues Disaster Relief Silver, and local areas also open granaries for disaster relief, distributing it to each county and village.
The villagers’ labor is all recorded as points according to the established standards, and at that time, Disaster Relief Supplies are distributed according to the points. Those who work more get more, those who work less get less, and no one can complain.
Shang Wan thought this was similar to the apocalypse base’s system of killing zombies and Mutated Beasts to exchange for Contribution Points, then using Contribution Points to exchange for Supplies, but there was still an essential difference.
She glanced at Lu Chengjing. Could it be that her family’s vase had been tricked by someone?
“Xiucai Scholar, can we earn points too?” Li Xiaoshan asked on behalf of the group of children in the village.
“Naturally, regardless of age or gender,” Lu Chengjing glanced at the villagers’ faces, “as long as the effort meets the standard, points can be recorded.”
The children immediately cheered, only settling down after being glared at by their own adults several times, then running to the side to whisper.
Luo Er raised his hand and asked: “If we help with work, does the village provide meals?”
The village elders had already discussed this matter. Old Man Liu said: “No meals provided. In the future, each household handles their own meals.”
“Why no meals? Communal Pot Meals are so nice!”
Old Man Liu saw through Luo Er’s little scheme clearly. He said: “Everyone has different appetites, and meals can’t be calculated fairly. Last night was a special situation to cook the Communal Pot Meal, and the steamed buns this morning were also limited—children get one, adults get two, no more.”
Luo Er’s face immediately fell.
Someone nearby jeered: “Luo Er, you ate five bowls of rice last night. What, you want to eat five bowls again today?”
“Did you eat less?” Luo Er glared at the jeering person, “Acting like you haven’t eaten meat in eight lifetimes.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Talking about you, so what?”
Seeing the two about to quarrel, people nearby quickly separated them.
Li Dashan asked anxiously: “When do we start? There are still quite a few things under my house.”
Old Man Wu waved his hand, “No rush for this moment. Eat your fill first to have strength for work.”
The air was already filled with the wheat fragrance of steamed buns, and many people’s stomachs rumbled as they frequently turned to look toward the large pot stove.
Several aunts were standing by the pot, tossing fresh Bok Choy into the Boiling Water.
Old Man Wu called out: “Are all the steamed buns ready?”
“Ready!” Aunt Yao heard her man shout and called back loudly, “Vegetable Soup is also ready. We can eat!”
The children couldn’t wait and ran over, lining up to get steamed buns.
The steamed buns were round and plump, bigger than an adult man’s Fist, white and soft. The children eagerly took a bite, scalding their mouths and huffing, but unwilling to spit them out.
Clean Bowls and Chopsticks were all in the Bamboo Basket. Those who wanted Vegetable Soup could get a bowl and ladle it themselves by the pot.
Although the steamed buns were limited, there was plenty of Vegetable Soup.
Everyone ate and chatted, forgetting the earlier minor unpleasantness.
“Here.” Shang Wan handed a steamed bun to Lu Chengjing and placed the Soup Bowl on the Table board in front of him.
“Thank you.” Lu Chengjing reached to take it, but Shang Wan didn’t let go. She tore off a piece of steamed bun and stuffed it into his mouth. “Verbal thanks can be skipped next time.”
Lu Chengjing, mouth stuffed with steamed bun: ?
If not verbal thanks, then how to thank?
Shang Wan shoved the rest of the steamed bun into his hand. Thinking that he could only use his left hand now and would have to set down the steamed bun to drink soup, she placed an empty bowl in front of him again.
Little Friend Yuan Yuan tilted her little head, glanced at her own daddy, then at the empty Table board in front of her, immediately feeling treated differently by her fragrant mother.
The little one unhappily pouted her small mouth and raised her small hand to slap the Table board, expressing her strong protest.
“Good girl, save some strength.” Shang Wan quickly grabbed her small hand and stuffed a small piece of steamed bun into her mouth.
Sweet! Yuan Yuan’s big eyes curved, her two millet teeth slowly chewing the steamed bun, super satisfied!
Shang Wan amusingly pinched her. Satisfied with just a steamed bun, quite easy to raise.
“Sister, you eat yours. I’ll feed Yuan Yuan.” Xiao Huan saw that Shang Wan had something to say to Lu Chengjing, so she proactively reached out to hold Yuan Yuan and tore steamed bun to feed her.
Shi Tou cooled the Vegetable Soup by shaking it and fed some to Yuan Yuan whenever there was an opening.
Shang Wan nibbled on her steamed bun while glancing at Lu Chengjing. Lu Chengjing felt somewhat puzzled by her gaze, paused his soup-drinking hand, and turned to look over.
Shang Wan asked: “Did you come up with this Work-Point System method?”
“Mm.” Lu Chengjing responded lightly.
Shang Wan narrowed her eyes, looking at him suspiciously, “Were you fooled by those old men?”
Lu Chengjing was slightly stunned, “Why do you say that?”
Shang Wan glanced around. They were sitting in the corner, no one nearby, suitable for talking.
She lowered her voice: “The village suffered a disaster. The things issued by the Imperial Court should belong to everyone, whether they work or not. Now you’re making this method, which is equivalent to taking what should go into their pockets, pooling it together, and then they have to work to get it. Isn’t that treating people like fools?”
“Indeed, everyone has a share.” Lu Chengjing stirred the overcooked soft rotten vegetable leaves in his Soup Bowl, watching the small whirlpool in the center, his voice somewhat cold, “But it has to be issued first.”
Shang Wan frowned, “You mean there’s a problem with this Disaster Relief Grain?”
“There was before.” Lu Chengjing stopped stirring and looked sideways at Shang Wan, “There are no lack of shrewd people in the village. They accepted the Work-Point System because when we proposed this method, we were already implicitly promising them that we would get the Disaster Relief Grain.”
Shang Wan found it strange, “According to Shen Qi, the Disaster Relief Grain won’t be allocated until at least the day after tomorrow, but everyone has to start working today. Aren’t they afraid you won’t get the money and grain, and their physical labor will be wasted?”
“If we can’t get it, there are ways to handle not getting it.” Lu Chengjing’s voice was slightly cool, “Anyway, someone is taking responsibility.”
Shang Wan understood the implication, raising her eyebrow, “Oh, Xiucai Scholar has such a spirit of dedication? What, planning to boil yourself to make a meal for everyone?”
Lu Chengjing: “…”
“Speak.” Shang Wan nudged his calf with her toe.
A slight pain spread from the point of contact, his muscles tensed then slowly relaxed. Lu Chengjing said helplessly: “I know my limits.”
Shang Wan gave him a cold look. As a vase, he had no self-awareness at all. Didn’t he know vases were fragile and prone to cracking?
Facing Shang Wan’s cold face, Lu Chengjing felt somewhat unaccustomed.
From their first meeting in the Prison, Shang Wan had never shown him such an expression, as if one wrong reaction from him and she would abandon him without hesitation.
He pursed his pale lips, his fair fingertips moved slightly, slowly, bit by bit pinching the sleeve hem that Shang Wan had draped over the Bench.
Shang Wan lowered her gaze to look, clicking her tongue lightly, “I’m angry. Acting cute won’t work.”
Where was he acting cute?
Lu Chengjing’s Ear Root burned red, his cool voice softening a bit, “Don’t be upset yet. Let me finish speaking.”
As if possessed, he gently shook the sleeve hem he was pinching twice, his long eyelashes trembling fiercely.
