Guan Xiaorou, Tang Xiaobei, Zhang Liang, Tang Dongdong, Man Cang, Zhou Jin, Qing Mulan, Liu Tie, the village heads of both villages, Run Niang, Wan Niang, Zheng Fang.
All the influential people from Xihewan and Guan Family Bay gathered at Jin Feng’s house after work in the evening.
They were discussing the growing population problem in the village.
“Mr Jin, too many people are coming. Not only are the open spaces in the village filled, but many thatched sheds have been built on the back hills too.”
Zhang Liang spoke first. “If this continues, there will be trouble in the village.”
“There has already been trouble. This evening, Old Three came home and found his grain sack stolen,” the village head said, shaking his head.
“Brother Liang, this must be investigated urgently. Once we find the culprit, expel them immediately. They must never be allowed back in Xihewan.”
Jin Feng said coldly, “This behaviour cannot be tolerated, or the village will soon descend into chaos.”
“I have already sent people to investigate,” Zhang Liang replied.
“Brother Zheng Fang, bring more men from Cat Cat Mountain to assist Brother Liang. If anyone tries to cause trouble, suppress them at once.”
“Understood.”
Zheng Fang nodded, then added, “Mr Jin, this cannot go on indefinitely. We need to find a solution quickly.”
“Is it not simple? Drive them all away,” Liu Tie said.
“Drive them away? They came to work in the textile factory. Many sold their property to get here. They cannot go back. If we do not keep them, they may starve outside,” Tang Dongdong said, frowning.
“We did not invite them, nor did we force them to sell their homes.”
Liu Tie replied, “Besides, the textile factory is fully staffed. Why keep them?”
“Enough. Stop arguing.”
Seeing the two about to quarrel, Jin Feng stood up. “Whether we invited them or not, since they came with their families, it shows they trust Xihewan and want to make a living here. We cannot drive them to their deaths, or in future, no one will come when we need workers.”
“Well said, Mr Jin!” Qing Mulan stood and cheered.
“Enough. Do not cause a scene.”
Jin Feng pressed her back down, thought for a moment. “Village head, I recall the few acres of flat land behind the kiln factory belong to your family. Can you rent them to me? I want to build thatched sheds there to gather everyone in one place, instead of having them scattered everywhere. The rent will be the same as for the textile factory land. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course,” the village head said. “Everyone in my family now earns wages from you. We have no time to farm. The land would lie fallow anyway. Use it freely. Why speak of rent?”
“If I use your land, rent must be paid. It is the rule. It cannot be broken, or in future, when I use others’ land, will they expect payment or not?”
Jin Feng said, “If you agree, it is settled. Tomorrow, village head, you and Third Grandfather gather the outsider men and have them build the sheds.
Once the sheds are ready, move everyone there.
Then send the men to the construction sites. Ask the women if any want to work there too. They will earn seventy percent of the men’s wages and receive three meals a day.
This will speed up building and give them something to do, instead of idling in the village.
Women and children who do not want construction work should stay in the sheds for now. The village will provide one bowl of wheat porridge at midday. Anyone who disobeys and wanders off will be expelled.”
“Understood.”
Both village heads nodded quickly.
“Mulan, you always complain about too few female soldiers. With more people now, go and select whoever you want.”
Jin Feng turned to Qing Mulan.
“I have been waiting for those words, Mr Jin.”
Qing Mulan nodded eagerly.
Most newcomers from other villages were women, many desperate, providing Qing Mulan with a large pool of potential recruits.
“Man Cang, stop forging black knives for now. Continue making spinning wheels.”
Jin Feng turned to Man Cang. “Produce another three hundred spinning wheels as quickly as possible.”
Three hundred spinning wheels, running two shifts day and night, could absorb another six hundred female workers.
“Mr Jin, we already spin dozens of cartloads of hemp thread daily. If we make so many more wheels, can we sell all the thread?”
Man Cang asked with some concern.
“Dongdong, I need a drink of water. You explain to Man Cang.”
Jin Feng smiled and lifted his teacup.
“Man Cang, Guangyuan is a hemp-producing region. Every day, large ships from other places fill the Guangyuan docks to collect hemp thread. Even if we produced ten times our current dozens of cartloads, there would be no worry about sales. It is only a matter of price.”
Tang Dongdong said, “Not to mention the current top cloth merchant in the county seat, the Zhou family. When my family was still prosperous, the hemp thread needed daily for weaving far exceeded what we spin now.”
“I made a fool of myself,” Man Cang said, scratching his head sheepishly. “In that case, once I finish the current forge materials, I will resume making spinning wheels.”
“Man Cang, every ten spinning wheels you complete, send them to Dongdong.”
Jin Feng arranged. “Dongdong, coordinate with the two village heads. The weather is not yet cold. Before the new workshops are built, like we did at the start, erect a few more thatched sheds and get the women working as soon as possible. Absorb as many as we can.
Village heads, Third Grandfather, Man Cang, all assist Dongdong.”
“No problem.”
The group quickly agreed.
“Brother Tie, with so many more mouths to feed, we cannot rely solely on Iron Can Mountain’s grain. In future, when returning from the county seat, buy some grain too. We must never run short of food.”
Jin Feng said, “Run Niang handles this now. Discuss quantities with her.”
“Understood.”
Liu Tie nodded at once.
“That is the plan for now. I will be in the village recently. If any problems arise, communicate promptly.”
Jin Feng stood. “If there is nothing else, everyone return to your duties.”
Early the next morning, the entire village sprang into action.
The outsiders who had idled for days in the back hills and village entrance, worrying all the while, finally received their first job since arriving in Xihewan.
Soon, rows of thatched sheds appeared on the open land behind the kiln factory.
Sheds from other parts of the village were dismantled, and all outsiders were gathered in the new location.
Zhang Liang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He had found the grain thief, a ne’er-do-well from a neighbouring village who had come to fish in troubled waters amid the recent influx. He had stolen not only Old Three’s grain but also silver scraps saved by another family, though that had not yet been discovered.
Such a person deserved no sympathy. Zhang Liang broke one of the man’s legs and threw him out of the village. His survival was now up to fate.
After several days of effort, the village restored its former order.
And it had become even livelier.
