Chapter 190
However, the situation was different now. Although everything was managed by the Governor and his furen, they had enough money to buy food for themselves, which ca from the wages that the Governor provided.
Now there were ready-made food shops, vegetable shops, clothing shops, and stores selling various equipnt built by workers with their wages from the Governor. The more people there were, the more buying and selling took place. Initially, it was already a problem, and if not addressed quickly, people would have to queue for a long ti, wasting their ti.
Initially, there was only one shop of each type. With more space, they could increase the number of shops: three fresh produce shops, two clothing shops, two ready-made food shops, and separate equipnt shops for ho and outdoor equipnt, one each.
In the future, villagers might be able to establish their own shops, paying a small rent. This rent wouldn’t be high enough to cause a loss but would cover cleaning costs and allow for hiring additional workers.
Red Earth City would develop in an orderly manner, avoiding becoming a hub of filth or environntal degradation. Even large trees, once cut down, they must be replanted.. No large trees could be cut down for trade without responsibility.
Because trees were rare here, there were only a few species that could be grown. Yueqian let the Agricultural Research Institute cultivated them. Once the trees grew to a certain size, villagers could take them for planting.
These large trees didn’t bear fruit, and their leaves weren’t edible. In the past, they were just used as shade or to build houses. However, there were a lot of these trees, and they were now very useful.
With these large trees, farming beca much easier. They had to cut so trees to create a base for water-based crops. Thus, the area around the city was cleared and converted into extensive farmland.
Of course, this was done in the na of Governor Mu and the Governor’s furen. These areas were initially public land for sale, not governnt land. To use them, they had to be purchased first. Yueqian, who was never short of money, bought them and significantly increased production.
Now, Red Earth City would never lack produce again. The fresh market would undoubtedly expand in the future. As Governor and Governor’s furen, they didn’t seek profit from this. They only wanted the townspeople to be able to establish themselves and find a way to make a living. Therefore, those interested could attend various classes provided by the Governor as a welfare asure.
"Furen, regarding the market expansion, should we allow only Red Earth City residents to trade, or should we also let people from other cities participate?" A scholar following her asked for her opinion.
If only Red Earth City’s purchasing power was considered, there would soon be an excess of goods, as the population of Red Earth City wasn’t large enough to consu all the produce.
"Leave it to the people of Red Earth City," Yueqian shook her head.
She didn’t need to open the city to outsiders who might cause chaos and spy on their affairs. In the future, many herbs would be produced here, and the residents of Red Earth City would receive special privileges, aning the city would profit less.
However, if the residents were clever, they could establish themselves by making profits in this way. Let them buy at low prices, which ant less revenue for the Governor, and then sell to outsiders at higher prices.
By not allowing outsiders in, they wouldn’t know the actual selling prices within Red Earth City. Just like when Red Earth City had no choice and had to buy expensive goods, now let others experienced that.
While Yueqian was plotting evil sches, far away in the mighty Kuya tribe, they had established their village in a fortified valley. Their well-organized patrols ensured they wouldn’t be easily defeated, and the ridge served as a strategic point for battles, giving them an advantage if enemies tried to invade.
A tall young man jumped inside. The symbol on his arm prevented him from being stopped at the village entrance. However, the situation in the village seed abnormal.
Even the Kuya tribe’s soldiers appeared as though sothing had happened, and it was undoubtedly sothing bad. Thus, Yapo didn’t enter imdiately. He approached a soldier who was leaning against a cliff, looking exhausted.
"What happened? Why do you look so exhausted?" Yapo shouted, asking.
The soldier looked at Yapo, who had managed to reach the inner area, and understood that he must be from the tribe, out on a mission. However, his gaze looked at Yapo as if he was looking at soone who was about to be unlucky like himself.
"You’ve just co from outside, so you might not know what’s happening in the village. There’s a strange epidemic spreading. It’s said that soone ca back from a mission elsewhere and brought the disease with them."
"At first, they didn’t realize they were infected, but it spread rapidly, and now almost everyone is sick. The physicians are trying to find a cure by studying the work of our ancestors, and the shamans are communicating with the World Tree for help. However, so far, nothing has worked."
The soldier explained to Yapo. The young man, understanding the situation, widened his eyes in shock. He felt a deep sense of dread.During his ti in Red Earth City, he saw people falling ill and dying every day. Those who refused to beco Red Earth City citizens had to resign themselves to death from this terrible disease. Although there were people who could endure for a long ti because they were physically strong, in the end, they would just die one after another, just waiting for ti.
According to what he had heard from the soldiers, the dicine produced in Red Earth City was very limited and not enough to help everyone in the Bai Region. Now, it seed everyone in the Bai Region was infected. Previously, officials had contacted Red Earth City to obtain the Governor’s furen’s dicine to treat important individuals. However, those were people from the Bai Region, not from the Kuya tribe!
Now, his tribe, which he had avoided bringing the disease back to, was infected. Yapo’s heart chilled with fear. He knew that finding a solution was incredibly difficult, but he rushed inside, urgently seeking to et with the tribal leader.
Although it seed like an impossible solution, Governor Mu and Governor’s furen were not bad people. Even he, who had co to spy, received treatnt. Perhaps if he asked for just a few bottles of dicine, they could reach an agreent.
"Leader, I, Yapo, have returned from gathering information in Red Earth City," the young man knelt before the leader’s house.
The village was unusually quiet now. There was no bustling work, and even their beloved dances had not been perford for a long ti. Musical instrunts lay scattered around the sacred tree they worshipped. This gloom caused Yapo’s eyes to narrow in sorrow.
Thud, thud
The sounds of movent inside made Yapo’s heart tremble. There were still people inside! However, the movents were too slow. Judging by the condition of the soldier outside, it was clear. It seed the tribal leader had also contracted the disease, and now it had likely weakened him significantly.
"Co in," the raspy voice of the leader called out. Yapo, who was outside, quickly entered.
The young man knelt before the tribal leader. He didn’t dare to look at him for fear of seeing a heartbreaking sight. He only saw the leader’s hands, now very thin. The old man, who was their pillar of strength, looked visibly much older. Yapo felt like a lump was stuck in his throat. He wanted to say sothing but couldn’t.
"I heard you were in Red Earth City, cough, cough, thanks to the kindness of the Governor?" The old man asked. His voice was quite weak, but he still got the gist of it.
"It’s true," Yapo did not hide it.
There were bound to be others gathering information about Red Earth City besides him. After contracting the deadly disease and being treated, he had to work to repay the debt. He had forgotten how much the Kuya tribe needed this information, and it was no surprise they would send more people after he didn’t return.
"Hmm..." The tribal leader nodded in understanding.
"Leader, you might already know that this epidemic is so severe that even the Bai Region is suffering from its devastation. The dicine that can be produced is limited, but Red Earth City has the Governor’s furen, who is skilled in making it. If we negotiate, we might be able to get so dicine," Yapo said hopefully.
If the other party agreed, he would contact the Governor’s furen imdiately.
"That is impossible," the leader shook his head in disagreent, though his face bore a kind smile towards Yapo, unable to hide the sadness in his eyes.
"Why do you say that, Leader? We haven’t even tried contacting Red Earth City yet. Maybe..."
"Maybe? There is no such thing as ’maybe.’"
"......."
"You should know the current situation of the Bai Region. The Bai Region is also facing a crisis. If Red Earth City, which is under the Bai Region, gives us the dicine but doesn’t provide it to the capital or everyone in the Bai Region, they would be charged with rebellion imdiately. Do you understand this?"
The tribal leader spoke while coughing, but his ssage was clear and complete.
Yapo paused slightly, considering the leader’s words, and realized it was a frightening truth. When he received treatnt, many thought it was inappropriate. If he hadn’t returned with the accomplishnt of saving the Governor’s furen, he might have faced more criticism. Even the Governor’s furen could have been seen as biased and unreasonable.He understood well. Even the gifts he received from the other party had to be kept secret. Thinking about this, Yapo touched the backpack that had been secretly prepared for him by the Governor’s master. It contained all the valuable items he needed. Thus, the young man swallowed his sadness and handed the bag he had carried all the way to the tribal leader.
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