Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 299 Ma Xiuying's Good Days Have Arrived

"Sooyoung~"

"The water's boiling!"

With a creaking sound from the door hinges, Ma Xiuying hurriedly pushed the door open and came out, saying, "Coming!"

In the shared courtyard, a tin stove was burning honeycomb briquettes, and a kettle was boiling water on top of it.

Ma Xiuying quickly stepped forward and picked up the noisy kettle.

He thanked the Lan family and carried the water jug ​​back into the house.

There was a thermos on the table inside the room. Ma Xiuying opened the cap and poured hot water into it.

This was a perk that Lin Dao gave to the soldiers; Chang Yuchun received several.

The Lan family was kind-hearted, so they gave one to their family.

The ancients also knew the benefits of hot water.

They are aware of the benefits, whether for drinking or for daily use.

In ancient times, hot water was a luxury, a luxury enjoyed only by the wealthy.

To boil water, you need to burn firewood.

Firewood, however, needs to be purchased with money.

The more you live in the city, the greater your daily expenses will be.

After pouring the hot water, Ma Xiuying picked up the last dose of medicine, carried the medicine pot out to decoct it.

Just as she finished her work, the young Guo Guo'er came over and tugged at her sleeve, saying, "Sister, I'm hungry~~~"

The future Consort Guo only wants to eat right now.

In her mind, her older sister was omnipotent; she only needed to ask her older sister for help.

Ma Xiuying sighed silently.

There's not much rice left at home; we'll only have enough for today at most.

Most importantly, Tianjue's injuries are gradually worsening, and he needs to continue buying medicine.

The cost of seeking medical treatment can be enough to bankrupt a person.

She had no more jewelry to pawn.

The remaining money will be completely spent after buying a few more days' worth of medicine and some food.

At this moment, the heavy burden of life is making it hard for her to breathe.

"it is good."

With a smile on her face, Ma Xiuying stroked the girl's hair and said, "Now that the medicine for Tianjue is ready, let's eat."

Chang Yuchun's voice rang out from outside the courtyard: "Wife, come out and move the things!"

Lan Shi, who was looking at her new clothes in the mirror inside the house, hurriedly ran out and jogged towards the door.

Ma Xiuying's mind stirred slightly, and she hurriedly followed.

Upon arriving at the street outside the courtyard, they saw Chang Yuchun and a coachman standing beside a large cart.

"The King will distribute salaries today."

Chang Yuchun instructed the driver to first move the honeycomb briquettes.

Lan rushed forward to help, but was scolded by Chang Yuchun: "You're dressed so nicely, go and carry the meat."

The couple led the driver to carry supplies into the hospital. Standing to the side, Ma Xiuying held Guo Guo'er's little hand and looked at the dazzling array of supplies on the truck in disbelief.

Especially the money bag filled with copper coins, which was just placed openly on the carriage.

Rice, flour, cooking oil, salted meat, salted fish, cloth, canned goods, and more are all available.

Lin Dao already had experience with this.

He knew very well that talking about ideals and dedication with people of this era was just nonsense.

Only tangible benefits can motivate and inspire them.

If the benefits aren't right, even if you were the Jade Emperor descending to earth, nobody would pay you any attention.

Because he understood these things, Lin Dao simply implemented a hierarchical system in the army.

The higher one's status and position, the more benefits one receives.

This will inspire the soldiers to strive for merit and climb the ranks.

His bottom line is that he doesn't use literary figures.

After all, history books have clearly written what a tragic end the Song and Ming dynasties, which heavily relied on literati and scholars, had.

As for the heavy reliance on military men, which could potentially lead to a situation similar to the end of the Tang Dynasty, Lin Dao didn't really care.

Even if military figures came to power after his death, he would at least have died standing, which is better than the Song and Ming dynasties dying on their knees at the hands of the barbarians.

If one can unify the world in various timelines before death, even if the world falls apart and is constantly embroiled in internal strife afterward, it will be fought among their own people, and they will not give you, monkeys, white people, or Indians any chance to rise to the top.

For this reason, Lin Dao's treatment of the soldiers was truly unprecedented in this era.

"Sister~"

Guo Guo'er looked at the salted fish and smoked whale meat on the truck and subconsciously swallowed.

She hadn't tasted meat in a long time.

"Go back to your room and take care of Tianjue."

Ma Xiuying told her stepsister to go back inside, while she herself went forward and picked up a stack of honeycomb briquettes to help carry them into the yard.

As for the many supplies and even the money pouches on the carriage, they only glanced at them and then paid no more attention.

Seeing her come in carrying honeycomb briquettes, Madam Lan quickly stopped her, saying, "Good girl, don't..."

"This is so dirty, let the men carry it."

"It's nothing." After placing the honeycomb briquettes under the rain shelter, Ma Xiuying stood up and wiped her forehead. "I'm used to being taken care of by my sister, so it's only right that I help out."

Ms. Lan, whose husband and younger brother are often away from home and who lives alone and feels very lonely, has a good impression of this new neighbor.

She simply grabbed Ma Xiuying's hand and walked straight out, saying, "Listen to me, let's get the lighter ones."

Chang Yuchun nodded slightly as he watched the women's retreating figures.

Thanks to his contributions to Hangzhou, Chang Yuchun has been promoted to centurion and is currently building his own hundred-man team.

This is roughly the highest rank among junior officers, and the salary paid is naturally quite substantial.

One stone each of rice and flour, and three large barrels of pre-processed whale oil.

There were three bolts of white cloth and thirty catties of salted fish and whale meat.

Five pounds of salt would be enough to make Lan Shi sick of salt.

One hundred and twenty honeycomb briquettes are enough to keep the stove burning for a whole month.

In addition, upon reaching the level of General Manager, one receives an extra ten cans of food as a reward, half fruit and half luncheon meat.

As for the salary, it exceeded ten strings of cash, which was more than ten times higher than that of low-ranking officers such as the captain and deputy military commander in the former Song Dynasty.

There's no such thing as salary secrecy here; everyone knows how much is paid to different ranks. Lin Dao wants all the soldiers to see just how generous the officers' income is.

Only in this way can they be motivated to train hard, fight bravely, and achieve meritorious service.

Of course, the embezzlement and exploitation of soldiers that occurred in the military throughout history, as well as the practice of drawing salaries for ghost soldiers, do not exist in Lindao.

Anyone who touches it will be beheaded, without hesitation.

Offering high salaries is also a way to encourage honesty and integrity.

Receiving such high salaries and still exploiting soldiers for personal gain is a crime deserving of death.

"Look, this is a rare item."

Lan picked up a can of yellow peaches. "It's only available in the military. My master said it's only issued before the start of a war."

"Normally, only those of the rank of centurion or above can receive it."

"The juice is sweet, and the yellow peaches are crunchy and delicious."

After saying that, he stuffed it directly into Ma Xiuying's hand and said, "Take this and have a taste."

"Sister Lan~"

Ma Xiuying hurriedly refused, saying, "I have already received so much help from you, how can I take anything more from you?"

Indeed, we received a lot of help.

Putting everything else aside, just using the Lan family's stove to boil water, cook, and decoct medicine every day saved a lot of money on firewood.

"do not talk."

The Lan family, whose men were capable and whose families were wealthy, forcefully pressed down on Ma Xiuying's hand and said, "Take it!"

After the goods were moved, Chang Yuchun gave the driver some money and told him to go home first.

Lan Shi quickly prepared the meal and even brought him some drinks.

"Don't drink anymore."

Chang Yuchun waved his hand, "I only have half a day off. I'll leave after I eat."

During the meal, he unusually asked, "How's it going next door?"

"She's had a tough life." Madam Lan served food to her husband. "My little sister is young and doesn't know any better, and her little brother has been suffering from a cold and is bedridden."

"Poor Xiuying."

"Wind-evil entering the body?" Chang Yuchun frowned as he picked up a piece of luncheon meat. "This is a life-threatening illness."

“Who says otherwise?” Madam Lan sighed. “Sister Xiuying said that her younger brother will definitely get better, and when he joins the army, things will get better.”

"But this is an invasion of pathogenic wind!"

"Eight out of ten people won't make it through."

"If her younger brother hadn't been able to hold on, I really don't know what would have become of Xiuying."

Chang Yuchun thought about it carefully and said, "There are indeed effective medicines in the army. The Ming King brought a miraculous medicine that can cure wind-evil as soon as it is taken."

Lan was overjoyed and was about to speak when Chang Yuchun waved his hand, saying, "This is military supplies."

"It can only be used on wounded and sick soldiers."

"Take it without permission." He raised his hand and gestured across his neck. "Beheading!"

“The King is generous, but in this respect, he cannot tolerate any wrongdoing.”

The Lan family and Ma Xiuying had a good relationship, but not so good that the Lan family would risk their husbands' lives to save someone.

"This matter," Chang Yuchun said, chewing on his meat, "I can't be of much help; only Lan Yu can do it."

"Lan Yu?" Lan Shi couldn't believe it. "What can a little kid like him do?"

"Little brat?"

Chang Yuchun also laughed, "That's just a little brat by the side of the Ming King, the Grand Eunuch."

"you!"

Even the usually obedient Lan Shi was furious. "Don't mention the Grand Eunuch again!"

Chang Yuchun laughed heartily, skipping the topic, "I'm in the army all day, and it's rare for me to see the Ming King."

"This matter can only be reported to King Ming by Lan Yu."

"I think that the Ming King was unaware that Marshal Guo's children had come to seek refuge, otherwise he would not have ignored them."

"The King of Light is not that kind of person!"

"I understand." Lan Shi nodded. "I'll tell Lan Yu when he comes back."

Several days later, at the Ming Prince's Mansion.

"You mean," Lin Dao frowned, looking at Lan Yu who had returned from vacation, "that Guo Zixing's children have come to seek refuge with me?"

"Yes."

Lan Yu whispered, "They live next door to my sister's house."

"Summon Li Shanchang over."

As soon as Li Shanchang entered the room, he sensed that something was wrong.

He quickly lowered his posture and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Why didn't you report that Guo Zixing's children came to seek refuge with you?"

Upon hearing this, many thoughts flashed through Li Shanchang's mind in an instant.

He looked annoyed and suddenly clapped his hands.

"Ouch! Ouch!"

"King Ming~"

"I've been so busy with so many things that I completely forgot about it!"

"Oh dear~~~ This is truly~ such a sin~~"

Lin Dao carefully observed his expression.

Li Shanchang's eyes were filled with regret and remorse, but he showed no signs of panic.

After a moment's thought, Lin Dao instructed, "I'll deduct one month's salary from your pay. If you repeat this offense, I won't let you off easily."

"Yes, yes~~"

After Li Shanchang left, Lin Dao wrote a note and handed it to Lan Yu: "Go to the logistics department, get some anti-inflammatory medicine, and also get some money, food and supplies, and send them over together."

Lan Yu took the note and ran off to take care of the matter.

Lin Dao, on the other hand, couldn't figure it out no matter how much he thought about it.

He decided to go into seclusion and went to Yonghe Time and Space.

He went to consult a true wise man for answers.

(End of this chapter)