In times of chaos and famine, I traded one pound of rice for two royal flushes.

"Brother Qin, where...where are we going to get the money to buy people?" Chu Wu said with a bitter face. "Forget about buying people, we even have to be careful with the money we spend on salt."

The others nodded in agreement. Although they could eat their fill now, it was only because Qin Shaolang had the ability to procure food from the mountains. As for real money, all of them combined couldn't even scrape together a few taels of silver.

In this era, population is both the least valuable and the most valuable thing.

A healthy, able-bodied young slave would cost at least three to five taels of silver. If they were skilled in carpentry or blacksmithing, the price would be several times higher. Even if these thirty-odd men sold themselves, they couldn't afford to buy more than a few people.

Qin Shaolang remained silent.

He simply watched them calmly, letting them pour out all their worries and difficulties.

Only after everyone fell silent did he slowly speak: "I'll handle the money issue. My question now is, besides money, what else do we need to consider?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it had a power to instantly calm people down.

The group looked at each other, their faces showing confusion. For them, money was the biggest problem; once that problem was solved, nothing else mattered.

"It is loyalty."

A cool, clear voice sounded from the side.

Everyone turned to look, and it was Su Jin who was speaking.

She had been sitting quietly to the side, listening to the discussion, before finally speaking. Looking at Qin Shaolang, she continued, "The people we've bought are a mixed bag, their intentions unpredictable. This place is our utopia, our very foundation, and we absolutely cannot let outsiders know about it easily. The most crucial thing is how to ensure they don't escape, don't reveal our location, and don't even turn the tables on us."

Her words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the glimmer of hope that had just risen in everyone's minds because "the money problem has been solved."

Chu Wu and the others immediately shuddered.

Yes! They only thought about the lack of manpower, but forgot that people's hearts are unpredictable. What if they bought a bunch of ungrateful wretches? Wouldn't that be like inviting wolves into the house?

Qin Shaolang looked at Su Jin, a hint of approval in his eyes.

This woman's mind is far more clear-headed than those of her household guards who only know how to fight and kill.

"You're right," Qin Shaolang nodded. "Therefore, we have a few principles when it comes to buying people."

He held up one finger: "First, we won't buy the slick ones. Those who have been lurking in the slave market for a long time, with their eyes darting around, we won't buy them. What we want to buy are the farmers who have just gone bankrupt, or the refugees who have fled here with nowhere else to go. They still retain a sense of simplicity and are easier to satisfy."

"Secondly, prioritize buying from families. With family as a bond, they won't easily harbor any disloyal thoughts. If we give them a home, they will protect it with their lives."

"Thirdly, there needs to be screening. Chu Wu, I'm leaving this to you." Qin Shaolang looked at Chu Wu. "Take two people with you. When you get to the labor market, don't rush to buy. Observe carefully and ask around. I need able-bodied young men who can work, women who can cook and sew, and especially skilled craftsmen. Blacksmiths, carpenters, stonemasons, potters—anyone you can buy, as long as the price is right."

Chu Wu was thrilled, but then his spirits dampened: "Brother Qin, I...I understand. But...money..."

Qin Shaolang did not answer him again.

He turned and went into the makeshift shack he had built. A moment later, he came out, carrying a seemingly inconspicuous coarse cloth bag.

The bag wasn't big, but it seemed rather heavy in his hands.

He walked into the middle of the crowd and casually threw the bag on the ground.

A muffled thud made everyone's heart skip a beat.

Under the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Qin Shaoche bent down, untied the drawstring of the bag, and then suddenly collapsed.

Splash!

A blinding golden light instantly dazzled everyone.

Those were neither copper coins nor broken silver.

Instead, it was a pile of gold nuggets of varying sizes and shapes! Some were as big as walnuts, while others were the size of a fingernail. They hadn't undergone any processing and still bore the raw marks of sand and gravel, but under the firelight, they exuded an irresistible allure.

"This...this is..." Chu Wu's tongue was agape. He stammered, pointing at the gold on the ground, unable to utter a single word.

The other soldiers were even more breathless, their necks stretched out like ducks with their throats being choked.

They had never seen so much gold in their lives!

This pile of gold must be worth at least tens or hundreds of taels! It's more than enough to buy a few dozen slaves, or even a whole town's mansion!

"Brother Qin...where...where did you get so much gold?" Chu Wu's voice trembled.

"I found it in the mountains," Qin Shaolang said casually.

Everyone: "..."

Nobody would believe that! If they could find gold in the mountains, would they be starving here?

But Qin Shaolang didn't say anything, and they dared not ask again. This added another layer of mystery to Qin Shaolang's image in everyone's minds.

Only Su Jin's gaze fell on the gold nuggets, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

This gold is of extremely high quality, far superior to the gold and silver circulating in the market. Moreover, judging from its shape and impurities, it is clearly unrefined placer gold.

There's never been any gold mines near Lantian Town. Where did he find them?

She kept this doubt to herself without making a sound.

"This gold is enough for us to get started." Qin Shaolang put the gold back into the bag and handed it to Chu Wu. "Take this. When you get to the city, go to a trustworthy gold shop and exchange it for silver and copper coins. Remember, don't flaunt your wealth. Exchange it in batches and don't attract attention."

Chu Wu took the heavy bag with trembling hands, feeling as if he were receiving not gold, but the future of the entire valley.

"Brother Qin, I...I will definitely do it well!" he said solemnly.

"Go, be careful on the road." Qin Shaolang gave some more details, such as how to disguise his identity, how to select manpower, and how to bring the person back safely.

His thinking was clear and organized, and he had considered almost all possible problems.

Chu Wu and the others nodded repeatedly, their awe deepening.

Having arranged everything, Qin Shaolang stood up and looked at the bustling construction site.

"Let's go, our home is just beginning."

……

Early the next morning, Chu Wu, along with two of his most clever guards, secretly left the valley with the gold.

The construction in the valley has entered a completely new phase.

Under Qin Shaolang's unified planning, everyone was mobilized. The men were responsible for quarrying and logging. The women were responsible for logistics, cooking, washing, and under Qin Shaolang's guidance, they began to learn how to make some simple tools, such as weaving baskets from rattan to carry stones.

Even Su Tang found an easy job: helping her sister Su Jin take stock of the supplies consumed each day.

The entire valley is like a sophisticated machine that has been started; though simple, it operates efficiently.