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

Su Jin looked at him quietly.

Watching him treat the fracture, clean the wound, and suture it using the same method...

His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and his lips had lost their color due to blood loss and exhaustion.

But his hands remained so steady.

His expression remained focused.

It was as if, in his eyes, there was no weariness, no pain, only lives that needed to be saved.

Su Jin's heart was filled with an inexplicable emotion.

It was shock, it was admiration, and it was also a touch of...heartache that she herself hadn't even noticed.

How many secrets is this man still hiding?

He's like an endless treasure trove; just when you think you've seen the whole picture, he always manages to surprise you with something new.

Once the last wounded soldier was treated, Qin Shao-lang's tense nerves finally relaxed.

A wave of exhaustion and dizziness suddenly washed over him.

His vision went black, his body swayed, and he instinctively tried to grab something.

A soft yet strong arm reached out from the side just in time and supported his arm.

Are you alright?

Su Jin's voice carried a hint of nervousness and concern that she herself was unaware of.

Qin Shaolang's body was very heavy, and almost half of his weight was on Su Jin.

This is a pure, exhaustion stemming from the body's limits. It has nothing to do with willpower.

Su Jin gritted her teeth and used all her strength to support him.

The man's body was burning hot, the scent of blood and sweat assaulting her senses. A blush involuntarily rose on her cheeks, but more than that, she felt worry.

"I'll help you back to your room." Her voice was soft, but firm.

Qin Shaolang was too weak to refuse.

He was practically dragged and supported by Su Jin as he returned to the dilapidated wooden house.

As soon as she entered the house, Su Tang ran over with a bowl of steaming meat soup, her little face full of worry and fear.

"Sir...have some soup..."

This is the first pot of cooked meat broth. No seasonings were added; it was just boiled in water. But the rich aroma of meat was enough to drive anyone crazy.

Su Jin helped Qin Shaolang sit down on the only wooden bed. As soon as his body touched the bed, he didn't want to move anymore.

Qin Shaolang looked at the bowl of soup that Su Tang handed him. The soup was milky white, with a few crookedly cut pieces of meat floating on top.

He didn't answer immediately, but looked at Su Jin instead.

"Has your recording work started?"

Su Jin was stunned for a moment, not expecting that he was still concerned about this matter at this point.

She nodded: "Everyone has already given their names, and I've written them down."

"Very good." Qin Shaolang then took the bowl of meat soup, but did not drink it. Instead, he handed it back to Su Tang.

"You guys eat first."

"If the master doesn't eat, we won't eat!" Su Tang stubbornly shook her head, her eyes reddening.

In her heart, Qin Shaolang was the god who saved her and her sister. If a god doesn't eat, how could they dare to eat first?

Qin Shaolang did not insist any further.

He knew that in this temporary group, he had to be the first to enjoy the best treatment.

This is not enjoyment, but a manifestation of power.

He blew on the hot soup and took a sip.

The warm broth slid down my throat, and a warm current instantly flowed through my limbs, dispelling some of my fatigue.

He ate very slowly, chewing even a small piece of meat for a long time.

He needs to recover his strength as soon as possible.

Because he knew that the real test in the valley had only just begun.

Food can bring hope, but it can also bring conflict.

After finishing a bowl of soup, Qin Shao-Lang finally felt a bit of strength return to his body.

He leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and said to Su Jin, "Go outside and tell Zhao Wu and Wang Tiezhu."

"First, all the wounded, and those who participated in today's hunt, wall building, and treatment of the wounded, will receive meat broth tonight. This is Grade A."

"Secondly, the women and children responsible for processing the pork and gathering firewood may receive broth, but no meat. This is grade B."

"Third, those who did nothing, or those who slacked off, only received a bowl of hot water. This is grade C."

"Starting tomorrow, everyone will follow this rule."

"If you're not satisfied, you can get out of the valley right now."

Su Jin's heart skipped a beat.

She knew that once this order was given, the harmonious atmosphere that had just been established in the valley would be immediately shattered.

This is too cruel.

Especially after everyone has seen the mountain of meat, then tell them that you have nothing to eat.

The feeling of falling from the peak of hope to the bottom of despair is enough to drive a person crazy.

"Something...something will happen." Su Jin's voice was a little hoarse.

"If something happens, kill them."

Qin Shaolang closed his eyes, but his words carried a chilling coldness.

"In chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary."

"What I need are soldiers who can do the work, not refugees who need to be supported."

"You just need to tell them what I said verbatim. Then, supervise its implementation."

Su Jin fell silent.

She looked at the man in front of her, who was exhausted but still calculating everything.

She finally realized that she had underestimated him.

He is more than just a cunning and manipulative monster.

He was using the shortest time and the bloodiest methods to select the people he needed, and then forging them into a sharp knife that belonged only to him.

And this valley is his whetstone.

"I understand." Su Jin took a deep breath, turned around and walked out.

When she relayed Qin Shaolang's orders to Zhao Wu and Wang Tiezhu, the smiles on the faces of the two men, who had just been excited about their victory, instantly froze.

"This... sir, this..." Wang Tiezhu opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

He could understand Qin Shaolang's intentions, but he also knew how difficult it would be to carry out this order.

"These are the master's exact words." Su Jin's expression was calm. "The master also said that anyone who is not satisfied can get out of the valley now."

Zhao Wu's expression changed repeatedly.

He thought more deeply than Wang Tiezhu.

He knew that Mr. Qin was establishing his authority and, more importantly, dividing the class system.

From this day forward, the people in this valley will be clearly divided into different classes.

The only criterion for this division is its usefulness to Mr. Qin.

"I...we understand!" Zhao Wu gritted his teeth. "We'll get on it right away!"

Soon, large pots were set up, simmering fragrant meat broth.

The time for distributing the food has arrived.

The atmosphere in the valley became unusually eerie.

The men who participated in the battle stood tall and proud at the front of the line, and their families also benefited, their faces beaming with pride.

They were the first to receive first-class food.

Each person received a large bowl of thick meat broth, with several real pieces of meat inside.

They gulped down the soup and chewed the meat loudly, making no attempt to hide their sense of superiority.

The women and children in charge of logistics were in the second row.

The soup they received was noticeably thinner, and there were no pieces of meat in it.

Some people looked disappointed, but most looked relieved.

At least, there's hot soup to drink.

Those at the very bottom of the list are those who did not participate in labor for various reasons.

Some were cowardly, some were lazy, and some were arrogant and disdained to do the work.

When they saw that when it was their turn, Wang Tiezhu, who was distributing the food, simply scooped up a spoonful of boiling water and poured it into the broken bowls they were handed over, everyone was dumbfounded.