After the meeting, Bai Sheng set the wages for the workers in each department.
Those who engaged in heavy physical labor, such as road repair, house construction, and stone hauling, would receive 30 jin of grain and ten buckets of water per month, plus a monthly wage of 300 wen.
Grain and water could be drawn in advance, while wages would be disbursed at the end of the month.
Those engaged in light physical labor, such as tree planting, farming, clothing production, and weaving, would receive 20 jin of grain and 8 buckets of water per month, plus a monthly wage of 200 wen.
They would have two days off per week with half salary.
Bai Sheng, in her modern life, had loved the two-day weekend, and she hoped that in ancient times, people wouldn't overwork themselves. She wanted them to take their time with their work.
After Du Min informed all the workers of the wage details, they cheered and rejoiced, deeply moved. Their benefactor had provided them with a stable livelihood!
The generous wages at Hongshu Slope quickly spread, and people from different places came to seek work every day.
To prevent any trouble, Du Min interviewed potential workers in detail. While not aiming for a complete understanding of each person, she could discern their general character.
Madam Ji, with her ample free time, began to help Du Min. Perhaps due to her extensive life experience, Madam Ji was quite knowledgeable and adept at judging people, becoming Du Min's most capable assistant.
Bai Sheng then specifically hired Madam Ji to be Du Min's assistant, offering her the same wages as those engaged in light physical labor.
Madam Ji had not earned money through her own labor in a long time. She was very satisfied with this job and took it very seriously, working with great enthusiasm every day.
Perhaps it was the fulfillment in her life and the absence of worries that made Madam Ji appear many years younger.
Seeing his mother living happily at Hongshu Slope, Ji Chenghe felt a great weight lifted from his heart.
Within ten days, all aspects of work at Hongshu Slope were on track and proceeding busily and orderly.
Zhao Dazhuang divided the road repair workers into five groups, selecting a team leader for each. These leaders were individuals he had observed for a long time and deemed to have upright character. The team leaders would receive an additional 50 wen on top of the regular worker's wage.
Feng Pingyuan's construction team was not large, and it was currently composed mainly of new residents of Hongshu Slope, including Li Qiang and Lu Fengshou, who now declared themselves "born as people of Hongshu Slope, and dead as ghosts of Hongshu Slope."
The school was to be built behind Bai Sheng's house, fifty meters north of Changsha Dike, and the clinic to its east, twenty meters away.
They were running low on the plaster and mud from the space, and the stones from nearby had to be used for road repair. Therefore, Lu Ye planned to go to the county town to purchase plaster and bricks, and also "buy" some weapons for the guard team.
Ma San's guard team consisted of fifteen selected teenagers, all from Hongshu Slope residents except for Lu Xing. They were Hu Daniu, Yang Ming, Deng Sanwa, Xiao Goudan, Qian Chengchuo, Wang Xiaoma, Wang Zhugan, Wang Gui'erzi, Xiao Chibao, Lu Xing, Lu Yun, Lu Yu, Tian Dou, Tie Zhu, and Tianya.
The guard team was personally trained by Lu Ye.
Although Lu Yun, Lu Yu, Tian Dou, and Tie Zhu were young, they had been practicing martial arts for several months and could now easily subdue an adult. Moreover, children progressed faster in martial arts. Therefore, Lu Ye chose teenagers as the primary members, rather than adult men.
The fifteen teenagers were divided into five groups, with each group taking turns patrolling for one day. The rest of the time was dedicated to their regular work.
Ma San's main responsibility was to manage the guard team, leading different groups on patrols daily and identifying all potential safety hazards in Hongshu Slope.
Each member of the guard team received a monthly wage of 200 wen. Combined with their earnings from regular work, many guard team members could earn over 400 wen per month, which was an exceptionally high salary.
No such desirable position could be found anywhere in Tashao Prefecture.
Lu Ye and Bai Sheng discussed and decided to select the horses from the space.
Since the horses were captured from military camps, most of them were good horses, but there were also a few old, weak, sick, or disabled ones. However, after drinking the spiritual spring water for some time and eating plenty of space grass, these less fortunate horses had shed many of their ailments and their physical strength had greatly improved, making them capable of normal riding.
Lu Ye planned to bring them out of the space for the guard team groups to use during their patrols, as this would be much faster than walking and allow them to cover a wider range.
When Lu Ye returned from the county town, he would "buy" them to legitimize their presence.
One day, as dusk began to fall, Lu Ye finally returned from the county town, covered in dust, riding Hei Feng.
The "covered in dust" was a wishful thought of the people of Hongshu Slope.
Lu Ye: I won't tell you that I actually returned at noon and have been sleeping in the space. I only went out for a ride as dusk approached, pretending to have just returned from the county town.
As his precious wife's sole "legitimizing" errand runner, he had accumulated rich experience in appearing "dust-covered," ensuring no suspicious details could be detected.
Behind Hei Feng followed six other horses, each carrying a large bag of fodder and a large sack on its back.
The fodder was purely a disguise. In the future, Lu Ye would give them space grass every night for extra meals, along with plenty of spiritual spring water.
Upon seeing the horses, the entire Hongshu Slope erupted in excitement. Lu Yun and Tian Dou immediately rushed out, shouting to call Xiao Goudan and Deng Sanwa from the neighboring area.
In the blink of an eye, all members of the guard team were gathered due to their calls.
They had heard from their elder that horses and weapons would be provided for the guard team, so they had been eagerly anticipating this day.
Riding fine horses, wielding long spears, and galloping across the martial world or battlefields was the dream of every young boy. That this dream was about to be realized so quickly, how could they not be excited?
The dozen or so teenagers all had rosy cheeks and bright eyes. They stroked one horse after another, marveling at them.
Bai Sheng estimated that they would not be as fond of touching their own wives in the future.
Even though Lu Yun and Tie Zhu, among other children, could only reach the horses' legs with their outstretched arms, this did not prevent them from stroking them while exclaiming with manly admiration, "Hmm, good horse, good horse."
While everyone was still immersed in the excitement of having horses, Lu Ye produced sixteen weapons and placed them on the ground.
Instantly, another wave of excitement surged forth over the weapons.
The guard team members again exclaimed with joy, each eager to choose a suitable weapon.
Among the sixteen weapons were two swords, four sabers, one crescent saber, four spears, a pair of meteor hammers, an axe, a soft whip with a blade, and two bows and arrows.
Ma San, as the captain of the guard team, was given a horse first by Lu Ye, and then a pair of meteor hammers.
Ma San demonstrated his skill with them on the spot, looking formidable.
Lu Yu, Tie Zhu, Tianya, and Tian Dou, being the youngest, each received a spear.
The axe was given to Hu Daniu, and the two swords were given to Yang Ming and Lu Xing, respectively.
The owners of the four sabers were Deng Sanwa, Xiao Goudan, Qian Chengchuo, and Wang Xiaoma.
Lu Yun received the crescent saber, Xiao Chibao the bladed whip, and the two bows went to Wang Zhugan and Wang Gui'erzi.
With the distribution of weapons complete, a uniform image flashed through the minds of the guard team members: they were patrolling on horseback, looking majestic, when suddenly they encountered evildoers. They immediately drew their weapons, pursued them on horseback, and routed the enemy, sending them fleeing in disarray.