Reclaiming Wasteland: Carefree Mountain Farmer

Chapter 211 Young Man

Luoyang City

Twelve-year-old Xiaogua and thirteen-year-old Xiaoya walked up to a rickshaw.

A young man in his twenties was taking a nap here. When he sensed someone approaching, he quickly opened his eyes and looked at the person.

"Brother Li, let's go to the newly built train station!" Xiao Gua greeted him with a smile, clearly recognizing the young man surnamed Li.

Lee Jong-suk quickly stood up, a smile appearing on his face.

"Alright! Get in the car!"

Xiao Ya and Xiao Gua walked to the front of the rickshaw and sat down together on the mat covered with straw mats.

There is also a 1.2-1.3 meter canopy above the seats for sun protection.

Xiao Gua put one hand in his pants pocket and felt around before asking questions while Lee Jong-suk was pulling the cart in front.

"Brother Li, how much does it cost to get to the train station?"

Lee Jong-suk said with a smile as he pulled the cart, "Give me whatever you think is appropriate. I won't mind if you give me three or five taels, or I won't mind if you give me three or five coins."

Xiao Gua still didn't know how much to give, and felt a little resentful: she wouldn't ride in his car anymore.

The little girl next to her was only fourteen or fifteen years old, but she wasn't as afraid to speak as Xiao Gua.

"People coming back from the train station usually get thirty or fifty coins, but we only need to give forty coins."

Xiao Ya told Xiao Gua because the money was in Xiao Gua's hands.

Xiao Ya also has money, but spending money is definitely a man's job.

Lee Jong-suk laughed and said, "Okay, forty coins will do. There are a lot of people going to the train station today, but not many are taking rickshaws. Most are taking horse-drawn carriages, which makes my feet itch. Running is much more comfortable!"

Xiao Gua didn't want to talk, so she decided to take a horse-drawn carriage from now on, at least she wouldn't have to keep talking to the driver, whom she wasn't very familiar with.

After agreeing on the price, Xiao Ya watched Lee Jong-suk running ahead and, feeling bored, wanted to talk.

"Brother Li, you're not married yet?"

Lee Jong-suk looked at the pedestrians ahead and said as he walked, "It's not settled yet. I've looked for a few, but they all dropped me when they heard I was unemployed. I've also looked for a few, but they're all from the countryside and I don't even want them."

After the unification of the country, Luoyang underwent a completely new evolution.

It is not only the world's largest city, but also the city with the highest density of skyscrapers in the world.

Apart from a few large houses with mountains and water that have been preserved, the rest of the area has been demolished and rebuilt over the past eight years, and now there are five- or six-story high-rise buildings everywhere on both sides of the street.

The ground is much cleaner now, making running much smoother.

As the number of people increased, so did the number of rickshaws.

You can't run fast on the main roads of Luoyang; you can only run fast once you leave the city.

Even after multiple reductions in size, the allure of Beijing still allows outsiders to quickly find ways to enter and become residents.

The spot that Beijiwu himself reserved for his descendants was easily taken by others.

After figuring this out, I stopped trying to lose weight, since I figured it would always be full no matter how many times I cleaned it.

Since they have the household registration status in their hands, Arctic Army can easily carry out the matter of directly expelling people without household registration when needed.

Lee Jong-suk is unable to find a job or a wife in the city because he doesn't have a local household registration.

Because he didn't have a household registration, even people from the countryside looked down on him to some extent.

Without a registered residence, I'm just a temporary worker here. Will I be able to stay when the emperor wants to kick me out?
Xiaoya also doesn't have a household registration; only Xiaogua and 498 in the family have household registrations and jobs.

"Brother Li, you must earn a lot a month, right?"

Xiao Ya became concerned about Brother Li's income.

Lee Jong-suk replied, "I'm just trying to make a living. My parents guaranteed that I rented this car from the public station. The rental fee is 200 won a day, so after deducting the rental fee, I only have three or four hundred won a day."

Xiao Ya quickly replied, "That's quite a lot, more than ten taels of silver a month!"

Lee Jong-suk smiled and casually asked, "Your sister is already eighteen or nineteen years old, why isn't she married yet? My mother even said the other day that she'd like to invite your family to our house for dinner."

Xiao Gua felt even more uncomfortable, as she could always sense that the people around her had ill intentions towards her older sister, even at such a young age.

Xiaogua especially dislikes those who seem to care and always put on a "it's for your own good" expression.

The little girl smiled and said, "You want to be with my sister? I'll talk to her about it later!"

"Okay!" Lee Jong-suk ran off happily, smiling as he said, "Thank you, little girl!"

Xiao Gua angrily looked to the side, not wanting to talk to the two of them.

Lee Jong-suk didn't mind the child's silence and talked to her while pulling the cart and getting stuck in traffic.

Si Jiuba's family consists of only one younger brother and sister. He has a household registration, and his brother also has a household registration. They have been following King Wu for more than ten years.

Everyone has witnessed how I've spent my years going to school, eating, and buying a house.

A woman with such wealth naturally has no shortage of suitors.

Regardless of whether they have a household registration or not, women with household registration will be given priority in employment.

The job is easy, the pay is good, and she's also good-looking and energetic.

Lee Jong-suk ran even faster when he thought of 498.

Xiao Gua felt very uncomfortable, while her older sister Xiao Ya seemed oblivious to the problem, constantly talking to men outside about her sister and even encouraging them to seek out her.

Feeling increasingly worse, Xiao Gua quickly called for a stop once they reached the outside of the train station.

"Just here."

Lee Jong-suk had already run for an hour, and upon hearing this, he smiled and said, "Okay!"

There were many passersby in the vicinity, including not only vendors setting up stalls but also a large number of pedestrians who came to join the fun, as well as many soldiers patrolling on horseback.

Although it is not as prosperous and bustling as Luohe Port, it is very well built, and the railway station square is large and clean, making it a popular place for people from nearby counties to visit.

Xiao Gua took out some money and gave it to Lee Jong-suk, who smiled and said, "No need to give me anything, don't be shy."

Lee Jong-suk's words made Xiao Gua even more uncomfortable; she really disliked this man.

The older sister, Xiaoya, laughed and said, "How could I possibly accept that?"

Xiao Gua handed over the money directly, saying, "Brother Li, here's your money. I still need to go see my friends."

An impatience, though imperceptible to himself, had already appeared on the young man's face.

Just like when Arctic Wu is angry, he never shows that he is angry and lets others know, but people nearby can feel that his life is in danger.

Lee Jong-suk laughed and said, "I said I don't want money. If you want to give me money, just treat me to a meal with your sister in the future!"

Xiao Gua instantly became furious!

The older sister next to her, Xiaoya, smiled and asked, "What kind of food do you want? Noodles and pickled vegetables, please?"

Lee Jong-suk was overjoyed when he heard this, "Eat! I'll go eat tonight!"

Xiao Gua couldn't take it anymore and threw a hundred-coin bill on the ground.

"Keep the change, please!"

After angrily shouting something, Xiao Gua turned around and walked towards an idle rickshaw.

Lee Jong-suk and Xiao Ya were both stunned; neither of them had paid any attention to the child's opinion from beginning to end.

But when Xiao Gua got angry, Xiao Ya quickly chased after him.

"Little melon, what's wrong with you? We haven't given you your change yet!"

Xiao Gua glared at her and yelled, "Get out! Go wherever you want from now on, but don't come back to my house!"

The little girl was stunned.

Xiao Gua said directly to the driver, "Back to South Gate Street in Luoyang, one hundred coins, let's go now!"

"Okay!" The driver didn't know what had happened, but as long as he could make money, he was fine with that, and he was about to leave.

Little Ya quickly said, "Wait for me! What's wrong with you, you brat?! I'm going to tell my sister and she'll beat you up! Stop!"

The driver quickly stopped the car and waited for the two men, since they looked like a family.

Xiao Gua cursed, "If you're going to wait for her, then pull her along! I'll switch cars!"

The driver, a middle-aged man, politely said, "We're all family, why are you arguing?"

At this moment, Lee Jong-suk also pulled over in his car. He scolded Lee Jong-suk, "Little melon, how could you treat your sister like this? You think you're all grown up now? How can you treat your sister like this!"

The little melon couldn't walk, and people nearby were watching curiously.

Lee Jong-suk looked at him with a stern face.

Little Gua wanted to leave, but the driver didn't move.

Seeing this, Xiao Gua got out of the car and prepared to leave.

Before they had taken more than a few steps, a pair of hands grabbed them. The little girl grabbed the little boy's hand and quickly slapped him across the face.

"Snapped!"

"I'll make you go crazy!"

"I'll make you so disowning of your own sister!"

"You think you're so great just because you're a little successful? I treated you so well when you were little, and this is how you humiliate your sister?! I'll beat you to death!"

The little girl quickly started hitting the little melon.

She was crying while she was hitting him.

The little melon was laughed at and pointed at in public.

Others thought it was just a fight between the siblings.

That's exactly how it is.

But for Xiao Gua, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, being humiliated in public by a woman was worse than death.

With one hand blocked by Xiao Ya, Xiao Gua raised the other to block Xiao Ya's fist coming at his head, shouting loudly, "Let go! Get out!"

Little Ya wasn't going to listen to him; she raised her chin and sniffed.

"Pooh!"

Xiao Gua's face was covered in the girl's drool.

Just when Xiao Gua was feeling like he was dying, he suddenly heard the voice of the son of the most righteous man in Luoyang.

"Brother Gua! Fight back!!!"

Xiao Gua heard the children's voices and looked around blankly while being hit by her older sister. She soon saw the three children of the Arctic Wu family.

All three children are young, four or five years younger than Xiaogua.

We used to go to school together, but later others became full-time students while Xiaogua had to sell newspapers in his spare time, so he gradually fell behind and could no longer be classmates.

However, because we live close by, we often hang out together.

Seeing his three friends encouraging him, Xiao Gua tried his best to break free from the crying and making a fussing older sister in front of him.

Arctic Hydrogen yelled, "Gua Ge! Kick her in the crotch!"

"Grab her breasts! She's your sister, are you afraid she'll accuse you of rape?! Don't be afraid!"

"Bite her nose! Use all your strength!"

Upon seeing this, the middle-aged driver immediately scolded, "You three little beasts, what are you saying? Do you want a beating?"

Upon seeing this, the young Arctic Helium immediately shouted, "If you dare to hit me, I'll have my dad kill your whole family!!"

The middle-aged driver was startled at the sight. The young girl beside him quickly let go; she was also a street urchin and knew very well whose children these three little bastards were.

Although Beijiwu's identity remains a secret, these three little bastards usually play with the Mu Lin brothers.

Mu Lin's father was a commander of ten thousand households, as was the father of the two brothers, Niu'er and Zhu'er. Although they died, the positions were divided into two commanders of a thousand households for the two brothers to inherit.

Therefore, in the eyes of others, these three little beasts must have families with at least ten thousand households.

Xiao Gua blushed and hurriedly led the three children, who were shorter than him, outside.

"I'm going home, you guys should go home too."

Xiao Gua wanted to leave this shameful place as soon as possible.

It wasn't Arctic Hydrogen that got hit. Arctic Hydrogen advised, "My dad always says that boys should learn to be independent after they turn fourteen. Even if my mom hits us, we can fight back. Your sister hits you like that, but you don't fight back. What are you afraid of?"

Arctic Helium encouraged him, "It's a shame you're an orphan. You don't even have this much heart. You'll just be a spineless coward who gets bullied by his wife when you get married! My dad looks down on men who are submissive to women!"

Beijibei said seriously, "A good sister is one who doesn't hit her brother. Your eldest sister is good, but your second sister will definitely be a shrew in the future. She'll eat your food and drink your water and still hit you. Look at my mother and my sister, who dares to say a word against my father?"

Little Melon didn't want to talk to these three little beasts, but they followed him and comforted him all the way.

These three kids genuinely wanted to comfort Xiaogua, who had been hit by a woman. They felt that this guy was in a terrible state, being grabbed by the hair, slapped in the face, and spat on by a woman, and he didn't even dare to fight back. It was just too pathetic.

But since they were playing together, the three little boys stopped looking at the train and followed Xiaogua all the way, constantly trying to persuade him to be a man.

Xiao Gua was so annoyed that she went straight to bed after getting home.

But it was too hot inside, so I went to the public bathhouse to take a shower and took an afternoon nap.

***
Guozijian

Beijiwu comes here every two or three days to check on his studies.

This place was not only a place for outstanding scholars from all over the country to study and work, but also a place for eunuchs, palace maids, and princes to study.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the palace all had to be literate, and in addition to arithmetic, they also had to have a very strong memory and the ability to investigate.

The process of reading helps us select the most suitable people.

The eunuchs, including Teng He, were reading in the classroom when they saw Bei Jiwu arrive and immediately sat down respectfully.

Arctic Martial glanced at him and asked, "Arctic Lithium, where did your brothers go?"

Arctic Lithium dared not hide the truth and honestly replied, "They went out to watch the trains. They said they had already learned what they were supposed to learn today in advance."

Beijiwu wasn't angry when he heard this. "Just keep up with the pace. What was the homework the teacher assigned today?"

Arctic Lithium replied, "What we're left with is to memorize the text. The teacher gave us the hometowns of twenty famous people and told us to memorize them well, because we'll have a test tomorrow."

As a ruler, one must remember the names of one's subordinates, as well as their career paths and any notable achievements in their resumes.

Place of origin is also an important basis for determining whether a group of people are members of the same party.

For princes and eunuchs, the main focus was on strengthening their humanities skills, improving their memory, and gaining knowledge of various historical records and anecdotes.

Arctic Martial Arts has not received formal imperial training; what he currently remembers are only a few people who have rendered meritorious service or a few people in areas of interest.

People you see often will naturally remember you, while those you don't see often will be quickly forgotten. Officials in the capital city have a certain number of opportunities to see Beijiwu.

Arctic Martial Arts School isn't strict with children; if they want to learn, they can. Even if they don't get into university, they can still become farmers or factory workers, which is a decent outcome.

"Copy Bai Juyi's 'Watching the Wheat Harvest' ten times. Tomorrow I will take you to work on the farm for a day. When your brothers come back, have them also copy it ten times. You can do the homework the teacher assigned when you come back tomorrow."

As soon as Beiji Wu finished speaking, Beiji Li quickly said, "Father, we have learned this poem and can recite it."

"I'll have you copy this ten times," Beijiwu said casually. "Tomorrow I'll take you to experience some manual labor, so be serious when you copy it, don't just go through the motions."

Arctic Lithium nodded quickly, "Yes! I'll recite it from memory right now!"

Beijiwu casually walked to the window next to the podium and stood upstairs looking at the palace complex outside.

The rest of the students in the classroom had already taken out their paper and pens and started writing from memory.

A few minutes later, the three children walked into the classroom chatting.

"We're back!"

The three children had barely shouted a word when they realized the classroom was eerily quiet. They immediately stood at attention when they saw Beijiwu.

"Father!"

Beijiwu did not blame them, but asked, "Recite Bai Juyi's 'Watching the Wheat Harvest'."

The eldest son, Arctic Hydrogen, quickly began reciting poetry.

"...My family's fields have been exhausted by taxes, so I gather these to fill my hungry stomach. What merit have I now? I have never engaged in farming. My official salary is three hundred bushels of grain, and I have surplus at the end of the year. Thinking of this, I feel ashamed, and I cannot forget it all day long."

The three children recited a poem together. All three children had learned the poem and could recite it.

Beijiwu nodded. "Has the train left?"

"I came back without looking," Arctic Hydrogen replied honestly.

Beijiwu asked curiously, "Why don't you look? Isn't the point of going to the train station to see the trains?"

Arctic Beryllium quickly answered, "We met Xiaogua, the younger brother of 498. His sister hit him at the train station and spat at him. We comforted him and came back together."

Arctic Hydrogen nodded and said, "You can watch the train anytime. Just go when you have time."

Arctic Martial Arts had an impression of 498, "Why did 498 shoot Xiaogua?"

“It’s not 498, it’s his second sister Xiaoya…” Arctic Hydrogen was confused as he spoke, and said in a low voice, “It doesn’t seem to be a big deal, I don’t understand why they started fighting.”

Arctic Beryllium immediately said, "Little Gua has been taking the beatings without fighting back. We told him to fight back, but he refused and even walked away angrily. We talked to him all the way, but he ignored us and wouldn't listen to reason."

Beijiwu smiled and said, "Don't meddle in other people's business. Go back and copy the poem ten times. I'll take you to work on the farm tomorrow."

"Yes!" the three little ones happily agreed.

Arctic Wu never hits children, nor does he blame them for anything they do.

The Arctic family's rule was earned through killing; they became the leader only after defeating everyone else.

The remaining matters were left to the Grand Scholars, and Beiji Wu returned to attend to his own affairs.

Over the course of eight years, the bureaucrats of Zhengcheng have become increasingly less capable of managing affairs. Today, ninety percent of the officials in the country are actually farmhands under the command of Beijiwu.

The northern provinces were basically under his control as public servants, and the rest were cavalry generals from the Yunzhong, Guinong, and Liaodong tribes, as well as the Beiyuan Legion, which Beijiwu himself had formed from his original army.

The Northern Plains Army also went west to conquer land, responsible for continuously "planting nails" and leaving behind strongholds and projects. They helped each thousand households complete some water conservancy facilities, and also helped to eliminate some bandits and rebels, steadily carrying out long-term rule.

In the north, everyone is one of our own. In the past six months, with the development of places like Nanzhao and Lingnan, and the replacement of hereditary nobles, everyone in the south has gradually been replaced by our own people.

Under absolute rule, Arctic military forces can do whatever they want.

Anyone who messes with Arctic Martial Arts will be in big trouble.

Xiao Gua's family affairs had little impact on Beijiwu, who quickly forgot about it.

***
After taking a nap at the bathhouse, Xiao Gua got dressed and went home. As soon as he entered the house, he saw his two older sisters sitting inside.

The second sister wiped away her tears with one hand and pointed at him with the other.

"Waaaaah... He's the one who hit me!"

The older sister frowned as she looked at the little melon.

"You've really grown up! You dare to hit your sister?!"

Seeing his second sister's fake crying, Xiao Gua felt a surge of anger.

"Fine, let's fight! If it doesn't work out, let's split up! There's nothing to divide anyway, we can each live separately from now on!"

Xiao Gua was somewhat influenced by the three spoiled brats, and had the irritable temper typical of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy.

Si Jiuba originally intended to just scold Xiao Gua, but seeing his younger brother's defiant and stubborn expression, he also became unhappy.

"How old are you to want to separate from the family? Wait until you get married!"

498 won't split up in a fit of anger. Little Gua is still so young; he's not capable of living on his own.

Xiao Gua retorted, "What's so hard about getting married? I have a household registration and a job! I can marry two or three wives as easily as I want. Hu Yan and I will move into my house, and I'll manage my own business!"

498 was extremely annoyed. "Let me think about it first. Why did you two start fighting?"

Xiao Ya immediately said, "He's gone crazy! He's lost his mind. He wanted to go home without saying a word, and when I said a few words to him, he hit me!"

Xiao Gua roared, "If I were to hit you, I'd be damned! Do you dare confront the Wu family's kids? They were all there watching. When did I ever hit you? Wasn't it you who hit me at the train station in front of a bunch of people?!"

Little Gua shouted loudly, and as he spoke, tears began to fall from his eyes.

Soon, Xiao Gua shouted, "From now on, your life or death has nothing to do with me, sister! Don't worry about her either. She's going to sell you to a jobless rickshaw puller with no household registration for a few bucks!"

Xiao Ya retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm introducing a guy to my older sister, what are you doing causing trouble? You're just a little kid who doesn't understand anything, all you do is get in the way! I've always helped you with your job, all you do is play! If you lose your job one day, you'll be crying!"

Xiao Gua retorted, "Hu Yan has always been helping me, what business is it of yours?"

"You idiot!" Xiao Ya scolded, "Hu Yan lost her brother's job and household registration, and that spendthrift woman has fooled you into becoming a fool! Sister! You be the judge! Let's go find the team leader! Let's tell him what despicable things he's done!"

Xiao Gua was so angry she gritted her teeth. "Go ahead and sue me! I'll go find Wu Qing tomorrow and have him ask his father to kick you out! The three kids from the Wu family tried to persuade me all the way here today to get rid of you!"

"Stop arguing!" Si Jiu Ba said angrily, "Let me have some peace and quiet! Xiao Gua, go and take down the newsstand with Hu Yan and go back to the county to buy food for yourselves. Xiao Ya should also get married soon."

Si Jiuba has no plans to get married and is already fed up with her younger sister who is always trying to marry her off.

The eldest sister who favors sons over daughters is usually difficult for her younger sister to provoke.

The little girl was instantly stung. "I won't get married! Sister! I'll help you with the chores. You can't manage on your own if I leave!"

Annoyed, 498 said, "I don't need you. I can hire a kid from the street to help me sell newspapers. Don't think I don't know you've been stealing money!"

"I didn't steal the money..." the little girl tried to explain, but quickly lowered her head and cried, "I don't have a job, where would I get the money..."

She started crying again.

Xiao Gua was annoyed. "Sister, I'm going to find Hu Yan."

Si Jiuba was extremely upset, pondering who he should marry Xiaoya to.

There was no need for Sijiuba to make things difficult for them. The next day, team leader Jin Yuzhen came to their door to help introduce a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy with a job that could be inherited.

Xiaoya herself isn't particularly well-off, but her older sister and younger brother both have household registration and jobs, so her family background is truly clean and legitimate.

For working men, the best hope is for working women, but working women make up less than one percent of all men.

In the Shan Nong Kingdom, any job that can be given to a man will absolutely not be given to a woman.

Especially in the first few Wanhu teams, women were allowed to inherit the family business when there were fewer people in the early stages. After that, this path was cut off and the door was completely closed.

Even in textile factories, men were the main force. Men could weave much faster than women, and they would all become excellent tailors who could make sewing machines spark.

Women are currently not allowed to inherit men's jobs unless their father or husband has died.

If they can't find women with jobs, they naturally tend to settle down in families within the system.

The Si Jiu Ba family was already quite well-off; they were true Beijingers.

The original inhabitants of the capital city were driven away long ago. No one born here is considered a resident of the capital; it depends on whether they can stay.

Many families are willing to marry Xiaoya, all because of Sijiuba and Xiaogua.

***
A group of people were quickly exiled from the capital.

Beijiwu paid no attention to the trivial matters below, nor did he concern himself with his son's classmates.

However, the people protecting the three children quickly exiled the driver who had caused the trouble to Annam.

In any dynasty, calling the emperor's son a beast was a serious crime.

Even if others don't know, it's still unacceptable.

(End of this chapter)