Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

Chi Honghai glanced at the group of people for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the pond.

"How did you manage to dig up so much water?"

"Master...the brothers don't know either..."

Chi Honghai extended his left hand to the person next to him, who was still somewhat dazed from the question and didn't react for a moment.

After stretching for a while, Shen Er, who was standing next to him, couldn't stand it anymore, so he took two steps and snatched the shovel from his hand.

After just those two steps, Shen Er's shoes were completely soaked.

Master Chi handed his cane to Shen Er and took the shovel from him.

As I gently shoveled into the wet mud beneath my feet, turning it over little by little, I saw water about to gush out from under the damp soil.

He shoveled back the soil that was about to be removed and compacted it again with the back of the shovel.

Then you really can't blame these guys, since they hit the ore with just one shovel.

The drop rate is way too high.

He carried a shovel and walked around the edge of the pond that had been dug up. After circling around to the other side of the pond, he realized that the soil under his feet was not as soft and moist as it used to be.

Looking around, I realized that starting with myself, the situation was no longer like that before.

The dampness of the muddy ground behind it looked as if it had been soaked by the heavy rain of the previous two days.

Not entirely at ease, Chi Honghai took two steps in that direction and then stomped his foot on the ground below.

Firm.

Standing still, Shen Er felt worried as he saw Master Chi swaying like this.

"Master, you must be careful! You can't step on this dirt like that, Master!"

Chi Honghai turned around and beckoned everyone to come over to him.

"Look, this piece of land is not as good as that one."

"Sir, what's wrong?"

Chi Honghai planted the shovel straight into the ground, his palm gripping the handle.

"Dig a pit here that's about the same size as that pond, leave a gap in the middle, and make a small waterway to divert some water from that side to this side."

"Sir, if we dig like this, won't it end up like over there, with water gushing out after just a few shovelfuls? The brothers aren't too afraid of the water, but the crops down below can't withstand so much flooding."

Chi Honghai stared at the connection between the two plots of land and made a firm decision to cut off the railway.

"Wow! With me here, you don't have to worry about not having enough to eat!"

After saying that, everyone picked up their shovels and started digging at the clod of earth beneath their feet.

Although, the surface of this land does look quite different.

But Chi Honghai wasn't really sure himself, since he wasn't a geography major.

If two shovelfuls of ore come out again, then we'll have to fill it in for them.

He didn't dare leave either, and joined them in shoveling dirt.

How could we allow the master to personally set off on the ground?

Those around him advised Chi Honghai that he should just watch from the sidelines as he did the work.

"What? You're doing this hard labor, but I can't? Do you remember the rules I told you when you first came here?"

"I remember the master said that if we don't work, we won't eat."

"This is addressed to you all, but I, the master, am included as well!"

After speaking, Chi Honghai pointed to the ground beneath his feet, which had already been loosened.

"Dry!"

An hour later, with the hard work of dozens of people, the pit next to them had taken shape.

Chi Honghai wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the setting sun.

"Clap clap clap," Chi Honghai clapped his hands, stopping everyone.

"The sun has set, so let's stop here for today. Tomorrow, you can come and finish digging this pond. Remember to leave an opening in the middle to connect the two ponds, with the top higher than the bottom, so that the water from the other side can be diverted."

As Chi Honghai spoke, he used the tip of a shovel to make marks on the soil.

"Oh, and don't throw the soil we dug out aside. Use it to compact the soil around the pond over there!"

"Sir, shall we also fence off this pond here?"

He glanced at the pond.

"We don't need this, just surround that."

"Let's go, let's go down the mountain."

"Alright! Let's go down the mountain!" the crowd shouted.

On the way down the mountain, Chi Honghai and Shen Er leaned on their canes.

As everyone watched, some people chirped behind them.

"What are you all talking about behind my back?" Chi Honghai asked.

"Sir, we were just saying that your wooden cane is really useful. It makes going up and down the mountain much easier, especially on rainy days when the mountain paths are slippery. We're thinking of going into the mountains sometime to cut some branches and make one."

Seeing everyone praising the wooden cane, Master Chi couldn't help but smile, his lips curving upwards.

"You don't know this, this is a wooden walking stick that the madam specially made for the master to use when going up the mountain. I only have this one today because of the master's good fortune."

After hearing Shen Er's words, the people behind him started chattering amongst themselves, praising the lady's virtues.

"Alright, alright, these wooden canes were thought of by Madam for everyone. They will be distributed to everyone once they are finished. Everyone will have them."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

"Don't thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Madam properly. She's been thinking of you all."

"Madam Xie! Master Xie!"

The sun had not yet set in the west when the group reached the foot of the mountain and began their journey towards the village.

Even though it was past dinner time, those who were working were always served hot meals.

Everyone thought that Master Chi was going to go straight back into the house.

Unexpectedly, this noble gentleman in everyone's eyes could also bend down and eat simple meals with us juniors.

Chi Honghai sat on the table, looking at everyone.

"Start eating? Why aren't you eating?"

"Sir, you haven't even touched your food, how could we possibly..."

"Just eat, why are you making such a fuss? You've worked all day, shouldn't you eat? Eat!"

After hearing this, everyone picked up their bowls and began to eat.

Chi Honghai looked at the food in front of him and started eating without hesitation.

It was described as simple food, but that wasn't entirely true; at least everyone could still taste some meat.

You must understand that at that time, the people living in misery could not find even a single grain of rice even if they dug three miles into the ground.

The greatest contentment for ordinary people is to have enough to eat and wear.

Life is really good now, and I'm very content.

Halfway through the meal, Wu Wanru walked over to Chi Honghai's side.

Everyone glanced at the lady in front of them, and then consciously lowered their heads to eat.

"Why are you here?"

"What? I can't come?"

"No, no, have you eaten?" Chi Honghai asked Wu Wanruo, picking up his bowl.

"You don't need to worry about me." With that, she turned and called out, "Ai Si, have everyone bring it up."

Hearing Wu Wanruo's words, Chi Honghai looked in the direction of her gaze.

Then Ai Si and some people brought up bowls of soup.

Only when it was placed on the table did I realize that the soup in the bowl was fish soup, and each bowl contained fresh fish.

Chi Honghai pointed at the fish soup in the bowl with his chopsticks, looking at Wu Wanruo.

"Madam...this?"

"Master, Madam said that the Mid-Autumn Festival is in three days, so she asked me to make some fish soup for everyone. The rest of us have already had some, and we're just waiting for you. This fish soup was made under Madam's personal guidance; it's delicious!"

Listening to Ai Si's words, Chi Honghai stared at Wu Wanruo, his eyes showing no dissatisfaction with her acting on her own initiative, but rather with some tears in them.

Wu Wanruo saw the tears glistening in Chi Honghai's eyes, and immediately bent down to wipe his eyes with the same handkerchief she had used before.

"Hey, there's some sand in your eye. Don't move."

……

After dinner, Chi Honghai first escorted Wu Wanruo back to her room.

"I still have some things to take care of, wait a moment."